Gallipoli Peninsula (Turkey)

A peninsula lying along the Dardanelles Strait, between the Aegean Sea and the Sea of Marmara, Gallipoli is a wonderful piece of land: arid and mountainous, surrounded by waves, and permanently wind-swept. However, the peninsula is more of interest for its memorial significance for the Turkish and Australian peoples than it is for its intrinsic natural beauty. This is because it was the site of the bloody and heroic battle of the Dardanelles, which saw Turkey facing the forces of the British Empire. Amongst the latter were many Australians and their fellow countrymen have today turned Gallipolli into a place of major pilgrimage and an important part of their national identity.