Bosporus, also Bosphorus (Turkish İstanbul Boğazi; ancient Bosporus Thracius), strait, southeastern Europe and southwestern Asia, connecting the Black Sea and the Sea of Marmara and separating Turkey in Asia from Turkey in Europe. It is 31 km (19 mi) long and varies between 0.8 and 4.4 km (0.5 and 2.8 mi) wide. Swift currents make navigation difficult. Along both shores are many attractions, including ancient ruins, picturesque villages, and forested areas. Near the southern end is the Golden Horn, the harbor of İstanbul, one of the most commodious natural harbors in the world. In 1973, a 1,079-m (3,540-ft) suspension bridge was opened at İstanbul linking the Asian and European shores of the strait.
The name Bosporus means “ford of the ox” in Greek and is derived from the myth of the maiden Io, who swam the strait after being changed into a heifer. In ancient and medieval times almost all commerce between the Mediterranean and Black seas was routed through the strait. It is still an important artery of international trade.
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