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A north-south cross-section begins with
the lush,temperate zone of the Black Sea coast,well protected by a chain of high mountain ranges,cultivated with hazelnuts,corn and the tender tea(which will soon become a daily ritual during your
stay here).High passes and winding roads offer breathtaking views of the Black Sea,leading to highlands and steppes with orchards tucked into the foothills of lesser mountains.Then on to the vast
Konya plain,and up the Toros (Taurus) Mountains into the coniferous forests.These eventually transform into the scrubby maquis fragrant with bay leaves and oregano as the Mediterranean coast
approaches.If you take a turn east on this route,passing by banana plantations and cotton fields,you will come to the most desert-like part of Turkey.Just north of Syria,the earth displays all the
textures and shades of brown which a civilization can mould it into,without dominating it.In short,for every two to four hours of driving,you find your self in a different zone with all the
accompanying changes in scenery, temperature, altitude, humidity, vegetation and weather conditions.
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