Turkey Neighbouring Countries and Middle Eastern Map
Turkey’s Neighbors: A Closer Look
Situated perfectly between Europe and Asia, Turkey enjoys its status as a transcontinental connector where cultures and goods flow seamlessly. This unique geographical setup means Turkey rubs shoulders with quite a few countries, each bringing its own flavor to the region.
Who’s Close By?
With eight countries brushing up against its borders, Turkey occupies a prime position on the map. Knowing who’s next door can give you a better picture of how Turkey interacts and mingles with others in its area.
Neighbors Up North
- Georgia: Swinging over to the northeast, you’ll find a cozy 273 km border where Turkey and Georgia meet. Thanks to some paperwork magic called international treaties, these two get along quite nicely.
- Bulgaria: In the northwest, there’s Bulgaria. Turkey and Bulgaria share their 240 km bond, thanks to a handshake backed by the Treaty of Lausanne from way back in 1923.
| Country | Border Length (km) |
|---|---|
| Georgia | 273 |
| Bulgaria | 240 |
Neighbors to the East
- Armenia: Also in the northeast, Turkey’s border with Armenia has roots in the Moscow and Kars treaties from 1921.
- Azerbaijan: Nestled right next door is a small 9 km handshake with Azerbaijan, specifically their Nakhchivan region.
- Iran: Iran leans in with a long 499 km presence as marked by the historical Treaty of Kasr-ı Şirin in 1639.
| Country | Border Length (km) |
|---|---|
| Armenia | 268 |
| Azerbaijan (Nakhchivan) | 9 |
| Iran | 499 |
Neighbors to the South
- Iraq: Southeast of Turkey, you’ll find Iraq with a 352 km boundary, marked in 1923 with a notable exception: Mosul became a British bargaining chip in 1926.
- Syria: Stretching 911 km, the Sryia-Turkey line includes an ongoing Hatay Province dispute. The area was scooped up by Turkey after a 1939 vote (Wikipedia).
| Country | Border Length (km) |
|---|---|
| Iraq | 352 |
| Syria | 911 |
Neighbors to the West
- Greece: Clocking in at 206 km, Turkey’s western edge cozies up to Greece. Their relationship has been inked out over the years with treaties like Constantinople (1913) and Lausanne (1923).
| Country | Border Length (km) |
|---|---|
| Greece | 206 |
Beef and Border Bumps
Not all borders are roses; some carry their share of friction:
- Hatay Province: Syria and Turkey don’t see eye to eye on Hatay, with Turkey hugging it tightly since a 1939 vote.
- Iraq’s History Lesson: Iraq’s line shuffled a bit in exchange for oil rights when Mosul took a British detour.
- Map-Making Treaties: Thanks to gatherings and signings like the Treaty of Lausanne, most of today’s boundaries got their start.
Want to dive deeper into Turkey’s cohabitation with its neighbors? Check out our insights on Syria’s Surroundings and Iran’s Borders for your educational pleasure.