Dardanelles Strait

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

‹ ›