Ankara

Ankara
Metropolitan municipality
Clockwise, from top: Söğütözü business district, Anıtkabir, Gençlik Park, Kızılay Square, Kocatepe Mosque, Atakule Tower
Nickname(s): Heart of Turkey
Ankara Location of Ankara
Coordinates: 39°56′N 32°52′E / 39.933°N 32.867°E / 39.933; 32.867Coordinates: 39°56′N 32°52′E / 39.933°N 32.867°E / 39.933; 32.867
Country	Turkey
Region	Central Anatolia
Province	Ankara
Government
• Mayor	Melih Gökçek (AKP)
• Governor	Mehmet Kılıçlar
Area
• Metropolitan municipality	24,521 km2 (9,468 sq mi)
Elevation	938 m (3,077 ft)
Population (2014)
• Metropolitan municipality	4,587,558
• Metro	5,150,072
Time zone	FET (UTC+3)
Postal code	06xxx
Area code(s)	312
Licence plate	06
Website	www.ankara.bel.tr www.ankara.gov.tr

Ankara district Municipalities Turkish local elections, 2014
AK Party	20 / 25
CHP	2 / 25
MHP	2 / 25
Democrat	1 / 25

Ankara (English /ˈæŋkərə/;Turkish [ˈaŋ.ka.ɾa]), formerly known as Ancyra and Angora, is the capital of the Republic of Turkey. With a population of 4,587,558 in the urban center (2014) and 5,150,072 in its province (2015), it is Turkey's second largest city after Istanbul.

Ankara was Atatürk's headquarters from 1920 and has been the capital of the Republic since its founding in 1923, replacing Istanbul following the fall of the Ottoman Empire. The government is a prominent employer, but Ankara is also an important commercial and industrial city, located at the center of Turkey's road and railway networks. The city gave its name to the Angora wool shorn from Angora rabbits, the long-haired Angora goat (the source of mohair), and the Angora cat. The area is also known for its pears, honey, and muscat grapes. Although situated in one of the driest places of Turkey and surrounded mostly by steppe vegetation except for the forested areas on the southern periphery, Ankara can be considered a green city in terms of green areas per inhabitant, at 72 square metres (775 square feet) per head.