25 Interesting Facts About Turkey (2023)

FAQs

What are 10 interesting facts about Turkey? ›

Turkey is famous for a diverse set of both oriental and European elements — from the traditional Turkish tea to the majestic Hagia Sophia. It's also famous for its carpets, hammam and bazaars, destinations like Istanbul and Cappadocia, and sweet treats like Turkish delights and baklava.

Turkey is low in fat and high in protein. Turkey has more protein than chicken or beef. White meat has fewer calories and less fat than dark meat. Turkeys will have 3,500 feathers at maturity.

Amazing food

Every region in Turkey has a unique kitchen culture, using distinct ingredients and recipes. As such, Turkish cuisine is much more than tasty kebabs and baklava; it includes fresh seafood and meze, a whole world of desserts, huge breakfast spreads, Ottoman classics, vegetable dishes, and much more.

Turkey is a beautiful country surrounded by sea on 3 sides. The Mediterranean in the south, the Aegean Sea, and the Black Sea to the north and northwest take place in Turkey's overland waters,including the Strait of Dardanelles and Bosporus involve the Marmara Sea.

Turkey contributes to international security alongside U.S. forces in Europe, the seas bordering Somalia, and in the Mediterranean. Turkey borders Greece, Bulgaria, Georgia, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Iran, Iraq, and Syria, and is a key partner for U.S. policy in the surrounding region.

Why is Turkey unique? ›

One of the things that makes Turkey unique is that it's spread over two continents. In the capital city of Istanbul, you can literally spend the day in both Europe and Asia. While one side of the city on one side of the Bosporus Strait is technically situated in Asia, the other is in Europe.

Facts About The Turkish Flag That You May Not Know

The Turkish flag isn't just used by Turkey, but also Algeria, Tunisia and Azerbaijan by the 20th century using the crescent and star symbols on their flags. The reason for this is because they are all the Ottoman Empire's successor states.

Etymology. The English name of Turkey (from Medieval Latin Turchia/Turquia) means "land of the Turks". Middle English usage of Turkye is attested to in an early work by Chaucer called The Book of the Duchess (c. 1368).

Turkish food is considered one of the most diverse in the world. It is dubbed the third richest cuisine following French and Chinese gastronomy. Turkish cuisine is regarded as flavorful and savory and not overly spicy. The food culture is inherently healthy and features a wide array of meats, fruits, and vegetables.

Wild turkeys are active during the day; roosting in large trees at night to avoid predators. In residential areas, it is not uncommon for turkeys to roost on railings, roofs, or sometimes on vehicles.

What is a fun fact about a 3 year old? ›

By age three, your toddler has developed approximately 1,000 trillion connections in their brain, which is around twice as many as the average adult! 90% of your child's brain will develop by the time they're five. 4. The average two-year-old adds around five new words to their vocabulary every day.

The turkey's popularity spread for practical reasons such as its size and the convenience of being on people's properties. The true answer to why we eat turkey, among other popular Thanksgiving foods like pumpkin and cranberry, was largely due to migration from New England, according to Young.

Turkey has a collectivist culture whereby strong loyalty is shown to familial and social groups, as well as the broader nation. People's relationships with their neighbours and community are generally closer than what many from the English-speaking West experience.

There were a few reasons for this. First, the bird was rather plentiful. One expert estimated that there were at least 10 million turkeys in America at the time of European contact. Second, turkeys on a family farm were almost always available for slaughter.

Brief History

However, the Empire flag was chosen to have a five-pointed star rather than eight. After World War One Turkey became a republic and used a modified Ottoman Flag. The flags design is said to represent the moon and a star reflected in a pool of blood during the Battle of Kosovo.

About 75 million people speak Turkish in Turkey, where Turkish is the official language, and 90% of the population speaks it as a first language. Turkish is also the language spoken at home by those living in areas that had been governed by the Ottoman Empire.

Modern Turkey was founded in 1923 from the Anatolian remnants of the defeated Ottoman Empire by national hero Mustafa Kemal, who was later honored with the title Ataturk, or "Father of the Turks." Under his authoritarian leadership, the country adopted wide-ranging social, legal, and political reforms.

The Hebrew name for the American turkey is tarnegol hodu, literally rooster of India.

What was Turkey called at first? ›

Called Asia Minor (Lesser Asia) by the Romans, the land is the Asian part of modern Turkey, across Thrace. It lies across the Aegean Sea to the east of Greece and is usually known by its ancient name Anatolia.

Turkey was founded as its own country in 1923 after the Turkish War of Independence, but before that, it was part of the Ottoman Empire. The Ottoman Empire ruled in Central Asia, the Middle East, North Africa, and southeastern Europe, and Turkey was right in the middle of it all.

The modern domesticated turkey descends from the wild turkey. Turkeys are known to exhibit over 20 distinct vocalisations. Including a distinctive gobble, produced by males, which can be heard a mile away. Individual turkeys have unique voices. This is how turkeys recognise each other.

Turkeys are slaughtered between nine and 21 weeks old but the natural lifespan of a turkey is 10 years. They are dragged head first through an electrically charged stunning water bath to make them unconscious before having their necks cut.

Turkey is the world's largest producer of hazelnuts, accounting for almost 70% of the world's production. They export a large percentage of them as well. Turkish hazelnuts are used in many different products, such as chocolate, ice cream, and Baklava.

Turkish food is considered one of the most diverse in the world. It is dubbed the third richest cuisine following French and Chinese gastronomy. Turkish cuisine is regarded as flavorful and savory and not overly spicy. The food culture is inherently healthy and features a wide array of meats, fruits, and vegetables.

Turkeys enjoy listening to music and often loudly sing along. They're original. Turkeys' personalities are as varied and distinct as those of humans.

Amazing food, diverse traditions, religions and histories – these are the things that make Turkey such an unforgettable travel destination. Although Turkey is known for its beautiful beaches and hot air balloon-filled skies, it's so much more than that.

A freshly killed bird is fresh and delicious for up to 10 days from processing if kept very cold.

And, in fact, contrary to popular myth, turkeys can and do fly--they can fly up to 55 miles per hour for short distances! You will likely see them on the ground, though; they typically remain grounded unless spooked.

How long has turkey existed for? ›

The European part of Turkey, called Eastern Thrace, has been inhabited since at least 40,000 years ago, and is known to have been in the Neolithic era by about 6000 BC.

Going Global. The country that consumes the most turkey per year, per capita: Israel.

Turkey contributes to international security alongside U.S. forces in Europe, the seas bordering Somalia, and in the Mediterranean. Turkey borders Greece, Bulgaria, Georgia, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Iran, Iraq, and Syria, and is a key partner for U.S. policy in the surrounding region.

"Turkey is a great source of protein, rich in many vitamins and minerals, and is low-fat – if you don't eat the skin," Champagne said. It's rich in B-complex vitamins niacin, B6 and B12 and the essential nutrient choline.

The international doner kebab

Its name translates as 'rotating grilled meat'. And that is the essence of this dish. As we've already touched on, of all the typical Turkish dishes, the doner kebab is undoubtedly the best known and most popular dish. Its name translates as 'rotating grilled meat'.

Although meat-based foods such as kebabs are common in Turkish cuisine abroad, meals in Turkey largely center around rice, vegetables, and bread.

Probably the most famous Turkish fast food, doner kebap is something you should undoubtedly try in Turkey. Besides, it's the national dish of Turkey! For those that have not tasted it or seen it, it is a sandwich stuffed with slices of meat, vegetables, and spices.