Geography and population
Turkey, with a total area of 779 45
km², lies between Europe and Asia and is surrounded by the Black Sea, Bulgaria
and Greece in the north, the Aegean Sea in the west, the Mediterranean Sea,
Syria and Iraq in the south, Iran in the east and Armenia and Georgia in the
north-east.
About 28 million ha, or 36% of the total
area, are classified as cultivable. In 1991, the total cultivated area was
estimated at 20.5 million ha, of which 17.5 million ha consisted of annual
crops and 3.0 million ha consisted of permanent crops, mainly vineyards, fruit
trees and olives.
The total population is about 61.9 million
(1995), of which 31% is rural, with an annual demographic growth estimated
at 2%. Agriculture employed 44.5% of the total labour force in 1994 and accounted
for nearly 16% of GDP in 1993. In 1992, agriculture provided 14.9% of the
total export revenue.
Climate and water resources
Climate
Turkey has a subtropical, semi-arid
climate with extremes in temperatures. In the east, summers are hot and dry,
winters are cold, rainy and snowy Along the coastal area, a Mediterranean
climate is dominant with long, hot, dry summers and short, mild, rainy winters.
Rainfall shows great differences from one region to another. Average annual
rainfall is 643 mm, ranging from 250 mm in the southeast to over 3 000 mm
in the north-east Black Sea area. About 70% of the rain falls in the winter
and spring seasons. Average runoff is about 37%.
Surface water resources
Of the total surface runoff of the country,
estimated at 192.8 km³/year, almost one-fourth comes from the Euphrates (Firat)
and the Tigris (Dicle) rivers, that both have their sources in the eastern
part of the country. Turkey contributes about 90% of the total annual flow
of the Euphrates, while the remaining part originates in Syria and nothing
is added further downstream in Iraq. Turkey contributes 38% directly to the
main Tigris river and another 11 % to its tributaries, that join the main
stream of the Tigris further downstream in Iraq. In general, the streams vary
greatly in their flow from season to season and year to year. For example,
the Euphrates' annual flow at the border with Syria ranged from 15.3 km³ in
1961 to 42.7 km in 1963.
Average annual surface runoff entering
Turkey from other countries is estimated at about 1.8 km³ (the Orontes, the
Tunca). Another 5.8 km³/year comes from Bulgaria through the Meric river which
forms the border between Turkey and Greece. Average annual surface runoff
leaving the country is estimated at 60.4 km³, while almost 8 km³ flows in
the interior basins.
Ecological zones
The map below shows the ecological zones, as shown on the
FAO global map of ecological zones produced as part of the FRA 2000. Please refer
to FRA Working Paper 20 for
further information on the Global Ecological Zone map.
SOURCES
FOOD AND AGRICULTURAL ORGANIZATION
OF THE UNITED NATIONS
AQUASTAT - FAO's
Information System on Water and Agriculture, Rome 2002
FOOD AND AGRICULTURAL ORGANIZATION
OF THE UNITED NATIONS
A concept and strategy for ecological
zoning for the global forest resources assessment 2000
Forestry Resources Assessment
Programme – Working Paper 20, Rome 1999
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