The
Bosphorus is a 31km/20miles long strait between
Asia and Europe, linking the Black Sea to the
Marmara Sea. Its average depth is 50m/ 164 ft
and its width varies between 1 and 2.5 km / 0.5
and 1.5 miles. Its narrowest part (700m / 2.300
ft) is situated between the Rumeli and Anadolu
Fortresses. Because the level of the Black Sea
is a little higher than that of the Marmara Sea,
this causes strong currents on the surface and
under water. Another current is caused by the
difference of salt rate between the two sees.
Two suspension bridges link the two shores: “Atatürk
Köprüsü” inaugurated in 1973 and “Fatih
Mehmet Köprüsü” inaugurated in 1988. Map
1
A boat (vapur) ride on the Bosphorus
must be experienced to discover another aspect
of the city. Palaces, beautiful old wooden houses
called “yalı”, luxuous villas, numerous
fish restaurants line both shores.
Built
on a natural rock, “kız Kulesi” (Maiden’s
Tower) is a lighthouse loctated at the mouth of
the Bosphorus. According to the legend, a sultan
learning that his daughter would die poisoned,
built a tower to confine her there, in order to
protect her. But a snake hidden in a fruit basket
brought by her servant bit her...
Recently opened as a restaurant, the Lighthouse
can be reached
from the Asian side of Istanbul
by shuttle boats located at
Üsküdar,
in the past better
known by the Westerners under the name Skutari.
THE GOLDEN HORN
The Golden Horn (Haliç) is an arm of the sea
and a natural harbour prized ever since ancient
times. Its name comes from its shape and from
the colour of the surface of the water at sunset.
The
Orthodox
Patriarchate (St George church) is
located at Fener where it was established
in 1586. The beautiful wooden building, which
was rebuilt in 1837, was destroyed by a fire in
1941. Map
2, C 1
The Greek school
In Balat are the old Jewish quarters. From
Eyüp, through interesting Ottoman cemeteries,
a path leads to the top of a hill from where Pierre
Loti, an officer of the French navy who lived
in Istanbul at the end of the 19th century (read
his novel called “Aziyade”), loved to contemplate
the Golden Horn. There is a superb view from the
Café Pierre Loti and watching sunset from
here should not be missed.
The Golden Horn separates the old town in the
South, from the new town in the North. Map 4, B 2
