Çanakkale

by kral
| Oct 14, 2009
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Çanakkale, one of the Turkish cities, located on the Hellespoint at the north-west part of Turkiye.The city has always been strategically important because it has been a crossing point for armies, traders, migrating people since before history.

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.

When you reach Galliboli Pennisula you can feel the spirit of the heroes of the battle. Today Galliboli pennisula is a national park and is open to all visitors who come to pay respect in many military burial grounds. Blow are the words of Ataturk, the famous Turkish commander of Gallipoli 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." 

                                 ATATURK, (1934).



  Before city of Çanakkale 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 Hissarlik 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 said 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 Çanakkale.