Bosphorus Strait:
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It is a natural strait connecting the Black Sea to the Sea of Marmara
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It’s length is 32 kilometers (20 miles) in the north to south direction.
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Bosphorus strait separates the European part from the Asian part of Istanbul.
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The Bosporus and Dardanelles straits, also known as the Turkish Straits or the Black Sea Straits, connect the Aegean Sea and the Black Sea via the Sea of Marmara.
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Strategic Significance:
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It is the only passage through which the Black Sea ports can access the Mediterranean and beyond.
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Over three million barrels of oil, about 3% of the daily global supply, mostly produced in Russia, Azerbaijan, and Kazakhstan, pass through this waterway every day.
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The route also ships large amounts of iron, steel, and agricultural products from the Black Sea coast to Europe and the rest of the world.
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Why in news?
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Militarisation of the passage due to Ukraine-Russia conflict.
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