Geographical regions of Turkey explained

Regions of Turkey
Map:	Turkey (regions), administrative divisions - Nmbrs.svg
Category:	Unitary state
Territory:	Turkish Republic
Current Number:	7
Population Range:	6,513,106 (Eastern Anatolia) – 26,650,405 (Marmara)
Area Range:	59176sqkm (Southeastern Anatolia Region) – 165436sqkm (Eastern Anatolia Region)
Government:	Regional Government, National Government
Subdivision:	Province (Counties)

The geographical regions of Turkey comprise seven regions (Turkish: bölge), which were originally defined at the country's First Geography Congress in 1941.^[1] The regions are subdivided into 31 sections (Turkish: bölüm), which are further divided into numerous areas (Turkish: yöre), as defined by microclimates and bounded by local geographic formations.

"Regions" as defined in this context are merely for geographic, demographic, and economic purposes and do not refer to an administrative division.

Regions and subregions

Region	Largest city	Area		Provinces (Counties)	Population (2021)	Location
			sq mi
Aegean Region	İzmir	85000disp=tableNaNdisp=table	8	10,477,153
Black Sea Region	Samsun	143537disp=tableNaNdisp=table	18	7,696,132
Central Anatolia Region	Ankara	163057disp=tableNaNdisp=table	13	12,896,255
Eastern Anatolia Region	Erzurum	165436disp=tableNaNdisp=table	14	6,513,106
Marmara Region	Istanbul	67000disp=tableNaNdisp=table	11	26,650,405
Mediterranean Region	Antalya	122927disp=tableNaNdisp=table	8	10,584,506
Southeastern Anatolia Region	Şanlıurfa	59176disp=tableNaNdisp=table	9	8,576,391

• Aegean Region
  • Aegean Section
    • Edremit Area
    • Bakirçay Area
    • Gediz Area
    • İzmir Area
    • Küçük Menderes Area
    • Büyük Menderes Area
    • Mentese Area
  • Inner Western Anatolia Section

• Black Sea Region
  • Western Black Sea Section
    • Inner Black Sea Area
    • Küre Mountains Area
  • Central Black Sea Section
    • Canik Mountains Area
    • Inner Central Black Sea Area
  • Eastern Black Sea Section
    • Eastern Black Sea Coast Area
    • Upper Kelkit - Çoruh Gully Area

• Central Anatolia Region
  • Konya Section
    • Plateau
    • Konya - Ereğli Vicinity
  • Upper Sakarya Section
    • Ankara Area
    • Porsuk Gully Area
    • Sündiken Mountain Chain Area
    • Upper Sakarya Area
    • Konya - Ereğli Vicinity
  • Middle Kizilirmak Section
  • Upper Kizilirmak Section

• Eastern Anatolia Region
  • Upper Euphrates Section
  • Erzurum - Kars Section
  • Upper Murat - Van Section
    • Upper Murat Area
    • Van Area
  • Hakkâri Section

• Marmara Region
  • Çatalca - Kocaeli Section
    • Adapazarı Area
    • Istanbul Area
  • Ergene Section
  • Southern Marmara Section
    • Biga - Gallipoli Area
    • Bursa Area
    • Karesi Area
    • Samanlı Area
  • Yıldız Section

• Mediterranean Region
  • Adana Section
    • Çukurova - Taurus Mountains Area
    • Antakya - Kahramanmaras Area
  • Antalya Section
    • Antalya Area
    • Göller Area
    • Taseli - Mut Area
    • Teke Area

• Southeastern Anatolia Region
  • Middle Euphrates Section
    • Gaziantep Area
    • Şanlıurfa Area
  • Tigris Section
    • Diyarbakır Area
    • Mardin - Midyat Area

Distinctions of the regions

The Aegean Region has:

• the longest coastline

The Black Sea Region has:

• highest annual precipitation
• largest forest area
• fewest sunshine hours
• most landslides

The Central Anatolia Region has:

• lowest annual precipitation,
• most erosion

The Eastern Anatolia Region has:

• largest area
• highest elevation
• lowest annual temperature
• coldest winters
• highest temperature difference between seasons
• most volcanic activity
• smallest population
• highest mineral resources

The Marmara Region has:

• smallest area
• lowest elevation
• most climate diversity
• highest energy consumption,
• coolest summers,
• largest population

The Mediterranean Region has:

• highest annual temperature
• mildest winters
• wettest winters,
• most greenhouse farming

The Southeastern Anatolia Region has:

• hottest summers
• driest summers
• smallest forest area
• most sunshine hours

Population by region

Population by region (2021)^[2]

Region	Population
Marmara	26,650,405
Central Anatolia	12,896,255
Mediterranean	10,584,506
Aegean	10,477,153
Southeastern Anatolia	8,576,391
Black Sea	7,696,132
Eastern Anatolia	6,513,106

See also

• Provinces of Turkey
• Districts of Turkey
• Villages of Turkey
• Metropolitan centers in Turkey

Notes and References

1. Ali Yiğit, "Geçmişten Günümüze Türkiye'yi Bölgelere Ayıran Çalışmalar ve Yapılması Gerekenler", Ankara Üniversitesi Türkiye Coğrafyası Araştırma ve Uygulama Merkezi, IV. Ulural Coğrafya Sempozyumu, "Avrupa Birliği Sürecindeki Türkiye'de Bölgesel Farklılıklar", pp. 34–35.
2. Web site: Türkiye'nin Nüfus Haritası. 2020-08-19. www.icisleri.gov.tr.