Number of flora species is about 9,000 of which 3,000 are endemic

Garden of Eden, Adam & Eve (according to some Bible scholars)

Female deities dominated Central Anatolian for thousands of years before being transferred to male gods

About 20,000 more animal species than Europe

Noah's Ark is believed to have landed on Mount Ararat

Abraham's and St. Paul's birthplace

First beauty pageant (Helene of Troy)

Trojan horse

Artifacts taken from Troy are now found in over 40 museums around the world plus an unknown number of private collections. Unfortunately this is true for many other sites, examples: Zeus Altar, Gateway to the Sanctuary of Athena, Statues from Priene, Market Gate from Miletus, Temple of Artemis from Ephesus, Mausoleum of Halicarnassus and Xanthos Tomb.

Amazon women warriors

Alexander the Great cut the Gordian knot near Ankara

Two of the Seven Wonders of the World: Temple of Artemis at Ephesus and Mausoleum at Halicarnassus

Julius Caesar's famous words I came, I saw, I conquered: "Veni, vidi, vici"

Oldest church, St. Peter's Cave Church

The term "Christian" was first coined in Anatolia

The first church dedicated to Virgin Mary and her house

One of the oldest synagogues

The Seven Churches of Revelation

The Seven Ecumenical Councils (325 - 787)

Early Christians hid from Roman persecution and Arab raiders in Cappadocia for centuries

St. Nicholas (Santa Claus) was born in Patara and was Bishop of Myra

Mehter, oldest and possibly the first military band, 8th century

First coffee houses and introduction of coffee to Europe

Piri Reis compiled a world map in the early 16th century with Antartica on it. However Antarctica was not "discovered" for another 300 years.

First man ever to fly is Hazarefen Celebi. He flew off the Galata Tower (built in 1348) and over the Bosphorous (from Europe to Asia)

At the entrance of the Golden Horn, Constantinople was protected by a huge forged iron chain in the water.

Mehmet the Conqueror decided to bypass the chain by dragging 70 ships over steep narrow land and captured Constantinople in 1453.

Home to Greek Orthodox Ecumenical Patriarch and Armenian Patriarch

Smallpox vaccination was introduced to Europe by Lady Montagu after Turkish physicians saved her son's life.

The heaviest chandelier weighing 4.5 tons with 750 bulbs is at Dolmabahce Palace (see page 1)

In 1863, Robert College became the first American college outside the United States

In 1934, women were granted suffrage (right to elect and be elected)

Turkey was one of few countries giving refuge to Jews, including Albert Einstein, escaping the Nazis

In 1983, Turkey joined the World Heritage Convention, its goal is to preserve cultural and natural heritages. These locations are on the World Heritage List: Historic areas of Istanbul, Safranbolu, Hattusas, Mt. Nimrod, Xanthos-Letoon, Divrigi Great Mosque and hospital, Pamukkale-Hierapolis, Goreme and Troy. A few candidates for the list include: Sumela Monastery, Churches of St. Nicholas and St Paul, Konya, Harran, Termessos and Kekova.