View source for Geography of Turkey

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{{Country geography |
name=Turkey|
map =Anatolia_composite_NASA.png |
continent =[[Asia]] and [[Europe]] |
region =[[West Asia]] and [[Southern Europe]] |
coordinates ={{coord|39|00|N|35|00|E|type:country}} |
area ranking =36th |
km area =783562 |
percent land=98 |
km coastline =7,200 |
borders =[[Land borders|Total land borders]]: 2648&nbsp;km <br />[[Armenia]] 268&nbsp;km,<br /> [[Azerbaijan]] 9&nbsp;km,<br />[[Bulgaria]] 240&nbsp;km,<br />[[Georgia (country)|Georgia]] 252&nbsp;km, <br />[[Greece]] 206&nbsp;km,<br />[[Iran]] 499&nbsp;km, <br />[[Iraq]] 352&nbsp;km,<br />[[Syria]] 822&nbsp;km |
highest point= [[Mount Ararat|Mount Ağrı (Ararat)]]<br />5,137&nbsp;m |
lowest point= [[Mediterranean Sea]]<br />0&nbsp;m |
longest river=[[Kızıl River|Kızılırmak]]<br />1,350&nbsp;km |
largest lake=[[Lake Van|Van]]<br />{{convert|3755|km2|2|abbr=on}} |
|exclusive economic zone= 261,654 km2 ([[Exclusive economic zone]]){{cn|date=November 2023}}
}}

The [[Anatolia]]n side of [[Turkey]] is the largest portion in the country<ref>Sarıkaya, M. A. The Late Quaternary glaciation in the Eastern Mediterranean. In: Hughes P, Woodward J (eds) Quaternary glaciation in the Mediterranean mountains. Geological Society of London Special Publication 433, 2017, pp. 289–305.</ref> that bridges southeastern [[Europe]] and west Asia. [[East Thrace]], the [[Europe]]an portion of Turkey comprises 3%<ref name="Kindersley World Reference Atlas 2014">The Dorling Kindersley World Reference Atlas. New York: Dorling Kindersley, 2014.</ref> of the landmass but over 15%<ref name="Kindersley World Reference Atlas 2014" /> of the population. [[East Thrace]] is separated from [[Asia Minor]], the Asian portion of Turkey, by the [[Bosporus]], the [[Sea of Marmara]] and the [[Dardanelles]].<ref name="Erturaç, M. K 2012, pp. 497">Erturaç, M. K. Kinematics and basin formation along the Ezinepazar-Sungurlu fault zone, NE Anatolia, Turkey. Turk J Earth Sci 21: 2012, pp. 497–520.</ref> [[İskilip]], [[Çorum province]], is considered to be the [[geographical center of Earth]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Google marks Turkey's Çorum as center of the Earth – Türkiye News |url=https://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/google-marks-turkeys-corum-as-center-of-the-earth-100514 |access-date=2022-08-07 |website=Hürriyet Daily News |date=15 June 2016 |language=en}}</ref> Turkey is very vulnerable to [[Earthquakes in Turkey|earthquakes]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Why is Turkey so prone to earthquakes? |url=https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/turkey-earthquake-why-so-prone |access-date=2024-09-26 |website=Middle East Eye |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-02-23 |title=Why the Turkey-Syria Earthquakes Were So Destructive |url=https://cnr.ncsu.edu/news/2023/02/turkey-syria-earthquakes/#:~:text=Turkey%20is%20one%20of%20the,caused%20by%20the%20two%20earthquakes. |access-date=2024-09-26 |website=College of Natural Resources News |language=en-US}}</ref> 

== External boundaries ==

Turkey, surrounded by water on three sides, has well-defined natural borders with its eight neighbors.<ref name="Erturaç, M. K 2012, pp. 497" />{{Request quotation|date=July 2025|reason=how is Bulgaria border natural?}}

