Gulf of Iskenderun
Encyclopedia
The Gulf of İskenderun is a gulf
or inlet
of the Levantine Sea
, the easternmost part of Mediterranean Sea
, of which it forms the easternmost tip, on the southern coast of Turkey
near its border with Syria
. It also contains the northernmost point of the Levantine Sea. The gulf's eastern coast forms part of the Turkish province
of Hatay
, where the city of İskenderun
(formerly known as Alexandretta) is located, while its northern coast forms part of the province of Adana
.
The eastern and southern coasts of the gulf had been shaped by the Nur Mountains
, Amanus or Gâvur Mountains. On the western coastline lies the ancient Greek
and modern city of Tarsus
whose name is still officially used, and on the eastern coastline lied the ancient Greek cities of Issus
and Alexandretta known today as İskenderun
which is located near the gulf's southern coast. On the northern coastline lies the historical region of Cilicia
.
, Greeks
, Kurds, and Turks. Its two most important cities are Antakya
(historical Antioch
) and İskenderun and its name dates to the time of Alexander the Great.
After the end of World War I, France and the newly-founded Republic of Turkey had concluded an agreement in which the former assumed control
over the sancak of Alexandretta
and granted its populace cultural autonomy. In 1936, France announced that it would grant independence to Syria
and attach the province to the new state. Turkey objected to this move and a diplomatic row ensued. By 1938, France was intent on preventing Turkey from joining the Axis
side, and the two parties agreed to hold a popular referendum, which was marred by demographic manipulation by the Turkish side as tens of thousands of Turks were trucked into the province. In June 1938, by a slim majority, the newly elected parliament announced the establishment of the Republic of Hatay and in June 1939, the region voted to unify with Turkey, leading to a wide-scale exodus among its Arab and Armenian population.
Headlands and bays
Headlands and bays are two related features of the coastal environment.- Geology and geography :Headlands and bays are often found on the same coastline. A bay is surrounded by land on three sides, whereas a headland is surrounded by water on three sides. Headlands are characterized by high,...
or inlet
Inlet
An inlet is a narrow body of water between islands or leading inland from a larger body of water, often leading to an enclosed body of water, such as a sound, bay, lagoon or marsh. In sea coasts an inlet usually refers to the actual connection between a bay and the ocean and is often called an...
of the Levantine Sea
Levantine Sea
- Geography :The Levantine Sea is bordered by Turkey in the north, Syria, Lebanon, Israel and the Gaza Strip in the east, Egypt and Libya in the south, and the Aegean Sea in the northwest. The western border to the open Mediterranean is defined as a line from the cape Ra's al-Hilal in Libya to the...
, the easternmost part of Mediterranean Sea
Mediterranean Sea
The Mediterranean Sea is a sea connected to the Atlantic Ocean surrounded by the Mediterranean region and almost completely enclosed by land: on the north by Anatolia and Europe, on the south by North Africa, and on the east by the Levant...
, of which it forms the easternmost tip, on the southern coast of Turkey
Turkey
Turkey , known officially as the Republic of Turkey , is a Eurasian country located in Western Asia and in East Thrace in Southeastern Europe...
near its border with Syria
Syria
Syria , officially the Syrian Arab Republic , is a country in Western Asia, bordering Lebanon and the Mediterranean Sea to the West, Turkey to the north, Iraq to the east, Jordan to the south, and Israel to the southwest....
. It also contains the northernmost point of the Levantine Sea. The gulf's eastern coast forms part of the Turkish province
Provinces of Turkey
Turkey is divided into 81 provinces, called il in Turkish .A province is administered by an appointed governor , and was formerly termed a "governorate" ....
of Hatay
Hatay Province
Hatay Province is a province in southern Turkey, on the Mediterranean coast. It is bordered by Syria to the south and east and the Turkish provinces of Adana and Osmaniye to the north. The province is part of Çukurova, a geographical, economical and cultural region that covers the provinces of...
, where the city of İskenderun
Iskenderun
İskenderun is a city and urban district in the province of Hatay on the Mediterranean coast of Turkey. The current mayor is Yusuf Hamit Civelek .-Names:...
(formerly known as Alexandretta) is located, while its northern coast forms part of the province of Adana
Adana Province
Adana Province is a province of Turkey located in south-central Anatolia. With a population of 2,085,225, it is the fifth most populous province in Turkey. The administrative seat of the province is the city of Adana, home to 78% of the residents of the province...
.
The eastern and southern coasts of the gulf had been shaped by the Nur Mountains
Nur Mountains
The Nur Mountains , also known as Gâvur Mountains , the ancient Amanus , is a mountain range in the Hatay Province of south-central Turkey, which runs roughly parallel to the Gulf of İskenderun....
