Why in the News?
A powerful earthquake with a magnitude of 6.2 struck Istanbul and surrounding areas with its epicenter located beneath the Sea of Marmara.
About the Sea of Marmara
- The Sea of Marmara is a small but significant inland sea in Turkey, acting as a transition zone between the Black Sea and the Aegean Sea.
- It holds geographical, ecological, and cultural importance, separating Asia and Europe within Turkey.
- It spans 11,350 km², it is 280 km long and 80 km wide.
- It is connected to the Black Sea in the northeast via the Bosphorus Strait and to the Aegean Sea in the southwest via the Dardanelles Strait.
- It receives cold, fresh water from the Black Sea and warmer, saltier water from the Mediterranean, creating a unique fresh-to-salty water transition.
- The region experiences a humid subtropical climate with hot summers and cold, wet winters, influencing the marine ecosystem.
- The North Anatolian Fault runs beneath the sea, causing significant earthquake risks, including the recent 6.2 magnitude earthquake near Istanbul.
- It is home to several islands, including Marmara Island (the largest) and Prince Islands.
- The city of Istanbul lies along its coastline.
| [UPSC 2014] Turkey is located between:
Options: (a) Black Sea and Caspian Sea (b) Black Sea and Mediterranean Sea (c) Gulf of Suez and Mediterranean Sea (d) Gulf of Aqaba and Dead Sea |
