Key Facts
Location
Southeastern Europe/Asia Minor.
Time
GMT + 2 (GMT + 3 from last Sunday in March to last Sunday in October).
Area
779,452 sq km (300,948 sq miles).
Population
73.3 million (UN estimate 2005).
Electricity
220 volts AC, 50Hz.
Money
Currency
New Turkish Lira (TRY; symbol YTL) = 100 New Kurus (Ykr). Notes are in denominations of YTL100, 50, 20, 10, 5 and 1. Coins are in denominations of YTL1 and 50, 25, 10, 5 and 1 New Kurus.
Public Holidays
Below are listed Public Holidays for the January 2008-December 2009 period.
2008
1 Jan New Year's Day.
23 Apr National Sovereignty and Children's Day.
19 May Commemoration of Atatürk and Youth and Sports Day.
30 Aug Victory Day.
1-2 Oct Ramazan Bayrami (End of Ramadan).
28-29 Oct (28th is a half-day) Republic Day.
8-9 Dec Kurban Bayrami (Feast of the Sacrifice).
2009
1 Jan New Year's Day.
23 Apr National Sovereignty and Children's Day.
19 May Commemoration of Atatürk and Youth and Sports Day.
30 Aug Victory Day.
20-21 Sep Ramazan Bayrami (End of Ramadan).
28-29 Oct (28th is a half-day) Republic Day.
27-28 Nov Kurban Bayrami (Feast of the Sacrifice).
Climate
Temperatures in Ankara vary between -4°C (25ºF) and 30°C (86ºF). Marmara and the Aegean and Mediterranean coasts have a typical Mediterranean climate with hot summers and mild, wet winters. The east of the country is mountainous with warm summers and very cold, snowy winters.
