The Bosphorus Strait, located in Turkey (Türkiye), is one of the most strategically important waterways in the world. Stretching about 31 kilometers (19 miles) in length, it connects the Black Sea to the Sea of Marmara, which in turn links to the Aegean Sea (an arm of the Mediterranean Sea) via the Dardanelles Strait.
Serving as a natural boundary between Europe and Asia, the Bosphorus varies in width from just 700 meters (2,300 ft) at its narrowest point to about 3.7 kilometers (2.3 miles) at its widest, with depths reaching up to 110 meters (360 ft).
| Length | about 31 kilometers (19 miles) |
| Minimum width | about 700 meters (2,300 ft) |
| Maximum width | about 3.7 kilometers (2.3 miles) |
| Maximum depth | about 110 meters (360 ft) |
Each year, thousands of vessels pass through its waters, making the Bosphorus a vital international shipping route and the only maritime link between the Black Sea and the Mediterranean Sea.
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