11th International Conference on Durability of Building Materials and Components

Modern-day Turkey is a marriage of the character of ancient Anatolian civilizations, the progressive secular democracy and the reforms launched by Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, the father of Turkish Citizens. The country is a fusion of vibrant Mediterranean cultures and the enchantment of the East, a combination of the cosmopolitan atmosphere of the European cities and the beautiful simplicity of village life.

Turkey is a country that has begun the new century with a remarkable record of self transformation behind it and almost limitless opportunities ahead. It has made startling political, economical and social progress in the last 80 years since Ataturk, the founder of the Turkish Republic, embarked on a conscious quest to catch up with the most advanced countries of the world. Its market economy is successful and expanding at a rapid rate, creating a model for the emerging economies of the neighbouring countries.

Given the new world order, the geopolitical position of Turkey makes it a cultural crossroad today as important as it was in the times of Byzantine and Ottoman Empires once settled in Anatolia. Its vital position as a link between East and West gives also the country a great symbolic power.

Turkey at a Glance

Government Type:	Republican Secular Parliamentary Democracy
Capital:	Ankara
Population:	app. 68 million
Area:	779,452 sq.km
Time Zone:	GMT + 2 hours
Language:	Turkish (an Ural-Altaic language) written in Latin Alphabet

Mustafa Kemal Atatürk

Potpourri of Architectural and Archeological Sites of Turkey

Safranbolu Safranbolu, located in the northwestern part of Turkey, has been occupied by human settlements since prehistory. Especially in Ottoman period, it had an economic importance as being on the main East-West trade route. Today, Safranbolu houses, reflecting the life style and Turkish architecture of late Ottoman period, make the city a famous place of travel.	(photograf taken by Uğur Özkan - taken from www.trekearth.com)

(photograph taken by Charles Roffey - taken from www.flickr.com)	Cappadocia Cappadocian region, located in central Anatolia, is mainly famous of its fairy chimneys (peribacaları) formed by geographic events, and its houses and cities carved into stones. Rocks of those region are very soft and can be easily processed, but after contacting with air they harden and turn into a very strong construction material. Due to being so plentiful and easy to process, a unique regional masonry was developed and turned into an architectural tradition.

Mount Nemrut Mount Nemrut, measuring 2150 m. in height, is located in southeastern Anatolia. It is famous of its gigantic statues reaching the height of 8-10 m. dating back to the reign of Antiochus between 64-38 B.C.	(taken from www.adiyamanli.org)

(taken from www.galenfrysinger.com)	Ephesus Ephesus, located in the Aegean region of Anatolia, thought to have been inhibited since around 3000 B.C. The ancient city was mainly a centre for trade due to its nearness to coast, and became a busy town with great commercial, trading and political importance after being made a provincial capital of Romans. The ancient city today, is one of the best preserved in the eastern Mediterranean and is a great example of Roman architecture.

For more information:

www.kultur.gov.tr

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Last updated: 01/08/2006

Turkey at a Glance

Mustafa Kemal Atatürk

Potpourri of Architectural and Archeological Sites of Turkey

Safranbolu

Cappadocia

Mount Nemrut

Ephesus