The geographical regions of Turkey comprise seven regions (), which were originally defined at the country's First Geography Congress in 1941.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. The regions are subdivided into 31 sections (), which are further divided into numerous areas (), 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) Locationsq miAegean regionİzmir 8 10,477,153Black Sea regionSamsun 18 7,696,132Central Anatolia regionAnkara 13 12,896,255Eastern Anatolia regionVan 14 6,513,106Marmara regionIstanbul 11 26,650,405 Mediterranean regionAntalya 8 10,584,506Southeastern Anatolia regionŞanlıurfa 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 Mountains 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
See also Provinces of Turkey Districts of Turkey Demographics of Turkey Villages of Turkey Metropolitan centers in Turkey
References