Turkey

Turkey is a country with a unique geographical location, partly in Asia and partly in Europe. Over its history, it has been both a barrier and a bridge between the two continents. Turkey lies at the crossroads of the Balkans, the Caucasus, the Middle East and the eastern Mediterranean. Almost all of the country's territory is in Asia, including the elongated Asia Minor peninsula and part of a mountainous region in the east, sometimes called the Armenian Highlands. The remainder lies in the southernmost south-east of Europe, a tiny remnant of an empire that once covered much of the Balkans. The variety of habitats in Turkey's geographical regions has resulted in a high species diversity and a vibrant ecosystem. Anatolia is home to many of the plants that have been grown as food since the dawn of agriculture, and the wild ancestors of many of the flowers and plants that now provide essential food for mankind are still grown in Turkey. Turkey's fauna is even more diverse than its flora. The total number of animal species in Europe is around 60 000, while Turkey has more than 80 000 species, or over 100 000 including subspecies. The coniferous and deciduous forests of Northern Anatolia are an ecoregion that covers most of the Pontic Mountains in northern Turkey, while the Caucasian mixed forests cover the eastern end of the mountains. The region is habitat to Eurasian wildlife like the Eurasian Sparrow Hawk, Golden Eagle, Eastern Imperial Eagle, Lesser Spotted Eagle, Caucasian Black Grouse and Red-Fronted Serin. Turkey has 40 national parks, 189 nature parks, 31 nature preserves, 80 wildlife protection areas and 109 nature monuments.