Beykoz

Beykoz
district
Riva creek in Beykoz district
Location of Beykoz in Istanbul
Beykoz Location of Beykoz in Istanbul
Coordinates: 41°07′30″N 29°05′20″E / 41.12500°N 29.08889°E / 41.12500; 29.08889Coordinates: 41°07′30″N 29°05′20″E / 41.12500°N 29.08889°E / 41.12500; 29.08889
Country	Turkey
City	Istanbul
Government
• Mayor	Yücel Çelikbilek (AKP)
• Governor	Aydın Ergün
Area
• District	239.22 km2 (92.36 sq mi)
Population (2012)
• Urban	220,364
• District	246,352
• District density	1,000/km2 (2,700/sq mi)
Time zone	EET (UTC+2)
• Summer (DST)	EEST (UTC+3)
Area code(s)	0-216
Website	www.beykoz.bel.tr www.beykoz.gov.tr

Beykoz (Turkish pronunciation: [ˈbejkoz]) is a district in Istanbul, Turkey at the northern end of the Bosphorus on the Anatolian side. Beykoz includes everything from the streams of Küçüksu and Göksu (just before Anadolu Hisarı) up to the opening of the Bosphorus into the Black Sea, and the villages in the hinterland as far as the river of Riva. This is one of the most pleasant and peaceful districts of Istanbul, with much greenery still intact. The mayor is Yücel Çelikbilek (AKP).

The mouth of the Bosphorus has always been a location to spark the imagination, and in ancient times was a place of sacrifice. Blood was spilt to petition Zeus and Poseidon for a safe journey across the treacherous Black Sea, without which no one would venture into those stormy waters.

The first historic people to settle the upper-Bosphorus were Thracians and Greeks and the ancient name for the area was Amikos (Αμικός in Greek) or Amnicus (Αμνικός), named after a Thracian king. However, the area has changed hands many times since. As well as being one of the most strategically important crossing points in history, the Bosphorus itself has always been rich in fish and opportunities for plundering the even richer communities around the Marmara, and Beykoz has been settled by wave on wave of invaders from around and beyond the Black Sea: Thracians, Bithynians, Persians, Greeks, Romans, Byzantines and finally Turks.