[[Turkey]]’s frontiers with [[Greece]]—206 kilometers—and [[Bulgaria]]—240 kilometers— were settled<ref name="Finkel, Andrew 1990">Finkel, Andrew, and [[Nükhet Sirman]], eds. ''Turkish State, Turkish Society''. New York: Routledge, 1990.</ref> by the [[Treaty of Constantinople (1913)]] and later confirmed<ref name="Finkel, Andrew 1990" /> by the [[Treaty of Lausanne]] in 1923.
The 1921 [[Treaty of Moscow (1921)|treaties of Moscow]]<ref name="Lewis, Geoffrey 1974">[[Geoffrey Lewis (scholar)|Geoffrey Lewis]], ''Modern Turkey''. New York: Praeger, 1974.</ref> and [[Treaty of Kars|Kars]] with the [[Soviet Union]]<ref name="Lewis, Geoffrey 1974" /> defines [[Turkey]]’s current borders with [[Armenia]] (268 kilometers), [[Azerbaijan]] (9 kilometers), and [[Georgia (country)|Georgia]] (252 kilometers). [[Iran–Turkey border|The 499-kilometer Iranian border]] was first settled by the 1639 [[Treaty of Zuhab|Treaty of Kasr-ı Şirin]] and confirmed in 1937.<ref name="Shaw, Stanford J. 1976">Shaw, Stanford J., and Ezel Kural Shaw. ''History of the Ottoman Empire and Modern Turkey''. (2 vols.) Cambridge University Press, 1976.</ref>
With the exception of [[Mosul]], [[Turkey]] ceded the territories of the present-day [[Iraq]] and [[Syria]] with the [[Treaty of Lausanne]] in 1923. In 1926, [[Turkey]] ceded [[Mosul]] to the [[United Kingdom]] in exchange for 10% the oil revenues from [[Mosul]] for 25 years.<ref name="Shaw, Stanford J. 1976" /> [[Syria–Turkey border|Syria’s border with Turkey]] changed with the 1939 transfer of [[Hatay Province]], following a referendum that favored union with [[Turkey]].<ref name="Finkel, Andrew 1990" />

=== Main articles ===
{{div col| colwidth = 16em}}
* [[Greece–Turkey border]]
* [[Bulgaria–Turkey border]]
* [[Armenia–Turkey border]]
* [[Azerbaijan–Turkey border]]
* [[Georgia–Turkey border]]
* [[Iran–Turkey border]]
* [[Iraq–Turkey border]]
* [[Syria–Turkey border]]
{{end div col}}

== Regions ==
{{Main|Regions of Turkey}}

The [[First Geography Congress, Turkey|First Geography Congress]], held in [[Ankara]] between 6–21 June 1941, divided Turkey into seven regions after long discussions and work.<ref name=worldofturkey>{{Cite web |url=http://www.worldturkey.com/lang/eng/regions.php |title=Worldofturkey.com: Regions of Turkey |access-date=2006-03-27 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060320083420/http://www.worldturkey.com/lang/eng/regions.php |archive-date=2006-03-20 |url-status=dead }}</ref> These geographical regions were separated according to their climate, location, flora and fauna, human habitat, agricultural diversities, transportation, topography, etc.<ref name="worldofturkey" /> At the end, 4 coastal regions and 3 inner regions were named according to their proximity to the four seas surrounding Turkey, and their positions in [[Anatolia]].<ref name="worldofturkey" />

Turkey has a diverse terrain: the plains of Anatolia, and forests of the [[Black Sea]], [[semi-arid]] lands, natural lakes and the coastlines of the [[Aegean Sea|Aegean]] and [[Mediterranean Sea|Mediterranean]]. The [[Anatolian plain]] is separated from the Black Sea by the [[Pontic Mountains]], converging with the [[Taurus Mountains]] in the Northeast of the country where [[Mount Ararat]] is located. The full territory of Turkey is 783,356 square kilometers (756,688 of those in Anatolia, and 23,764 in European Thrace).<ref>Heper, Metin, Duygu Öztürk-Tunçel, and Bilge Criss. 2018. Historical dictionary of Turkey.</ref>

=== Black Sea region ===
{{Main|Black Sea region, Turkey}}

[[File:KackarDagi fromNorth hory.jpg|thumb|[[Kaçkar Mountains]].]]

