About Dardanelles Strait:
- It is a narrow strait in northwestern Turkey, connecting the Aegean Sea and the Sea of Marmara.
- It also separates the continent of Europe from the westernmost tip of Asia Minor.
- 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.
- It is one of the narrowest straits used for international navigation. The Dardanelles has a length of 61 km and a width ranging from 1.2 to 6.5 km.
- Another strait, called the Bosporus, connects the Sea of Marmara with the Black Sea.
- Together the Bosporus and the Dardanelles provide the only sea connection between the lands lying on the Black Sea and the rest of the world.
- The Gallipoli Peninsula lies along the western side of the Dardanelles Strait.
- Major ports along its shores include Gallipoli, Eceabat, and Çanakkale, all in Turkey.
