Europe and Asia. What sea connects with the Bosphorus Strait?

The land border of Europe and Asia passes through the mountains, the Urals and the Caucasus, and the sea line - along the waters of several seas and the Bosporus. About what the sea connects with the Marble Strait Bosporus, we will talk about in the article.

Bosporus: the origin

The name of the strait between the shores of Europe and Asia is associated with a touching ancient Greek myth. Once Zeus fell in love with the beautiful girl Io, who was the daughter of a river god. To avoid the wrath of Hera, the wife of Zeus, Io, adopting the image of a cow, threw herself into the waters of the strait, which since then was called the Cow's (bullish) ford, or the Bosporus. Many do not suspect what kind of sea connects with the Marble Strait of the Bosporus. The sea, which is connected with the Marble through the Bosporus, is Black.

The formation of the strait is explained by the Black Sea flood, which happened about 8 thousand years ago. He also linked the two seas: since then the Bosphorus (strait) connects the Black Sea and the Sea of Marmara. Another version of the formation of the strait is the flooding of the river bed. Both versions have scientific evidence: the bottom relief and flora features are explained by the first point of view, and the presence of a double current, fresh and salty, is the second one.

Bosphorus: the meaning

The strait has an exceptional geographical position. He distinguishes between Europe and Asia. The Bosporus, the strait leading from the Black Sea to Marmara and back, is the only way from the Black Sea to the World Ocean. Thus, the Bosporus has an important geopolitical significance. The waters of the Bosporus transit goods from Europe, in particular from the Black Sea countries (Russia, Ukraine, the Caucasus) to Africa, North and South America, and vice versa. What sea connects with the Bosphorus Strait? This Black, inland sea, for which a given strait of about 30 km is a strategically important route of communication with the open Mediterranean.

Dardanelles

To get to the World Ocean, the ships following to the Sea of Marmara (about what sea connects to the Marble Strait of Bosporus, said above), you need to overcome not only the Bosporus, but another, no less significant strait - the Dardanelles. This is the totality of the straits connecting the Sea of Marmara with the Aegean and further with the Mediterranean Sea. It is twice as long as the Bosporus. The Dardanelles and the Bosporus are equally important geographical, economic and political objects.

Bosporus and Turkey

On both sides of the strait is the territory occupied by Turkey. The Bosphorus was repeatedly closed by the Turkish authorities for political and economic reasons. Foreign ships were passed through the Bosporus only after obtaining a special license from Turkey. Because of this policy, there are occasional conflicts between the Black Sea countries and Turkey. Currently, the waters of the Bosporus are considered open, but the Turkish authorities reserved the right to restrict passage of military vessels and ships of non-Black Sea countries through the strait.

Bosporus and Istanbul

The history of one of the most ancient cities on the planet - Istanbul is directly connected with the Bosphorus. The location of Istanbul is unique: its territory is located both in Europe and in Asia, and the Bosporus serves as a natural border between two parts of the world and the city. At the same time, the European part of the city is the main cultural and historical center where the majority of the population lives. The city of Istanbul (also Constantinople, Tsargrad, Byzantium) is also mentioned in the Old Russian annals as the place from which Orthodoxy has come to Russian soil. This city, in the heart of which is the Bosporus, has the largest population in Europe. Perhaps this is due to its successful location, with its rich history and unique culture.

The Bosporus makes Istanbul also the most lively sea route in the world. For example, the load on the Suez Canal, connecting the Red Sea with the Mediterranean, is three times less. Ships from the Black Sea countries are continually plying the Bosphorus.

This congestion has a significant impact on the ecology of the city. Rarely, but there are oil spills from the tankers passing through the Black Sea. Ships, cars, a large number of enterprises pollute the ecology of Istanbul. On the shores of the Bosphorus can not hear the splash of waves due to noise pollution, and at night the stars are rarely seen from the city due to light oversaturation. However, the ecological situation in Istanbul does not stop the multimillion tourist flow. After all, the city is truly unique.

Sights of Istanbul on the Bosphorus

Imagine Istanbul without numerous ferries and vapour, plying from one coast of the Bosphorus to another, it is impossible. The population of the city can not do without this transport, because a significant part of the population from the Asian part of Istanbul daily visits the European. Vapurs and ferries create a special color of the city. They also help tourists to get to some of the attractions on the banks of the Bosphorus.

From the coastline, tourists can see the Dolmakhche, Yildiz, Bukoleon palaces, the ruins of the Vlaharon Palace, numerous castles and fortresses.

The main one is the palace-museum of the Topkany - perhaps the most magnificent palace of the Ottoman Sultans, occupying the extreme point of Cape Sarayburnu, which is washed by the Sea of Marmara, the Golden Horn and the Bosporus Strait.

Istanbul, the pleasure and danger in which coexist, bewitches with its beauty, ancient and fascinating history, a special culture. However, tankers carrying petroleum products and other hazardous substances are of concern. The relief and the coastline of the Bosphorus are complex for the passage of large ships. But highly qualified pilots help to avoid catastrophes on the Bosphorus.