Marmara region

The Marmara region (Turkish: Marmara Bölgesi) is a geographical region of Turkey. It is in East Thrace. It borders Greece and the Aegean Sea to the west, Bulgaria and the Black Sea to the north, the Black Sea Region to the east, and the Aegean Region to the south. The region is named after the Sea of Marmara, which is in the middle.

The largest city in the Marmara region is Istanbul. Other major cities include Bursa, İzmit, Balıkesir, Tekirdağ, Çanakkale, and Edirne. Even though it is the second-smallest region in Turkey, the Marmara region has the most people and is the most crowded area in the country.

Etymology

The Marmara region is named after the Sea of Marmara. The sea is named after Marmara Island, where lots of marble was found long ago. In ancient Greek, the word for marble is "μάρμαρος."

Subdivision

The Marmara region of Turkey is divided into four main sections. The first is the Çatalca - Kocaeli Section, which includes areas around Adapazarı and Istanbul. The second is the Ergene Section. The third is the Southern Marmara Section, covering areas such as Biga - Gallipoli, Bursa, Karesi, and Samanlı. The fourth section is called Yıldız.

Each of these sections has its own unique features and cities, making the Marmara region diverse and interesting.

Ecoregions

Main article: List of ecoregions in Turkey

The Marmara region has many different natural areas, called ecoregions. These areas have special plants and animals.

Terrestrial

Palearctic

Temperate broadleaf and mixed forests

• Balkan mixed forests
• Euxine-Colchic deciduous forests

Temperate coniferous forests

• Northern Anatolian conifer and deciduous forests (Turkey)

Mediterranean forests, woodlands, and scrub

• Aegean and Western Turkey sclerophyllous and mixed forests
• Anatolian conifer and deciduous mixed forests

Provinces

The Marmara Region of Turkey has several provinces. Some are completely inside this region, like Edirne, İstanbul, Kırklareli, Kocaeli, Tekirdağ, and Yalova.

Other provinces are mostly in the Marmara Region, such as Balıkesir, Bilecik, Bursa, Çanakkale, and Sakarya.

Panoramic view of Istanbul

Panoramic view of Edirne from Selimiye Mosque.

Geography

The Marmara Region includes the Yıldız Mountains and Uludağ. Some islands in the Aegean Sea are Gökçeada and Bozcaada. Islands in the Sea of Marmara include Marmara Island, Avşa, Paşalimanı, İmralı, and the Princes' Islands near Istanbul.

Climate

The Marmara region has a mix of warm weather and rainy weather. Summers are warm and dry. Winters are cool and wet, and sometimes snowy. The coast stays milder than other areas.