Ankara, Turkey

Ankara is the capital city of Turkey, a country in the westernmost part of the Asian continent. Ankara is located in the central part of Turkey and is part of the region known as Central Anatolia. It is an inland city and serves as the main administrative and business center of the Republic of Turkey. The city's total area is about 10 square miles, and the average elevation of Ankara is close to 3,000 feet above sea level. The city is located approximately 440 kilometers southeast of Istanbul and 590 kilometers northeast of Izmir.

Like any capital city, Ankara is home to the country's Parliament and all central government bodies. The central part of Ankara is called Kızılay, meaning "Red Crescent." Other central regions of the city include Ulus, Sıhhıye, Çankaya, Altındağ, Maltepe, and Tandoğan. The largest neighborhoods of the city include Pursaklar, Gölbaşı, Etimesgut, Batıkent, Eryaman, Sincan, Yenimahalle, and others.

Ankara is also known as a key center of education, with a large number of universities such as Middle East Technical University, Hacettepe University, Ankara University, Bilkent University, Gazi University, Başkent University, and Çankaya University. Anıtkabir, located in the Çankaya district, includes the mausoleum of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, the founding father of the Republic of Turkey.