Istanbul: the Bosphorus at Dusk, Two Continents in One Frame

Istanbul straddles the Bosphorus Strait, a 32-kilometer waterway separating Europe and Asia. The strait runs roughly northeast-southwest; from the Fatih and Sultanahmet hills on the European side, sunrise comes over the Asian shore hills. Çamlıca Hill (267 m) on the Asian side is the highest point in the city and looks west over the entire Bosphorus, the old city peninsula, and the Sea of Marmara; at golden hour Hagia Sophia, the Blue Mosque minarets, and Topkapı Palace all appear in a single south-facing panoramic. The Galata Tower (67 m, 1348) on the Genoese hill gives a 360-degree view of the Golden Horn, the Bosphorus bridges, and the old city roofline. Süleymaniye Mosque silhouette from Galata Bridge at sunset is one of the most reproduced photographs in Turkey. At 41°N, golden hour lasts 40 minutes in summer.