The physical geography of the [[Black Sea region]] landscapes is characterized by the [[Pontic Mountains|mountain range]] forming a barrier parallel with the [[Black Sea]] Coast and high humidity<ref name="Delaney, Carol 2011">Delaney, Carol. The Seed and the Soil of Turkey. Berkeley: University of California Press, 2011.</ref> and precipitation.<ref name="Akçar, N 2005, pp. 102">Akçar, N. Paleoglaciations in Anatolia: A schematic review and first results. Eiszeitalt Gesellschaft für Geowissenschaften 55: 2005, pp. 102–121.</ref> The eastern Black Sea region presents alpine landscapes<ref>Erinç, S. Glacial evidences of the climatic variations in Turkey. Annals of the American Association of Geographers 34: 1952, pp. 89–98.</ref> with steep and densely forested slopes. Steep slopes, as a morphological feature, occur both under the sea, and in the mountain ranges, with the sea floor at below 2000&nbsp;m<ref name="Akçar, N 2005, pp. 102" /> along a line from [[Trabzon]] to the [[Turkey|Turkish]]–[[Georgia (country)|Georgian]] border, and the mountains quickly reaching over 3000&nbsp;m, with a maximum of 3971&nbsp;m<ref name="Birman, J. H 1968">Birman, J. H. Glacial reconnaissance in Turkey. Geological Society of America Bulletin 79: 1968, pp. 1009–1026.</ref> in Kaçkar Peak. The parallel valleys running north to the Black Sea used to be isolated from one another until a few decades ago because the densely forested ridges made transportation and exchange very difficult.<ref name="Fleischer, R 2009, pp. 109">Fleischer, R. The rock-tombs of the Pontic Kings in Amaseia (Amasya). In: Højte JM (ed) Mithridates VI and the Pontic Kingdom, Black Sea Studies, vol 9. Aarhus University Press, Aarhus, 2009, pp. 109–120.</ref> This allowed for the development of a strong cultural<ref name="Fleischer, R 2009, pp. 109" /> identity— the [[Laz language]], music and dance—linked to this specific geographic context.

From west to east, the main rivers of the region are the [[Sakarya River|Sakarya]] (824&nbsp;km), the [[Kızılırmak River]] (1355&nbsp;km, the longest river of Turkey), the [[Yeşilırmak (river)|Yeşilırmak]] (418&nbsp;km) and the [[Çoruh]] (376&nbsp;km).<ref name="Akçar, N 2005, pp. 102" />

Year-round high<ref name="Delaney, Carol 2011" /> precipitation—up to 2200mm<ref>Tunçel, H. Doğu Karadeniz Dağlarında Yaylacılık. Fırat Üniversitesi Sos Bilim Derg (Elazığ) 14(2): 2004, pp. 49–66.</ref>—generate dense forests, with [[oak]], [[beech]] family trees, [[hazel]] (Corylus avellana), [[hornbeam]] (Carpinus betulus) and [[Castanea sativa|sweet chesnut]] (Castanea sativa) prevailing.<ref>Kurdoğlu, O. Doğal ve Kültürel Değerlerin Korunması Açısından Kaçkar Dağları Milli Parkı’nın Önemi ve Mevcut Çevresel Tehditler. D.K. Ormancılık Araştırma Müdürlüğü, Ormancılık Araştırma Dergisi 21, ve Çevre ve Orman Bakanlığı Yayını 231: 2004, pp. 134–150.</ref>

Isolated from one another because of steep valleys,<ref name="Erturaç, M. K 2012, pp. 497" /> the Black Sea region includes 850<ref name="Ekim, T 2000">Ekim, T. Türkiye Bitkileri Kırmızı Kitabı. 2000.</ref> plant taxa of which 116<ref name="Ekim, T 2000" /> is endemic to the area, and of which 12 are endangered<ref name="Erturaç, M. K 2012, pp. 497" /> and 19<ref>Brickell, Christopher. Encyclopedia of Plants and Flowers. New York: Dorling Kindersley, 2011.</ref> vulnerable. [[Hazelnut]] is a native species<ref name="Erturaç, M. K 2012, pp. 497" /> for this region, which covers 70 and 82%<ref name="Delaney, Carol 2011" /> of the world's production and exports respectively.

