What is the name of the strait in istanbul. The Bosphorus Strait: description, features, interesting facts and location
The Bosphorus is a strait between the Black Sea and the Sea of Marmara (further through the Dardanelles you can get into the Aegean Sea, which is part of the Mediterranean.
The Bosphorus is not just a strait. The Bosphorus divides the largest Turkish city of Istanbul (formerly Constantinople, where Ukrainian Cossacks went on campaigns) into 2 parts.
It is also believed that the Bosphorus separates Europe and Asia (which is why this article is in 2 sections at once). Thus, Istanbul is the only city on the planet that is located on 2 continents at once :)
The length of the Bosphorus is about 30 km, the maximum width is 3700 m in the north of the strait, the minimum is 700 m. The depth of the fairway of the Bosphorus is from 33 to 80m.
The banks of the Bosphorus are connected by only 2 bridges. The Bosphorus Bridge was built in 1973 and has a length of 1074m. The second Bridge of Sultan Mehmed Fatih (length 1090m) was built to the north, 5km from the Bosphorus Bridge only in 1988.
Another 1275m long bridge will link the Trans-European Highway and expressway Northern Marmara. The new bridge will have 8 traffic lanes. In 2013, the Marmaray railway bridge is to be completed.
It is believed that the Bosphorus appeared only 5000-7500 years ago. Previously, the water level in the Black and Mediterranean seas was lower, significantly lower, and they were not connected with each other.
The Bosphorus is a very important strait. provides access for ships from Ukrainian, Russian and Transcaucasian and Eastern European ports to the Mediterranean Sea, and from there to the Atlantic and Indian Oceans.
The Bosphorus plays a particularly important role in the export of Russian and Caspian oil.
Although a considerable number of dry cargo ships pass through it, following from America or Asia to the ports of the Black Sea.
The Bosphorus on the map divides Europe with Asia and connects the Black and Marmara seas. The largest Turkish metropolis, Istanbul (ancient Constantinople), stretches along both its banks.
The width of the Bosporus Strait is more than 3.7 km, and the length is about 30 km. The depth of the Bosphorus in the fairway is from 30 to 80 m. For several centuries this strait has been called the soul of Istanbul.
The ancient name of the Bosporus is cow or bull ford. According to legend, the daughter of the king and the god of rivers, whose name was Io, became the beloved of Hercules. But he was afraid that his wife Hera would be angry, so he turned the unfortunate Io into a cow, and she hid in the waters of the strait.
The Bosphorus - the soul of Istanbul
This ancient city By the very fact of its existence, it divides and unites such different human civilizations of the West and the East: Rome and Byzantium, Europe and Asia, Christianity and Islam.
The greatness of Constantinople (Tsargrad), its ancient temples and palaces are reflected in the waters of the Bosporus. It is adjacent to the ruins of fortresses and modern skyscrapers of Istanbul, creating a truly unique spectacle.
Story
Scientists believe that the Bosphorus appeared about eight thousand years ago. In those distant times, the water level in the Black and Marmara seas was much lower, and they were not connected to each other.
But in the process of massive melting of snow and ice at the end of the Ice Age, this level in the World Ocean, in general, and in the Black and Marmara Seas, in particular, rose significantly, and a huge flow of water connected them.
According to scientists, at first there was a river valley on the site of the Bosphorus, which was later flooded with sea water. Admiral Makarov in the 19th century established two currents in the strait: fresh from the Black Sea and salty from.
Archaeologists on the slopes of the Bosphorus in the XX-XXI century discovered ancient cities flooded millennia ago. Historians believe that the end of the last Ice Age and the appearance of the Bosphorus gave rise to the myth of the Flood, set forth in the Old Testament.
What is the Bosphorus for Turkey? Thanks to this strait, the Black Sea countries are provided with access to the Mediterranean Sea. Half of Turkey's GDP comes from the Bosphorus. This is its strategic and economic significance.
The Bosphorus is considered one of the most difficult to pass in the world, because. characterized by a high intensity of ships and vessels moving there, a strong current and rapid changes weather conditions winter and spring.
In Turkey, the fast current in the strait is called the devil. It usually accelerates especially in early spring, when the snow melts in the Danube basin. Melt water flows along the shores of the strait, bubbling and boiling in boilers in the narrowest places.
Today, the Turkish authorities are planning to solve the problem of the heavy congestion of the Bosphorus by building an oil pipeline with a length of about 100 km. But all projects so far remain only on paper.
Shores of the Bosphorus
Here, every citizen can endlessly admire ancient palaces from marble, stone fortresses, wooden Turkish yalis (mansions near the sea) and ultra-modern hotels.
