Marmara Sea

• • Marmara Sea, historically called Propontis, is an inland sea that partly separates the Asiatic and European parts of Turkey.
  • Marmara means Marble in Greek, some of the islands in this sea are source of granite slate and marble, hence the name.

• Dardanelles Strait: Joins Aegean sea with Marmara Sea.

• Bosphorus Strait: Joins Black sea with Marmara Sea.

• The sea was formed as a result of crustal movements that occurred about 2.5 million years ago. It is an area of frequent earthquakes.
• Turkish capital Istanbul is located on the banks of this sea.

Sea Snot

• ‘Sea snot’ is marine mucilage that is formed when algae are overloaded with nutrients as a result of water pollution combined with the effects of climate change. 
• The nutrient overload occurs when algae feast on warm weather caused by global warming. Water pollution through uncontrolled dumping of household and industrial waste adds to the problem.

Why in the news?

• Turkey is facing its worst environmental disaster. Sea snot is spreading excessively in the Sea of Marmara. Harbours, shorelines and swathes of seawater have been covered by this mucilage.
• Turkey’s environment minister pledged on Sunday to defeat a plague of “sea snot” threatening the Sea of Marmara with a disaster management plan he said would secure its future.

References:

1. https://www.thehindu.com/sci-tech/energy-and-environment/turkey-says-it-will-defeat-sea-snot-outbreak-in-marmara-sea/article34750434.ece
2. https://www.britannica.com/place/Sea-of-Marmara