Istanbul is the largest city in Turkey, a megacity, constituting the country's economic, cultural, and historical center. With a population of over 15 million, it is home to 18% of the population of Turkey. Istanbul is among the largest cities in Europe and in the world by population. It is a city on two continents; about two-thirds of its population live in Europe and the rest in Asia. Istanbul straddles the Bosphorus – one of the world's busiest waterways – in northwestern Turkey, between the Sea of Marmara and the Black Sea. Its area of 5,461 square kilometers (2,109 mi2) is coterminous with Istanbul Province.
- Country
- Turkey, Ottoman Empire, Byzantine Empire, Latin Empire
- Inception
- May 29, 1453
- Website
- http://www.ibb.istanbul/, https://www.ibb.istanbul/en, http://www.istanbul.gov.tr/