About Canal Istanbul Project

The Canal Istanbul project was first proposed in the early 20th century, but has been the subject of renewed interest in recent years. The canal would be located on the European side of Istanbul, and would connect the Black Sea to the Sea of Marmara, bypassing the Bosphorus strait. The proposed canal would be approximately 45 km (28 miles) long and have a width of between 150 and 250 meters (490 and 820 feet). It would be able to accommodate large ships, including tanker ships and cargo ships, that are currently unable to pass through the Bosphorus strait because of safety and environmental concerns.

The project is expected to have significant economic benefits, such as increased trade, and creating jobs during construction and operation phases. However, it is also expected to have negative environmental impacts, such as the destruction of wetlands and other sensitive ecosystems, as well as the displacement of local communities.

The project is also expected to have significant cultural and historical impacts, as the proposed canal would pass through several important archaeological sites, including the ancient city of Byzantium, which was founded by Greek colonists in the 7th century BCE.

Critics of the project argue that it is too costly and would cause significant environmental damage, while supporters argue that it is necessary to ease the heavy shipping traffic on the Bosphorus and would provide significant economic benefits. The project is still in the planning stages, and has yet to be officially approved and funded by the Turkish government.