Yali is a wooden multi-storey house built at the very edge of the sea. These buildings from the 17th century have survived to the present day and today have become restaurants, hotels and houses where the local nobility lives today.
To fully experience the beauty of this strait, you should take a trip on a tourist ship or ferry. You will certainly get extraordinary pleasure from this walk.
Istanbul will open before you in all its beauty and oriental singularity. BUT Russian tourists surely at the subconscious level they will feel the Byzantine essence of ancient Constantinople with its Christian traditions.
You will see how among the ships and ferries of the Bosphorus, Istanbul lights up its fires. Hear the voices of the mullahs calling their flock to daily prayer at Hagia Sophia, which is today a mosque.
You can see all this from the board of the ferry, cruise ship or yacht from Eminonu to Anadolu-Kavagi. At the end of the trip, you can go ashore, walk along it and return back on the same ticket.
Crossing the Bosphorus by ferry is a real adventure. Ferries in Istanbul are different: scheduled and tourist, expensive and cheap. You can cross the strait on a regular ferry in half an hour, a voyage on a tourist ferry will take much longer.
Seeing Istanbul and the Bosphorus by ferry or boat in the evening is the most breathtaking experience. It was at this time that the city and the strait, painted with a scarlet sunset, are most mysterious and unusual.
Attractions around the Bosphorus
Bosphorus Bay - Golden Horn
There are many bays in the Bosphorus, but the Golden Horn is considered the best. In its form, it really looks like a horn, and its banks are as winding as the banks of the Bosphorus. There are many excellent moorings for yachts and ships on the Golden Horn, and the waters are clean and transparent.
This bay is protected from strong winds, the mild Turkish winter comes here in December, and there is almost never snow. The best time to visit the Golden Horn is the Velvet season lasting all autumn.
According to legend, the first bridge across the Bosphorus was erected by King Darius from Persia. He melted down his 700,000-strong army here with the help of a system of rafts and ships. But it's unique engineering structure did not help him, the army of Darius was destroyed by the Scythians.
Today, the shores of the Bosphorus and Istanbul spread over them are connected by 3 bridges and 2 tunnels:
- the Bosphorus Bridge, built in the early seventies of the XX century;
- Sultan Mehmed Fatih Bridge, which has been operating since the late eighties of the last century;
- the bridge of Sultan Selim the Terrible, put into operation just a few years ago;
- the Marmaray Tunnel, over 13 km long, connecting the Istanbul railway system;
- the tunnel "Eurasia" with a length of more than 14 km, part of which is located at a depth of more than 100 meters.
The Bosphorus on the world map.
Bosphorus("Istanbul Strait") - the strait between Europe and Asia Minor, connecting the Black Sea with the Sea of Marmara. On both sides of the strait stands the Turkish city of Istanbul. The strait provides access to the Mediterranean Sea and the seas of most of Russia, Ukraine, Transcaucasia and southeastern Europe.
Istanbul ... The ancient capital of three mighty empires - Roman, Byzantine and Ottoman. A city that divides and at the same time unites Western and Eastern civilization and in a unique way conveys the exquisite oriental flavor and culture of modern Europe.
Istanbul, a metropolis of 15 million inhabitants, originated in the 7th century BC. And even in that distant time, when it was still called Byzantium, the city was major port and center of maritime trade. This was facilitated by its strategic location.
The magnificent city of Istanbul is located on the border of two continents, so the Bosphorus can rightfully be called the heart of the city. The amazing beauty of the Bosporus enchants with its waters and contrasting shores. In the neighborhood of fishing villages and modern skyscrapers are located majestic palaces, which perfectly reflect the fate of the city - a symbol of the interweaving of luxury and poverty, antiquity and modernity.
Bosphorus stretches for 30 kilometers in length, its maximum width is 3700 meters, the minimum is 700 meters, and the depth of the strait reaches 80 meters.
The mirror-like waters of the Bosphorus, betraying the charm of the old city, cannot be compared with anything, they are in all sorts of shades of green, turquoise and blue. All the greatness and squalor of Constantinople is reflected in the sparkling surface of this strait. Summer residences and graceful palaces, which are randomly scattered along the banks, peacefully coexist with dilapidated villages inhabited by fishermen. Only occasionally the impression created by ancient buildings is destroyed by the steel sheen from modern skyscrapers.
Map of the Bosphorus in Russian
Sasha Mitrahovich 21.10.2015 15:39
The Bosphorus is surrounded by many legends that have their own versions of the origin of the name of the strait. One of the most common says that the strait got its name from the beautiful Io, which Zeus turned into a white cow. The unfortunate girl jumped into the water, which has since been called the "cow's ford" or the Bosphorus.
