Turkey Is Awesome! Surprising Facts for Curious Kids

• In Turkey, children show respect to elders by gently kissing their hand and then touching it to their forehead—a sweet tradition called el öpmek.
• In some villages, it’s still common for brides to arrive at their wedding on horseback, just like in fairy tales!
• The real Santa Claus (St. Nicholas) was actually born in the town of Patara, in Southern Turkey.
• Many believe that Noah’s Ark came to rest on Mount Ararat, located in Eastern Turkey.
• Istanbul is the only city in the world that sits on two continents—Europe and Asia. You can walk or drive from one to the other over the Bosphorus Bridge!
• The Turkish language has a unique structure that is surprisingly similar to Japanese and Korean, and the ancient ancestors of the Turks once lived in Central Asia.

Famous Turkish People

There are many well-known people with Turkish roots who have made a big impact around the world:

• Muhtar Kent: Former CEO of Coca-Cola
• Dr. Mehmet Öz: TV doctor and heart surgeon
• Muzafer Sherif: Famous psychologist from Yale
• Ahmet Ertegun: Founded Atlantic Records and worked with big music stars
• Hamdi Ulukaya: Started Chobani yogurt in the United States
• Nusret Gökçe (Salt Bae): Famous chef known for his unique way of sprinkling salt!

Amazing Places to Visit in Turkey

Turkey is filled with places that look like they came from a storybook:

• Topkapi Palace: Home to Ottoman sultans, filled with treasures and secret rooms
• Blue Mosque: A grand mosque with six minarets and beautiful blue tiles
• Hagia Sophia: Once a church, then a mosque, now a museum—it’s full of history!
• Sunken Cistern: An underground water palace with mysterious columns and lights
• Dolmabahçe Palace: A luxurious seaside palace in Istanbul
• Ephesus: Ancient city ruins where kids can walk through Roman streets
• Pamukkale: Sparkling white terraces of natural hot springs
• Cappadocia: Fairy chimneys and magical hot air balloon rides over stone valleys

These facts and places show how exciting and rich Turkish culture really is. With so much to explore, kids can start their journey through Turkey right from home by learning the language through Dinolingo. The platform’s fun games, songs, and stories make it easy and enjoyable to discover everything Turkey has to offer.