Gulf of İskenderun

The Gulf of Iskenderun is situated at the northeastern corner of the Mediterranean Sea on the lower right corner of the map.

The Gulf of İskenderun (Turkish: İskenderun Körfezi, by the Romans called Mare Issicum or Issicus Sinus is a gulf or inlet of the Levantine Sea, the easternmost part of Mediterranean Sea, of which it forms the easternmost tip, on the southern coast of Turkey near its border with Syria. It also contains the northernmost point of the Levantine Sea. The gulf's eastern coast forms part of the Turkish province of Hatay, where the city of İskenderun (formerly known as Alexandretta) is located, while its northern coast forms part of the province of Adana.

The eastern and southern coasts of the gulf had been shaped by the Nur Mountains (Turkish: Nur Dağları, literally "Mountains of Holy Light"), Amanus or Gâvur Mountains. On the western coastline lies the ancient Greek and modern city of Tarsus whose name is still officially used, and on the eastern coastline lied the ancient Greek cities of Issus and Alexandretta known today as İskenderun which is located near the gulf's southern coast. On the northern coastline lies the historical region of Cilicia.

See also

• Cilicia
• Cilician Gates