The name of the Bosphorus comes from two Greek words: “bull” and “passage” - “cow ford”, and the strait itself is closely connected ancient Greek myths, one of which says:
Zeus fell in love with Io, the priestess of Hera, who was the daughter of King Inach. For this, the wife of the loving Zeus turned Io into a cow and sent a terrible hornet at her, from which Io tried in vain to escape. She was rescued by the fact that she hid in the waters of the Bosphorus, which after that got its name - "cow ford".
Sasha Mitrahovich 22.10.2015 21:02
The Bosphorus on the world map is located on the territory of modern Turkey and separates Europe and Asia, and Istanbul is located on both sides of it.
The Bosphorus Strait is a 30-kilometer winding crack connecting the Black Sea with and further, through, with the Mediterranean, has a depth of 30 to 80 meters, and its maximum width does not exceed 4 kilometers.
The Bosphorus Strait on the World Map:
Sasha Mitrahovich 22.10.2015 21:11
The shores of the Bosphorus are connected by the Bosphorus Bridge, more than 1,000 meters long, and the Sultan Mehmed Fatih Bridge, 1,090 meters long. It is also planned to build a third road bridge with a length of 1,275 meters.
If we turn to true, and not imaginary history, we can find out that the first to build a bridge across the strait was the Persian king Darius, who ferried a seven hundred thousandth army across the Bosphorus on a temporary bridge, which consisted of rafts thrown from ship to ship. How grandiose an event he accomplished in terms of engineering, how mediocrely the trip to the possessions of the Scythians failed. Without accepting a single battle, Darius lost all his unimaginably huge army.
There are two bridges across the Bosphorus. The first of them is called the Bosphorus. Since its completion in 1973, almost 200,000 vehicles have passed through it every day from one continent to another. It is the most famous landmark of Istanbul. The total length of this suspension bridge is 1560 meters.
The second bridge bears the name of Sultan Mehmed the Conqueror, it is also called the "Second Bosphorus Bridge". The bridge was built near the Rumeli-Hisary fortress for the 535th anniversary of the conquest of Constantinople by Sultan Mehmed Fatih, its length is slightly less - 1510 meters, it was completed in 1988. At the time when it began to be erected, many said that the bridge could spoil the silhouette of the city and all the beauty of the Bosphorus. But, despite this, the bridge built in one of most beautiful cities world, among the great monuments of history, along with its mosques and palaces, could harmoniously fit into the meanders of the surrounding hills.
Third bridge across the Bosphorus(The Bridge of Sultan Selim the Terrible), the construction of which began in 2013, will cross the Bosphorus in its northern part, at the outlet to the Black Sea. The bridge will combine two railway lines and eight car lanes at one level. The bridge is scheduled to be completed by the end of 2015.
Terrifyingly huge, during the day they look like elegant thin threads stretched from one coast to another, and at night they shine under the starry sky with lights of all colors of the rainbow.
The current inhabitants of Turkey are proud of their bridges across the strait.
Sasha Mitrahovich 22.10.2015 21:13
Marmaray Tunnel under Bosphorus Strait. In the fall of 2013, a railway tunnel was opened along the bottom of the Bosphorus, which connected the two continents. Only four minutes on it - and the strait is overcome. And from the final to the final station along the Marmaray branch, it takes 18 minutes to go, then you can change to the metro.
A tunnel was built to reduce the load on existing bridges across the Bosphorus and to reduce atmospheric gas pollution. During the construction, the engineers were especially concerned about the safety of passengers; all possible measures were taken so that the Marmaray tunnel would not be damaged by tremors in this earthquake-prone area.
Sasha Mitrahovich 22.10.2015 21:15
Beautiful panoramas do not cause satiety. On the shores of the strait, a mixture of past and present, luxury and poverty: marble palaces adjoin the ruins of stone fortresses, modern hotels stand next to wooden yawls.
Since the end of the 17th century, during the Ottoman Empire, pashas, viziers and simply wealthy families built houses, mansions and palaces along the coast, where previously there was only a scattering of fishing villages. Then the architectural brainchild of the Bosphorus arose - a seaside mansion - yali. Translated from Turkish, it means "house by the water."
Usually it was a wooden house with several floors, standing at the very edge of the water. This tradition has survived to this day. Many old yalis that have survived to our time, after restoration, have become restaurants, expensive boutique hotels and houses of the urban elite.
Sasha Mitrahovich 22.10.2015 21:19
There are many convenient bays in the strait. The most beautiful of which is. This bay with its shapes resembled a horn, so in ancient times it was called “Horned Bay”. The shores of this bay are as winding as the shores of the Bosphorus, so the bay forms a convenient parking lot for large and small ships. There are no rivers at the mouth of this harbor, so the waters have always been distinguished by purity and transparency.
