Turkey Facts

Followers of Jesus were first called "Christians" in Antioch, which today is called Antakya.

Turkey Articles

A man selling lottery tickets in Turkey.

The Turkish National Lottery

Ankara

Area: 30.715 km²

Population: 3.236.626 (1990)

Traffic Code: 06

Districts: Ankara (center), Akyurt, Altindag, Ayas, Bala, Beypazari, Camlidere, Cankaya, Cubuk, Elmadag, Etimesgut, Evren, Golbasi, Gudul, Haymana, Kalecik, Kazan, Kecioren, Kizilcahamam, Mamak, Nallihan, Polatli, Sincan, Sereflikochisar, Yenimahalle.

Ankara Links

Sites of Interest

  • Ataturk's Mausoleum
  • Ataturk Forest Farm and Zoo
  • Youth Park (Genclik Parki)
  • Ankara Castle
  • Augustus Temple
  • Caracalla (Roman) Baths
  • Julianus Column
  • Alaeddin Mosque
  • Haci Bayram Mosque
  • Aslanhane (Ahi Serefaddin) Mosque
  • Ahi Elvan Mosque
  • Cenabi Ahmed Pasha Mosque
  • Ulus Republic Monument
  • Guven Monument
  • Victory Monument
  • Parliament Buildings
  • Museum of Anatolian Civilizations
  • State Art and Sculpture Museum
  • Ethnography Museum
  • Cankaya Ataturk Museum
  • Natural History Museum
  • Cubuk Dam
  • Golbasi (lake area)
  • Kizilcahamam Soguksu National Park and hot springs
  • Ayas Karakaya hot springs
  • Haymana hot springs
  • Gordion

Camps

Bayindir Dam Camping: Kayas / Ankara, Telephone: (312) 372 27 31.

Provincial Cultural Directorate

Tel: (358) 218 29 80
Fax: (358) 218 72 59

Ankara AKM (Ataturk Cultural Center)

A hall with 250 seats for small performances and conferences, 3,500 m² exhibition hall, specialized Library, and two art workshops.

Orchestras and Choirs

  • Presidential Symphony Orchestra: Talat Pasha Bulvari No. 38, Ankara. Telephone: (0 312) 309 13 43, Fax: (0 312) 311 75 48
  • Ankara State Turkish Folk Music Choir Directorate: Ataturk Cultural Center, Hipodrom, Ankara. Telephone: (0 312) 342 47 90 / 91.
  • Ankara State Polyphonic Music Choir Directorate: Ataturk Cultural Center, Hipodrom, Ankara. Telephone: (0 312) 341 27 45 / 46.
  • Ankara State Classical Turkish Music Choir Directorate: Ataturk Cultural Center, Hipodrom, Ankara. Telephone: (0 312) 342 37 98
  • State Folk Dance Ensemble Directorate: Ataturk Cultural Center, Hipodrom, Ankara. Telephone: (0 312) 341 19 26 / 07 75
  • State Fine Arts Gallery Directorate: Necatibey Caddesi No. 55, Ankara. Telephone: (0 312) 232 19 45

Museums

  • Museum of Anatolian Civilizations: Hisar Caddesi, Ulus, Ankara. Telephone: (312) 324 31 60, Fax: (312) 311 28 39
  • Ethnography Museum: Talat Pasha Bulvari Opera, Ankara. Telephone: (312) 311 95 56
  • War of Independence and Republic Museum: Cumhuriyet Caddesi, Ulus, Ankara. Telephone: (312) 311 04 73
  • Gordion Museum

Historical Sites and Ruins

  • Gordion (Polatli-Yassihoyuk)
  • Roman Bath: Ankara City Center
  • Gavurkale Ruins: Ankara-Haymana
  • Karalar Village Ruins: Ankara-Kazan
  • Karahoyuk Ruins: Hacitugrul Village
  • Etnography Museum
  • Temple of Augustus: Ankara-Altindag
  • Beypazari Culture and History Museum
  • Hacibayram Mausoleum: Ankara-Altindag
  • Mehmet Akif Ersoy House

Significant Days

  • 5-6 June: World Environment Day, Altindag
  • 6-9 August: Contribution to Peace Activities, Altindag
  • 23 August: Ataturk's Arrival at Kalecik, Kalecik
  • 13-15 September: Anniversary of Sakarya Victory and Commemoration of the Martyrs Day, Polatli
  • 13 October: Declaration of Ankara as Capital, Ankara Province-wide
  • 10-17 December: Human Rights Activities, Altindag
  • 27 December: Anniversary of Ataturk's Arrival at Ankara; Ankara Dikmen (at the junction of the General Staff Headquarters)

Festivals

  • 26-31 March: Festival of Amateur Theatres, Kecioren
  • 2 May-9 May: Tulip and Culture Festival, Sincan
  • 18-20 June: Hot Spring Festival, Haymana
  • 5-6 August: Salt Festival, S. Kochisar
  • September and October: Melon Festival, Kazan
  • 14 October: Carrot Festival, Beypazari
  • 27 December: Soguksu Festival, Soguksu National Park (Kizilcahamam)

Fairs

October-November: Corak Fair, Kizilcahamam

Festivities

  • 23-27 March: World Theater Day, Altindag
  • 22-26 April: Festivity of Disabled Children, Altindag
  • 23 April: National Independence and Children's Day (For Disabled Children), Altindag Municipality Cultural Center
  • 6 May: Hidrellez, Kalecik
  • 6 May: Hidrellez Spring and Culture Festivities, Nallihan
  • 19-26 May: Youth Week, Altindag
  • 20-24 May: Childrens' Theater Festival, Kecioren
  • 19-25 May: 19 May Youth Week, Kecioren
  • 2-3 August: Karapurcek Wrestling and Music Activities, Altindag
  • 4 August-4 September: Open Air Film Showings, Kecioren
  • 20 August: Urus Kapama Day, Beypazari
  • 14 November: Cross Races, Mamak
  • 12 November: Ataturk Week Conferences, Mamak