Turkey is a country full of surprising and strange facts, from its rich cultural heritage to hidden gems that most visitors overlook. This guide dives into 35 fascinating insights about Turkey, uncovering quirky traditions, historical marvels, and lesser-known spots that make this destination so unique. Explore Turkey's hidden treasures and be amazed by what you discover!
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00:00Welcome to today's video, where we are going to explore some of the most surprising and
00:04strange facts about Turkey.
00:11This country bridges both Europe and Asia.
00:14From ancient traditions to modern-day curiosities, Turkey is full of incredible peculiarities
00:19that might surprise you.
00:21So let's dive into the 20 strange facts about Turkey that you probably didn't know.
00:2720 STRANGE FACTS ABOUT TURKEY 1.
00:31TURKEY SPANS TWO CONTINENTS.
00:33The country is part of both Europe and Asia, with Istanbul being the only city in the world
00:38that straddles two continents.
00:402.
00:41TULIPS ARE FROM TURKEY, NOT THE NETHERLANDS.
00:44While tulips are closely associated with the Dutch, they were first cultivated in Turkey
00:48before being introduced to Europe.
00:513.
00:52THE EVIL EYE IS A NATIONAL SYMBOL.
00:54The Nazar Boncuga, a blue glass bead, is believed to ward off bad luck and is found everywhere
01:00in Turkey.
01:014.
01:02SANTA CLAUS WAS BORN IN TURKEY.
01:04The real Saint Nicholas, who inspired the modern figure of Santa Claus, was born in
01:08Patara, Turkey, in the 3rd century.
01:125.
01:13TURKS INVENTED YOGURT.
01:14The word, yogurt, comes from Turkish, and Turkey is credited with the invention of this
01:19popular dairy product.
01:216.
01:22TURKEY IS HOME TO THE WORLD'S OLDEST TEMPLE.
01:25Göbekli Tepe, an archaeological site dating back over 11,000 years, is considered the
01:30world's oldest temple complex.
01:337.
01:34TURKISH TEA OBSESSION.
01:36Turks are the world's highest consumers of tea, with each person drinking about 1,300
01:41cups per year.
01:428.
01:43CATS RULE ISTANBUL.
01:45In Istanbul, street cats are revered, and you'll find them almost everywhere you go.
01:509.
01:51CAPPADOCIA'S FAIRY CHIMNEYS.
01:53These strange rock formations in central Turkey look like fairy tale towers, adding to the
01:57otherworldly landscape.
01:5910.
02:01TURKEY IS THE ORIGIN OF BAKLAVA.
02:03This sweet, flaky pastry filled with nuts and honey originated in the Ottoman Empire.
02:0811.
02:09HOME TO THE TROJAN HORSE.
02:11The legendary city of Troy is located in Turkey, and you can see a replica of the Trojan horse
02:16in the city of Canakkale.
02:1812.
02:19ANCIENT AQUEDUCTS STILL IN USE.
02:21The Valens Aqueduct in Istanbul, built by the Romans, still provides water to parts
02:26of the city.
02:2713.
02:28TURKISH DELIGHT ORIGINS.
02:30Known as, Lokum, Turkish delight is a sweet treat dating back to the Ottoman Empire and
02:35is still widely enjoyed today.
02:3814.
02:39HOME TO THE FIRST EVER SHOPPING MALL.
02:41The Grand Bazaar in Istanbul is one of the world's oldest and largest covered markets,
02:46dating back to the 15th century.
02:4815.
02:49IT'S ILLEGAL TO INSULT THE FOUNDER.
02:51In Turkey, it is a criminal offense to insult Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, the founder of modern
02:57Turkey.
02:5816.
02:59TURKISH CARPETS ARE WORLD FAMOUS.
03:01Known for their intricate designs, Turkish carpets have been woven for centuries and
03:05are highly prized.
03:0717.
03:08MUSTACHES ARE A STATUS SYMBOL.
03:11In some rural areas, having a thick mustache is a sign of masculinity and status.
03:1618.
03:17TURKS INVENTED THE MODERN TULIP MARKET.
03:20The first commercial tulip bulbs were exported to Europe from Turkey during the Ottoman Empire.
03:2519.
03:26EATING ICE CREAM WITH A KNIFE AND FORK.
03:29In the city of Mariz, the ice cream is so thick and chewy that people use a knife and
03:33fork to eat it.
03:3520.
03:36THE WORLD'S FIRST MIRROR WAS MADE IN TURKEY.
03:39Archaeologists discovered the first ever mirror made from obsidian in Turkey.
03:4321.
03:45HOME OF THE DERVISHES.
03:46The Whirling Dervishes of Turkey are famous for their spiritual Sufi dance, which is a
03:50mesmerizing sight.
03:5222.
03:53THE LAND OF BLACK ROSES.
03:55The town of Halfeti is known for its rare black roses, which only grow in the region's
04:00unique soil.
04:0223.
04:04TURKEY'S BLUE LAGOONS.
04:09The Blue Lagoon at Oludeniz is one of the most photographed beaches in the world.
04:1424.
04:15ISTANBUL'S UNDERWATER TUNNEL.
04:17The Marmaray Tunnel runs beneath the Bosphorus Strait, connecting the European and Asian
04:22sides of the city.
04:2325.
04:24IT'S ILLEGAL TO STEP ON MONEY.
04:26In Turkey, stepping on or mishandling money is considered highly disrespectful.
04:3126.
04:32ANTALYA HAS ITS OWN PALM TREES.
04:35Antalya is famous for its Mediterranean climate and its towering palm trees, which are rare
04:40in other parts of Europe.
04:4227.
04:43THE TRADITIONAL SHADOW THEATRE, KARAGOZ AND HAKAVAT, A SHADOW PLAY WITH PUPPET FIGURES,
04:49HAS BEEN PART OF TURKISH CULTURE FOR CENTURIES.
04:5228.
04:53HOME TO ONE OF THE WORLD'S OLDEST OLIVE TREES, THE ANCIENT OLIVE TREE IN TURKEY'S AGEAN REGION
04:58IS OVER 3,000 YEARS OLD.
05:0029.
05:01ISMIR'S FLOATING STONES.
05:04The city of Ismir is known for its optical illusion that makes it appear as though the
05:08stones on its beaches are floating on water.
05:1030.
05:11DON'T CHEW GUM AT NIGHT.
05:13TURKISH SUPERSTITION SAYS THAT CHEWING GUM AT NIGHT IS LIKE CHEWING THE FLESH OF THE
05:17DEAD.
05:1831.
05:19MEN WEAR SKIRTS IN SOME REGIONS, IN SOME PARTS OF RURAL TURKEY, MEN WEAR, SHALVAR, BAGGY
05:25TROUSERS THAT RESEMBLE SKIRTS.
05:2832.
05:29PAMUKKAL'S WHITE TERRACES.
05:31These stunning white mineral terraces, created by natural hot springs, are one of Turkey's
05:36most famous landscapes.
05:3833.
05:39TURKEY HAS THE LARGEST MOSQUE IN EUROPE.
05:42THE KAMLIKA MOSQUE IN ISTANBUL CAN HOLD UP TO 63,000 PEOPLE, MAKING IT THE LARGEST MOSQUE
05:47IN EUROPE.
06:11To summarize, this video was all about the top 20 strange facts about Turkey.
06:16From ancient cities and mystical superstitions to unusual foods and unique customs, Turkey
06:22is a land of endless surprises.
06:24If you found these facts about Turkey interesting, stay tuned for more amazing videos on fascinating
06:30cultures worldwide.