#Turkey is located at the crossroads of Asia and Europe. It is bordered by Greece and Bulgaria to the northwest, the Black Sea to the north, Georgia to the northeast, Armenia, the Azerbaijani exclave of Nakhchivan, and Iran to the east, Iraq to the southeast, Syria and the Mediterranean Sea to the south, and the Aegean Sea to the west. Area: 783,562 square kilometers. Topography: Includes the Taurus Mountains in the south, the Pontic Mountains in the north, fertile plains like the Anatolian Plain, and the Central Anatolian Plateau, along with lakes such as Lake Van. Water Bodies: Borders four major seas: the Black Sea, the Sea of Marmara, the Aegean Sea, and the Mediterranean Sea. 🌐 2. Climate: Coastal Areas: Mediterranean and Aegean Coasts: Mediterranean climate with hot, dry summers and mild, wet winters. Black Sea Coast: Moderate and humid climate year-round. Inland Regions: Continental climate with hot, dry summers and very cold, snowy winters. Climate Change: Turkey faces challenges like drought and rising temperatures due to climate change. 🌐 3. Population: Population Size: Approximately 84.5 million (2021). Population Distribution: Istanbul is the largest city with over 15.5 million residents. Ankara is the second largest, followed by Izmir, Bursa, and Antalya. Ethnic Diversity: Predominantly Turks, with a significant Kurdish minority, and smaller Armenian, Arab, and Greek communities. Population Growth: About 1.2% annually. 🌐 4. Economy: GDP: Approximately $7.209 trillion in 2021. Exports: Includes agricultural products, automobiles, textiles, and electronics, valued at $225 billion. Imports: Mainly energy and raw materials, totaling $271 billion. Unemployment Rate: Around 10.3%. Agriculture and Industry: Notable for wheat, hazelnuts, and olives, as well as being a leading producer of automobiles and steel. 🌐 5. Currency: The official currency is the Turkish Lira (TRY), which experiences fluctuations in value against foreign currencies. 🌐 6. Tourism: Visitor Numbers: Turkey welcomed around 30 million tourists in 2021. Revenue: Approximately $24.5 billion. Top Destinations: Istanbul: Iconic landmarks like Hagia Sophia, the Blue Mosque, and Topkapi Palace. Antalya: A hub for coastal tourism. Cappadocia: Known for its unique landscapes and hot air balloons. Historical Sites: Ephesus and Troy. 🌐 7. History: Civilizations: Turkey has been home to various civilizations, including the Hittites, Persians, Romans, and Byzantines. Ottoman Era: Spanned from the 14th century to the early 20th century. Modern Republic: Established in 1923 under Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, who moved the capital to Ankara and initiated widespread reforms. 🌐 8. Education: Education System: Mandatory for 12 years (6 years primary, 3 years middle, 3 years secondary). Higher Education: Home to numerous universities, including Istanbul University and Middle East Technical University. Literacy Rate: Approximately 96%. 🌐 9. Healthcare: Healthcare System: Turkey has a well-developed healthcare system encompassing public and private sectors. Medical Tourism: A popular destination for medical and cosmetic treatments, attracting thousands of patients annually. Hospitals: Equipped with state-of-the-art medical technology. 🌐 10. Culture: Official Language: Turkish. Religion: Islam is the predominant religion, with Christian and Jewish minorities. Traditions: A blend of Eastern and Western cultural influences. Turkey serves as a bridge between East and West, with a rich history and modern development.

A woodpecker preparing for winter starts by finding a dead tree and meticulously making holes to store acorns. Each hole is carefully crafted; if it's too large, other birds can easily steal the acorns, and if it's too small, the acorns can break and spoil. By the end of summer, the woodpecker's precise work is complete. The ripened acorns are placed in the holes, with a single large tree trunk capable of holding around 50,000 acorns, ensuring the bird has enough food for a satisfying winter Read Also this https://taleofsoul.com/a-heartwarming-story-of-robin-ranae-of-georgia/ Credits to the amazing Photographer

Winter is too much, isn't it? It has rained in Gaza in this severe winter. 🥹 May Allah protect them.🖤🇵🇸

Snegurochka (Snow Maiden) is an unique character in Russian folklore and an essential personage of the Russian New Year’s celebration. The roots of this character can be found in Slavic pagan beliefs. According to legends, she is a daughter of Father Frost and Mother Spring. But in her most recognizable form, she is the granddaughter and companion of Ded Moroz (Granddaddy Frost - Russian Santa Claus). She helps Ded Moroz deliver gifts to children during the New Year celebration. In Russian fairy-tales, she is young and beautiful, and she always travels with Ded Moroz on a horse-drawn sledge. She is said to live deep in the winter forest. More often, Snegurochka wears a silver-blue robe and a furry cap or crown adorned with silver and pearls. Snegurochka's name is derived from the Russian word for snow - sneg.

