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Türkiye has completed the first comprehensive mapping of its entire coastline, identifying 6,110 beaches along 8,483 kilometers (5,271.0 miles) of shore through satellite-based analysis.
The study fills a major data gap on Turkish beaches and provides a nationwide reference for coastal planning, tourism development, and environmental protection.
The research was led by Professor Dr. Muhammed Zeynel Ozturk from Nigde Omer Halisdemir University, in collaboration with Professor Dr. Abdullah Soykan of Balikesir University and Ege University doctoral researcher Berkay Yilmaz.
Using satellite images and geographic information systems, the team prepared what they describe as Türkiye’s first scientific “Beach Inventory.”
“We mapped all beaches in Türkiye for the first time. In this way, we filled an important information gap,” Ozturk told Anadolu Agency (AA).
Researchers examined recent and historical satellite images covering roughly the last 20 to 30 years to identify beaches along the Turkish coast and to calculate their number, length, and provincial distribution.
The analysis also focused on whether beaches have been affected by construction or tourism-related development.
Ozturk said the team first digitized all beaches visible in satellite imagery and then produced province-based maps showing both beach length and total beach count. This approach made it possible to compare regions and to link beach characteristics directly to Türkiye’s coastal geography.
The findings show clear regional differences. Western Anatolia has a high concentration of Turkish beaches, but most are short.
Along the Aegean coast, mountains run perpendicular to the sea, creating a highly indented shoreline with many small and irregular beaches.
On the Black Sea coast, mountains run parallel to the shoreline, resulting in fewer beaches that are wider and longer.
The study also documented human influence on Turkish beaches. By comparing older and newer satellite images, researchers identified areas where tourism facilities or other forms of construction appeared over time.
Ozturk said this made it possible to map not only natural beach formations but also the extent of human use along the coast.
One of the most striking findings of the study was the identification of Türkiye’s longest beach, located in Sakarya province on the Black Sea coast.
According to Ozturk, the area consists of three beaches separated by river mouths, with an average length of around 18 kilometers. “This result surprised us as well. We were not fully aware that such long and wide beaches existed in Türkiye,” he said.
Ozturk noted that sea tourism in Türkiye has traditionally focused on the Aegean and Mediterranean coasts, while the Black Sea has remained less visible in tourism planning.
He said the new data show that the Black Sea coast also holds significant potential and should be considered more seriously in future tourism strategies.
The researchers said the Turkish beach mapping project aims to provide a scientific foundation for sustainable coastal use and protection.
Satellite images obtained through Google Earth were processed within a geographic information systems framework, and all data were digitized over a two-year research period.
The study was published in November in the Turkish Journal of Earth Sciences and is openly accessible. Ozturk said the full dataset was made public to support future research, planning, and policy work related to Turkish beaches and the Turkish coast.
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