What is the capital city of Turkey?

Introduction / Context:
Turkey is a transcontinental country that lies partly in Asia and partly in Europe. Many people know the famous city of Istanbul, but the actual capital is different. Competitive exams frequently test this distinction, because it is a common misconception that the largest or most famous city is always the capital. This question asks you to identify the correct capital of Turkey from among several cities, including Istanbul as a tempting distractor.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The country in question is Turkey.
• The options are Jerusalem, Canberra, Wellington, Ankara and Istanbul.
• Exactly one of these cities is the official capital of Turkey.
• We assume the current modern capital as recognised by the Turkish government.

Concept / Approach:
The capital of Turkey is Ankara, located in the central part of the country. Istanbul is the largest city and a major cultural and economic centre, but it is not the capital. Jerusalem is associated with Israel, Canberra is the capital of Australia, and Wellington is the capital of New Zealand. The approach is to recall the correct country–capital pairing and recognise that Anatolian Turkey moved its capital from Istanbul (then Constantinople) to Ankara in the twentieth century, a fact that often appears in history and geography lessons.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recall that the modern Republic of Turkey has Ankara as its capital city.Step 2: Recognise that Istanbul, although the largest and historically important city, is not the current capital, which makes it a common but incorrect choice.Step 3: Identify Jerusalem as a city associated with Israel rather than Turkey.Step 4: Note that Canberra is the capital of Australia, located in the Australian Capital Territory.Step 5: Remember that Wellington is the capital of New Zealand.Step 6: Conclude that Ankara is the only option that correctly serves as the capital of Turkey.

Verification / Alternative check:
You can verify the answer by recalling historical facts. After the fall of the Ottoman Empire, the new Turkish Republic under Mustafa Kemal Ataturk chose Ankara as the capital in order to symbolise a modern, more centrally located government. Since then, all official political institutions such as the Turkish Grand National Assembly have been based in Ankara. International news about Turkish politics often refers to decisions made in Ankara. On the other hand, cultural and economic stories about Turkey often mention Istanbul. This clear division between political capital and largest city confirms that Ankara is the capital.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Jerusalem is important in the context of Israel and various religious traditions, but it is not associated with Turkey's capital status. Canberra is the planned capital city of Australia, not Turkey. Wellington is the capital of New Zealand in the Pacific region. Istanbul, while extremely significant historically and economically for Turkey, is not the official capital; choosing it would be falling into a common exam trap. Therefore, all of these alternatives are incorrect for this particular question.

Common Pitfalls:
The main pitfall is assuming that the most famous city is the capital. This happens with many countries: Istanbul in Turkey, Zurich in Switzerland and New York City in the United States are all major cities but not the capitals. To avoid this mistake, students should memorise the official capital even when another city is more famous or larger. Regular practice with flashcards or maps can help fix pairs like Turkey–Ankara and Switzerland–Bern in long term memory, so that distractor options like Istanbul or Zurich do not cause confusion.

Final Answer:
The capital city of Turkey is Ankara.