Erdogan's 'crazy project': new Istanbul canal to link Black and Marmara Seas

Proposed route slices through a major drinking water source and an important stop for migratory birds To the west of Istanbul, between the Black Sea and the Marmara Sea, lie diverse landscapes of forest, farms, marshes and ancient settlements. Following a curving line from north to south would connect you through the Terkos Lake, Sazl?dere stream and reservoir and Küçükçekmece lagoon, important water sources for migratory birds - not to mention the city's residents.This line, however, is also the path of Kanal Istanbul, a $12.6bn(?9.7bn) mega-infrastructure plan described by President Recep Tayyip Erdogan as his "crazy project" when he first mentioned the idea in 2011. Continue reading...