In addition, the Golden Horn is reliably covered from the winds. Winter here does not begin until December, and snow on the Bosphorus is very rare. Autumn is quite long and is best time to visit the strait.
Sasha Mitrahovich 22.10.2015 21:20
The most common theory (the “Black Sea Flood Theory”) is that the Bosporus was formed around 5600 BC. as a result of the melting of large masses of ice and snow at the end of the last ice age, due to a sharp rise in water levels by 140 meters.
Black level and mediterranean sea then it was 120 m below the level of the World Ocean and there was no communication between the seas.
In just a few days, a powerful stream made its way from the Mediterranean Sea to the Black Sea, which at that time was a freshwater lake.
This is indicated, in particular, by the relief of the bottom, as well as the change in aquatic plants and sedimentary rocks from freshwater to salty around the time indicated above. On the underwater slopes of Turkey's Black Sea coast, recent archaeological research has unearthed submerged cities.
Most likely, it was the formation of the Bosporus that became the reason for the emergence of the myth of the Flood and Noah's Ark. By the way, relatively nearby, in Eastern Anatolia, is Mount Ararat.
Another reason for the appearance of the strait could be an earthquake.
Sasha Mitrahovich 22.10.2015 21:23
To fully experience what the Bosphorus is like, you need to take a fascinating walk along the strait on board any tourist vessel in the Karakoy quarter. A walk along the Bosphorus is an indescribable pleasure. Your eyes will see all of Istanbul with its inherent grandeur and pathos. Once on board a pleasure boat in the evening, you can try to look into the very soul of the “miracle of miracles” - the ancient Greek name for Constantinople.
Traveling through different countries, every tourist wants to see the most Beautiful places and breathtaking landscapes. Rest in this case will be memorable. One of the most popular tourist countries is Turkey. There are many attractions here. However, the Bosphorus in Istanbul deserves special attention. What a walk awaits travelers along this magnificent strait, Interesting Facts and reviews - all this will be discussed further.
general description
If one of these names is mentioned, the second immediately pops up in memory. Istanbul is ancient capital three empires. These are such powerful states as Byzantium, Ancient Rome as well as the Ottoman Empire. This city stands at the turn of the east and Western civilizations. Their culture and color are inextricably linked and intricately intertwined here.
To plunge into the special atmosphere of this ancient city, you should definitely go for a walk along the Bosphorus. In Istanbul, this is the main water artery. It is both the heart of the city and its main symbol. This strait holds many secrets.
Cruise on the Bosphorus in Istanbul, you can feel how the city depends on this waterway. He draws from it not only physical, but also spiritual strength. Therefore, the ancient city and the strait are one. They live for many years, merging inextricably into a single whole. A tourist who comes to this country should definitely go on a trip along the most beautiful strait, which is the Bosphorus. There is an ancient legend about its appearance.
According to legend, the strait that now separates Europe from Asia appeared in time immemorial. Its name is symbolic. The legend says that the lawful wife of Zeus, Hera, wanted to shed her anger on her husband's next beloved. Her name was Io. Zeus wanted to save her. So he turned Io into a white cow. So she managed to escape from Greece. Her path was directed precisely through this strait. Therefore, it was called the "cow's ford." In translation, this name sounds like the Bosphorus.
Geographic reference
A boat trip along the Bosphorus in Istanbul will be an unforgettable experience. This is a vast water artery, which, together with the Sea of Marmara and the Dardanelles, divides modern Turkey into European and Asian parts. Its length is about 30 km. The width changes a lot. In some places, it reaches only 700 m. At its widest point, the strait has 6 km. The length and width of the Bosphorus is 2 times less than that of the Dardanelles. However, the beauty of this reservoir is amazing. In Turkey, it is called Istanbul Bogazy. It means "Istanbul Strait" in translation.
The Bosphorus Strait connects the Black and Marmara Seas. Through the Dardanelles, the reservoir communicates with the Mediterranean and Aegean seas. Therefore, trade, oil ships and cruise, passenger liners regularly go through the strait.
The water in it is saline and desalinated. She moves across the strait from the Black Sea to the Sea of Marmara. Further, the waters enter the Mediterranean Sea. This is a unique water system. The river valley is very old. It is flooded with water from the sea. At the same time, there are two opposite currents. The bottom carries salt water. The upper course is desalinated.
The view of the Bosphorus in Istanbul is so picturesque that tourists cannot resist taking pictures against the backdrop of this natural attraction. Boating is very popular here. At the same time, the history of the strait and its bridges is very interesting. This reservoir was formed for many decades.
