Hi, I’m Rebecca Brayton and welcome to watchmojo.com. Today we’ll be continuing our travel series with a profile on Turkey.

Turkey, a country with a population of over 17 million, border such countries as Armenia, Iran, Iraq and Syria. Turkey is actually located across both Asia and Europe. Because of this strategic location, the country has a blend of eastern and western tradition. For example, Turkish cuisine is a combination of Middle Eastern food such as—pita bread and hams and Mediterranean food like tomatoes, garlic and grilled meat, peppers, mint cumin and yogurt are important ingredients in Turkish cuisine.

Turkish climate is temperate with hot dry summers and mild wet winters. However, weather conditions get harsher towards the interior of the country. Turkey split into seven regions, each has its own distinct climate, landscape and traditions. The first four named according to their adjacent seas, the Black sea, the Marmara, the Aegean and the Mediterranean regions. The other three are named in relation to their location and whole of Anatolia, the Central, Eastern and Southeast Anatolia regions.

Eastern Turkey has a mountainous landscape and is home to the sources of rivers such as the Euphrates and the Tigris. Anatolia is one of the Mediterranean’s most important cities and is Turkey’s hottest vacation spot with the—beaches on the west and a large beaches to the east lying at the foot of the Anatolia’s massive mountain range. The region invade in sunshine for 300 days of the year is a paradise of sun bathing, swimming and sporting activities like wind surfing, water skiing and caving.

Anatolia in March and April allows visitors to ski in the mornings and in the afternoon swim in the warm waters of the Mediterranean. The Turkey also has a very rich architectural heritage. Among its monuments are examples of Greek Roman Visentin Ottoman Architecture. In fact, it is the home of some of the world’s most beautiful Visentin architecture. The main religion in Turkey is Muslim and therefore the country showcases several fantastic masks including Hagia Sophia and the blue mask. Some of the main exports are clothing and textiles with the silk trade being a huge draw. Urban rugs called kalims are also important item shoppers might pick up at the grand bazaar, one of the world largest covered markets which is located in Istanbul which is Turkish largest city.

Istanbul is the heart of business and cultural life. However Ankara is Turkey’s capital. Istanbul recently became one of the biggest shopping centers of the European region by hosting the biggest mall in Europe and fourth largest shopping center in the world. Foreign tourist arrivals increase substantially in Turkey between 2002 and 2005 which made Turkey a top ten destination in the world for foreign visitors.