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Turkey is a vast and beautiful country, the size of France and Germany combined, surrounded on three sides by the Black, Aegean and Mediterranean Seas, with miles of coastline and a mountainous hinterland. Still predominantly an agricultural economy – the fruits of nature are abundant in the colourful markets. Turkish cuisine with its intelligent use of spices is widely considered to be one of the finest in the world. Mass production has not reached the traditional hand crafts of carpet weaving, pottery, leather working and jewellery making. The people are open, friendly and relaxed. The southern and eastern shores are dramatic and unspoilt. Hundreds of islands, coves and inlets make for perfect cruising. This was the centre of the classical world and the ruins of these past civilisations based on maritime trade are accessible from the sea. Mustafa Kemal, known as Atatürk, created the Republic of Turkey in 1923 replacing the centuries old Ottoman dynasty. Turkey is a secular state, an important member of NATO and has applied for membership of the European Union.
Europe
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