The Golden Horn – the best military harbour at the Black Sea – Șerban Christian
The Golden Horn (in Turkish, Altın Boynuz or Haliç) is a major urban waterway and the primary inlet of the Bosphorus in Istanbul, Turkey. As a natural estuary that connects with the Bosphorus Strait at the point where the strait meets the Sea of Marmara, the waters of the Golden Horn help define the northern boundary of the peninsula constituting "Old Istanbul" (ancient Byzantium and Constantinople), the tip of which is the promontory of Sarayburnu, or Seraglio Point.
That’s the official description of this harbour, which I found on the internet. But the Golden Horn is much more than a mere boundary of the Anatolian Peninsula. It’s the multimillennial historical and economical landmark of Istanbul itself! In the Ottoman era, for instance, they accosted the Imperial Arsenal and shipyards here, facilitating the commerce between Europe and Asia. Nowadays, it is a popular tourist attraction, with the Galata Tower, the Eyüp Sultan Mosque and various Byzantine-era churches standing nearby.
The first time I heard of the Golden Horn was when I was in the fourth grade and I was reading about Soliman the Magnificent in the History class (I am that guy who looks on the calendar and thinks of which historical event happened that day). At the time, I didn’t understand its importance, I only saw it mentioned in the passage about the naval power of the Ottoman Empire. Then I visited Istanbul in this project and I witnessed the Golden Horn, sparkling in the sunlight, its serene waters reflecting the historic skyline of Istanbul, bustling with exciting life and rich cultural history. Or, as Efe, one of the friendliest Turkish guys I have met – his Go guys will forever be iconic, would put it: it is unique due to its history, nature, culture, parks, picnic areas and magnificent view from Eyüp Pierre Loti hill.
The Golden Horn is the perfect example of a historical landmark blending with the vibrant present of the city to create a startling effect – and yes, now I realize how important it is to the heritage of Türkiye.