Time Zone |
Europe/Istanbul |
Standard Time GMT / UTC |
UTC+3 |
Daylight Saving Time |
Daylight saving time is not observed in the current region. |
Time Zone |
Asia/Baghdad |
Standard Time GMT / UTC |
UTC+3 |
Daylight Saving Time |
Daylight saving time is not observed in the current region. |
Ankara, the capital of the Republic of Turkey, is strategically located in the Central Anatolian Plateau and is the political, administrative and cultural center of the country. Although Istanbul is the largest city, Ankara has replaced it as the capital since the establishment of the Republic of Turkey in 1923 and carries the national symbol of modern Turkey. The city has a rich history dating back to the Bronze Age and was a major town in the Hittite, Pagan, Roman and Ottoman Empires, leaving behind historical monuments such as the Roman-era Julian Column and Ankara Castle. As a transportation hub, Ankara connects the east, west, and north of Turkey. The economy is based on government services, higher education, and manufacturing, and is home to renowned institutions such as the Middle East Technical University (METU). The climate is continental, with four distinct seasons and cold, snowy winters. Ankara's blend of ancient history and modern urban dynamism makes it an important window into Turkey's politics and history.
Sinjar is a city in the Nineveh Province of northwestern Iraq, near the Syrian border, in the southern foothills of the Sinjar Mountains, and is one of the main Yazidi settlements. The area, which grows wheat, barley, and olives, has suffered from a long history of conflict and infrastructure damage, and was the subject of an attack on Sinjar in 2014 by the extremist group Islamic State (ISIS), which resulted in severe persecution of the Yezidi community and attracted international attention. After the war, local residents have gradually returned to the area, but the reconstruction process is slow and the security situation remains challenging. Sinjar is not only the core area of Yazidi culture, but also an important microcosm of Iraq's ethnic and religious diversity.