Istanbul

High school (ages 12+)
Geography

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/istanbul

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. Where is Istanbul?Transcontinental city straddling Europe and Asia, bisected by the Bosphorus strait
2. How many people live in Istanbul?Approximately 15.9 million inhabitants (as of 2023 estimates)
3. How big is Istanbul?Approximately 5,461 square kilometers (2,108 square miles)
4. What makes Istanbul special because it is on two continents?Istanbul sits on both Europe and Asia, connected by the Bosphorus waterway, so people can travel between the two continents in the city.
5. Why is the Bosphorus important?The Bosphorus lets ships travel from the Black Sea to the Mediterranean, and it has been a strategic spot for many empires.

Transcontinental: Spanning or extending across two continents.
Geopolitical: Relating to politics, especially international relations, as influenced by geographical factors.
Nexus: A connection or series of connections linking two or more things; a central or focal point.
Sublime Porte: An archaic term referring to the central government of the Ottoman Empire.