- Geography and History
- Bosphorus divides Asia and Europe, connecting Black and Marmara Seas
- Strait's width varies from 500m to 3km, depth from 200 to 400 feet
- Name comes from Thracian word meaning "passage of the cow"
- Strategic location made it crucial for both Byzantine and Ottoman empires
- Transportation and Infrastructure
- Three suspension bridges connect Europe to Asia
- Marmaray tunnel opened in 2013, Eurasia tunnel in 2016
- About 48,000 vessels transit annually, 140 cargo vessels daily
- Current flows from Black Sea to Marmara Sea at certain depths
- Notable Features
- World's busiest commercial shipping channel
- Major oil transit route, carrying 3 million barrels daily
- Home to diverse marine life, including migratory and sedentary fish
- Hosts annual cross-continental swimming race since 1989
- Tourism and Attractions
- Daily passenger ferries connect European and Asian ports
- Rumeli Fortress offers unique city view
- Maiden's Tower features painted murals and historical stories
- Dolmabahçe Palace served as Ottoman administrative center