What is Sea of Marmara?
[[Image:Sea of Marmara map.png|thumb|The Sea of Marmara.]] The '''Sea of Marmara''', also known as the '''Sea of Marmora''' or the '''Marmara Sea''', is the [[inland sea]] that connects the [[Black Sea]] to the [[Aegean Sea]] and separates [[Turkey]]'s [[Asia]]n and [[Europe]]an parts. The [[Bosporus|Bosphorus]] is a strait that connects it to the Black Sea and the [[Dardanelles]] to the Aegean. The Sea of Marmara has an area of 11,350&nbsp;km² (280&nbsp;km x 80&nbsp;km),<ref>[http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1E1-Marmara.html Sea of Marmara]</ref> and its greatest depth is 1,370 m. ==Geography== The [[salinity]] of the Sea of Marmara averages about 22 parts per thousand, which is slightly greater than that of the [[Black Sea]] but only about two thirds that of most [[ocean]]s and of the [[Mediterranean Sea]]. The water is much more saline at the bottom of the sea, with an average salinity of around 38 parts per thousand, whic is similar to that of the Mediterranean Sea. Water from the [[Susurluk River|Susurluk]], [[Biga River|Biga]] (Granicus) and [[Gönen River|Gönen]] Rivers reduces the salinity of the sea. There are two major [[island]] groups: the [[Princes' Islands|Princes']] and the [[Marmara Island|Marmara]] Islands. The south coast of the sea includes the [[Gulf of Izmit]], the [[Gulf of Gemlik]] and the [[Gulf of Erdek]]. The [[North Anatolian Fault]], which has caused many major [[earthquake]]s in recent years such as the [[1999 İzmit earthquake]], runs under the sea. from under the city of [[İzmit]], in the Gulf of İzmit. in the east, to under the coastal town of [[Kapaklı]], in the west. ==References== {{Reflist}} ==Other websites== {{commons cat-inline}} {{List of seas}} {{multistub|Geo|Asia|Europe}} {{authority control}} {{coord|40|45|N|28|00|E|region:TR_type:waterbody_scale:2500000|display=title}} {{DEFAULTSORT:Marmara, Sea of}} [[Category:Waterways]] [[Category:Seas of the Atlantic Ocean]] [[Category:Bodies of water of Turkey]] [[Category:Marmara Region|Sea of Marmara]]