Gulf of İzmit
Gulf of İzmit ( Turkish : İzmit Körfezi ), also referred to as İzmit Bay , is a bay at the easternmost edge of the Sea of Marmara , in Kocaeli Province , Turkey . The gulf takes its name from the city of İzmit . Other cities and towns around the bay are Gebze , Körfez , Gölcük , and Altınova .
In the east–west direction, it extends for a length of about 48 kilometres (30 mi), while in the north–south direction its width varies from 2 to 3 kilometres (1.2 to 1.9 mi) at the narrowest spots to about 10 kilometres (6.2 mi) at its widest. The İzmit Bay Bridge is a suspension bridge that bridges the gulf.
The North Anatolian Fault Zone , the most prominent active fault in Turkey and the source of numerous large earthquakes throughout history, passes through the Gulf of İzmit. [1]
Etymology
İzmit’s ancient names were Gulf of Astacus , Sinus Astacenus ( Ancient Greek : Ἀστακηνὸς κόλπος ), [2] Olbianus Sinus ( Ancient Greek : Ὀλβιανὸς κόλπος , romanized : Olbianos kolpos ), [3] and Gulf of Nicomedia . [4]
It took the names Gulf of Astacus and Sinus Astacenus from the city Astacus . [5] [6]
See also
- Astacus in Bithynia
- Nicomedia (modern İzmit) – the eastern and most senior capital of the Roman Empire during the Tetrarchy system
- İzmit
- İzmit Bay Bridge
- İzmit Körfez Circuit
References
- ^ "North Anatolian Fault Zone". Archived from the original on 2006-09-05 . Retrieved 2006-08-04 .
- ^ Niketas Choniates, Annals, §530
- ^ "İzmit Körfezi, Turkey - Geographical Names, map, geographic coordinates".
- ^ AnadoluJet Magazine: "Kocaeli the Heart of the Gulf of İzmit", by Hasan Mert Kaya, January 2012.
- ^ Strabo, Geography, §12.4.2
- ^ Pliny the Elder, Natural History, §5.43.1
External links
- Motorway over the Gulf
40°44′N 29°39′E / 40.74°N 29.65°E / 40.74; 29.65
