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Istanbul
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Istanbul at a glance
Istanbul sits on the Boshporus Straits, where European and Asian
Turkey meet. Once the capital of both the Byzantine and Ottoman
empires, the city is home to landmarks of astounding beauty such
as the Topkapi Palace, the Blue Mosque and the Grand Bazaar.
Istanbul history
Byzantium
A settlement on Sarayburnu was established around 655 BC.
Triangular in shape, with water on two sides, it was a ready-made
fortress. To the north, this peninsula later to be named the
"Golden Horn" (Haliç in Turkish) formed a natural
deep-water harbor. The site offered easy access to the
Mediterranean, Africa and the Black Sea, and lay at the crossroads
of mainland transit routes crossing Europe and Asia. The small
colony's founding was attributed to a sailor by the name of Byzas,
hence the name Byzantium. Istanbul local information
Province: IstanbulCountry: TurkeyIstanbul By The Numbers:
Population: 10,000,000 (though some estimates have it millions
higher) Elevation: 121 feet Average Annual Rainfall: 25.8 inches Average Annual Snowfall: 18 inches Average January Temperature: 0 degrees C Average July Temperature: 23 degrees C Quick Facts:
Major Industries: textiles, glass, shoes, motor vehicles, ships,
and cement Ethnic Mix: 90% Turkish, 4% Kurdish, 6% Greek, Armenian, Jewish and other minorities Electricity: 220 volts, 50 Hz; two or three round prongs Time Zone: GMT +2 Country Dialing Code: 90 Area Code: Asia 216 / Europe 212 Did You Know?
Istanbul was founded in 660 BC as Byzantium. In 330 AD, it was
renamed Constantinople by Constantine the Great, who made it the
capital of the Eastern Roman (Byzantine) Empire. In 1204, the city
was sacked by Crusaders, and two and a half centuries later it was
taken by the Turks. Istanbul was chosen as the official name in
1930. Orientation:
Istanbul is located in the northwest part of the country on both
sides of the Bosphorus where the strait enters the Sea of Marmara.
Istanbul weather
Average Temperatures
Fah
Cel
Rainy Days
Average Annual
Rainfall:
17.9" / 45.5 cm
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