Turkey - download georeferenced map set

Map set contains: 19 maps of scale 1:500 000 140 maps of scale 1:200 000 584 maps of scale 1:100 000 48 maps of scale 1:50 000 In order to view additional information pass to images of maps coverage and click on the map square concerned. The latest added maps are indicated in yellow color. Total in map set791 maps of1784 Mb Updated inJune 2008 (added 69 maps) $35 Add to cart

The set of topographic maps of Turkey includes maps of Pontic Mountains, Taurus maps, Ararat maps, Diyarbakir Basin maps, Kachkar maps and Uludag maps. You will also find Kyzyl-Irmak maps, Tigris maps, Euphrates maps, Bakyrchay maps, Gediz maps, Great and Small Menderes maps, Maritza maps and maps of Van, Erchek maps, Chyldyr and Khazar maps. The set features as well Istanbul maps, Ankara maps, Izmir maps, Didim maps, Manisa maps, Bergama maps, Antalya maps, Kemer maps, Belek maps, Alanya maps, Izmir maps, Marmaris maps, Bodrum maps, Fethiye maps, Pamukkale maps, Kusadasi maps, Bursa and Amaziah maps.

Turkey is a country which lies partly in South-West Asia and in South Europe. The main part of the country is the Anatolian Peninsula (the Asia Minor Peninsula), between the Black and Mediterranean Seas. Turkey is bounded by Georgia, Armenia, Azerbaijan and Iran in the east, Iraq and Syria in the south and Greece and Bulgaria in the west. Turkey is washed by four seas: the Black, the Mediterranean, the Aegean Seas and the Sea of Marmara. The area of Turkey is 779,452 sq km.

Mountains. The Pontic Mountains extend along the Black Sea coast for over 1,000 km. In the east they reach the border with Georgia and Armenia, while in the west they stretch to the plains in the lower reaches of the Sakarya River. The Pontic Mountains do not form an uninterrupted chain and are dissected by deep intermountain valleys, which run parallel to the coastline. In the north, the Pontic Mountains drop abruptly to the Black Sea, leaving a narrow coastal strip 5 - 10 km wide. The average height of the Pontic Mountains is about 2,500 m. In its eastern part, the range reaches its highest altitude (Mount Kachkar, 3,931 m). To the west, the Pontic Mountains go down to 900 m in height and the maximum height here is not greater than 2,000 m.

The Taurus is a mountain range in the southern part of Asia Minor. Its total length from Lake Egridir in the west to the upper reaches of the Euphrates River in the east is 600 km. Its maximum height is 3,090 m. It features karst landscapes made of limestone, with many waterfalls, caves and underground rivers.

South of the Eastern Taurus stretches the vast Diyarbakir Basin, in the south gradually descending to the Mesopotamian Plain, which already lies outside Turkey.

The ridges of Western Anatolia are mostly medium-high mountains. Some peaks, such as Mount Uludag (Olympus Minor), reach nearly 2,500 m.

Rivers. The largest river, shared with Turkey, is the Kyzyl-Irmak (1,150 km long). Two great Asian rivers - the Tigris and Euphrates - have their origin in the east of the country. Other important rivers include the Bakyrchay, the Gediz, the Great Menderes, the Small Menderes and the Maritza, which flow into the Aegean Sea, and such rivers as the Aksu, the Geksu, the Seyhan, Jeyhan, the Asi, the Dalaman and the Manavgat, which flow into the Mediterranean Sea.

Lakes. In Turkey, there are a lot of lakes, which mainly fill the depressions in the Anatolian Plateau and the Armenian Plateau. Van (Van Gul) is the largest lake in Turkey, covering an area of 3,763 sq km. The second largest lake in Turkey is Lake Ace, with an area of 1,500 sq km.

Lakes Erchek, Chyldyr and Khazar are located in Eastern Anatolia, the region of Turkey, which is the richest in lakes. The main water bodies of the area of the Western Hummocks are fresh water lakes Beyshehir and Egirdir and salt lakes Adjigel and Burdur. Lakes Sapandzha, Iznik, Ulubat, Manyasi, Terkos, Kyuchyukchekmedje and Byuyukchekmedje are found in the Marmara area.

Sightseeing. Turkey is a rather new and intensively developing resort area. Its warm climate, rich history and a great number of monuments of ancient civilizations attract a huge number of tourists from all over the world. First of all, Turkey is famous for its sea resorts, such as Antalya, Kemer, Belek, Side, Alanya, Izmir, Marmaris, Bodrum, Fethiye and many other not less exciting resorts.

Istanbul is a city rich in history, a major port, the economic and industrial center of the country. Istanbul has a unique location - it lies at the Bosporus Strait, so it is found both in Europe and Asia. The main attractions of Istanbul are St. Sophia's Cathedral (Aya Sofia) and Ahmed Mosque (“The Blue Mosque”).

Ankara is the capital and the second largest city in the country, situated at an altitude of 850 m at the edge of the Anatolian Plateau. Ankara is a very ancient city, the castle served as a refuge for local people back in the times of the Hittites (1200 BC).

Izmir is the birthplace of Homer, ancient Smirna and the third largest city after Istanbul and Ankara as well as Turkey's largest city on the Aegean coast.

Didim lies 110 km of Izmir in the picturesque bay of the Aegean Sea. It is famous for its resort Altin Kum (“Golden Sands”) and the temple of Apollo (900-400 BC), one of the most grandiose monuments of antiquity.