The Kaçkar Range at altitudes of 3000&nbsp;m and above is heavily glaciated<ref name="Birman, J. H 1968" /> owing to the suitable [[Geomorphology|geomorphological]]- climatological conditions<ref name="Delaney, Carol 2011" /> during the [[Pleistocene]].

=== Marmara region ===
{{Main|Marmara region}}
[[File:Istanbul_Levent_skyline.jpg|thumb|A view of [[Levent]] from [[Kanlıca]] across the [[Bosporus]].]]

The European portion of Turkey consists mainly of rolling plateau country well suited to agriculture.

Densely populated, this area includes the cities of [[Istanbul]] and [[Edirne]]. The [[Bosphorus]], which links the [[Sea of Marmara]] and the Black Sea, is about twenty-five kilometers long and averages 1.5 kilometers in width but narrows in places to less than 1,000 meters. There are two suspension bridges over the Bosphorus, both its Asian and European banks rise steeply from the water and form a succession of cliffs, coves, and nearly landlocked bays. Most of the shores are densely wooded and are marked by numerous small towns and villages. The [[Dardanelles]] (ancient [[Hellespont]]) [[strait]], which links the [[Sea of Marmara]] (ancient [[Propontis]]) and the [[Aegean Sea]], is approximately forty kilometers long and increases in width toward the south. Unlike the Bosphorus, the Dardanelles has fewer settlements along its shores. The [[Saros Bay]] is located near the [[Gallipoli]] peninsula and is disliked because of dirty beaches. It is a favourite spot among scuba divers for the richness of its underwater [[fauna]] and is becoming increasingly popular due to its vicinity to Istanbul.

The most important valleys are the [[İzmit|Kocaeli]] Valley, the [[Bursa Province|Bursa]] Ovası (Bursa Basin), and the Plains of [[Troy]] (historically known as the [[Troad]]). The valley lowlands around Bursa is densely populated.

{{wide image|File:Istanbul_panorama_and_skyline.jpg|1000px|align-cap=center|Panoramic view of the [[Bosphorus]] strait, where [[Anatolia|Asia]] and [[Thrace|Europe]] meet, with the [[Hagia Sophia]] and [[Blue Mosque, Istanbul|Blue Mosque]] view.}}

=== Aegean region ===
{{Main|Aegean region|Turkish Riviera}}
[[File:Kelebekler_Vadisi_(1).jpg|thumb|Butterfly Valley on the [[Turkish Riviera]].]]

Located on the western side of Anatolia, the Aegean region has fertile soil and a typically [[Mediterranean climate]]; with mild, wet winters and hot, dry summers. The broad, cultivated valley lowlands contain about half of the country's richest farmlands.

The largest city in the Aegean region of Turkey is [[İzmir]], which is also the country's third-largest city and a major manufacturing center; as well as its second-largest port after Istanbul.

[[Olive]] and [[olive oil]] production is particularly important for the economy of the region. The seaside town of [[Ayvalık]] and numerous towns in the provinces of [[Balıkesir Province|Balıkesir]], [[İzmir Province|İzmir]] and [[Aydın Province|Aydın]] are particularly famous for their olive oil and related products; such as soap and cosmetics.