, Amanus or Gâvur Mountains. On the western coastline lies the ancient Greek
Ancient Greek
Ancient Greek is the stage of the Greek language in the periods spanning the times c. 9th–6th centuries BC, , c. 5th–4th centuries BC , and the c. 3rd century BC – 6th century AD of ancient Greece and the ancient world; being predated in the 2nd millennium BC by Mycenaean Greek...
and modern city of Tarsus
Tarsus
Tarsus may refer to:*Tarsus , a cluster of articulating bones in each foot** Tarsometatarsus, a fusion of the tarsus and metatarsus mainly found in birds...
whose name is still officially used, and on the eastern coastline lied the ancient Greek cities of Issus
Issus
Issus may refer to:* Issus , an ancient settlement in the modern Turkish province of Hatay** Battle of Issus, in 333 BC, in which Alexander the Great defeated Darius III* Issus , a river near the town and battle site...
and Alexandretta known today as İskenderun
Iskenderun
İskenderun is a city and urban district in the province of Hatay on the Mediterranean coast of Turkey. The current mayor is Yusuf Hamit Civelek .-Names:...
which is located near the gulf's southern coast. On the northern coastline lies the historical region of Cilicia
Cilicia
In antiquity, Cilicia was the south coastal region of Asia Minor, south of the central Anatolian plateau. It existed as a political entity from Hittite times into the Byzantine empire...
.
History
For centuries, Iskenderun has been host to a great number of cultures and peoples, including Arabs, ArmeniansArmenians
Armenian people or Armenians are a nation and ethnic group native to the Armenian Highland.The largest concentration is in Armenia having a nearly-homogeneous population with 97.9% or 3,145,354 being ethnic Armenian....
, Greeks
Greeks
The Greeks, also known as the Hellenes , are a nation and ethnic group native to Greece, Cyprus and neighboring regions. They also form a significant diaspora, with Greek communities established around the world....
, Kurds, and Turks. Its two most important cities are Antakya
Antakya
Antakya is the seat of the Hatay Province in southern Turkey, near the border with Syria. The mayor is Lütfü Savaş.Known as Antioch in ancient times, the city has historical significance for Christianity, as it was the place where the followers of Jesus Christ were called Christians for the first...
(historical Antioch
Antioch
Antioch on the Orontes was an ancient city on the eastern side of the Orontes River. It is near the modern city of Antakya, Turkey.Founded near the end of the 4th century BC by Seleucus I Nicator, one of Alexander the Great's generals, Antioch eventually rivaled Alexandria as the chief city of the...
) and İskenderun and its name dates to the time of Alexander the Great.
After the end of World War I, France and the newly-founded Republic of Turkey had concluded an agreement in which the former assumed control
French Mandate of Lebanon
The state of Greater Lebanon, the predecessor of modern Lebanon, was created in 1920 as part of the French scheme of dividing the French Mandate of Syria into six states....
over the sancak of Alexandretta
Hatay Province
Hatay Province is a province in southern Turkey, on the Mediterranean coast. It is bordered by Syria to the south and east and the Turkish provinces of Adana and Osmaniye to the north. The province is part of Çukurova, a geographical, economical and cultural region that covers the provinces of...
and granted its populace cultural autonomy. In 1936, France announced that it would grant independence to Syria
Syria
Syria , officially the Syrian Arab Republic , is a country in Western Asia, bordering Lebanon and the Mediterranean Sea to the West, Turkey to the north, Iraq to the east, Jordan to the south, and Israel to the southwest....
and attach the province to the new state. Turkey objected to this move and a diplomatic row ensued. By 1938, France was intent on preventing Turkey from joining the Axis
Axis Powers
The Axis powers , also known as the Axis alliance, Axis nations, Axis countries, or just the Axis, was an alignment of great powers during the mid-20th century that fought World War II against the Allies. It began in 1936 with treaties of friendship between Germany and Italy and between Germany and...
side, and the two parties agreed to hold a popular referendum, which was marred by demographic manipulation by the Turkish side as tens of thousands of Turks were trucked into the province. In June 1938, by a slim majority, the newly elected parliament announced the establishment of the Republic of Hatay and in June 1939, the region voted to unify with Turkey, leading to a wide-scale exodus among its Arab and Armenian population.
See also
- CiliciaCiliciaIn antiquity, Cilicia was the south coastal region of Asia Minor, south of the central Anatolian plateau. It existed as a political entity from Hittite times into the Byzantine empire...
- Cilician GatesCilician GatesThe Cilician Gates or Gülek Pass is a pass through the Taurus Mountains connecting the low plains of Cilicia to the Anatolian Plateau, by way of the narrow gorge of the Gökoluk River. Its highest elevation is about 1000m....
- Battle of IssusBattle of IssusThe Battle of Issus occurred in southern Anatolia, in November 333 BC. The invading troops, led by the young Alexander of Macedonia, defeated the army personally led by Darius III of Achaemenid Persia in the second great battle for primacy in Asia...
- CrusadesCrusadesThe Crusades were a series of religious wars, blessed by the Pope and the Catholic Church with the main goal of restoring Christian access to the holy places in and near Jerusalem...
- Cilician Armenia