Boston UniversityBoston UniversityCenter for English Language and Center for English Language and

Orientation ProgramsOrientation Programs

Class Reunion in 2018Class Reunion in 2018

Ankara Welcomes Ankara Welcomes YouYou

Betul AcikgozBetul AcikgozBoston, 2008Boston, 2008

Turkey Fast FactsTurkey Fast Facts

• Official NameThe Republic of Turkey

• PresidentAbdullah Gul

• Population72,907,000

• Capital and PopulationAnkara; 3,428,000

• Area779,452 square kilometers(300,948 square miles)

• Official LanguageTurkish

• ReligionMuslim (mostly Sunni)

• CurrencyTurkish lira

• Life Expectancy72

• GDP Per CapitaU.S. $7,300

• Literacy Percent87

City of City of AnkaraAnkara

Ankara is the capital of Turkey and the country's second largest city after Istanbul. Centrally located in Anatolia, Ankara is an important commercial and industrial city. It is the center of the Turkish Government, and houses all foreign embassies. It is an important crossroads of trade, strategically located at the center of Turkey's highway and railway networks, and serves as the marketing center for the surrounding agricultural area.

HistorHistoryy

As with many ancient cities, Ankara has gone by several names over the ages: The Hittites gave it the name Ankuwash before 1200 BC. The Galatians and Romans called it Ancyra. In the classical, Hellenistic, and Byzantine periods it was known as Ἄγκυρα Ánkyra. It was also known as Angora after it fell to the Seljuks in 1073, and was so known up until 1930.

MuseumsMuseums

• Museum of Anatolian Civilizations • War of Independence Museum • Republic Museum • Museum of Ethnography • State Art and Sculpture Museum • TCDD Locomotive Museum • Turkish Air Force Aviation Museum

UniversitiesUniversities• Ankara University • Atılım University• Başkent University • Bilkent University • Çankaya University • Gazi University • Hacettepe University • Middle East Technical University • TOBB University of Economics and Technology • Ufuk University

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Shopping MallsShopping Malls• Armada • Ankamall • Galleria • Karum • Cepa 

Soccer TeamsSoccer Teams• Genclerbirligi Sport Club• Ankara Gucu• Ankara Spor• Hacettepe Sport Club

TransportationTransportation• Esenboga International Airport, located in the

north of the city, is the main airport of Ankara.• Ankara Intercity Bus Terminal is an important part

of the bus network which covers every neighborhood in the city.

• The central train station of Turkish Republic Railways is an important hub connecting the western and eastern parts of the country.

• EGO operates the public transportation. There are currently two subway lines in the city and three more are under construction.

HotelsHotels

RestaurantRestaurantss

Clubs and Concert Clubs and Concert HallsHalls

Turkish CuisineTurkish Cuisine