Dardanelles, Turkey

The Dardanelles is a narrow strait in northwestern Turkey connecting the Aegean Sea to the Sea of Marmara. It is located at approximately 40°13′N, 26°26′E. The strait is 61 kilometers (38 mi) long but only 1.2 to 6 kilometers (0.75 to 4 mi) wide, averaging 55 meters (180 ft) deep with a maximum depth of 82 meters (300 ft). Water flows in both directions along the strait, from the Sea of Marmara to the Aegean via a surface current and in the opposite direction via an undercurrent.

Like the Bosporus, it separates Europe (the Gallipoli peninsula) and the mainland of Asia. The strait is an International waterway, and together with the Bosporus, Dardanelles connects the Black Sea to the Mediterranean Sea.

The Turkish name Çanakkale Boğazı is derived from the major city adjoining the strait, Çanakkale (which takes its name from its famous castles; kale means "castle"). The name Dardanelles derives from Dardania, an ancient Greek city on the Asian shore of the strait.

Things to See & Do

* Canakkale
* Troy
* Gallipoli
* Assos

General Information

Cruise Season - Feb to Dec
Currency - New Turkish Lira (YTL)
Language - Turkish
Population - 75,000 approx (Canakkale)
Electricity - 2 round pins European style
Time - GMT/UTC + two hours
International Country Telephone Code - + 90

Port Location - There are ports located at various points along the Dardanelles including Canakkale and Lapseki.

Travel Links - Atlasjet offer night flights from Istanbul to Canakkale. By bus it is a long 6 hour ride from Istanbul or the Dardenelles car ferries run between Canakkale and Eceabat.