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Çanakkale... The first waterway on the way of Istanbul, the place where a century was collapsed, the place where 500,000 soldiers have lost their lives at Gallipoli, homeland of many civilizations including the ancient city known as Troy, the city of Heroes. Canakkale, one of the Turkish cities, is located on the Hellespoint on the north-west part of Türkiye. The city has always been strategically important because it has been a crossing point for armies, traders, migrating people since before history. The province of Canakkale lies on both sides of the Dardanelles which connects the Sea of Marmara to the Aegean Sea. Its shores touch both Europe (with the Gelibolu Peninsula) and Asia (with the Biga Peninsula) and there are ferries here between the two sides. The well-equipped Canakkale Marina, besides those of Karabiga, Gelibolu, Bozcaada and Kucukkuyu, hosts the colorful yachts which pass through the strait and make a stopover at Canakkale, to see this historical and mythological-rich area-homeland of many widely known legends. The province has witnessed two very important battles in history. One of them is the mythological war of Troy, which Homer immortalized in his Illiad. Archeological digs in Troy (Truva) have proved that there had been nine separate periods of settlement. (3000 BC-AD 400). Here, one can see the ruins of city walls in addition to the Wooden Horse of Troy. The other one is the Battle of Canakkale which took place during World War I when Turkish troops under the command of Mustafa Kemal Ataturk maintained the defense of the region against enemy forces and Canakkale has taken its place in history as "Canakkale; unpassable". To honor the 500,000 soldiers who gave their lives at Gelibolu (Gallipoli), this peninsula has been made a national park of remembrance. There are memorial monuments here in surroundings of natural beauty. The small village of Assos (Behramkale) is a lovely place, facing the Gulf of Edremit. It is founded on the site of Assos where there is the famous Temple of Athena built in the 6th century BC. The panoramic view of the Gulf from the top of the acropolis is breathtaking and the remains of Assos, surrounding the acropolis are worth visiting. Gokceada, the largest of the Turkish islands, and Bozcaada are also in this region and they have many camping facilities. The Dardanelles Strait is one of the most important geological feature of Canakkale. This is the almost 60 km (38 miles) long ribbon of water separating the continent of Europe from the Asia Minor.

Throughout history, anyone who controlled this gateway commanded a highly strategic area. There are many stories told about this place. The first known story of the Dardanelles is the story of Helle. In the ancient times, the Dardanelles were known as the Hellespont, "Helle's sea" , named after a mythical Boetian princess who was drown in its water. According to the Greek mythology, when King Athamas' children, Phryxus and Helle, were sent away by their stepmother. While passing over the straits on a ram with golden fleece, Princess Helle fell into the water. Another lovely story was told ear to ear; Abydos and Sestus were two town of ancient Canakkale that faced one another across the Straits. Leander was a handsome youth from Abydos who was in love with an Aphrodite priestess, Hero. Every night he would swim from Abydos to Sestus to see her. One night there was a terrible storm and he had never arrived. Hero, assuming that Leander had drowned, threw herself into the sea.

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Dardanelles played an important role at World War I. british and its Allies, who wanted to take Istanbul, could not pass through the Dardanelles. The eight month-long struggle between the Allies and Turkish forces is known as the Battle of Gallipoli. So serious were the casualties on both sides, that Winston CHURCHILL, Prime Minister of England, was removed from office. Every year of April 25^th, Gallipoli is invaded again not by Allied troops, but by their descendants, other veterans, and tourists. The sounds of the riffle fire ring out at Anzac Cove, but this time as a salute to hereos by the Turkish Honor Guard. When you reach Gallipoli Pennisula you can feel the spirit of the heroes of the battle. Today Gallipoli pennisula is a national park and is open to all visitors who come to pay respect in many military burial grounds. Below are the words of Atatürk, the famous Turkish commander of Anafartalar and the founders of modern Turkish Republic.

" Those heroes that shed their blood and
lost their lives...! You are now lying in
the soul of a friendly country, therefore
rest in peace. There is no differences between
the Johnnies and the Mehmets to us where they
lie side by side here in this country of ours...

You, the mothers who sent their sons from far away
countries wipe away your tears. Your sons are now
lying in our bosom and are in peace. After having
lost their lives on this land they have become
our sons as well."

ATATÜRK, ( 1934 )

Before city of Canakkale was built, people has settled a place which is 7 km away from the southern entrance of the Hellespont and north of the Scamander river (Menderes Nehri). Troy (Truva), also called Illium, is located at Hisarlik today. Wooden Horse and the Archilles' Hell come from here. Troy is spoken of in the Illiad and the Odyssey in the tale of Helen , the most beautiful woman whose beauty was told to have launced the Trojan War. Troy existed for 4000 years and suddenly disappeared from the Earth until the ruins at Hisarlik were discovered in 1800s. In addition, Dardanos, Abydos, Assos, Sestos, and Gallipolis are located in the region of Canakkale.