Turkey's Geography

Coastal Regions

• Turkey has a total coastline of 8,333 km along the Aegean, Mediterranean, and Black Seas.
• The Aegean coast is known for its scenic beauty and historic sites, such as Ephesus and Pergamon.
• The Mediterranean coast is home to popular tourist destinations, including Antalya and Alanya.
• The Black Sea coast is an important region for agriculture and forestry.

Rivers and Lakes

• Turkey has over 1,200 rivers, with the largest being the Kizil River, which stretches for 1,150 km.
• The Euphrates and Tigris rivers, which form the border with Syria and Iraq, are important for irrigation and hydroelectric power.
• Lake Van is the largest lake in Turkey, covering an area of 3,755 km².
• Other notable lakes include Lake Beyşehir and Lake Eğirdir.

Mountain Ranges

• The Pontic Mountains run along the Black Sea coast, with the highest peak being Mount Kaçkar at 3,932 m.
• The Taurus Mountains stretch across southern Turkey, with the highest peak being Mount Tahtalı at 2,365 m.
• The Anatolian Plateau is a highland region in central Turkey, with an average elevation of 1,000 m.
• The Kurdish Mountains are a range of mountains in southeastern Turkey, with the highest peak being Mount Cilo at 4,168 m.

Bordering Countries

• Turkey is bordered by eight countries:
  • Greece and Bulgaria to the west
  • Georgia to the northeast
  • Armenia and Azerbaijan to the east
  • Iran to the southeast
  • Iraq and Syria to the south