Turkey

Flag Description Red with a vertical white crescent (the closed portion is toward the hoist side) and white five-pointed star centered just outside the crescent opening. Currency The Turkish lira. Astronomy Today's date is May 14, 2008. There is currently a First Quarter Moon. Location Southeastern Europe and southwestern Asia (that portion of Turkey west of the Bosporus is geographically part of Europe), bordering the Black Sea, between Bulgaria and Georgia, and bordering the Aegean Sea and the Mediterranean Sea, between Greece and Syria. Climate Temperate; hot, dry summers with mild, wet winters; harsher in interior. Terrain Mostly mountains; narrow coastal plain; high central plateau (Anatolia). Elevation Extremes The lowest point is at the Mediterranean Sea (0 m). The highest point is at Mount Ararat (5,166 m).

Nature & Science News

Extinction fear for butterfly - A UK mountain-dwelling butterfly could be wiped out in Scotland because of climate change, experts say.

Europe could get manned spaceship - EADS Astrium plans a variant of its space station truck, the ATV, that could fly European astronauts.

Frigid robot eyes top tech prize - A robot which cares for millions of frozen biological samples is among four finalists for a top engineering award.

Virtual telescope opens night sky - Microsoft launches a free tool that allows amateur star-gazers to explore the universe from their computers.

Pollution 'ups blood clot risk' - Breathing in air pollution from traffic fumes can raise the risk of potentially deadly blood clots, a US study says.

Embryology laws pass first hurdle - UK politicians allow plans to update embryology laws to continue through Parliament, despite deep divisions.

Hostels in Turkey

Amphora Hostel - Istanbul Sultanahmet
Anzac House - Çanakkale
Atillas Getaway Backpackers Resort - Selcuk
The Cordial Hotel - Istanbul
Hotel Sammys Palace - Kusadasi
Ideal Pension - Fethiye
Kose Pension - Cappadocia
Kadirs Tree Top Houses - Olympos

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