About The Bosphorus

The Bosphorus is a natural strait linking the Black Sea and the Sea of Marmara, separating Asian and European Turkey. Through the Dardanelles, it ultimately connects with the Mediterranean.

Significance of the Strait

For centuries, the Bosphorus has been a vital maritime route. Today, it remains busy with ships and tankers, supports heavy fishing, and acts as an ecological corridor between the Mediterranean and Black Sea.

Legend of the Bosphorus

“Bosphorus” means “passage of the cow”, tied to the myth of Io, Zeus’s lover. To conceal her from Hera, Zeus transformed her into a cow. Pursued and stung by flies, she swam the strait, reaching the Aegean Sea.