Which strait divides the European and Asian sides of Istanbul?
Answer
Bosporus
The Bosporus divides the European and Asian sides of Istanbul.
The strait runs through northwestern Turkey, connecting the Black Sea in the north with the Sea of Marmara in the south. Istanbul is unusual among major cities because its urban area spans two continents, with the Bosporus forming the geographic boundary.
The Bosporus is part of the Turkish Straits system. Together with the Sea of Marmara and the Dardanelles, it creates the maritime route between the Black Sea and the Aegean Sea, and therefore the Mediterranean beyond.
The Dardanelles is a separate Turkish strait farther southwest. It connects the Sea of Marmara with the Aegean Sea and separates the European Gallipoli Peninsula from Asian Turkey. The two straits are often mentioned together but are not interchangeable.