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Turkey
Let's explore one of the world's most fascinating countries — packed with surprises, stories, and pen pal potential.
The Basics
3 Things That Will Blow Your Mind
Genuinely. You'll want to tell someone immediately.
Istanbul is in two continents at the same time
Turkey is the only country in the world that straddles both Europe and Asia. The city of Istanbul has one half in Europe and the other in Asia, connected by bridges over the Bosphorus strait. You can walk between continents in about 15 minutes.
The world's oldest known temple is in Turkey
Göbekli Tepe, discovered in southern Turkey, is 12,000 years old — 6,000 years older than Stonehenge and built before the invention of farming. Nobody knows exactly who built it or why.
The tulip comes from Turkey, not the Netherlands
Tulips are the symbol of the Netherlands — but they originally come from Turkey. Dutch traders brought bulbs from the Ottoman Empire in the 1500s. The Dutch fell so madly in love with them that tulip bulbs briefly became more valuable than gold.
Famous For
Istanbul
One of the world's great cities — a former capital of both the Roman and Ottoman Empires, packed with mosques, bazaars, and food that stretches back thousands of years.
Turkish Delight
The sweet that appears in Narnia actually comes from Turkey, where it's been made for centuries. The real version, fresh from a Turkish market, is nothing like the ones in a box.
Ancient History
Turkey is home to Troy (yes, the one with the horse), the ancient city of Ephesus, and some of the oldest continuously inhabited places on Earth.
Tea Culture
Turkey is one of the world's biggest tea-drinking nations — not coffee, tea. It's drunk from small tulip-shaped glasses, many times a day, in every home and shop.
Did You Know?
Turkey is the world's largest producer of hazelnuts — responsible for about 70% of the global supply. Almost every jar of Nutella in the world contains Turkish hazelnuts.
Pen Pal Connection
A child in Turkey might write to you about a ferry trip between two continents, their favourite street food, a visit to a ancient ruin older than anything in their history book, or the sound of the call to prayer echoing across the rooftops at sunset.