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

Sea of Marmara The Sea of Marmara, also known as the Sea of Marmora or the Marmara Sea, is a small inland sea entirely within the borders of Turkey. It links the Black Sea and the Aegean Sea via the Bosporus and Dardanelles straits, separating Turkey's E ...

, belonging to the

Balıkesir Balıkesir () is a city in the Marmara Region, Marmara region of Turkey. It is the seat of Balıkesir Province, which is also a Metropolitan municipalities in Turkey, metropolitan municipality. As of 2022, the population of Balıkesir Province ...

Province of

Turkey Turkey, officially the Republic of Türkiye, is a country mainly located in Anatolia in West Asia, with a relatively small part called East Thrace in Southeast Europe. It borders the Black Sea to the north; Georgia (country), Georgia, Armen ...

. 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. An archipelago may be in an ocean, a sea, or a smaller body of water. Example archipelagos include the Aegean Islands (the o ...

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 Marmara is a municipality and district of Balıkesir Province, Turkey. Its area is 134 km2, and its population is 10,601 (2022). It comprises Marmara, Avşa and Ekinlik islands along with the neighbouring smaller islands. The mayor is Süle ...

, 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 (; ) is a fund into which amounts are paid regularly during an individual's working career, and from which periodic payments are made to support the person's retirement from work. A pension may be either a "defined benefit plan", wher ...

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 the second-largest island of Turkey - after Imbros, Gökçeada (formerly ; ''Imvros''). It is the center of Marmar ...

- 117.8 square km (Population: 6.800). Villages; Marmara (center), Gündoğdu, Çınarlı, Asmalı, Topağaç, Saraylar *

Avşa Avşa Island () or Türkeli is a Turkish island in the southern Sea of Marmara with an area of about . It was the classical and Byzantine Empire, Byzantine Aphousia ( or Ἀφησιά) and was a place of exile during the Byzantine period. The Gre ...

Island - 20.6 square km (Population: 2527). Villages; Avşa (center), Yiğitler *

Paşalimanı Paşalimanı Island (), formerly Halone (), is an List of islands of Turkey, island in the southern Sea of Marmara in Turkey. The island is the fifth largest island of Turkey () and administratively belongs to the Erdek town of Balikesir Province ...

Island - 21.4 square km (Population: approx 1500). Villages; Paşalimanı, Harmanlı, Tuzla, Balıklı, Poyrazlı *

Ekinlik Island Ekinlik Island, formerly Koutalis () is an island situated off the Turkish coast, in the Sea of Marmara. Administratively, the island belongs to Marmara, the central settlement of Marmara Island in Balikesir, Turkey. The island has an area of aro ...

- 2.5 square km (Population: 102)

Archipelago

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

Avşa Island Avşa Island () or Türkeli is a Turkish island in the southern Sea of Marmara with an area of about . It was the classical and Byzantine Aphousia ( or Ἀφησιά) and was a place of exile during the Byzantine period. The Greek inhabitants fle ...

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 (), formerly Halone (), is an List of islands of Turkey, island in the southern Sea of Marmara in Turkey. The island is the fifth largest island of Turkey () and administratively belongs to the Erdek town of Balikesir Province ...

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 . 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