29 km of Izmir lies the town of Manisa, which is famous for its mosques, Ulu Jami (1376) and Jami Muradiye (1586).

In a half-hour drive north of Izmir lies Bergama, known in ancient times as the majestic city of Pergamum, one of the most famous cities in the ancient world.

Antalya is a resort considered Turkey’s tourism capital on the Mediterranean coast, which offers a rich historical heritage and unique nature. The area is famous for its luxurious hotels and clean beaches. According to UNESCO surveys, this area is recognized as one of the most environmentally friendly places on the planet.

The sights that lie only 14 km of Antalya are the majestic Upper Dyuden and Kepryu waterfalls found in a canyon which reaches 400 m in depth, the stunning Gyuver canyon, up to 115 m deep, as well as Karain Cave, 100 years old.

Belek, situated between Antalya and Side, is considered a recognized golf center of the region.

Side is a small town on the peninsula, 75 km from Antalya, and one of the busiest resorts in southern Turkey.

Kemer, located 42 kilometers south of Antalya, is mentioned in many ancient Greek myths as the place where the terrible fire-breathing Chimera lived. Today it is a rapidly growing resort and one of the most famous yachting centers.

Fethiye (Termesos, the City of Light) is known for its beautiful beaches, secluded bays fragmented coast, lively bazaars, rock graves and luxuriant subtropical vegetation.

Alanya, founded in the 4th century BC, in the times of the Roman Empire, became known as Korakesion, a famous pirate base. Later Mark Anthony gave it to Cleopatra, who loved these secluded coves and picked them as her favorite place for bathing.

Marmaris is one of the best sea resorts in the country. It is found in a bay with three islands, full of secluded and deserted bays, on the border the Aegean and Mediterranean Seas. A tourism boom has transformed the fishing village of Marmaris into a comfortable tourist resort.

Kusadasi is situated at the heart of the Kusadasi Bay. Kusadasi’s main attractions include Kyuchyukada Kalesija, an ancient Genoese fortress on Gyuverdjin Island and a caravanserai.

Pamukkale is one of the wonders of the country. In this picturesque area, there are surface hot springs with a high concentration of calcium oxide, which formed over many thousands of years huge thick white lime deposits on the rocky terraces on the Taurus spurs.

Bodrum is a famous resort with countless beautiful bays, clear water and pebble beaches, many hotels and clubs with great potential for good recreation. The city is situated in the south-west of Turkey on the shores of the Aegean Sea.

Bursa is the first capital of the Ottoman Empire, founded in the 2nd century BC and known as Prus. This is a unique city, which offers a collection of historical monuments in the open air.

The Anatolian Plateau is limited by the mountain chains of the Pontic and the Taurus Mountains, and therefore it is less accessible than other parts of the country. The scenery of these sites is unique because the erosion of tufaceous volcanic rocks led to the formation of fanciful mountains, a number of caves and rocks of curious shapes.

Amaziah is a town surrounded by gardens, groves and vineyards, which was once the capital of the Pontian Kingdom. The burial vault of Pontian kings are carved directly into the rock and the mummies of ancient rulers are stored in the town’s museum.

The small village of Nebi is famous for its residents, dervishes, who represent a mystical trend in Islam.

Tourism.

A holiday in Turkey gives access to a variety of active and educational programs. An interesting underwater landscape, a great number of grottoes and caves, steep rocks and shipwrecks attract many divers. Nearly every seaside resort in Turkey is suited for diving, for instance, Kusadasi or Ichmelere. Fans of diving will be able to enjoy deep dives into the water area of Marmaris, near Cape Kyutyuk, the Kadyrg beacon, Djennet Island and Karg Island; at the resort of Bodrum, near such islands as Kechek, Kargy and Orak; at underwater resorts in the vicinity of Belek, such as Kalkana and Patara Canyon, and near Eksyuz Island.

Those who like to take pictures of sunken ships and destroyed cities should do diving in Kemer, where the ruins of the city of Kokovu are found in the so called “Zone of Three Islands”.

An advantageous geographical position, constant wind and good waves create the best conditions for exciting surfing, kitesurfing and yachting - sports popular in Kemer, Kusadasi, Ichmelere, Antalya, Side, Alanya, Fethiye, Bodrum, Fener and Marmaris.

The Kyupryuchay, a mountain river flowing in the Kepryulyu Canyon Nature Reserve, a splendid national park, is ideal for rafting, just like the Dalyan, a river full of rapids, which offers conditions for rafting in Marmaris and Fethiye.

First-rate service at reasonable prices, a stable snow cover from December to March, excellent skiing tracks, modern lifts and skiing schools contribute to the popularity of Turkey’s tourist ski resorts, such as Sarikamysh (near Kars), Uludag (near Bursa) and Palandoken (near Erzerum).

Climate. Turkey enjoys a subtropical climate, with large temperature and humidity contrasts, depending on the altitude and the distance from the sea. In coastal areas in the south and west, the climate is Mediterranean, with dry summers, while it is evenly humid in the north-east and continental in the inland areas. The average temperature in Turkey lies in the range of +9°C in January to 31°C in July. In Istanbul, the average temperature is +4°C in January and + 27°C July. On the coast of Antalya, the temperature reaches + 40°C in summer and it rises to +45°C - +50°C in the central areas. The annual precipitation is about 700 mm on average, 300-400 mm on the Anatolian plateau, while the external slopes of the Taurus and Pontic Mountains receive 1,000-2,000 mm of rainfall per year.