Important not only for Turkey but also for the countries of Europe and Asia, Istanbul Strait is an ancient river bed. It is accepted that this valley was covered with sea waters during the fourth geological period and taken its form of today. Inside Istanbul Strait, the lesser salty and lighter water of Black Sea flows to Marmara from the top, and saltier and denser waters of Mediterranean flows to the north from the bottom. The length of Anatolia shore with all its inlets and offsets is 35 km. The shore of Trace is 55 km. The shores with steep slopes to the sea level stretch parallel to each other and both sides of the strait is called Bosphorus (”Bogazici”). Istanbul Strait is like a large river flowing meandering through the shores ornamented with greeneries, residences on waterfront, and historical monuments (Rumeli Fortress and Anatolian Fortress, Palaces of Dolmabahce and Beylerbeyi, Pavilions of Kucuksu, Beykoz and Goksu).

Editor, Medasist International
Archeologist Funda CIVAN