The Gediz, Buyuk Menderes, Kucuk Menderes and Meric flow into the Aegean Sea. The Seyhan, Ceyhan and Goksu flow into the Mediterranean Sea. Because of the geographical formation of the country with mountains that run parallel to the coast, Anatolia is a focal point of contrasting climates. While in coastal areas winters are mild and summers are moderately hot, the inland areas experience extremes of temperature. The hot summers have high daytime temperatures with generally cool nights and the cold winters have limited precipitation with frost occurring on more than 100 days during the year.
Frosts are rare and snowfall is almost unknown.
On the Northern coast of the Marmara Sea, the temperatures are lower. The Black Sea region, enjoys mild winters and a fair amount of rainfall throughout the year. In Central Anatolia, a typical plateau climate prevails where the summers are hot with minimum precipitation, and winters are cold with heavy and lasting snows. Villages may be isolated by severe snowstorms. Eastern Anatolia is rugged country with higher elevations, a more severe climate and greater precipitation than the central plateau.