First bridge
One of the main attractions is the Bosphorus Bridge. He has a long interesting story. There is another bridge here. It's more modern. It is called the Sultan Fatih Bridge. A third bridge was recently built across the Bosporus.
However, the history of the oldest communication across the reservoir deserves special attention. Attempts to connect the two sides of the strait were made by mankind several millennia ago. A similar enterprise has been dated to 490 BC. e. The Persian ruler Darius wished to cross the Bosporus. He wanted to transport his large army through this water barrier. However, this caused a number of problems.
To carry out his grandiose plans, Darius ordered a resident of Samos, whose name was Mandrocles, to build a temporary bridge here. The ancient engineer coped with the task assigned to him. He tied several thousand boats connected with ropes, a pontoon. It was a grand building for that time. It was of enormous size.
The bridge across the Bosphorus in Istanbul today, of course, is significantly different from the ancient structures. However, attempts by mankind to come up with a land crossing through the strait are impressive. On the first ancient pontoon bridge, an army of 70,000 fully equipped warriors was able to pass to the other side. The structure did not last long. People could only get to the other side by boat.
Subsequent projects
A bridge across the Bosphorus in Istanbul was necessary. This was clearly understood by the rulers of the past. They began to think seriously about the construction of such a message during the Russian-Turkish war (1877-1878). Projects of a similar design were created. However, construction was delayed. Only in 1931 was the construction of the bridge planned. Istanbul, once former capital Ottoman Empire, has now become a developed city. Its authorities sought to create new infrastructure. New residential areas and industrial facilities appeared. Under such conditions, the city badly needed the construction of a bridge.
During this period, many innovative projects for the industrialization of Istanbul were created. One of them was a plan to build the first transport route across the Bosphorus. It was a suspension bridge, an example for the construction of which was the construction in San Francisco. However, even at this time the project stopped at the development stage. It was never created.
bridge construction
Only in the 70s of the last century was the first modern communication between the two shores of the strait built. The first stone in the process of building the bridge was laid at the end of February 1970. The creation of this grand structure was entrusted to a Turkish firm and two foreign companies. These were construction organizations in Germany and England.
35 well-known highly qualified engineers, as well as 400 builders, worked on the creation of the bridge. The process dragged on for 3 years. The construction cost the Turkish government over $200 million. The opening of the first bridge was celebrated on 10/29/1073. This date coincided with the half-century anniversary of the Turkish Republic.
The length of the bridge across the Bosphorus (Istanbul) is such that it allowed the building to take 13th place in the ranking of similar buildings in the world. Its opening was a grand event. It was so important for the country that the President of the Republic Fahti Kortyuk personally came to the ceremony of celebrating this event. Prime Minister Mehmet Naim Talu also attended the opening of the bridge.
Bridge Features
It should be said that other bridges across the Bosphorus were subsequently built. But the first building turned out to be the most grandiose. Its throughput remains the largest today. More than 200 thousand cars pass through it daily. During this time, more than 600 thousand passengers are transported through the bridge. The length of the bridge is 1560 m, and the main span is 1074 m. The width of this grand structure is 33 m. The distance from the water to the roadway is 64 m. The height of the bridge over the Bosphorus in Istanbul is 165 m. This distance is determined in highest point structures.
There is a toll on the bridge today. Pedestrians are not allowed here. The bridge can only be crossed by public transport.
Together with the construction of this great bridge, the goal of not only the Turkish government, but also many residents and visitors of this country was achieved. The great rulers of Antiquity could only dream of building such a large-scale facility. Modern technologies have made it possible to translate the plans hatched over the years into reality.
The bridge allows you to get from one part of the world to another in a few minutes. Since the strait had not seen such structures before, the structure was called the first Bosphorus bridge. It has 3 lanes for vehicles to move in both directions. One of them is reserved for emergency services. This is not only unique, but also the most beautiful design of the strait.
Bridges
The Bosphorus in Istanbul today has several bridges and tunnels. They are designed to move different kind transport. The first Bosphorus Bridge was renamed in 2016. Today it is called the Bridge of the Martyrs on June 15th. This decision was made in order to honor the memory of the victims who died as a result of the coup attempt.
The second bridge is also functioning now. It is called Fatih Sultan Bridge. This structure was built at the narrowest point of the strait. Here the reservoir has a width of only 660 m. This message was opened in 1988. The event was timed to coincide with the conquest of Istanbul, which took place 535 years ago. The length of this bridge is 1510 m. But the width of this structure is greater than that of the previous building. It is 39 m. The height of the roadway is at a height of 64 m above the water level.
