Five major high-pressure metamorphic complexes are recognised in Turkey. The Tavsanli Zone in western Turkey is the largest and most important HP/LT metamorphic belt. The metamorphic Alanya nappes, situated on the Mediterranean coast in southern Turkey, consists of three superimposed flat-lying nappes.The Bitlis Massif in eastern Turkey is the third major high-pressure metamorphic complex of the Taurides. The Karakaya Complex of the Pontides has an extensive distribution in northern Turkey, and consists of metabasite, carble, and metagreywacke. Elekdag blueschists in north-central Turkey consist of a ophiolite nappe with serpentinite, gabbro and diabase, and an ophiolitic melange metamorphosed in blueschist facies. Turkish blueschists share two common features with many other Alpine HP/LT metamorphic complexes; the short time span of the HP/LT metamorphism, and blueschist protoliths consisting mainly of sedimentary rocks deposited on continental crust. These features, which differentiate these blueschists from the Circum-Pacific HP/LT metamorphic complexes, are probably a reflection of the peculiar characteristics of the Tethys ocean.