Flag of Turkey
Turkish flag consists of a red leaf with a symbol of white crescent and a five-pointed star that are located in the left part of the flag. The symbolism of all these elements has its roots in ancient history. The red color was used by the Ottoman Empire, whose origins date back to the 13th century. Crescent and star are ancient symbols of Islam, however it appeared in Turkey even before Islam. Crescent has been on the flag since the 16th century and it is a symbol of the goddess Diana, guardian of the city Byzancion. The star, originally eight-pointed, has been on the flag since 1793 and is associated with the Virgin Mary, whom Constantinople (later Istanbul) was consecrated. Allegedly, these symbols were chosen by Sultan Murad II., when he saw the moon and stars in a puddle of blood during the Battle of Kosovo in 1448.
Country information
| Sovereign State | Yes |
|---|---|
| Country codes | TR, TUR (ISO 3166-1) |
| Official name | Republic of Turkey |
| Capital city | Ankara |
| Continent | Asia, Europe |
| Member of | United Nations, NATO, Turkic Council, Organisation of Islamic Cooperation |
| Population | 83 154 997 (2019) |
| Total area | 783 562 km2 |
| Highest point | Mount Ararat (5 137 m, 16 854 ft) |
| Lowest point | Mediterranean Sea, Black Sea |
| GDP per capita | $ 9 370 (World Bank, 2018) |
| Currency | Turkish lira (₺, TRY) |
| Calling code | +90 |
| Internet TLD | .tr |
