The Bosphorus -
The Bosphorus is a narrow, navigable strait between Europe and
Asia connecting the Black Sea to the Marmara Sea. Approximately
20 miles long, 1.5 miles at its widest, and 164 feet deep. The
Bosphorus has two currents; one on the surface from the Black
Sea towards the Marmara Sea, and one below the surface in the
opposite direction. These currents make navigation difficult.
An average number of 38,000 ships pass through the Bosphorus
annually. |
|
|
Topkapi
Palace -
The construction of the Palace, including the walls, was completed
between 1465 and 1478. A city-palace with a population of approximately
4,000 people, covers an area of 173 acres. As the the seat of
government for the Ottoman Empire, it housed all the Ottoman
sultans from Sultan Mehmet II to Abdulmecit, nearly 400 years
and 25 sultans. In 1924 it was made into a museum. |
|
|
|
St. Sophia -
Founded
by Constantine and rebuilt by Justinian in the 6th century,
this architectural masterpiece has a dome 100 ft. across and
200 ft. high and several striking mosaics. The original basilica
was probably once the largest building on the world's surface.
For many centuries it was the largest church in the world
and today is the fourth largest after St. Paul's in London,
St. Peter's in Rome, and the Duomo in Florence.
|
|
