Marmara region

The Marmara region (Turkish: Marmara Bölgesi) is a geographical region of Turkey. It is located in East Thrace and is bordered by 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 lies at its center.

The largest city in the Marmara region is Istanbul, one of the most important cities in the world. Other major cities include Bursa, İzmit, Balıkesir, Tekirdağ, Çanakkale, and Edirne. Although it is the second-smallest of Turkey's seven geographical regions, the Marmara region has the largest population and is the most densely populated area in the country.

Etymology

The Marmara region gets its name from the Sea of Marmara. The sea is named after Marmara Island, where lots of marble was found long ago. The word for marble in ancient Greek 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 types of natural areas, called ecoregions. These areas have special plants and animals that make them unique.

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 provinces are completely inside this region, such as Edirne, İstanbul, Kırklareli, Kocaeli, Tekirdağ, and Yalova.

Other provinces are mostly in the Marmara Region, including 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, while 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 Mediterranean and humid subtropical climates along the Aegean Sea and south Marmara Sea coasts, and an oceanic climate on the Black Sea coast. Summers are warm and dry, while winters are cool, wet, and sometimes snowy. The coastal areas have milder temperatures overall.