Santa Claus of the Turks: It is defined as the Soğuk Han in Turkish, Altai and Central Asian mythologies, especially among the Kazakh and Kyrgyz Turks and the Turkmens. According to mythology, he can be said to be a saint, in today's equivalent, who appears in the cold of winter and helps the homeless and the hungry. Also known as Ayas Han. In all Turks, Ayaz means burning cold. It was thought that the Moon God sent Ayas Khan, who was affiliated with him, to protect the Turks, especially on clear nights when the Moon was clearly visible. Source: Turkologist Dr. Shurubu Kayhan's book "Turkish World and Traditions from Cradle to Grave" --- Türklerin Noel Babası : Türk, Altay ve Orta Asya mitolojilerinde, özellikle Kazak ve Kırgız Türklerin de ve Türkmenlerde Soğuk Hanı olarak tanımlanmaktadır. Mitolojilere göre kışın soğukta ortaya çıkan, kimsesizlere ve açlara yardım eden günümüz karşılığı ile bir evliyadır denilebilir. Ayas Han olarak da bilinir. Tüm Türklerde Ayaz yakıcı soğuk manasına gelmektedir. Özellikle Ay’ın net olarak görüldüğü havanın açık olduğu gecelerde Ay Tanrısının ona bağlı bulunan Ayas Han’ı Türkleri koruması için gönderdiği düşünülürdü. Kaynak : Türkolog Dr. Shurubu Kayhan' ın "Beşikten Mezara Türk Dünyası ve Gelenekleri" adlı kitabı

The Mollabashi House, also known as house of Mo’tamediha, is located in #Isfahan, #Iran. Its original building was constructed during Zand dynasty with two large “panj-dari” rooms; and a part called “zemestan-neshin” that allowed the residents to make use of the winter sun. Later in Qajar era, Mollabashi – the astronomer of Naser al-Din Shah who was sent to Isfahan on a mission – owned the house. He built the “shah-neshin”, a large room with an elevated position in the northern part of the house, and the large “noh-dari” room- the mansion’s most important, interesting parts indeed. It is an edifice with historical base and completely new decorations; ranging from sash windows, plaster and glass work to tiles and stone cravings. Mollabashi house has now turned into a tourist attraction. It consists of more than 10 rooms with particular features, named after months of Persian calendar.

Bring warmth to the hearts of affected families in Gaza and Syria this winter. We aim to provide food and heating equipment to displaced families in Gaza, northern Syria and Lebanon. Donate now: https://ihrelief.org/en/winter-appeal/

Tomorrow Island (Big Diomede) and Yesterday Island (Little Diomede). The Diomede islands are just three miles apart but the bigger island is almost one day ahead of its smaller neighbour (21 hours) because they sit on either side of the International Date Line which passes through the Pacific Ocean and marks the boundary between one calendar day and the next. They sit in the Bering Strait between mainland Alaska and Siberia Big Diomede is located on the Russian side while Little Diomede is on the US side. The ice bridge that forms between the two islands in winter makes it possible, although illegal, to walk the short distance between them and 'travel through time'.

Captivating Aerial View of Grand Jamia Masjid, Behria Town, Lahore, Pakistan 🇵🇰 #islamabadbeautyofpakistan #Islamabad #islamicrepublicofpakistan #pakistan #beautifuldestinations #beauty #blogger #bloggersofinstagram #margallahills #rain #mountains #Islamabad #dawndotcom #morning #northernareasofpakistan #lahore #winter #islamabad #lahore #trending #potraitphotography #mountainview #aerial #aerialphotography #aerialview #aerialshot #night #nightphotography #nightview #lhr

Tomorrow Island (Big Diomede) and Yesterday Island (Little Diomede). The Diomede islands are just three miles apart but the bigger island is almost one day ahead of its smaller neighbour (21 hours) because they sit on either side of the International Date Line which passes through the Pacific Ocean and marks the boundary between one calendar day and the next. They sit in the Bering Strait between mainland Alaska and Siberia Big Diomede is located on the Russian side while Little Diomede is on the US side. The ice bridge that forms between the two islands in winter makes it possible, although illegal, to walk the short distance between them and 'travel through time'.