The region also has many important centers of tourism which are known both for their historic monuments and for the beauty of their beaches; such as [[Assos]], [[Ayvalık]], [[Bergama]], [[Foça]], [[İzmir]], [[Çeşme]], [[Sardis]], [[Ephesus]], [[Kuşadası]], [[Didim]], [[Miletus]], [[Bodrum]], [[Marmaris]], [[Datça]] and [[Fethiye]].

{{clear}}
{{wide image|Port Atami-Bodrum Marina-panorama-big.jpg|1000px|align-cap=center|Panoramic view of Paradise Bay in [[Bodrum]], ancient [[Halicarnassus]], the city of [[Herodotus]] and the home of the [[Mausoleum of Maussollos]], one of the [[Seven Wonders of the Ancient World]]}}

=== Mediterranean region ===
{{Main|Mediterranean region, Turkey|Turkish Riviera}}
[[File:1362643.jpg|thumb|Beaches and marina of [[Kemer]] near [[Antalya]] on the [[Turkish Riviera]].]]

Toward the east, the extensive [[Cilicia]]n Plain, around [[Adana]], Turkey's fifth most populous city, consist largely of reclaimed [[floodplain|flood lands]]. In general, rivers have not cut valleys to the sea in the western part of the region. Historically, movement inland from the western Mediterranean coast was difficult. East of Adana, much of the coastal plain has limestone features such as collapsed caverns and sinkholes. Between Adana and [[Antalya]], the [[Taurus Mountains]] rise sharply from the coast to high elevations. Other than Adana, Antalya, and [[Mersin]], the Mediterranean coast has few major cities, although it has numerous farming villages.

Paralleling the Mediterranean coast, the [[Taurus Mountains]] ({{langx|tr|Toros Dağları}}) are Turkey's second chain of folded mountains. The range rises just inland from the coast and trends generally in an easterly direction until it reaches the Arabian Platform, where it arcs around the northern side of the platform. The Taurus Mountains are more rugged and less dissected by rivers than the [[Pontic Mountains]] and historically have served as a barrier to human movement inland from the Mediterranean coast except where there are mountain passes such as the historic [[Cilician Gates]] (Gülek Pass), northwest of Adana.

{{clear}}
{{wide image|Alanya Panorama.jpg|1000px|align-cap=center|Panoramic view of [[Alanya]], inhabited since the [[Hittites]] and the medieval homeport of the [[Seljuk Sultanate of Rum|Seljuk]] naval forces, famous today for its natural beauty and historic monuments}}

=== Central Anatolia region ===
{{Main|Central Anatolia region}}
[[File:Mount erciyes.jpg|thumb|[[Mount Erciyes]] near [[Kayseri]]]]

Stretching inland from the Aegean coastal plain, the Central Anatolia region occupies the area between the two zones of the folded mountains, extending east to the point where the two ranges converge. The plateau-like, semi-arid highlands of [[Anatolia]] are considered the heartland of the country. The region varies in elevation from 700 to 2000 meters from west to east. [[Mount Erciyes]] is the peak at 3916 meters. The two largest basins on the plateau are the ''[[Konya Province|Konya]] Ovası'' and the basin occupied by the large salt lake, [[Lake Tuz|Tuz Gölü]]. Both basins are characterized by inland drainage. Wooded areas are confined to the northwest and northeast of the plateau. Rain-fed cultivation is widespread, with wheat being the principal crop. Irrigated agriculture is restricted to the areas surrounding rivers and wherever sufficient underground water is available. Important irrigated crops include barley, corn, cotton, various fruits, grapes, opium poppies, sugar beets, roses, and tobacco. There also is extensive grazing throughout the plateau.

Central Anatolia receives little annual rainfall. For instance, the semi-arid center of the plateau receives an average yearly precipitation of only 300 millimeters. However, actual rainfall from year to year is irregular and occasionally may be less than 200 millimeters, leading to severe reductions in crop yields for both rain-fed and irrigated agriculture. In years of low rainfall, stock losses also can be high. Overgrazing has contributed to soil erosion on the plateau. During the summers, frequent dust storms blow a fine yellow powder across the plateau. Locusts occasionally ravage the eastern area in April and May. In general, the plateau experiences moderate heat, with almost no rainfall in summer and cold weather with heavy snow in winter.

