Turkey is not only a paradise for tourists, but also an industrial country with a rapidly developing economy. According to 2014 data, the state has nine million-plus cities. We will tell you about the five largest of them: Istanbul, Ankara, Izmir, Bursa and Adana.
Istanbul
Topping the list of Turkey's largest cities is the ancient and diverse Istanbul, with a population approaching 11 million. It has thousands of years of history behind it and four great empires (Roman, Byzantine, Latin and Ottoman), of which it was the capital.
Now it is the industrial, cultural and commercial center of the country. Istanbul is located on the banks of the Bosphorus Strait, which divides it into two parts - Asian and European - connected by bridges and a metro tunnel. In terms of population, the city is the largest not only in Turkey, but throughout Europe. According to statistics, every fifth Turk lives in it.
Istanbul, like a kaleidoscope, combines the traditions of all the peoples who once lived in this territory. mosques and churches,cathedrals and synagogues, modern theaters and the remains of Roman buildings, Egyptian obelisks and a German fountain, palaces and fortresses, oriental bazaars and modern shopping centers - it seems that it has it all.
Ankara
Ankara is the capital and major city of Turkey, with a population approaching 5 million (currently 4.9 million). It is located at an altitude of about 938 m above sea level on the Anatolian plateau. The city has been known since ancient times. Having an advantageous position at the crossroads of trade routes linking Asia and Europe, it has become one of the centers of Asia Minor.
Ankara is the second most important and economic potential city in Turkey after Istanbul. Its rapid development has determined an advantageous position on transport routes. Numerous industrial facilities, trading companies, banks, educational institutions and proximity to mineral deposits have made the city attractive for investors.
Like other major cities in Turkey, Ankara attracts tourists with its developed infrastructure and rich history. Its international airport welcomes nearly a billion people a year.
Izmir
The Mediterranean Turkish city of Izmir (the center of the province of the same name) closes the top three. Its population is about 2.8 million people. By tradition, Izmir is considered the most liberal city in Turkey. Its existence has been known since ancient times. Until the infamous massacre of 1922, the city was inhabited bymostly Greek, he was Christian.
One of the largest cities in Turkey has an excellent geographical position on the shores of the Gulf of Izmir, surrounded by low hills. Picturesque views and a temperate Mediterranean climate with dry and warm summers make it attractive for tourists.
The production of trucks and buses of the BMC Sanayi ve Ticaret A. Ş brand has been established in Izmir. and one of the leading Turkish institutions of higher education - Izmir Institute of Technology.
Bursa
The large administrative center of Bursa is located in the northwest of Anatolia. It rightly bears the status of one of the largest cities in Turkey in terms of population, because. the number of people living in it exceeds 1.5 million.
Bursa is believed to have been founded in 202 BC. and at different times belonged to the Byzantine and Ottoman empires, moreover, the city was the capital in the period from 1326 to 1365. Now it is famous for its ski resorts on Mount Uludag, the Green Mosque and the mausoleum. The city has a subway and a developed tram network.
Adana
The list of major cities in Turkey is closed by Adana, which is the administrative center of the region of the same name. The settlement is located just 50 km from the Mediterranean coast, on the Seykhan River. It has a typical Mediterranean climate with dry and hot summers. The population of Adana, according to the latest data, is more than 1.5 million people.
The city hasancient history and at different times was under the auspices of Greater Armenia, the Roman, Byzantine and Ottoman empires, the Armenian kingdom of Cilicia. Due to its favorable geographical position, it was called the key to the passages of the Taurus. In the old days, it was famous for its trade.
Currently, it is a large city in Turkey, which is an industrial center with a developed chemical, textile and food industry.
