Sea of Marmara

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Latest revision as of 12:20, 15 August 2018

40°41.342'N, 028°16.345'E40.68904;28.27241 waypoint

There are Port(s) of Entry here

Chart of the Sea of Marmara - For details click on a name or an area

The Sea of Marmara (Turkish: Marmara Denizi, Greek: Θάλασσα του Μαρμαρά or Προποντίς, Bulgarian: Мраморно море,Hungarian: Márvány-tenger (Marble sea), also known as the Sea of Marmora or the Marmara Sea, and in the context of classical antiquity as Propontis (Greek: Προποντίς), is the inland sea that connects the Black Sea to the Aegean Sea, thus separating the Asian part of Turkey from its European part. The Bosphorus strait connects it to the Black Sea and the Dardanelles strait to the Aegean. The former also separates Istanbul into its Asian side and European side. The Sea has an area of 11,350 km² and is about 150 nM (280 km) long and 43 nM (80 km) wide.

The salinity of the sea averages about 22 parts per thousand, which is slightly greater than that of the Black Sea but only about two-thirds that of the oceans. However, sea-bottom waters are much more saline, averaging salinities of around 38 parts per thousand — similar to that of the Mediterranean Sea. This high-density saline water, like that of the Black Sea itself, does not migrate to the surface. Water from the Granicus, Susurluk, Biga and Gonen Rivers also reduces the salinity of the sea, though with less influence than on the Black Sea. Almost all of these rivers flow from Anatolia: very little land in Thrace drains southward.

There are two major island groups known as the Prince's and Marmara islands. The latter group is rich in sources of marble and gives the sea its name (Greek marmaro, marble). A notable island located in this sea is İmralı, where Abdullah Öcalan is imprisoned.

Charts

BA

224 Maramara Denizi

1005 Marmara Adasi to Istanbul Boğazi

NIMA

55040 Sea of Marmara

Turkey

29 Marmara Sea

291 İzmit Körfezi

292 İstanbul - Mudanya

293 Büyükçekmece - Hoşköy

294 Marmara Adaları - İmralı Adası

295 Hoşköy - Gelibolu

296 Marmara Adaları

Greek

109 Ionio-Aegeo Steno Messinis mechri Thalassa Marmara

Weather

See Turkey.

Communication

Add here VHF channel for coastguard, harbor masters. etc.

Also see World Cruiser's Nets

Navigation

The Sea of Marmara is an enclosed sea and one may be deceived into complacency, thinking that it is an easy sea to transit. The fact is that it can develop very short choppy seas which if you are going against them make a very uncomfortable and wet ride. Also the weather here can change rather abruptly and violent thunderstorms are fairly frequent during the summer resulting in very bad visibility in these waters full of large commercial shipping.

The Sea of Marmara, considering its proximity to Istanbul, is not a popular cruising ground. With the exception of an occasional regatta from Istanbul you will rarely come across another yacht.

Note, however, that during the close season for the fishing boats (May to September), many of the commercial harbours around the Sea of Marmara are filled to bursting with laid up trawlers and purse seiners. It can be difficult if not impossible to find space to moor in them during these months and a yacht is well advised to head for harbours which cater for cruising yachts, of which there are a number around the shores.

Entrance

See Turkey.

Berthing

Ordered from Dardanelles to Istanbul.

Key to symbols: ||  – port of entry ||  – harbour ||  – marina ||  – anchorage ||  – needs data ||

South Coast	NorthCoast	Islands Groups
Avsa Avsa /wiki/Avsa |  – harbour | KemerKemer/wiki/Kemer_Sea_of_Marmara |  – harbour | KarabigaKarabiga/wiki/Karabiga_Harbour |  – harbour ||  – anchorage | ErdekErdek/wiki/Erdek_Harbour |  – harbour ||  – anchorage | Cakilkoy Cakilkoy /wiki/Cakilkoy |  – harbour ||  – anchorage | Bandirma Bandirma /wiki/Bandirma |  – port of entry ||  – harbour ||  – needs data | Zeytinbagi Zeytinbagi /wiki/Zeytinbagi |  – harbour | Mudanya Mudanya /wiki/Mudanya |  – port of entry ||  – harbour | Esenkoy or KatirliEsenkoy or Katirli/wiki/Esenkoy_(Katirli) |  – harbour | ÇinarcikÇinarcik/wiki/Cinarcik |  – harbour ||  – needs data | Yalova Yalova /wiki/Yalova |  – marina | Pendik Pendik /wiki/Pendik |  – harbour ||  – needs data |	ŞarköyŞarköy/wiki/Sarkoy |  – harbour ||  – needs data | Murefte Murefte /wiki/Murefte |  – harbour ||  – anchorage | Tekirdag Tekirdag /wiki/Tekirdag |  – port of entry ||  – harbour | Silivri Silivri /wiki/Silivri |  – harbour ||  – anchorage | Guzelce MarinaGuzelce Marina/wiki/Guzelce |  – marina | Yesilkoy Yesilkoy /wiki/Yesilkoy |  – harbour ||  – needs data | Atakoy Marina Atakoy Marina /wiki/Atakoy_Marina |  – port of entry ||  – marina | Istanbul Istanbul /wiki/Istanbul |  – port of entry ||  – marina | Kalamıs and Fenerbahce Marinas Kalamıs and Fenerbahce Marinas /wiki/Kalam%C4%B1s_and_Fenerbahce_Marinas |  – port of entry ||  – marina | Marinturk Istanbul City Port Marinturk Istanbul City Port /wiki/Marinturk_Istanbul_City_Port |  – port of entry ||  – marina |	Marmara Islands Marmara Islands /wiki/Marmara_Islands |  – harbour ||  – anchorage | Princes Islands Princes Islands /wiki/Princes_Islands |  – anchorage |

Friends

Submit details/contacts of cruiser's "friends" that can be contacted in advance or on arrival - who can offer information and assistance to our cruising "family".

Forums

List links to discussion threads on partnering forums. (see link for requirements)

Links

• Sea of Marmara at the Wikipedia

References

See Turkey.

Comments

We welcome users' contributions to the Wiki. Please click on Comments to view other users' comments, add your own personal experiences or recommend any changes to this page following your visit.

Verified by

Date of member's last visit to Sea of Marmara and this page's details validated:

• August 1999 --Istioploos Travels with S/Y Thetis
• May 2011 --Athene of Lymington 17:34, 28 May 2011 (BST)
• May 2013 --Monterey

Contributors to this page
Names: Lighthouse, Istioploos, Atheneoflymington, Haiqu,Monterey