Frequently interspersed throughout the folded mountains, and also situated on the Anatolian Plateau, are well-defined basins, which the Turks call ''ova''. Some are no more than a widening of a stream valley; others, such as the ''Konya Ovası'', are large basins of inland drainage or are the result of limestone erosion. Most of the basins take their names from cities or towns located at their rims. Where a lake has formed within the basin, the water body is usually saline as a result of the internal drainage—the water has no outlet to the sea.

{{clear}}
{{wide image|Cappadocia Chimneys - DWiW.jpg|1000px|align-cap=center|Panoramic view of the Fairy Chimneys in [[Cappadocia]]}}

=== Eastern Anatolia region ===
{{Main|Eastern Anatolia region}}
[[File:981122-Ararat-IMG 0791-3.jpg|thumb|[[Mount Ararat]]]]
[[File:Akhtamar_Island_on_Lake_Van_with_the_Armenian_Cathedral_of_the_Holy_Cross.jpg|thumb|[[Lake Van]]]]

[[Eastern Anatolia region|Eastern Anatolia]], where the [[Pontic Mountains|Pontic]] and [[Anti-Taurus Mountains|Anti-Taurus]] [[mountain range]]s converge, is rugged country with higher elevations, a more severe climate, and greater precipitation than are found on the Anatolian Plateau. The western part of the Eastern Anatolia region is known as the [[Anti-Taurus Mountains|Anti-Taurus]], where the average elevation of mountain peaks exceed 3,000 meters; while the eastern part of the region was historically known as the [[Armenian Highland]] and includes [[Mount Ararat]], the highest point in Turkey at 5,137 meters. Many of the East Anatolian peaks apparently are recently extinct volcanoes, to judge from extensive green lava flows. Turkey's largest lake, [[Lake Van]], is situated in the mountains at an elevation of 1,546 meters. The headwaters of three major rivers arise in the Anti-Taurus: the east-flowing [[Aras River|Aras]], which pours into the [[Caspian Sea]]; the south-flowing [[Euphrates]]; and the south-flowing [[Tigris]], which eventually joins the Euphrates in [[Iraq]] before emptying into the [[Persian Gulf]]. Several small streams that empty into the [[Black Sea]] or landlocked Lake Van also originate in these mountains.

In addition to its rugged mountains, the area is known for severe winters with heavy snowfalls. The few valleys and plains in these mountains tend to be fertile and to support diverse agriculture. The main basin is the Muş Valley, west of Lake Van. Narrow valleys also lie at the foot of the lofty peaks along river corridors.{{wide image|20110419 Ani North Walls Turkey Panorama.jpg|1000px|align-cap=center|Panoramic view of [[Ani]] in [[Kars]]}}

=== Southeastern Anatolia region ===
{{main|Southeastern Anatolia region}}
[[File:Mount nemrut in Turkey.jpg|thumb|[[Mount Nemrut]], [[Adıyaman]]]]
[[Southeastern Anatolia region|Southeast Anatolia]] is south of the [[Anti-Taurus Mountains]]. It is a region of rolling hills and a broad plateau surface that extends into [[Syria]]. Elevations decrease gradually, from about 800 meters in the north to about 500 meters in the south. Traditionally, [[wheat]] and [[barley]] were the main crops of the region, but the inauguration of major new irrigation projects in the 1980s has led to greater agricultural diversity and development.

{{clear}}

== Geology ==
{{Excerpt|Geology of Turkey}}

== Climate ==
{{Main|Climate of Turkey}}
{{See also|Climate change in Turkey}}
[[File:Köppen types of Turkey.jpg|thumb|[[Köppen climate classification system|Köppen climate types]] of Turkey]]
Turkey's diverse regions have different climates, with the weather system on the coasts contrasting with that prevailing in the interior. The Aegean and Mediterranean coasts have cool, rainy winters and hot, moderately dry summers. Annual precipitation in those areas varies from {{convert|580|to|1300|mm|in|1|sp=us}}, depending on location. The Black Sea coast receives the greatest amount of precipitation and is the only region of Turkey that receives high precipitation throughout the year. The eastern part of that coast averages {{convert|2500|mm|in|1|sp=us}} annually which is the highest precipitation in the country.