Tourists say that these bridges are worth seeing in the evening. They are especially beautiful at night. Bridges are illuminated by a huge number of light bulbs. This gives them a special romantic charm and charm.
Relatively recently, a decision was made to build a third bridge across the Bosphorus. It is called the Bridge of Sultan Selim the Terrible. The construction started in 2013. The structure was erected in 2016. The opening of the movement took place on August 26, 2016. This structure is located north of Istanbul. The building was renamed in 2017. Now it is called the Bridge of Sultan Selim Yavuz. It is part of the Northern Marmari ring road.
The design is combined. One part of it is supported by shrouds, and the other by shrouds and cables. In the middle, the bridge is suspended on cables. It is the widest suspension bridge in the world. There are only 8 lanes for traffic here. There are also 2 tracks for the movement of trains. The height of the pylons is also a record. It is 322 m.
Tunnels
The Bosphorus in Istanbul also provides communication between the shores through tunnels. The first of them is called "Marmary". This is railway communication, which passes in a tunnel under water. Its construction began in 2004. The opening of the tunnel took place on October 29, 2013.
The length of the Marmari Tunnel is 9.8 km. The underwater part is 1.4 km. The tunnel is located at different depths. Railroad passes here vehicles. In the very deep place the tunnel is located 60 km from the surface.
The second no less important message today is the Eurasian Tunnel. It was opened on 12/20/2016. Its length is inferior to the first tunnel. It reaches 5.4 km. Directly under the Bosphorus lies 3.34 km of this message. If we take into account the length of the access roads, then the Eurasian tunnel is longer than the Marmariy. Its total length is 14.6 km.
The Eurasian tunnel lies at a depth of 106 km. This tunnel is designed for bus and road transport. Freight transport is not allowed here.
Attractions
Tours on the Bosphorus in Istanbul involve visiting various attractions. You can go for a walk by public transport (vapurs). Also, cruise ships, pleasure boats and yachts, steamers constantly circulate on the water surface. Huge tourist ships also come here.
Walking along the Bosphorus in Istanbul will be unforgettable. On one of the pleasure boats you can see both of its banks. The population density here is quite high. You can make a route yourself, based on the schedule of city ships.
One of the places frequently visited by tourists is the Maiden's Tower. It is located on a small island. Here the strait connects with the marble sea. Palace complexes, luxurious villas of the Ottoman Empire are located almost at the water's edge. Today these are the most luxurious hotels in Istanbul.
In the narrowest part of the strait, two fortresses stand opposite each other on both sides. These are Rumeli Hisari and Anadolu Hisari. The architecture is mesmerizing. Numerous tourists like to enjoy spectacular landscapes.
Halic bay
A walk along the Bosphorus in Istanbul is recommended to be supplemented with a visit to the Golden Horn Bay. It is also called Halich. It is located on the European part of the strait. Here once existed great city antiquity Byzantium. It was also the capital of the Roman Empire. The city was also called Constantinople.
A favorite place for tourists here is fishing boats, which cook freshly caught fish. Balyk-ekmek is a local delicacy. This is red mullet served with bread. Fried anchovy is also popular among tourists.
Having considered the features and attractions of the Bosphorus in Istanbul, you can go on a trip along this magnificent strait. This time will be pleasant and unforgettable.
According to an ancient legend that is significant for these places, the almighty god Zeus fell in love with Io, the daughter of the Argive king and the river god, which did not please Zeus's wife Hera. Io turned into a white cow and, trying to escape, descended into the waters of the strait, which has since been called the "cow's ford", or the Bosphorus.
In fact, it is not known exactly why the ancient Greeks called the strait that way: “bos” - a bull, “poros” - a ford, that is, “bull ford”. But "cow" stuck.
The science of historical geology does not have an unambiguous version of the origin of the Bosphorus. The most common - "Theory of the Black Sea Flood" is that the Bosphorus was formed about 7500-5000 years ago. According to this theory, earlier the level of the Black Sea was 120 m below the level of the World Ocean and the sea was not reported in any way. At the end of the last ice age, as a result of the melting of huge masses of ice and snow, the water level in both reservoirs rose sharply - by 140 m, a powerful water flow made its way from one sea to another. This is indicated, in particular, by the relief of the bottom, as well as the change in aquatic plants and sedimentary rocks from freshwater to salty around the time indicated above. Another reason for the appearance of the strait could be an earthquake.
The Bosphorus Strait has an important geopolitical position. Since the Trojan War XIII-XII centuries. BC e. it has repeatedly become the cause of international tension, especially during periods of weakening of one of the main great powers.
