Land Area: 783,562 sq km (including lakes and islands), of which 30% arable, 3% orchards, olive groves and vineyards, 26% classified as forest.

Population: 67,809,927 (2000 census)

Main Towns:

Climate: Mediterranean on the south coast, continental inland

Language: The official language is Turkish but English is widely spoken in all major tourist areas and in bigger towns and cities.

Measures: Metric system

Time: GMT/UTC +2

Currency: New Turkish Lira (TRY) (1GBP=3 TRY)

Opening Hours: Banks, post offices and tourist offices are generally open between 8.30am and 12.30pm and again from 1.30pm until 5.30pm.

The smaller shops and bazaars are usually open from 9.30am to 1.00pm and from 2.00pm to 7.00pm Mon - Sat. The majority of the larger stores do not close in the afternoon. Grocery stores open as early as 6.00am and many remain open until 8.00pm.

Post Offices: They are easily recognisable by the bright yellow colour and the “PTT” sign. Opening times are generally from 8.30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday to Friday.

Fiscal year: Calendar year

Public holidays: January 1st; April 23rd; May 19th; three days for Ramadan and four days for Kurban (dates vary according to the Muslim calendar); August 30th; October 28th (half-day); October 29th