|
The Bosphorus is a
geological water way separating the European and the Asian parts
of Istanbul. The Bosphorus connects the Marmara Sea at the south
and Black Sea at the north. It is a difficult body of water to
navigate due to its strong currents and great twists and turns.
The Bosphorus strait, about 45000 ship passing every year Depth
is generally 50-75 meter, but at some points reach to 110 meter.
31 km (19 miles ) long and average width 1 mile. Narrowest point
700 meters only.
The shores of the Bosphorus strait are heavily populated as the
city of Istanbul (in excess of 11 million inhabitants) straddles
it. as well as ferries that transport to 1,5 million people from
both sides of the Bosphorus every day.
Near the southern side of Bophorus is the Golden Horn, the
naturel harbour of İstanbul, one of the most commodious natural
harbors in the world.
There are two strong currents at Bosphorus strait, one is from
north to south runs from the surface due to level difference of
Marmara sea and Black sea. Sea level allways higher at north
side of Bosphorus. Some season, this difference increasing due
to coming water with big rivers at Black sea and ofcourse rain
and wind effects the current at Bosphorus strait. Occasionally,
Bosphorus strait closing for all kind of ship trafic due to
strong currents.
Second currents, from the reverse side, from the deep, towards
the Black Sea. Because of the salt density difference between
Black sea and Marmara sea. Heavy salt water runs from deep
towards Black sea.
Bosphorus
which means 'Cow's of ford'. Reason of one Greek myth. Zeus and
'Io'....Zeus has transformed his new love 'Io' to white heifer
in order to protect her from Hera's notorious wrath. When Hera
arriving at the scene of Zeus and
stunning white heifer,
she
asked about the lovely heifer... Zeus's answers
was not satisfactory. Hera became even more angry, and summoned
a fury in the form of a gadfly to sting and pursue the heifer Io
relentlessly. A gad-fly began to sting and pester her, forcing
her to run farther and farther from her home. Io wandered far
from her home, trying to escape from the gadfly. She had pased
the strait from europan side to asia side and kept going to
happiness.
This greek myth undertanding
geological importance of the strait, which separating two seas
and two continents. Also, same way has been used by Iason,
before. He has passed the strait same direction for finding
'Golden sheepskin' at Kolkhis at the another Greek myth.
It
is still an important artery of international trade.
Every day , aprox 100 ship passing Bosphorus strait and here is
unique way to sail from Black sea towards Mediteranean sea.
At the
European side:
Dolmabahce Palace with its eclectic structure reflecting western
architectural styles, was built on the Bosphorus in the19th
century. Next is the Besiktas area where stands the statue and
tomb of Captain Barbaros Hayrettin in front of the Naval Museum
and near the Museum of Fine Arts. On this side of the Bosphorus
are many buildings by the Balyan family of architects, the most
significant of which is the Çiragan Palace.This palace suffered
great damage by fire in the late 19th century and lay in ruin
until recently when it was restored and made into a hotel. The
seaside gateway of the Yildiz Palace and Gardens is also here.
Further
along the shore are the Feriye palaces, then Ortaköy Square and
Ortaköy mosque, an attractive location where one feels the
texture of the city at its best. Next, passing under the great
columns of the Bosphorus Bridge, you pass by Kuruçesme,
Arnavutköy, Bebek, Rumelihisari (fortress), Emirgan, Üstinye,
Yeniköy, Tarabya, Kirecburnu, Büyükdere and Sariyer, finally
reaching the end of the European side of the Bosphorus at Rumeli
Kavagi, last point before the entrance of the Black Sea.
At
Asian side: Opposite Rumeli
Kavagi is Anadolu Kavagi on the Asian side of the mouth of the
Bosphorus. South along the shore past Yusa Hill is Beykoz. Next
is Pasabahçe famous for its glass and bottle factories as well
as liquor factories of the state monopoly.
After Pasabahce are Çubuklu and Anadoluhisar (Anatolian Fortress)
famed for the good quality of clay on the shores of the Göksu
and Küçüksu, freshwater rivers that flow into the Bosphorus.
Hence the
development of pottery making in the area. Next is a bay between
Vaniköy and Çengelköy where stands the Kuleli Military Academy.
After Çengelköy comes Beylerbeyi and its famous Beylerbeyi
Palace.
Coming to the sea just past Kuzguncuk is today's Üsküdar, known
in Byzantine times as the "Golden City." Today this neighborhood
is adorned with the Mihrimah, the Semsi Pasha and Yeni Valide
mosques built by the great architect Sinan, and the famous
Selimiye barracks. At the meeting point of Kadiköy and Üsküdar
stands the Haydarpasa Railway Station, last train stop in Asia.
Kadikoy is one of the oldest inhabited
districts of the city. Today it has luxury bayside neighborhoods,
including Moda and Fenerbahce.
Some of the interesting palaces, buildings or neighborhoods on
the Bosphorus are: Galata tower, Dolmabahce
Palace, Ciragan Palace, Yildiz Palace, Besiktas, Ortaköy,
Arnavutköy, Bebek, Rumeli Fortress, Tarabya, Yeniköy, Istinye,
Sariyer, Uskudar (Scutari), Kanlica, Beykoz, Anatolian Fortress,
Beylerbeyi Palace and Kuleli Military High school |
.JPG)
