This is a summary of the text:
The text is about the Istanbul Canal, a megaproject that aims to create an artificial waterway parallel to the Bosphorus Strait, which connects the Black Sea and the Mediterranean Sea. The text explains the historical, geopolitical, and economic importance of the Bosphorus Strait, and how the Istanbul Canal could change the status quo. The text also discusses the benefits and drawbacks of the canal project, as well as the controversies and oppositions it faces from various actors. The text ends with a promotion of HelloFresh, a meal delivery service.
Here are the key facts extracted from the text:
1. Istanbul is the largest city in the world with territory on two continents: Europe and Asia.
2. Over 15 million people live in Istanbul, making it the seventh largest city in Asia and the largest in Europe.
3. Istanbul has served as the capital city for three historical empires: Romans, Byzantines, and Ottomans.
4. The city was the largest in the world during both the 7th and 17th centuries.
5. Nearly one out of every five Turks lives in Istanbul.
6. Istanbul accounts for over half of Turkey's trade and has an economy larger than South Africa.
7. The city's power is rooted in its strategic location next to the Bosphorus Strait, which connects the Black Sea with the Aegean and Mediterranean Seas.
8. The Bosphorus Strait is critical for international trade, especially for Bulgaria, Romania, Ukraine, Georgia, and southwestern Russia.
9. Russia relies on the Bosphorus to ship oil from ports on the Black Sea that are warm and ice-free year-round.
10. The Danube River flows through major European cities and connects to the Rhine River and Port of Rotterdam, Europe's largest commercial trading hub.
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