The Cities
Turkey has a population of just over 70 million and has an exceptionally high urbanization percentage, with consequently a high student population in the denser areas in particular. Nearly half of the population lives in the five largest cities. Educaturk will take you to the top three.
Istanbul
Istanbul is the largest city in Turkey, covering 27 districts of the Istanbul province. The last census indicated a population of over 12 million, but most locals will say anywhere between 12 and 20 million, depending on where you view the outlying borders to actually be.
This stunning city is located on the Bosphorus Strait and encompasses the natural harbor known as the Golden Horn, in the northwest of the country. It extends both on the European (Thrace) and on the Asian (Anatolia) side of the Bosphorus, and is thereby the only metropolis in the world that is situated on two continents.
In its long history, Istanbul served as the capital city of the Roman Empire (330–395), the East Roman (Byzantine) Empire (395–1204 and 1261–1453), the Latin Empire (1204–1261), and the Ottoman Empire (1453–1922). The city was chosen as joint European Capital of Culture for 2010 and is host to myriad international festivals, congresses and cultural events. The historic areas of Istanbul were added to the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1985 and it is a city steeped in history, yet exceptionally chic and modern. Many different cultures, religions, fashions, language groups and ages groups co-exist in this energetic metropolis.
Istanbul is home to many universities, ranging in age from the Istanbul University (est. 1453) all the way up to the many new universities being founded year after year.
Some of the private and public universities in Istanbul are world-renowned for their progressive teaching and high academic standards. Some of the universities you will find in Istanbul include:
Ankara
Ankara is the capital of Turkey and the country's second largest city after Istanbul. As of 2007 the city had a population of over 4 million inhabitants, reaching nearly twice that number when considering the surrounding towns and outlying areas. Ankara also serves as the capital of Ankara Province.
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. The city was famous for its long-haired Angora goat and its prized wool (mohair), a unique breed of cat (Angora cat), white rabbits and their prized wool (Angora wool), pears, honey, and the region's muscat grapes.
While a very modern city, there are still wonderful remnants of its rich history as well as of the region. The History of Anatolian Civilization is considered one of the better museums in Europe.
Ankara is noted, within Turkey, for the multitude of universities it is home to. These include the following, several of them being among the most reputable in the country:
Izmir
Once called Smyrna, Izmir is Turkey's third most populous city and the country's largest port after Istanbul. It is located along the outlying waters of the Gulf of Izmir, by the Aegean Sea and is the seat of Izmir Province.
The city of Izmir is comp
osed of nine metropolitan districts, each with its own distinct features and temperament. The total population of the metropolitan municipality was 2,649,582 by the end of 2007, though as with most large cities in Turkey, the numbers are generally higher when considering outskirts that are associated with the larger centres.
Izmir has almost 3,500 years of urban past. Its port, privatized in 2007, is Turkey's first port for exports in terms of the freight handled and its free zone, a Turkish-U.S. joint-venture established in 1990, is the leader among the twenty in Turkey. Its workforce, and particularly its rising class of young professionals, is concentrated either in the city or in its immediate vicinity (such as in Manisa), and is working in an increasingly wider global scale and intensity. Izmir is widely regarded as one of the most progressive Turkish cities in terms of its values, lifestyle, dynamism and gender roles.
The city is home to many private and specialized high schools as well as a number of universities, which include:
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