Turkey officially is known as the Republic of Turkey (Turkiye Cumhuriyeti); stretches across the Anatolian Peninsula (Asia Manor) in West Asia and Thrace in South East Europe. Turkey is the 37th largest country in the world. Turkey is roughly rectangular shaped form situated like a bridge between Asia and Europe. Turkey extends more than 1,600 km (994 mi) from west to east; less than 800 km (497 mi) from north to south. Total land area is about 783,562 km2 (302,535 m2). According to this approximately 97 % of Turkey land is in Asia and 3 % of it in Europe.

Turkey is bordered by eight countries: Bulgaria to the northwest and Greece to the west; Georgia to the northeast; Armenia, Nakhchivan (Azerbaijan) and Iran to the east; Irak and Syria to the southeast. Land boundaries with Bulgaria 240 km (149 mi), Greece 206 km (128 mi), Georgia 252 km (157 mi), Armenia 268 km (167 mi), Nakhchivan (Azerbaijan) 9 km (6 mi), Iran 499 km (310 mi), Irak 331 km (206 mi), and Syria 822 km (511 mi). The border with Bulgaria and Greece was decided by the Treaty of Lausanne in 1923. According to agreement Greek-speaking community of western Turkey were forced to resettle in Greece, while Turkish-speaking residents of Thrace who were not forced out during the Balkan wars were removed to Turkey. Since 1991 the more than 500 km (311 mi) border with the former Soviet Union, which was defined in the 1921 Treaty of Moscow and Treaty of Kars has formed Turkey's borders with the independent countries of Gorgia Armenia and Azerbaijan. Border by Iran was confirmed by the Kasr-i Sirin treaty in 1638. The border with Irak and Syria was decided by the Treaty of Ankara in 1926.

Turkey is surrounded by sea on three sides and protected by high mountains along its eastern border. The Black Sea is on the north; the Aegean Sea to the west; the Aegean Sea to the west and The Mediterranean Sea to the south. The Marmara Sea is an inner sea connecting Black Sea and Aegean Sea by two Straits : Bosphorus and Dardanelles; these two straits separate European Turkey (Thrace) and Asian Turkey (Anatolia, Asia minor).

Turkey is divided into seven regions in the first Geography Congress met in Ankara in 1941, according to their climate, location, flora and fauna, topography etc. Black Sea Region, Marmara Region, Aegean Region, Mediterranean Region, Central Anatolia Region, Eastern Region and Southeastern Anatolia Region.

Turkey is characterised by a central plateau surrounded by chains of mountains on the north, west and south and a rugged mountainous region in the east with an average elevation of 1050 metres. Turkey’s mountains in the west, descend gently towards the sea. The northern Anatolia mountain range, and the Taurus range in the south, stretches like arcs, becoming ever denser in the east. Turkey's highest mountain peak at 5165 metres Agri Dagi (Mount Ararat), situated in the north east of Turkey, can be seen from Dogu Beyazıt. It is believed it is the resting place for Noah's Ark.

Turkey is a rich country in term of fresh water lakes, lagoons and crater lakes all around the country. In addition it has some salty lakes and bitter lakes.There are more than 300 natural and 130 artifical lakes. Some of Turkey’ lakes are accumulated to the same regions.

Turkey has many large rivers flow into the seas surrounding the country from three sides. Some of the rivers flow outside the country into the Persian Gulf, and some of the rivers rises from outside Turkey and flow to the seas surrounding Turkey.

When the earth experienced ice periods in the last 1.8 million years ago, the living things of the north left unfavorable conditions and took refuge in the Iberian peninsula, Southeast Asia, and in Anatolia which offered favorable survival conditions. During the ace ages some of these species returned to the north and some evolved and adapted to the new environment conditions. On the other hand Anatolia have been a passageway between the continents of Europe, Asia and Africa. And some of the fauna and flora of Anatolia owe their geographical spread to this passageway. Because of these conditions Anatolia is one the most important region about diversitiy of fauna and flora in the world.

Turkey today is run according to free market rules although the state has a significant role in some essential sector such as banking, communication and transport. The private sector is the country powerful engine. Mainly from 1980’s, modern industry improved significantly and play the majority role in the Turkey’ economy. In addition textile, tourism, trading, agriculture, agricultural products, husbandy and crafts are other economic dinamics of the country.

Turkey from three sides surrounded by seas. These situation affect Turkey’s climate as quite temperate weather on the regions close to the sea, mainly around Mediterranean and Eagean sea . But because of the parallel mountains run on the sea shore which prevent the air circulation go through inner region, plus high Anatolian territory result substantial differences in climatic conditions from one region to the other.

Turkey's population reached 72.56 million at the end of 2009, constituted 1.1 percent of the world population. According to these figures Turkey was ranked the 17th among 237 countries. The average age of the population was 28.8 in 2009 and added while the average age of the world population was 28.4. The expected life span is 74 years in Turkey while it is 67 years in the world.