Dardanelles Strait Latest News
Southbound ship traffic is set to resume in Turkey's Dardanelles Strait after a tanker experienced engine failure recently.
About Dardanelles Strait
- It is a very important narrow waterway in northwestern Turkey.
- It connects the Aegean Sea (an arm of the Mediterranean Sea) to the Sea of Marmara.
- This strait acts like a natural border, separating the continent of Asia on its eastern side from Europe on its western side.
- The strait is named for the ancient city of Dardanus. In ancient times it was called the Hellespont, meaning “Helle’s sea,” in memory of Helle, a mythical princess.
- The Gallipoli Peninsula lies along the western side of the Dardanelles Strait.
- It is one of the narrowest straits used for international navigation. It is about 61 kilometers long and only 1.2 to 6 kilometers wide.
- It is entirely within Turkey. It forms a key part of the Turkish Straits, which also include the Bosphorus Strait and the Sea of Marmara.
- The Bosporus connects the Sea of Marmara with the Black Sea.
- These waterways are the only sea route between the Black Sea and the Mediterranean Sea.
- It is a vital shipping lane for countries around the Black Sea, like Russia and Ukraine.
- Their ships must pass through the Dardanelles to reach the Mediterranean Sea and the rest of the world's oceans.
- Major ports along its shores include Gallipoli, Eceabat, and Çanakkale, all in Turkey.
Source: REUT
Dardanelles Strait FAQs
Q1: The Dardanelles Strait is located in which country?
Ans: Turkey
Q2: The Dardanelles Strait connects which water bodies?
Ans: It connects the Aegean Sea (an arm of the Mediterranean Sea) to the Sea of Marmara.
Q3: The Dardanelles Strait was known by what name in ancient times
Ans: Hellespont
Q4: The Dardanelles and Bosporus together provide the only sea route between which two seas?
Ans: Black Sea and Mediterranean Sea.
