CAPITAL ANKARA - POPULATION 71.9 MILLION - AREA 770,760 SQ KM -OFFICIAL LANGUAGE TURKISH
A gateway to two continents, Turkey's shore is lapped by no less than three seas – the Mediterranean, Black and Aegean – making it a getaway for Europe and the Middle East. It boasts treasures like the archaeological ruins of ancient Troy and Aya Sofya, one of the world's greatest religious monuments – but also attracts a basketball crowd with events like the 2010 FIBA World Championships (from 23 August to 5 September). Safety concerns after bombings in Izmir and Ankara will make some rethink their visit, and the border with Iraq will continue to be a no-go zone for some time – but a country that has seen empires rise and fall will survive the latest upheavals
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