Turkey is bordered by eight countries the Black Sea is to the north, the Mediterranean Sea to the south, and the Aegean Sea to the west. The Bosporus, the Sea of Marmara, and the Dardanelles, which together form the Turkish Straits, divide Thrace and Anatolia they also separate Europe and Asia. Turkey's location between Europe and Asia makes it strategically surrounded by beaches.

Turkey has just celebrated 444 blue flag on its beaches. Turkey is now the second most awarded blue flags in the world after Spain. The best thing about this: the number of blue flags increases every year in Turkey. Turkey had 192 in 2006, 235 in 2008, 286 in 2009, 314 in 2010, 324 in 2011, 355 in 2012, 383 in 2013, 397 in 2014, 436 in 2015 and 444 in 2016.

With this speed Turkey will certainly take the first place and all our beach will get awarded a blue flag. By the way we are even organizing a yearly national blue flag awards ceremony to promote environmental friendly beaches. Turkey has then occupied the 6^th position amongst Most-visited countries by international tourist in 2016.