Under the Byzantine Empire (IV-XV centuries), and after its fall - during the Ottoman Empire, the Bosphorus remained an internal affair of these states.
The Ottoman period in the history of the strait left a significant mark on the architecture of buildings on the banks of the Bosphorus. After the conquest, the padishahs built many fortifications here, and not only. Initially, construction was carried out in central regions cities, but with the advent in the XIX century. steamships, luxurious summer residences began to be built on the more remote sections of the Bosphorus coast from the sea.
At the end of the XVII century. entrenched on the coast of the Azov and Black Seas Russian empire, and at the same time the problem of the Bosphorus and the Dardanelles arose, which in history was called the "Question of the Straits."
Firstly, the Bosphorus is very narrow, so it is easy to "lock" it. Secondly, the shores of the Bosphorus belong to one state of Turkey. Thirdly, the strait connects the open Mediterranean Sea with the closed Black Sea. At all times, Turkey used its exclusive position on the Bosphorus and let foreign ships through the strait, issuing them "firmans" of a kind of license for the right to trade with the Black Sea countries. The Bosphorus has always been the subject of disputes between Russia and Turkey, causing several Russian-Turkish wars. Russia managed to force Turkey to sign the Kyuchuk-Kaynarji peace treaty of 1774, according to which Russian ships could freely navigate the strait.
After the end of the First World War, according to the Treaty of Sevres in 1920, the Bosphorus was declared a demilitarized zone under the control of the League of Nations. Currently, there is an agreement on the regime of the Turkish straits, signed in 1936, according to which the Bosphorus is an international shipping zone. Today, from the point of view of modern international law, the Bosphorus is " open sea": merchant ships of all countries have freedom of passage through the strait both in peacetime and in war time. But Turkey retained the right to restrict the movement of ships of non-Black Sea countries along the strait, in particular its long-time enemy - Greece, and introduced a regime of advance notification of the passage of warships.
Only through the Bosporus can Russia, Ukraine and Transcaucasia be connected from the Black Sea with the Mediterranean and further with the World Ocean.
A significant part of the transportation through the strait is accounted for by oil from Russia and the Caspian region, delivered to Western Europe and the United States by tankers loaded at the terminals of the Russian port of Novorossiysk.
The passage of the Bosphorus is associated with significant difficulties. The fairway along which the ships go is very winding, has an S-shaped configuration, repeating the no less winding line of the coast. Thanks to the exceptionally well-coordinated work of coastal services at lighthouses and in control rooms modern history does not know the strait major disasters. Since 1960, only two dozen incidents have occurred here without significant loss of life and damage to the environment.
The flora and fauna of the Bosphorus are no different from the Mediterranean, and the main commercial fish species here is mackerel.
The idea of a bridge across the Bosphorus was born in ancient times. But only in the second half of the 20th century, after long and heated discussions, two bridges were built to connect the shores of the strait.
The Bosphorus Bridge - the first suspension bridge across the strait - with a total length of 1510 m was opened for travel in 1973. It bears the name of Ataturk, but locals more often they call it Bogaziki (in Turkish - "strait"). It connects the European and Asian parts of Istanbul. The height above the water is 64 m. Every day, more than half a million people are transported across the bridge. The bridge is paid, it is closed for pedestrians. In the first four years, people walked on it, but later it was banned, because those who decided to commit suicide regularly tried to use the bridge. Pedestrians are invited to use ferries that run between the banks of the Bosphorus since the time of the Persian king Darius I (V-IV centuries BC).
The Sultan Mehmed Fatih Bridge has the same overall length as its older brother and was completed in 1988. It is also not allowed for pedestrians. The bridges are 5 km apart.
For the convenience of moving along the strait, several sea traffic control towers, or simply lighthouses, have been installed here. All of them are not similar to each other. The first lighthouse tower was erected byzantine emperor Alexei I Komnenos in 1110 The Maiden's Tower, or Leander's Tower, is one of the symbols of Istanbul, which has been repeatedly restored.
On the European coast of the Bosphorus is one of the oldest and most prestigious districts of Istanbul, Besiktas. One of the Istanbul ports is also located here, from where ferries leave for the Asian shore of the Bosphorus. The most impressive square in Istanbul, Barbarossa Square, is also located in the Besiktas district, and here is the Naval Museum and the mausoleum of Holy Roman Emperor Frederick Barbarossa, who, according to one version, died while crossing the Bosphorus during the Third crusade in 1190
If the day is sunny, the local population bathes in the Bosphorus, entering the water from the Kennedy Embankment, in the Sultanahmet area, even despite the coastal fortifications in the form of randomly thrown boulders, ships constantly passing by and, to put it mildly, not quite clean water. This recklessness can probably be explained by the fact that recent times The population of the city has noticeably changed both in terms of numbers and composition: there are more people from distant rural provinces.
