The most interesting facts about Türkiye, from the origins of Santa Claus to the final resting place of Noah’s Ark.
Fast facts
Official name: Republic of Türkiye
Population: 84.1 million (2024 est.)
Area: 783,562 sq km
Capital city: Ankara
Major languages: Turkish, Kurdish
Major religions: Islam
Time zone: UTC+3 (Time in Turkey)
Interesting facts about Türkiye (Turkey)
1. Türkiye is a country in Southeastern Europe and Southwestern Asia, bordering Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bulgaria, Georgia, Greece, Iran, Iraq and Syria.
2. Until recently, Türkiye was known as Turkey. However, in 2022, Turkey formally changed its name to Türkiye in a bid to dissociate the country from the bird of the same name and the negative connotations associated with it.
3. Türkiye is a transcontinental country as straddles the two continents of Europe and Asia.
4. 97% of Türkiye is located in Asia and is referred to as Anatolia. The remaining 3% of the country lies in Europe and goes by the names of European Turkey, Eastern Thrace or Turkish Thrace.
5. Türkiye used to be the center of the Ottoman Empire, one of the longest-lasting dynasties in world history. The Ottoman Empire was founded in 1299 and lasted until 1922.
6. Türkiye was declared an independent republic on October 29, 1923, when army officer Mustafa Kemal Atatürk founded the independent Republic of Turkey. He served as Turkey’s first president from 1923 until his death in 1938.
7. Türkiye’s flag is made up of a red background)with a central white star and crescent. The design is similar to the Ottoman Empire’s flag, with the moon and star serving as the insignia for Turkic peoples. One explanation is that the design represents the reflection of the moon and a star in the blood of Turkish warriors.
8. Many Christians believe that Mount Ararat, located in Türkiye, is the final resting place of the legendary Noah’s ark. Several expeditions have claimed to have found the remains of the ark, but none are convincing.
9. Istanbul, Türkiye’s biggest city, is the only metropolis in the world located on two continents: Europe and Asia. It spans the Bosphorus Strait body of water.
10. Türkiye has 21 properties inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List and a further 79 properties on the Tentative List of sites to be submitted for nomination.
11. One of these is the Archaeological Site of Troy, one of the most famous archaeological sites in the world, where the siege of warriors from Greece took place in the 13th or 12th century BC.
12. Istanbul’s Grand Bazaar is one of the world’s oldest covered markets. Dating back to 1461, the market has over 500,000 visitors a day, more than 3,600 stalls, and was listed as the world’s most visited tourist attraction in 2014.
13. Istanbul used to be known as Constantinople and was the capital of both the Byzantine Empire and the Ottoman Empire.
14. The story of Santa Claus originates in Türkiye. The legend stems from around 280 AD when a monk named St. Nicholas was born in Patara, near Myra in modern-day Türkiye.
15. The UNESCO–listed travertines (or terraces) of Pamukkale are one of the most photogenic spots in Türkiye. Meaning “Cotton Palace”, the calcite-heavy waters were part of the ancient thermal spa of Hierapolis where Cleopatra supposedly bathed.
16. Türkiye is thought to be home to the world’s first temple, Gobekli Tepe, which is around 11,000 years old – Stonehenge by 6,000 years.
17. The historic Silk Road, the ancient trading route that connected China with Europe and the Middle East, ran through Türkiye.
18. A widespread gift and souvenir in Türkiye is the “evil eye”, eye-shaped blue amulets believed to date back to at least 3,300 BC. However, recently, the state-run religious authority has proclaimed the use of talismans is prohibited under Islam.
19. Türkiye means “Land of the Turks”.
20. It’s officially illegal to wear a Fez in Türkiye. Kemal Atatürk introduced the “Hat Law” in 1925 and banned the fez as it was seen to symbolize the Ottoman Empire. The law has never been officially overturned.
21. Another famous site in Türkiye is the UNESCO-listed Göreme National Park and the Rock Sites of Cappadocia. The region is home to a surreal landscape sculpted by erosion, as well as troglodyte villages and underground towns dating back to the 4th century.
21. Türkiye is the world’s largest exporter of hazelnuts, exporting over 57.5% of the world’s hazelnuts.
23. Türkiye has two Nobel Prize winners. Orhan Pamuk won the 2006 Nobel Prize in Literature 2006, and Aziz Sancar won the 2015 Nobel Prize in Chemistry.
24. Türkiye’s most popular tourist attraction is Aya Sofya (also known as Hagia Sophia). The building was originally built as a cathedral in 532–537 AD, it then became a mosque in 1453 until 1935 when it was declared a museum. In 2020, it was announced it would become a mosque again.
25. Istanbul was ranked the 30th most powerful city in 2023, according to the Global Power City Index.
26. Of all Türkiye’s ancient cities and classical ruins, Ephesus is considered the grandest and best preserved. The ancient Greek and Roman city is the site of the renowned Temple of Artemis, one of the Seven Wonders of the World.
27. Türkiye was also home to another of the Seven Wonders of the World, the Mausoleum of Halicarnassus. The tomb of Mausolus was built between about 353 and 351 BC.
28. Türkiye has a complex migration history. It is the world’s leading refugee country by hosting the largest numbers of refugees worldwide. There are an estimated 3.6 million registered Syrian refugees and 320,000 persons of other nationalities.
29. Türkiye is the fifth most visited country in the world, receiving 55.2 million visitors in 2023.
Every effort has been made to verify these facts about Türkiye using primary sources. However, if you find an error or have any questions, please contact us.
Caitriona Maria is an education writer and owner of The Facts Institute. A teacher for seven years, she has been committed to providing students with the best learning opportunities possible, both domestically and abroad. Dedicated to unlocking students' potential, Caitriona has taught English in several countries and continues to explore new cultures through her travels.