Halic, is the inner harbour of Istanbul, it separates Istanbul and Beyoglu regions. In the Byzantine period the bay was named as Khrysokeras (the Golden Horn) and the Ottomans called the bay as Halic-i Konstantiniye. Halic was formed by the rise of the sea level, in Kagithane and Alibey regions. Halic lays for 8 km from north-west to south-east from the called two rivers’ intersection point to Sarayburnu-Tophane. The widest width reaches 700 meters among Kasımpaşa-Cibali. Depth is too low for the ships to work in. And this part is continuously filling by alluvions carried by the rivers. In the down streams of the bay’s depth is high. Under Unkapanı (Ataturk) bridge the depth is 40 meters, under Karaköy bridge the depth is 60 meters.

In the Ottoman times, in the eastern part of the city, on the different parts of Halic, where city walls were erected, vineyards, gardens, and mansions were located such as Eyup and Kasımpasa regions. People had been going sight seeing with small boats towards Kagithane.

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