Thrace and Marmara :
The Roman province of Trakya (Thrace) is separated from
the rest of Turkey by the Bosphorus, the Sea of Marmara
and the Dardenelle Straits. Edirne, lying close to the
borders of Greece and Bulgaria, is best known for the
masterpieces of local architect Mimar Sinan, with wonderful
examples from the Ottoman Empire. The area is also famous
for the lush rolling fields, filled with vineyards and
sunflowers grown for their seeds and oil. The cities in
this region are Balikesir, Bilecik, Bursa,
Canakkale,Edirne, Istanbul, Kirklareli, Kocaeli,
Sakarya,Tekirdag and Yalova.
The Marmara region has a turbulent past. In 481 BC the
second Persian War, the Persian King Xerxes made a bridge
of boats over the Dardanelle Straits between Abydos and
Sestos. In the same location is the infamous love affair
of Leander and Hera, whowere buried in the waters of the
strait. And it was here that Mustafa Kemal won the first
big victory against enemy forces in World War I, and the
war graves and battlegrounds of Gelibolu are visited by
thousands of tourists every year.
The lively city of Izmit with its fruit orchards and
vegetable gardens is now an industrial centre, and nearby
Hereke is famous for its carpets. To the south is Iznik,
renowned during Ottoman times for its glazed tiles which
adorned the mosques and tombs, and its great Byzantine city
walls. Bursa, the land of silk, was the first capital city
of the Ottoman Empire and birthplace of modern Turkish
culture. The mosques, like Yesil Came and Ulu Cami, are
some of the most important and beautiful inthe country.
The country's first ski resort was built on the mountain
of Uludag, lying to the south of the city.
Tekirdag, with beautiful examples of Ottoman architecture
and broad beaches, is known for its vineyards and wine
festivals. To the north is Gonen with its famous thermal
springs, and the commercial port of Bandirma which is the
biggest in the Marmara sea after Istanbul. Near the city
and by Lake Manyas is Kuscenneti (Bird Heaven) National
Park with 239 species of birds, many of which migrate from
Europe and Asia during the summer, and fly south before
the winter.
One the shores of the Marmara Sea are a whole host of
beautiful beaches and holiday resorts, including Cinarcik,
Armutlu, Gemlik, Mudanya, Erdek, the Marmara and Avsa
Islands, Denizkent, Sarkoy and Silivri. To the west is
Yalova, a site famous for its thermal springs.
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