<gallery>
File:Klima ankara.png|Ankara
File:Klima antalya.png|Antalya
File:Klima istanbul.png|Istanbul
File:Klima van-en.png|Van
</gallery>

Mountains close to the coast prevent Mediterranean influences from extending inland, giving the interior of Turkey a continental climate with distinct seasons. The Anatolian Plateau is much more subject to extremes than are the coastal areas. Winters on the plateau are especially severe. Temperatures of {{convert|-30|to|-40|C|F}} can occur in the mountainous areas in the east, and snow may lie on the ground 120 days of the year. In the west, winter temperatures average below {{convert|1|°C|1}}. Summers are hot and dry, with temperatures above {{convert|30|°C}}. Annual precipitation averages about {{convert|400|mm|in|1|sp=us}}, with actual amounts determined by elevation. The driest regions are the Konya Ovasi and the Malatya Ovasi, where annual rainfall frequently is less than {{convert|300|mm|in|1|sp=us}}. May is generally the wettest month and July and August the driest.

The climate of the [[Anti-Taurus Mountains|Anti-Taurus Mountain]] region of eastern Turkey can be inhospitable. Summers tend to be hot and extremely dry. Winters are bitterly cold with frequent, heavy snowfall. Villages can be isolated for several days during winter storms. Spring and autumn are generally mild, but during both seasons sudden hot and cold spells frequently occur.


[[File:Dilek Yarımadası-Büyük Menderes Deltası Millî Parkı 2013-03-28b.jpg|thumb|View of [[Dilek Peninsula-Büyük Menderes Delta National Park]]]]
[[File:Olympos Gesamtansicht.JPG|thumb|View of [[Beydağları Coastal National Park]]]]

== Natural hazards ==
Very severe [[earthquake]]s, especially on the [[North Anatolian Fault]] and [[East Anatolian Fault]], occur along an arc extending from the [[Sea of Marmara]] in the west to [[Lake Van]] in the east. On August 17, 1999, a [[Richter magnitude scale|7.4-magnitude]] [[1999 İzmit earthquake|earthquake]] struck northwestern Turkey, killing more than 17,000 and injuring 44,000.
{|
|[[File:Map of earthquakes in Turkey 1900-2023.svg|420px|thumb|left|Map of earthquakes in Turkey 1900–2023]]
|[[File:Anatolian Plate Vectoral.svg|lang=en|thumb|300px|Map showing the [[Anatolian Plate]], the [[North Anatolian Fault]] and [[East Anatolian Fault]] in Turkey.]]
|}

=== Current issues ===
{{Main|Environmental issues in Turkey}}
Water pollution from dumping of chemicals and detergents; air pollution, particularly in urban areas; [[deforestation]]; concern for oil spills from increasing [[Bosphorus]] ship traffic.

=== Ratified international agreements ===
[[Kyoto Protocol|Air Pollution]], [[Antarctic Treaty]], [[International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture|Biodiversity]], [[Desertification]], [[Convention on Biological Diversity|Endangered Species]], [[Hazardous Wastes]], [[Ozone Layer Protection]], [[Paris Agreement]], [[MARPOL 73/78|Ship Pollution]], [[Ramsar Convention|Wetlands]].