And the indigenous people of Istanbul don't go here anymore.
The largest number of attractions on the Bosphorus is concentrated in the Sultanahmet area. These are the most famous historical monuments Istanbul: Hagia Sophia (St. Sophia Cathedral), Blue Mosque (Ahmediye Mosque, in honor of Sultan Ahmed), Hippodrome, Topkapi Palace, Basilica Cistern, Archaeological Museum Istanbul and Suleymaniye Mosque. In 1985, the area was listed world heritage UNESCO.
general information
Strait between Europe and Asia Minor.
It connects with Marmara m, and together with the Dardanelles - with, thus with the entire Mediterranean basin.
Administrative affiliation: Turkey, Marmara region, Istanbul province.
The largest city: Istanbul.
Language: Turkish.
Currency unit: Turkish lira.
Religion: Islam
Numbers
Length: 31 km.
Width: 3329 m at the northern entrance, 2826 m at the southern entrance.
Maximum Width: 3420 m
Minimum Width: 700 m
Depth at fairway: from 36 to 124 m.
Average depth: 65 m
Max Depth: 110 m
Minimum depth: 18 m in the north, 13 m in the south.
Population: about 17 million people. (2001).
Economy
Shipping: 48 thousand ships per year.
Tourism.
Climate and weather
Moderate continental, subtropical marginal zone. Influence of cold winds from the north.
Average annual air temperature:+15°С.
Average annual water temperature:+14+18°С.
Average annual rainfall: 850 mm.
Relative humidity: 71,5%.
Water salinity: in the surface current, freshened (18% o) Black Sea water prevails, and in the opposite deep current, the salinity of water is 38% o.
Problems: fog, poor visibility, strong wind.
Attractions
European coast
■ Golden Horn Bay;
■ Building: Rumelihisar fortress (mid-15th century), Tophane castle (mid-19th century), Chifte Saraylar palace (mid-19th century), Dolmabahce palace (mid-19th century);
■ Religious buildings: Kilich Ali Pasha Jami Mosque (late 16th century), Dolmabahce Jami Mosque (mid 19th century), Ortakey Mosque (mid 19th century);
■ Museums: Museum fine arts, Maritime Museum;
■ Yildiz Park;
■ Fish Market Sariyer;
Asian side
■ Leandra Tower(XII century);
■ Religious buildings: Mihriman Sultan Jami mosque (mid-16th century), Yeni Valide Jami mosque (early 18th century);
■ Building: Anadoluhisary fortress (end of the 14th century), Veylerbeyi palace (mid-19th century), Küchkzhsu villa (mid-19th century), Haydar Pasha Tara station (XIX-XX centuries);
■ Port of Haydar Pasha Limany(late 19th century);
■ Chamlydzha hill;
Other
■ Bridges: Ataturk (Bogaziki) Bridge, Sultan Mehmed Fatih Bridge;
■ Adapar(Princes' Islands, Sea of Marmara).
Curious facts
■ On the surface of the Bosphorus, the current usually flows from the Black Sea to the Sea of Marmara. At a certain depth, the current changes direction and goes in the opposite direction.
■ In the winters of 1621-1669, the strait was covered with ice. This time was distinguished by a general decrease in temperature in the region and in climatology was called the "Little Ice Age".
■ The "Black Sea Flood" could serve as the basis for the legend of the Flood, which is present in the folklore of all peoples inhabiting or inhabiting this region, and could also become the basis for the story of the "Dardan Flood" from the legends of Troy.
■ Every year in Istanbul in the middle of summer there is an intercontinental swim through the Bosphorus, in which anyone who has time to register can take part.
■ On November 27, 2010, Sevastopol marathon swimmer Oleg Sofyanik swam the length of the Bosporus in six hours. The swim was dedicated to the preservation of the natural environment of the Bosphorus. The athlete was helped to swim by a strong south wind and a fair current. The water temperature was 14 degrees.
■ On May 15, 2005, American tennis star Venus Williams played an exhibition game with Turkish tennis player Ipek Senoglu on the Bogaziki Bridge. It was the first literally "intercontinental" match.
■ The construction of the Marmaray railway tunnel between the shores of the Bosphorus is already underway, it is planned to be completed in 2013. In 2010, the Turkish government announced to the public that it is planned to build another road bridge across the Bosphorus - in the northern part of the strait, on the Black Sea coast. The 1,275-metre eight-lane bridge will link the Northern Marmara Highway with the Trans-European Highway.
