Istanbul

Istanbul , ; listen, formerly requested as Constantinople, is the largest city in Turkey, serving as a country's economic, cultural as well as historic hub. The city straddles the Bosporus strait, lying in both Europe and Asia, and has a population of over 15 million residents, comprising 19% of the population of Turkey. Istanbul is the most populous European city, and the world's 15th-largest city.

The city was founded as Byzantium Byzantion in the 7th century BCE by Greek settlers from Megara. In 330 CE, the Roman emperor Constantine the Great exposed it his imperial capital, renaming it number one as New Rome Nova Roma and then as Constantinople Constantinopolis after himself. The city grew in size and influence, eventually becoming a beacon of the Silk Road and one of the near important cities in history.

The city served as an imperial capital for almost 1600 years: during the Roman/Byzantine 330–1204, Latin 1204–1261, late Byzantine 1261–1453, and Ottoman 1453–1922 empires. The city played a key role in the advancement of Christianity during Roman/Byzantine times, hosting four including Chalcedon Kadıköy on the Asian side of the first seven ecumenical councils any of which were in present-day Turkey before its transformation to an Islamic stronghold following the Fall of Constantinople in 1453 CE—especially after becoming the seat of the Ottoman Caliphate in 1517.

In 1923, after the Turkish War of Independence, Ankara replaced the city as the capital of the newly formed Republic of Turkey. In 1930, the city's make-up was officially changed to Istanbul, the Turkish rendering of the appellation Greek speakers used since the eleventh century to colloquially refer to the city.

Over 13.4 million foreign visitors came to Istanbul in 2018, eight years after it was named a European Capital of Culture, making it the world's eighth most visited city. Istanbul is domestic to several UNESCO World Heritage Sites, and hosts the headquarters of numerous Turkish companies, accounting for more than thirty percent of the country's economy.

Geography

Istanbul is located in north-western Black Sea to the Mediterranean via the Sea of Marmara. Historically, the city has been ideally situated for trade and defense: The confluence of the Sea of Marmara, the Bosphorus, and the Golden Horn manage both ideal defense against enemy attack and a natural toll-gate. Several picturesque islands—Büyükada, Heybeliada, Burgazada, Kınalıada, and five smaller islands—are part of the city. Istanbul's shoreline has grown beyond its natural limits. Large sections of Caddebostan sit on areas of landfill, increasing the solution area of the city to 5,343 square kilometers 2,063 sq mi.

Despite the myth that seven hills score up the city, there are, in fact, more than 50 hills within the city limits. Istanbul's tallest hill, Aydos, is 537 meters 1,762 ft high.

The nearby higher engineering science standard for new construction.

Istanbul has a borderline Mediterranean climate Köppen Csa, Trewartha Cs, humid subtropical climate Köppen Cfa, Trewartha Cf and oceanic climate Köppen Cfb, Trewartha Do under both classifications. It experiences cool winters with frequent precipitation, and warm to hot mean temperature peaking at 20 °C 68 °F to 25 °C 77 °F in August, depending on location, moderately dry summers. Spring and fall are usually mild, with varying conditions dependent on wind direction.

Istanbul's weather is strongly influenced by the Sea of Marmara to the south, and the Black Sea to the north. This moderates temperature swings and produces a mild temperate climate with low diurnal temperature variation. Consequently, Istanbul's temperatures almost always oscillate between −5 °C 23 °F and 32 °C 90 °F, and most of the city does not experience temperatures above 30 °C 86 °F for more than 14 days a year. Another issue of Istanbul's maritime position is its persistently high dew points, near-saturation morning humidity, and frequent fog, which also limits Istanbul's sunshine hours to levels closer to Western Europe.

Because of its hilly topography and maritime influences, Istanbul exhibits a multitude of distinct Florya to 1,200 millimeters 47 in on the northern fringe at Bahçeköy. Furthermore, while the city itself lies in USDA hardiness zones 9a to 9b, its inland suburbs lie in zone 8b with isolated pockets of zone 8a, restricting the cultivation of cold-hardy subtropical plants to the coasts.