Dardanelles

Dardanelles (Turkish Çanakkale Boğazi, ancient Hellespont), strait, north-western Turkey, about 65 km (40 mi) long and 1.6 to 6.4 km (1 to 4 mi) wide, between Asian Turkey and the Gallipoli Peninsula of European Turkey. It connects the Aegean and Marmara seas, thus forming a link in the waterway between the Mediterranean and the Black Sea, and constitutes a part of the boundary between Europe and Asia. Important towns on the Dardanelles include Gelibolu (Gallipoli) on the European side, at the entrance to the Sea of Marmara, and Çanakkale in Asian Turkey. The strait has a strong surface current in the direction of the Aegean Sea; this current is made swifter by seasonal winds. The entrances to the Dardanelles are fortified.

The Dardanelles are prominent in Greek legend and have been famous in history since early times. The ancient name, Hellespont, is said to have been derived from Helle, who was drowned in the strait when she fell from the back of the ram Chrysomallus. Leander also supposedly perished in the Hellespont during one of his nightly crossings to visit his beloved Hero. The legend inspired the English poet Lord Byron to swim the strait in 1810.

The strategic importance of the Dardanelles was demonstrated in 480 bc by Xerxes I, king of Persia, who, on his way to attack the Greeks, built a bridge of boats across the strait. Control of the Dardanelles in succeeding centuries was a source of power and wealth to those who held it. Its geographical importance led to it becoming the site of an unsuccessful invasion of Turkey by the Allies in World War I (See Gallipoli Campaign).