The Dardanelles is a strait, or narrow body of water, that connects the Aegean Sea and the Sea of Marmara. Along with the Bosporus, a strait that connects the Sea of Marmara and the Black Sea, the Dardanelles thus serves as a link between the Mediterranean Sea and the Black Sea. It also separates the continent of Europe from the westernmost tip of Asia Minor. The strait is named for the ancient city of Dardanus.

Physical features

The Dardanelles is 38 miles (61 kilometers) long and 3/4 of a mile to 4 miles (1.2 to 6.4 kilometers) wide. The average depth of the strait is 180 feet (55 meters), but it reaches a maximum depth of 300 feet (90 meters) in the narrow central section.

The importance of the Dardanelles lies in the fact that the strait forms part of the only sea connection between the lands lying on the Black Sea and the rest of the world. Ships must pass through the Dardanelles, for example, to reach the grain ports of Ukraine and the oil ports of Romania. The Gallipoli Peninsula lies along the western side of the strait. Major ports along its shores include Gallipoli, Eceabat, and Çanakkale, all in Turkey. A number of castles also stand along its banks.

Historical importance

Many legends and historical events are associated with the Dardanelles. In ancient times the strait was called the Hellespont, meaning “Helle's sea.” It was named for Helle, a mythical Boetian princess. Helle was said to have drowned in its swift waters after falling from the back of the legendary ram with the golden fleece. In 480 BC, Xerxes, king of Persia, sent his army across the strait to invade Greece. In 334 BC, Alexander the Great crossed the Hellespont from Greece to invade Persia.

In AD 1453 the Dardanelles came under Turkish control. In later years the British, who sought to bar Russia from the Mediterranean, supported Turkey's claim. But during World War I Turkey allied itself with Germany. The British, wanting to get aid to Russia by way of the Black Sea, tried to capture the Gallipoli Peninsula in 1915–16. They were pushed back, however, and the Dardanelles remained in Turkey's hands.

After the defeat of Turkey in 1917, the Dardanelles became part of a neutral zone under the control of the League of Nations. In 1923 the Treaty of Lausanne returned the region to Turkey. During World War II, Turkey did not allow British and United States ships to travel through the Dardanelles. With this sea route barred, the Allies were forced to build roads through Iran to send supplies to the Soviet Union. Although the Soviets were determined to gain partial control of the Dardanelles after the war, Turkey successfully resisted the demands.