Sensational Facts About The Sea Of Marmara And Its Marine Life

Devangana Rathore
Feb 08, 2023 By Devangana Rathore
Originally Published on Dec 21, 2021
Fact-checked by Amanpreet Kaur
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Sea of Marmara is a unique ecosystem

The Sea of Marmara is an inland Sea surrounded by Turkey, a transcontinental country.

The maximum depth of the sea of Marmara is approximately 4495 ft (1,370.1 m), with an average depth of 1624 ft (495 m). The Gulf of Zmit, the Gulf of Bandrma, the Gulf of Gemlik, and the Gulf of Erdek are all located on the south coast of the sea.

In addition, the harbors surrounding the Princess and Marmara Islands are suitable anchorages with beautiful scenery. The Marmara region is Turkey's smallest but most densely populated region of the country's seven geographical areas. Landlocked seas connected to the oceans by small canals or straits are known as inland seas.

The Sea of Marmara separates Asian and European Turkey. The Bosphorus Strait connects it to the Black Sea in the northeast, and the Dardanelles Strait connects it to the Aegean Sea in the southwest. The sea of Marmara is a portion of the Turkish Straits Network, which also includes the Bosphorus and the Dardanelles Straits.

Countries Surrounding The Sea Of Marmara

The Black Sea is one of the world's newest waters. Two areas border the Black Sea to the north of Turkey: the Black Sea and Marmara.

Bulgaria, Russia, Ukraine, Romania, and Georgia are among the countries that surround the Black Sea and Turkey. The Bosphorus Strait connects it to the Sea of Marmara in the southwest.

The Dardanelles Strait links the Sea of Marmara with the Aegean Sea and the Bosporus Strait to the Black Sea. Although the water is moderate in the summertime, it is very chilly in the winter.

The Danube from the north, and Sakarya, Yesilirmak, and Kizilirmak from Anatolia in the south, are the most significant rivers that pour into the Black Sea. Because the Marmara Sea is an inland sea, it is influenced by regional climate conditions.

The western boundary of the Sea of Marmara is the Aegean Sea's Dardanelles barrier. As a result, the constant surface salinity of the Sea of Marmara is 22 parts per 1,000, somewhat higher than that of the Black Sea.

The water at the seafloor of Marmara, on the other hand, is highly saline, with an overall salinity of 38 parts per 1,000, which is comparable to the Mediterranean Sea's salinity. Turkey's second-biggest island, and the largest in the Marmara Sea, is Marmara Island.

Marine life In The Sea Of Marmara

The Sea of Marmara is a unique ecosystem that acts as a transitional region between the Black and Mediterranean Sea.

According to recent studies, the Sea of Marmara contains over 230 fish species, including 13 shark species. As a result, the Sea of Marmara is an essential navigational route for the transit of natural gas and petroleum from the western part of Asia and Russia to Europe.

The fisheries of the Marmara sea coast also provide a living for several fisher families who reside along with the sea's coastal areas. Istanbul, Yalova, Izmit, Balikesir, and Canakkale are the most prominent coastal cities and towns.

Pollution in the Sea of Marmara

Aquatic life has been suffocated by sticky discharge, blanketing harbors and beaches.

Warming waters exacerbate the situation. The Sea of Marmara,  Bandirma, Turkey, renowned for its clear waters and glistening fish, has lapped at Istanbul's shores for millennia. A mucous-like coating is developing over the Sea of Marmara in Istanbul, threatening aquatic life and fishing.

Pollution is strangling the Sea of Marmara, Turkey's 'Sapphire'.

Depressions in the Sea of Marmara

Asia to the east, Africa to the south, and Europe to the north encircle the Mediterranean Sea. The Gibraltar Strait connects it to the Atlantic Ocean to the west. It is also linked to the Red Sea by Egypt's Suez Canal within the southeast.

The Dardanelles Strait connects it to the Sea of Marmara to the east. The Mediterranean Sea is frequently thought to include the Aegean as well as Marmara Seas. The sea is also the center of Turkey's Mediterranean region.

The Mediterranean Sea spans over 9.6 million sq mi (2.5 million sq km), and its shores have hosted several ancient cultures throughout history. The word 'Medi' signifies 'middle', while 'Terra' means 'land or location' in Latin.

In the Aegean Sea, there are around 3,000 large and small islands, the majority of which are currently part of Greece. In front of the Dardanelles, Turkey has only a few small islands, including two medium-sized islands: Gokceada and Bozcaada.

The sea level in the Istanbul Strait is 1.3 ft (0.4 m) higher than in the Dardanelles. The Aegean has several gulfs and bays due to the large density of islands and rock formations.

Generally, the northern part of the sea is colder than the southern part. On the other hand, the northern region has a greater abundance of fish than the southern part.

For its short link with the Atlantic, the Mediterranean has few tides. The average depth is around 4,921 ft (1,500 m), with the deepest point at 1,7280 ft (5,266.9 m).

The coastline stretches for almost 28,583.1 mi (46,000 km). In the eastern Mediterranean, there is Crete, Cyprus, Chios, Rhodes, Corfu, and Lesbos; in the central Mediterranean, there is Malta, Sardegna, Corsica, and Sicily; and in the western Mediterranean, there is Majorca, Ibiza, and Minorca.

Conserving Our Seas

Due to overfishing, contamination, and habitat degradation, the number of marine species has been falling from the 200 species recorded by Slastenenko. Scuba diving and fishing are the most common methods for studying fish species.

Over an extended time, climatic, geographical, geological, and ecological conditions have resulted in establishing a diverse range of areas, ecosystems, and community relations of animals.

You can decrease stress on more popular species by picking a varied selection of seafood from good sources. You could also help reduce the risk of marine infection by consuming lower from food chains, as cultivated filter-feeding species, such as mussels, don't need to be fed.

If you go, make sure you clean up any trash. The currents flow in an east-west direction.

Reduce your emissions via flying less regularly, eating less meat and dairy, and using public transportation more frequently. Finally, raise your voice to tell the administration that you want environmental issues to be taken seriously.

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Written by Devangana Rathore

Bachelor of Arts specializing in English Language, Master of Philosophy

Devangana Rathore picture

Devangana RathoreBachelor of Arts specializing in English Language, Master of Philosophy

Devangana is a highly accomplished content writer and a deep thinker with a Master's degree in Philosophy from Trinity College, Dublin. With a wealth of experience in copywriting, she has worked with The Career Coach in Dublin and is constantly looking to enhance her skills through online courses from some of the world's leading universities. Devangana has a strong background in computer science and is also an accomplished editor and social media manager. Her leadership skills were honed during her time as the literacy society president and student president at the University of Delhi.

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Fact-checked by Amanpreet Kaur

Bachelor of Business Administration, Masters of Business Administration specializing in Accounting and Finance

Amanpreet Kaur picture

Amanpreet KaurBachelor of Business Administration, Masters of Business Administration specializing in Accounting and Finance

Amanpreet has a Bachelor's degree and a Master's degree in Business Administration from the Birla Institute of Technology and Xavier Institute of Social Service respectively, coupled with her internships at Decimal Point Analytics and the Royal Bank of Scotland, has equipped her with the necessary skills to analyze complex data and present insights in an easy-to-understand format. Her paper on the impact of COVID-19 on CSR programs has received high commendation.

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