Ahmet Uçar

Turkey has experienced one of the hottest days of the year over the last week as a heatwave across the country has sparked high temperatures.

When the air temperature exceeded 44 degrees Celsius in İzmir, Muğla and Antalya provinces on the Aegean and Mediterranean coasts, public beaches, hotels and swimming pools were flooded by residents who wanted to cool off.

Turkish officials have warned of storms and heavy snowfall across Turkey, including Istanbul, for Jan. 6 as wintry weather continues to hit the country. 

According to the General Directorate of Meteorology, heavy snow will fall in Istanbul on Jan. 6, with temperatures expected to plunge by up to eight degrees to -5 Celsius and snow expected to continue for three days. 

The end of April is the time for poppies to pop up in fields. Throughout May, and well into the month of June, fields of green wheat stalks celebrate the spring, dotted red with poppies. The poppy is also the symbol of martyrdom. Ancient Greek and Roman tombs were ornamented with pods of opium poppies representing the final eternal sleep, death.