Marmara Archipelago (Turkish; Marmara Takimadaları) is a group of islands located in the South of the

Sea of Marmara The Sea of Marmara,; grc, Προποντίς, Προποντίδα, Propontís, Propontída also known as the Marmara Sea, is an inland sea located entirely within the borders of Turkey. It connects the Black Sea to the Aegean Sea via the ...

, belonging to the

Balıkesir Balıkesir () is a city in Turkey and is the capital city of Balıkesir Province. Balıkesir is located in the Marmara region of Turkey and has a population of 338,936. Between 1341–1922, it was the capital of Karasi. History Close to mo ...

Province of

Turkey Turkey ( tr, Türkiye ), officially the Republic of Türkiye ( tr, Türkiye Cumhuriyeti, links=no ), is a list of transcontinental countries, transcontinental country located mainly on the Anatolia, Anatolian Peninsula in Western Asia, with ...

. The Marmara Islands consist of four inhabited and 17 uninhabited islands. The

archipelago An archipelago ( ), sometimes called an island group or island chain, is a chain, cluster, or collection of islands, or sometimes a sea containing a small number of scattered islands. Examples of archipelagos include: the Indonesian Archi ...

has one small central town called Marmara (population 2000) and 13 villages. The inhabited islands are Marmara, Avsa, Pasalimani and Ekinlik. The two islands are divided between the different districts of the Balıkesir Province. Avsa and Ekinlik belong to Marmara District, which is the biggest island in the area, and Pasalimani belongs to Erdek District, which is located in Kapidagi Peninsula. Marmara is a mountainous and island with a mostly green landscape. The island has beaches, hotels and

pensions A pension (, from Latin ''pensiō'', "payment") is a fund into which a sum of money is added during an employee's employment years and from which payments are drawn to support the person's retirement from work in the form of periodic payments ...

although it is not a popular tourist spot. Avşa is a smaller island with less vegetation, less mountainous landscape, more beaches, more nightlife alternatives and is bustling during the summer season. Pasalimanı and Ekinlik Islands have few tourists, less vegetation and minimal facilities for travelers.

Inhabited islands

Marmara Island Marmara Island ( ) is a Turkish island in the Sea of Marmara. With an area of it is the largest island in the Sea of Marmara and is the second largest island of Turkey after Gökçeada (older name in Turkish: ; el, Ίμβρος, links=no ''Im ...

- 117.8 square km (Population: 6.800). Villages; Marmara (center), Gundogdu, Cinarli, Asmali, Topagac, Saraylar *

Avşa Avşa Island ( tr, Avşa Adası) or Türkeli is a Turkish island in the southern Sea of Marmara with an area of about . It was the classical and Byzantine Aphousia ( el, Ἀφουσία or Ἀφησιά) and was a place of exile during the Byzant ...

Island - 36 square km (Population: 2527). Villages; Avsa (center), Yigitler *

Paşalimanı Paşalimanı Island ( tr, Paşalimanı Adası), formerly Halone ( gr, Ἁλώνη), is a small island in the southern Sea of Marmara in Turkey. The island is the fourth biggest island (21.3 km2) of Turkey and administratively belongs to the Erdek ...

Island - 21.3 square km (Population: approx 1500). Villages; Pasalimani, Harmanli, Tuzla, Balikli, Poyrazli *

Ekinlik Island Ekinlik Island, formerly Koutalis ( gr, Κούταλης) is an island situated off the Turkish coast, in the Sea of Marmara. Administratively the island belongs to Marmara town, the central settlement of Marmara Island in Balikesir Province of Tu ...

- 3.27 square km (Population: 102)

Archipelago

*Marmara Archipelago Marmara Adaları, Arap Adaları, Marmaron, Marmaros, Proconnesus, Prokonnesos **

Avşa Island Avşa Island ( tr, Avşa Adası) or Türkeli is a Turkish island in the southern Sea of Marmara with an area of about . It was the classical and Byzantine Aphousia ( el, Ἀφουσία or Ἀφησιά) and was a place of exile during the Byzant ...

Türkeli, Afusia, Afissia, Afyssia, Afisia, Afousia, Afisya, Ophioussa, Ophiousa, Ofiousa, Ofiusa, Aosia, Araplar, Arablar, Panagia, Avşar ***Ekin Kayası Island; Fener, Round Rock ***Martı Island **

Kutali, Koútali, Akanthos, Ekenlik, Arktónēssos, Κούταλη, Άρκτόνησος **Erdek Islands ***Tavşan Island; Erdek, Artake ***Zeytinli Island ** İmralı Island Aigaion, Besbicus, Besbikos, Kalolimnos, Kalolimni, Galios, Galyos, Emir Ali **Kapıdağ Islands ***Akçaada Island; Akça, Fatih ***Martı Kayası Island ** Koyun Island Phoibe, Phivi, Kuyus ***Hacı Islands ****Hasır Island ****Soğan Island ***Mamalı Island; Mamalya, Mamalia **

Proikonesos, Prokonnesos, Proikonnesos, Prokonnisos, Prikonnisos, Proconnesus, Marmaron, Marmaros, Marmora, Elafonisos, Elaphonnesos, Elafonessos, Neuris ***Anataş Island; Adataş, Adalaş, Batizona ***Eşek Islands ****Eşek Island; Işık, Nisi ****Kayainönü Island ***Fener Island; Fenerada, Fanar, Asmalı, Asmalıada, Delphakie, Delphakia, Polydora, Polydori ***Hayırsız Island; Skopelos **

Paşalimanı Island Paşalimanı Island ( tr, Paşalimanı Adası), formerly Halone ( gr, Ἁλώνη), is a small island in the southern Sea of Marmara in Turkey. The island is the fourth biggest island (21.3 km2) of Turkey and administratively belongs to the Erdek ...

Halónē, Alóni, Haloni, Aulonia, Alonya, Alonisos, Nea Prokennos, Porphyrione, Porfyrioni, Άλώνη, Αλώνη ***Hızır Reis Island; Hızırreis ***Kötürüm Island ***Kuş Island; Bala, Pala ***Palamut Island ***Yer Island; Nísos Panagía

Access

The distance from Istanbul to Marmara Island is 76 nautical miles. Transport facilities vary depending on the season. During the summer season many tourists visit the islands. Avşa and Marmara have daily connections from Istanbul from May to October. Connections are available everyday from Tekirdağ and Erdek. Paşalimanı has daily transport from Erdek District only. Ekinlik Island has connections through Erdek District and Avşa Island.

References

{{authority control Islands of the Sea of Marmara Archipelagoes of Turkey Landforms of Balıkesir Province Important Bird Areas of Turkey