Temple of Artemis, Celsius library

Turkey is a beautiful and fascinating country which offers many interesting and unique facts to discover. Use this Guide to discover the many fascinating facets of honored country. Usually, when we think of foreign countries, we only associate them with their most famous characteristics or landmarks... pyramids in Egypt, rainforests in Costa Rica, shamrocks and castles in Ireland. Discover many fascinating facts! Istanbul, the largest city in Turkey, is the only city in the world that is located in two different continents, with sections in both Europe and Asia. St. Nicholas, also known as Santa Claus, was born and lived in Demre, Turkey (and you thought his only known address was the North Pole!). Two of the “Seven Wonders of the Ancient World” stood in modern day Turkey. They were the Temple of Artemis in Ephesus and the Mausoleum of Halicarnassus in Bodrum (for a little extra credit, have your students research to discover the other five “Wonders of the Ancient World”... Do any still exist today?). The tulip, which is most often associated with The Netherlands, originated in Turkey and was sent as a gift from Turkey to Europe. Turkey also introduced coffee to Europe (so if it were not for Turkey, people might be sipping Kool-Aid at those sidewalk cafes in Paris, France!). The most valuable silk carpet in the world is in the Mevlana Museum in Konya, Turkey (in a display case, not on the floor, you little mud-trackers!). The very first coins were minted in Sardis, the capital of the Ancient Kingdom of Lydia, at the end of the seventh century BC (bubble gum machines and telephone booths weren’t invented until many years later!). The world’s oldest known human settlement is located in Catalhoyuk, Konya, Turkey, dating back to 6500 BC. Many archaeologists and Biblical scholars believe that Noah’s ark landed on Mount Aðri in Eastern Turkey following the flood. Turkey is the birthplace of many historical figures and legends, such as the poet Homer, King Midas, Herodotus and Saint Paul. The first man to fly was Turkish. Using two wings, Hezarfen Ahmed Celebi flew from Europe to Asia or from the Galata Tower over the Bosphorus to land in Uskudar in the 17th century (students, don’t try this at home!). The seven churches mentioned in the Book of Revelation are all located in Turkey - Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia and Leodicea. One Turkish word that may sound familiar is “yoghurt,” which was originally produced in Turkey.