Istanbul city is one of the most beautiful cities around the world. Istanbul derives its beauty from the touristic monuments which spread all over the city. When you visit Istanbul, you will be surprised. Everywhere there are Archeological sites and natural landmarks.
In the last decade, Istanbul attracted tourists from all over the world. When we say Istanbul, firstly it comes to mind the Bosphorus strait which is considered the most famous landmark in the city.
At the same time, it gives the city great importance in terms of tourism and economy.
Thanks to Istanbul’s strategic geographical location and its location on the continents of Asia and Europe, Istanbul has been able to be the first destination for foreign investors and Arab businessmen. Especially, who are interested in the real estate market in Turkey and who are looking for apartments in Istanbul for sale.
It is the waterway that connects the Black Sea and the Sea of Marmara, and divides the city of Istanbul into two parts, one in the European continent and the other in the Asian continent.
The length of the Bosphorus is about 27 km, its width from the northern entrance of the Black Sea is about 3.9 km, and its narrowest parts range between 640 to 700 meters only, and the depth of the water in the Bosphorus strait ranges from 36 to 122 meters.
The strait includes two main ports in Istanbul, the Golden Horn, the western port, and Haydarpasa Port in the eastern part, located on the Asian side of Istanbul.
The waters of the Bosphorus Strait are considered part of international navigation. Where ships pass through the strait in one direction, and at least 55,000 ships loaded with goods pass through it annually, making their way across the continents.
Strong water currents pass through the Bosphorus, which makes it difficult for ships to move sometimes as a result of the abundance of water that flows into the Black Sea.
On the other hand, the strait is considered one of the most important tourist attractions in Istanbul and the most important commercial and economic landmark, and it is the main water artery in Istanbul.
Bosphorus Bridges
The Turkish government built three bridges over the Bosphorus strait, in order to facilitate the process of traveling by land between parts of Istanbul, instead of sea transportation.
July 15 Martyrs’ Bridge “Bosphorus Bridge”
The story of the suspension bridge that connects the two sides of Istanbul began since the time of Sultan Abdul Hamid II.
Who developed plans and designs in order to connect the two continents with a corridor that facilitates the movement of traffic and saves time and effort for the residents. However, that dream remained captive to the schemes and drawers of the Sultan.
In 1970, the first suspension bridge was built over the Bosphorus (the Bosphorus Bridge), which is known today as the July 15 Martyrs Bridge.
The Bosphorus Bridge connects the Black Sea from the north with the Sea of Marmara from the south, and the eastern end of the bridge begins in Bayler Bey district on the Asian side and its western end connects to Ortakoy district on the European side of Istanbul.
The Bosphorus Bridge is 33 meters wide and 1560 meters long, and is considered the seventh longest suspension bridge in the world.
Sultan Mehmed Al-Fateh Bridge
The Turkish government has built another bridge over the Bosphorus, in order to relieve the July 15 Martyrs’ Bridge, which witnessed traffic congestion as a result of the increase in population in Istanbul.
The Sultan Mehmed Al-Fateh Bridge was opened in 1988, and its height is 105 meters from the ground and 64 meters from the surface of the water, and the distance between its two towers is 1090 meters.
It is also ranked fourteenth on the list of the longest suspension bridges in the world.
The Sultan Mehmed Al-Fateh Bridge added an amazing artistic touch to the waters of the Bosphorus, and was designed by the same company that built the first Bosphorus Bridge. The cost of its establishment amounted to 130 million dollars.
Sultan Yavuz Selim Bridge
Sultan Yavuz Selim Bridge is one of the largest suspension bridges in the world, with a length of about 2164 meters, and the columns of the bridge are the highest in the world with a height of 322 meters. It is the longest suspension bridge in the world supported by railway tracks. It was inaugurated on August 26, 2016 in the presence of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
If you are planning to visit Turkey this year, for tourism or to invest in the Turkish real estate market and want to buy property in Turkey and looking for apartments in Istanbul for sale, we recommend that you make time from your visit to take a wonderful tour of the Bosphorus and enjoy watching the charming city of Istanbul.
