ISTANBUL: THE CITY THAT CONNECTS EUROPE AND ASIA
Associated Cities
Istanbul serves as a link between Europe and Asia. The districts of Tekirdag in the northwest, Cerkezkoy in the west, Orlu in the southwest, the Marmara Ereglisi in the southwest, Kandira in the northeast, the Gulf in the east, and Gebze in the southeast border the city, which is bounded by the Black Sea in the north, the Sea of Marmara in the south, and the Bosphorus in the middle.
Area
The peninsula between the Golden Horn and the Marmara Sea is where the city of Istanbul, from whence the name derives, is located. Its total area is 5712 km2. The province of Istanbul also includes the islands in the Sea of Marmara.
Istanbul’s surroundings are covered in greenery that resembles plants from the Mediterranean region. The “Maki” plant species, which is adapted to the protracted and arid summer season, is the most prevalent in the area. The Woodlands’ most significant development is located 20 kilometers outside of the city. The Belgrade Forest is located to its north.
Lakes and Rivers
The province of Istanbul lacks significant streams. Riva stream, which is also the largest body of water in the Kocaeli Peninsula, is the largest stream. It is 71 kilometers long. The Black Sea is located close to the village of Riva and is reached by the Riva River, which originates in Kocaeli and travels in a southeast to northwest direction.
The most significant waterways entering the Strait are the Küçüksu and Göksu streams. Other significant rivers in the Istanbul Province include the Kakhane and Alibey streams, which flow into the Golden Horn, the Sazldere river, which empties into the Küçükçekmece Lake, the Karasu Creek, which empties into the Büyükçekmece Lake, and the Trança Creek, which empties into the Terkos Lake. In the province, there are three modest yet significant lakes. These three are all located in Europe. Terkos Lake, which is isolated from the ocean, has delicious water. This lake provides water for the city. Due to their proximity to the Marmara Sea, the waters of the lakes at Küçükçekmece (11 km2) and Büyükçekmece (16 km2) are salty.
Seasons
Istanbul appears to have the features of a Mediterranean climate, but due to the effect of the Sea of Marmara and the Bosphorus, it has various characteristics even if the summer months are often hot and the winter months are not too chilly. The cold, dry air masses from the Black Sea and the cold, wet air masses from the Balkans are influenced by the warm, rainy southern air masses from the Mediterranean during the winter. In the entire province, the warm (southwesterly) air from the Mediterranean and the cold, wet air from the Black Sea accompany one another. There are no seasonal or day-night temperature changes in the province.
Istanbul is located in Turkey’s Marmara region and has a projection area of 5.196 km2 (5.461 km2 actual area). Istanbul, which is close to Kocaeli to the east, Tekirda, and Krklareli to the west, and the Black Sea, Sea of Marmara, and Golden Horn to the south, all encircle it.
Today’s Istanbul is primarily on the European side, with the Asian side making up the remainder.
Istanbul serves as a significant land and maritime crossing point. It can be found between the Black Sea and the Aegean Sea on one side and the Anatolian and Balkan Peninsulas on the other.
Prince Islands
Nine islands connected to Istanbul in the Marmara Sea are available for settlement: Büyükada, Heybeli, Burgas, Knal, and Sedef. Each of these islands has a face area of 16 km2, with Büyükada being the tallest at 5,200 m and Heybeliada being the widest at 2000 m. A total of 542 hectares of the islands are made up by houses, with the other areas being primarily makilik and Rocky, wooded, and woodland.
Istanbul is the City with the Largest Population in Turkey
Turkey’s most populated city is Istanbul, which has long served as the center of numerous civilizations. The fact that immigrants from every era of history have settled in Istanbul is one of its most significant characteristics. This feature was still present in Istanbul during the Republican era. Istanbul is not only the most populous city in Turkey, but it is also a metropolis where skilled labor and substantial capital are assembled.
Growing Population of Istanbul
Istanbul’s metro region would have 15,636,000 residents in 2022, a rise of 1.43 percent from 2021. Istanbul’s metro region had 15,415,000 residents in 2021, a rise of 1.48 percent over the previous year. Istanbul’s metro area had 15,190,000 residents in 2020, an increase of 1.48 percent from 2019.
