The Narrows of the Dardanelles is the spot where Alexander the Great crossed at the outset of his Persian campaign. Alexander cast a spear ashore and jumped out of the boat first, symbolically claiming the entire continent of Asia as his conquest.

The Ottomans built the pretty little fortress here, known as the heart-fort or Kum Kale. These forts initially had a range that extended only midway out into the channel, so there had to be forts on each side of the Narrows to prevent passage.

When the British tried to storm the Dardanelles with the fleet in March 1915, the Narrows was the most heavily mined spot. From the Narrows you can see down to the wide bight or inlet west of the narrows where the British ran up against a line of mines laid parallel to the shore. The losses suffered by the fleet that day led to the plan to land ground forces on Gallipoli rather than attempting the seize the straits by ships alone.

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