=== Signed but unratified international agreements ===
[[Environmental Modification]], [[Kigali Amendment]]

== Hydrography ==
{{Expand section|date=April 2024}}
{{main|List of rivers of Turkey|List of lakes of Turkey}}{{See also|Hydroelectricity in Turkey}}
The [[Turkish Lakes region|Lakes region]] contains some of the largest lakes in Turkey, such as [[Lake Beyşehir]], [[Lake Eğirdir]], [[Lake Burdur]], [[Lake Akşehir]], [[Lake Eber]] and [[Lake Işıklı]]. [[Lake Tuz]], [[Lake Akdoğan]], [[Lake Nemrut]], [[Lake Çıldır]], [[Lake İznik]], [[Lake Uluabat]], [[Lake Manyas]], [[Lake Sapanca]], [[Lake Salda]], [[Lake Meke]] and [[Uzungöl|Lake Uzungöl]] are among other renowned lakes in Turkey. The rocks along the shoreline of Lake Salda were formed over time by microbes;<ref name="NASA-Salda">{{cite web|url=https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/images/lake-salda-rocks|title=Lake Salda Rocks|website=jpl.nasa.gov|publisher=[[NASA]]|date=27 January 2021}}</ref><ref name="NASA-Salda-2">{{cite web|url=https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/news/searching-for-life-in-nasas-perseverance-mars-samples|title=Searching for Life in NASA's Perseverance Mars Samples|website=jpl.nasa.gov|publisher=[[NASA]]|date=17 February 2021}}</ref> these so-called [[microbialite]]s provide some of the oldest known fossilized records of life.<ref name="NASA-Salda"/><ref name="NASA-Salda-2"/> Studying these microbial fossils from Lake Salda has helped scientists prepare for [[NASA]]'s [[Mars 2020]] mission.<ref name="NASA-Salda"/><ref name="NASA-Salda-2"/> In 2021, NASA reported that its Mars surface-exploring rover Perseverance showed that "the minerals and rock deposits at Lake Salda are the nearest match on Earth to those around the [[Jezero (crater)|Jezero Crater]] where the spacecraft landed."<ref>{{cite news|last1=Dikmen|first1=Yesim|title=Mars on Earth: Turkish lake may hold clues to ancient life on planet|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-space-exploration-mars-turkey-idUSKBN2B10N7|work=Reuters |date=9 March 2021}}</ref>

== See also ==
{{Commons category|Geography of Turkey}}
{{Portal|Turkey|Geography}}
*[[Lakes of Turkey]]
*[[List of rivers of Turkey]]
*[[List of islands of Turkey]]
*[[List of beaches in Turkey]]
*[[List of mountains of Turkey]]
*[[List of volcanoes in Turkey]]
*[[List of caves in Turkey]]
*[[Forest in Turkey]]
*[[Geographical name changes in Turkey]]
*[[Flora of Turkey]]

== Notes ==
{{Reflist}}

== References ==
*Bozkurt, E. and Satir, M. (2000) The southern Menderes Massif (western Turkey); geochronology and exhumation history. Geological Journal, 35: 285–296.
*Rice, S.P., Robertson, A.H.F. and Ustaömer, T. (2006) Late Cretaceous-Early Cenozoic tectonic evolution of the Eurasian active margin in the Central and Eastern Pontides, northern Turkey. In: Robertson, (Editor), Tectonic Development of the Eastern Mediterranean Region. Geological Society, London, Special Publications, 260, London, 413–445.
*Robertson, A. and Dixon, J.E.D. (1984) Introduction: aspects of the geological evolution of the Eastern Mediterranean. In: Dixon and Robertson (Editors), The Geological Evolution of the Eastern Mediterranean. Geological Society, London, Special Publications, 17, 1–74.
*Ustaömer, T. and Robertson, A. (1997) Tectonic-sedimentary evolution of the north Tethyan margin in the Central Pontides of northern Turkey. In: A.G. Robinson (Editor), Regional and Petroleum Geology of the Black Sea and Surrounding Region. AAPG Memoir, 68, Tulsa, Oklahoma, 255–290.
*{{country study|country=Turkey|abbr=tr}}
*{{CIA World Factbook}}

== External links ==
* [https://www.harita.gov.tr/ General Directorate of Mapping]

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