News: Seven Turkish police officers were injured in a clash with suspected Islamic State militants in Yalova province, located on the Sea of Marmara coast.
About Sea of Marmara
- Location: The Sea of Marmara is a small inland sea entirely within Turkey.
- It is also known as the Marmara Sea or Propontis.
- Naming: The sea derives its name from Marmara Island, the largest island on its southern side, which is rich in marble.
- Boundaries: The Sea of Marmara is connected to the Aegean Sea in the west through the Dardanelles Strait and in the northeast it is bounded by a line joining Cape Rumili and Cape Anatoli, while its southern coast includes the Gulfs of İzmit, Gemlik, Bandırma, and Erdek.
- Separates: It separates the European and Asian parts of Turkey.
- Straits: The Sea of Marmara is connected to the Black Sea by the Bosporus Strait and to the Aegean Sea by the Dardanelles Strait.
- River Drainage: Major rivers such as Susurluk, Biga (Granicus), and Gönen flow into the sea, mainly from the Anatolian side, contributing to reduced surface salinity.
- Unique oceanography: The sea has a two-layer system, with fresher, colder Black Sea water flowing over warmer, saltier Mediterranean water.
- The surface salinity is lower than most oceans, while deeper water is highly saline.
- High nutrients support phytoplankton but also cause algal blooms like mucilage.
- Important Islands: The sea includes the Princes’ Islands in the north and the Marmara Islands in the south, with several inhabited and uninhabited islands.
- Strategic waterway: The Sea of Marmara lies at the centre of a critical trade and transit route and is surrounded by major cities, especially Istanbul.
- Major concerns
- The North Anatolian Fault beneath the sea causes frequent earthquakes, including the deadly Marmara Earthquake of 1999.
- Pollution from untreated waste, overpopulation, and mucilage outbreaks (2021) have harmed marine life and disrupted fishing activities.
