Turkish president lays foundation for Canal Istanbul

By Trend

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Saturday laid the groundwork of the Canal Istanbul, which would connect the Black Sea and the Marmara Sea, Trend reports citing Xinhua.

Speaking at the groundbreaking ceremony, Erdogan said Canal Istanbul would significantly ease the heavy traffic of the 30-km-long Bosphorus Strait, one of the world's busiest waterways that divides the Asian and European parts of Istanbul.

The Turkish leader noted that the high number of cargo ships passing through the strait each day with diverse loads poses a significant risk for the city.

"Projections show that the number of ships that will pass through the Bosphorus in 2050 will reach 78,000," he noted, adding that the safe passage capacity of the Bosphorus in a year is 25,000.

The ceremony was held on the shore of the Sazlidere dam, one of the main reservoirs that provide fresh water to the city.

The dam area constitutes the first leg of the construction of the canal, which was first brought out by Erdogan in 2011.