Which river divides Istanbul?

The narrow Golden Horn separates old Istanbul (Stamboul) to the south from the “new” city of Beyoğlu to the north; the broader Bosporus divides European Istanbul from the city's districts on the Asian shore—Üsküdar (ancient Chrysopolis) and Kadıköy (ancient Chalcedon).

What body of water separates Istanbul?

Istanbul, Turkey, separated by the Bosphorus Strait - NASA.

Why is the Bosphorus strait important?

As part of the only passage between the Black Sea and the Mediterranean, the Bosporus has always been of great importance from a commercial and military point of view, and it remains strategically important today. It is a major sea access route for numerous countries, including Russia and Ukraine.

What are the three seas of Istanbul?

Istanbul, Turkey: The Crossroads of Europe and Asia

This metropolis of 15 million people occupies both sides of the entrance to the narrow, 20-mile long Bosporus Strait connecting the Mediterranean and Sea of Marmara (south) to the Black Sea (north).

What does the Bosphorus divide?

The dividing line between Europe and Asia, the link-up between the Mediterranean (Marmara Sea) and the Back Sea, the Bosporus is an ancient valley along a fractured tectonic line. The strait is entirely within Turkey and divides Istanbul in two.

Why is the Bosphorus important?

Why is Istanbul divided?

The Bosphorus Strait, a narrow, winding waterway, connects the Black Sea to the Sea of Marmara, effectively dividing the Istanbul province into European and Asian halves. This natural strait has facilitated trade, transportation, and cultural exchange for centuries between East and West.

Why is the Black Sea called the Black Sea?

The name 'Black Sea' is widely attributed to the Anatolian Turks, due to their habit of referring to the South as 'white' and North as 'black'. However, the appellation first appeared in a Hungarian document and later in sources originating further to the North, including Icelandic sagas and other Nordic narratives.

Who owns the Bosphorus strait?

An international commission assumed control of the strait after the Ottoman defeat in World War I. Turkey resumed control in 1936 with the ratification of the Montreux Convention. Three bridges have been built across the strait.

Is the black sea salty?

The salinity of the Black Sea's surface waters averages between 17 and 18 parts per thousand, which is approximately half that of the oceans. A marked increase in salinity, up to 21 parts per thousand, occurs in the Black Sea at depths of roughly 160 to 500 feet (50 to 150 metres).

Is the sea in Turkey warm?

Turkey in summer is all about mega heat, especially in Antalya and Dalaman, where temperatures can soar past 35°C. The beaches are sizzling, the sea is warm, and Istanbul basks in a toasty average of 24-27°C - though expect a bit more hustle and bustle in the city.

Is there a bridge from Istanbul to Asia?

The Bosphorus Bridge is one of two bridges that spans the Bosphorus Strait, connecting the European and Asian sides of Istanbul. It stretches from Ortakoy on the European side to Beylerbeyi on the Asian side and is sometimes referred to as the First Bosphorus Bridge.

Is Turkey in Europe or Asia?

Turkey, also called Türkiye, country that occupies a unique geographic position, lying partly in Asia and partly in Europe. Throughout its history it has acted as both a barrier and a bridge between the two continents.

What is the entrance to the Black Sea called?

The only passage to the Black Sea

The Bosporus and Dardanelles straits, also known as the Turkish Straits or the Black Sea Straits, connect the Aegean Sea and the Black Sea via the Sea of Marmara. It is the only passage through which Black Sea ports can access the Mediterranean and beyond.

Is Bosphorus strait Man made?

Bosphorus is a natural strait connecting the Black Sea to the Sea of Marmara, thus being a very strategic waterway. It was a river in the valley during the Tertiary period of the continents, which was drowned by the sea at the end of this period.

Can you get from the Black Sea to the Mediterranean?

The Black Sea connects to the Mediterranean Sea via the Bosphorus Strait (Turkey)....and yes, ships can go anywhere usually unless at war (there are treaties and such...)...............

What city is split by the Bosphorus strait?

The Bosporus (Turkish Bogazici) Strait is considered to be the boundary between Europe and Asia, and the large city of Istanbul, Turkey is located on both sides of the southern end of the strait, visible as a brighter (light green to white) area on the image due to its stronger reflection of radar.

Why can't you swim in the Black Sea?

People are not advised to even enter the water. "We observe contamination of the seawater, both from a microbiological and virological standpoint. The use of seawater, such as swimming in the sea or consuming Black Sea fish and seafood, is not recommended," the Center for Disease Control and Prevention specialists say.

Which sea is not a closed sea?

The Dead Sea, Aral Sea, and Caspian Sea are all considered closed seas because they do not have direct access to the world's oceans. However, the Black Sea is connected to the Mediterranean Sea through the Bosporus Strait, making it an open sea.

Do sharks live in the Black Sea?

Black Sea Shark

It is slightly larger than the catshark, but not by much. It resides between 100 and 200 meters below the surface, feeding on small fish and crustaceans. Due to its small size and deep-water habitat, it is not considered dangerous to humans.

What is the smallest strait in the world?

The Strait of Bosporusis the narrowest strait in the world. Bosphorus strait connects the Black Sea and the Sea of Marmara.

Is Istanbul in Asia or Europe?

It is a city on two continents; about two-thirds of its population live in Europe and the rest in Asia. Istanbul straddles the Bosphorus—one of the world's busiest waterways—in northwestern Turkey, between the Sea of Marmara and the Black Sea.

Do ships pay to use the Bosphorus?

Türkiye has announced an increase in the transit fee for ships passing through the Bosphorus and Dardanelles straits by 15%, raising the rate to $5.83 per net ton, starting July 1, 2025.

Why is the Black Sea so mysterious?

About 22,000 years ago the Black Sea began its life as a fresh-water lake. However, it appears that some seven to nine thousand years ago, due perhaps to melting glaciers and polar ice-caps, sea levels rose causing the salty Mediterranean Sea to catastrophically break through the Bosphorus.

What is the saltiest sea in the world?

The Dead Sea has a salinity of 33.7 per cent. This is almost 10 times saltier than ordinary seawater. If you evaporated a litre of Dead Sea water, you'd have around 250g of salt left behind, and in the whole of the Dead Sea there are about 37 billion tonnes of the stuff.

Are there whales in the Black Sea?

23 species have been recorded in the Mediterranean and Black Seas from the small porpoise (1.5 m) to the fin whale (20 m). 10 species of dolphins and whales are regularly found in the region. A further 13 species are vagrant and occur infrequently in these waters.