The Origin of the Name "Turkey"
A Journey through History and Geography
The Seljuk Connection
The name "Turkey" first surfaced in Western sources in the late 11th century, referring specifically to the lands controlled by the Seljuk Turks in Anatolia (present-day Turkey). The term was derived from the Persian word "Turk," which referred to the Turkic people.
Official Terminology
In official Turkish documents, the country's name is "Türkiye Cumhuriyeti" (Republic of Turkey). In German, it is formally referred to as "Republik Türkiye."
Geographic Regions
Turkey can be divided into several distinct geographic zones:
- The northern folded zone: This region includes the Black Sea coast and is characterized by rugged mountain chains.
- The southern folded zone: This area covers much of southern Turkey and features the Taurus Mountains.
Tourism in Turkey
Turkey is a popular tourist destination, attracting millions of visitors each year. In 2019, the country welcomed approximately 51 million foreign tourists.
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