Why is Turkey in Europe not in Asia?

[desmond]

I hate to be a pest, but since Russia was initially put in Asia because "most of the country was in Asia", why was Turkey put in Europe when most of it is also in Asia? The European part of Turkey is tiny, and most people live in the Asian part. Unlike the Russians most of who do not live in the Asian part. Turks are Asians; they are related to Uzbeks and Turkmen?s language-wise and genetically. The reason Turkey has a small tip in Europe is because of conquests of the Ottoman Empire. Turks are originally from Asia and most are living in Asia. Their culture is Middle Eastern.

Turkey is applying for EU membership, but it has not been granted yet. And even if it is, it is culturally, geographically linguistically and religiously still part of the Middle East.

Most of Turkey is located in "Asia Minor", as well.
Thanks
Desmond

[drew]

As an associate member of the European Community since 64 with strong moves being made towards EU membership I suspect that the majority of visitors to this site would probably look for Turkey under the Europe category initially, hence its inclusion there. Basically, it's a judgment call based on a number of factors.
Thanks
Drew

[Tim Millea]

The distinction is geographical not political. Most of Turkey is not in Asia - it is 'Asia Minor' in old parlance, 'Anatolia' in new, a continent separated from Europe by the Bosphorous. If you don't like the distinction - take issue with the geographers!

Tim.