Location South-eastern Europe/Asia Minor.   Time GMT + 2   Business Hours Offices and banks are generally open from 09.00 to 17.00 hours from Mondays to Fridays.   Area 779,452 sq km (300,948 sq miles).   Population 76.9 million (July 2009 est.)   Population Density 94.04 per sq km.   Capital Ankara   Geography Turkey borders the Black Sea and Georgia and Armenia to the northeast, Iran to the east, Iraq to the southeast, the Syrian Arab Republic and the Mediterranean to the south, the Aegean Sea to the west and Greece and Bulgaria to the northwest. Asia Minor (or Anatolia) accounts for 97% of the country's area and forms a long, wide peninsula 1,650km (1,025 miles) from east to west and 650km (400 miles) from north to south. Two east-west mountain ranges, the Black Sea Mountains in the north and the Taurus in the south, enclose the central Anatolian plateau, but converge in a vast mountainous region in the far east of the country. It is here that the ancient Tigris and Euphrates rivers rise.   Government Republican parliamentary democracy   Language Turkish. (French, German and English are widely spoken in cities and tourist areas).   Religion Muslim 99.8% with 0.2% mainly Christian and Jewish. Turkey is a secular state which guarantees complete freedom of worship to non-Muslims.   Electricity 220 volts AC, 50Hz.   Weight & Measures Metric   Passport & Visa Requirements A valid passport with expire date at least 3 months, is required for entry to Turkey. Visa information will be sent separately but information can be obtained from your nearest Turkish Embassy or www.mfa.gov.tr   Currency and Credit Cards and Exchange The official currency in Turkey is the Turkish Lira (TL). Major credit cards are accepted by hotels, restaurants and shops. ATMs can be found in even the smallest Turkish cities. Banks will exchange foreign currency and traveller's cheques with your passport as a proof of identity. Exchange offices also offer a fast service and usually do not charge commission.   Climate For a detailed average analysis please click here.   Tipping All restaurant prices and taxi fares include service, but good service in the restaurant can be rewarded with a tip. Tipping is at guest's discretion in hotels.   Customs Turkey is not a part of the European Union so custom formalities are different from other countries in Europe. Please check the web sites www.gumruk.gov.tr or www.tourismturkey.org before sending anything to Turkey. (COURIER COMPANY OFFICES CAN GIVE MISLEADING INFORMATION)   Official Holidays Public Holidays 1 January New Year's Day 23 April National Sovereignty and Children`s Day 19 May Ataturk Commemoration and Youth & Sports Day 30 August Victory Day 29 October Republic Day   Religious / Bank Holidays The dates of these holidays change according to the lunar calendar.