Dardanelles cross continental swim – What to do whilst you are in Turkey?
What is the Bosphorus?
The 30 km Bosphorus or Turkish Straits are the dividing line between Europe and Asia. Therefore joining the Mediterranean and the Back Sea along an ancient tectonic line. From the Mediterranean Sea in the south the straits run through the Dardanelles passage. For this reason the Dardanelles have always been of great strategic importance. They form the start of the Bosphorus and provide the only seaward access to the ancient city of Constantinople, now Istanbul.
The width of the strait varies from 500 m to 3 km in addition its depth varies from 50 to 120 m. For this reason it is one of the busiest waterways in the world.
The name Bosphorus ‘Crossing place of the cow’, comes from a Greek legend. Zeus had an affair with a woman named lo. When Hera, his wife, discovered this she turned Io into a cow and created a horsefly to sting her. Io chased by the horsefly jumped clear across the strait. Hence the word Bosphorus (Crossing place of the cow) comes from ‘bous’ (cow) + ‘poros’ (crossing-place).
What are the two Turkish cross continental swims?
Bosphorus Cross Continental Swim
The Bosphorus Cross Continental Swim is an annual open water swimming event between the continents Europe and Asia. It is held annually in Istanbul, Turkey. Notably the event is organised by the Turkish Olympic Committee. Consequently it is a very popular event.
Dardanelles Cross Continental Swim
The Dardanelles Cross Continental Swim from Hellespont to Canakkale in Turkey. is reputed to be the worlds oldest open water swim. Canakkale is about 5 hours bus ride south of Istanbul. This trait has been a natural barrier for invading armies for millenia, used by both King Xeres I of Persia in 480BC and Alexander the Great.
The Hellespont is celebrated in the ancient Greek myth as the strait that Leander swam across to reach his lover Hero. Hero, a priestess of Aphrodite, lived on the European side of the Hellespont in a high tower by the sea. Leander, a young man from the Asian side, swam every night, guided by the lamp which his mistress lit at the top of the tower, in order to spend the night with his beloved Hero. It was one stormy night when Hero’s lamped burned out that Leander lost his way and drowned in the strait.
It was officially swum for the first time by the famous poet, Lord Byron, in 1810. Since this time it has been considered the absolute epitome of open water swimming. It is on ever open water swimmer’s international bucket list.
What to do whilst you are in Turkey?
Whether you are heading south to complete the Dardanelles cross continental swim or taking part int he Bosphorous cross continental swim virtually everyone will stay and transit via Istanbul.
Istanbul – must sees
Blue Mosque
The Blue Mosque, official name Sultan Ahmed Mosque, is an Ottoman-era historical imperial mosque constructed between 1609 and 1617 during the rule of Ahmed I and remains a functioning mosque today. 7,000 slaves were involved in the construction of the Mosque.
Grand Bazar
The Grand Bazaar meaning ‘Covered Market’ in Istanbul is one of the largest and oldest covered markets in the world, with 61 covered streets and over 4,000 shops. It is located inside the Walled city with construction Grand Bazaar’s core started during the winter of 1455.
Dardanelles Swim – must sees
Gallipoli
Bordering the Hellespont to the north, the Gallipoli Peninsula is a mix of pine forests and farmers’ fields. In contrast are the cemeteries and battlefields commemorating the Gallipoli campaign, an attempt to remove the Ottoman Empire from the First World War. From the beaches where the allies first landed (Anzac Cove, V Beach), to the high ridges that they endeavoured to take (Lone Pine, Chunuk Bair) this is decidedly a place of rememberance because of the large number of people who died here.
Troy
With a lineage of over 4,000 years, Troy is often quoted as the centre of ancient civilization. Nevertheless Troy was only rediscovered in the 19th Century. The city was rebuilt 9 times, devastated by flood, earthquake, tsunami (x2), malaria & battles. It’s location was was refound by the British from the stories in the Iliad and initially excavated by Germans. Of courses much of the site is still to excavated but artefacts discover here are housed in the on site museum. I believe they made a film about it!
