Biga Çayı

{{Short description|River in Turkey}} {{Infobox river | name = Biga River | image = Granicus River.jpg | image_caption = Biga River | source1_location = Kaz Dağı | mouth_location = Sea of Marmara | length_km = 80 | source1_elevation = | mouth_elevation = | discharge1_avg = | basin_size = }} The '''Biga River''' ({{langx|tr|'''Biga Çayı'''}}) is a small river in Çanakkale Province in northwestern Turkey. The river begins at the base of Mount Ida and trends generally northeasterly to the Sea of Marmara. It is about {{convert|50|km|mi}} east of the Dardanelles. It flows past the towns of Çan and Biga and enters the Sea of Marmara at Karabiga. It is also known as the '''Çan''' (''Çan Çayı'')<ref>[http://www.lib.utexas.edu/maps/middle_east_and_asia/turkey_republic_2002.html "Republic of Turkey 2002"] NW quadrant, CIA Map Number 802565, July 2002, U.S. Central Intelligence Agency</ref> and the '''Kocabaş''' (''Kocabaş Çayı'').

The Biga was the classical '''Granicus''' ({{langx|grc|Γρανικὸς ποταμός}}, ''Granikòs Potamós''). Cephalon (FGrHist 45 F 5.) wrote that the river named after Graecus (Γραικός).<ref>[https://archive.org/details/STEPHANUSBYZANTIUSETHNICAvol.AALPHAGAMMA2006ByMargaretheBillerbeck/page/434/mode/2up Stephanus of Byzantium, Ethnica, p.435, 107]</ref>

The banks near the modern-day town of Biga were the site of the Battle of the Granicus, fought in 334 BC between the Macedonian army of Alexander the Great and the forces of the Persian Empire of Darius III. This was Alexander's first victory over the Persians. In antiquity, the river was described as having strong, turbulent current, with steep banks and varying depth.

There is also a valley named in its honor on Mars. The Granicus Valles is at 29.72° N, 131.0° E and runs for {{convert|750|km|mi}}.

==Notes== {{reflist}}

==References== * {{cite web|url=http://cat.une.edu.au/page/granicus%20valley |title=Granicus River Valley Survey Project (Canakkale) |accessdate=2009-04-22 |work=Current Archaeology in Turkey |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20081007082705/http://cat.une.edu.au/page/granicus%20valley |archivedate=October 7, 2008 }} * {{cite web |url=http://anadolu.byegm.gov.tr/2007/ocak2007/as44.htm |title=Çanakkale |accessdate=2009-04-22 |publisher=Turkish Directorate General of Press and Information |work=Voice of Anatolia |language=Turkish |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20070825034110/http://anadolu.byegm.gov.tr/2007/ocak2007/as44.htm |archivedate=2007-08-25 }} * {{cite web|url=http://biga.meb.gov.tr/new/ilcemizi_taniyalim/biga_kurulus.pdf |title=Foundation and History of Biga |accessdate=2009-04-22 |publisher=Turkish Ministry of Education |language=Turkish |format=PDF}} {{Dead link|date=November 2010|bot=H3llBot}}

==External links== * [https://www.livius.org/gi-gr/granicus/granicus.html Livius.org: Granicus] - pictures of the stream * [http://www.turkish-media.com/y_h/bhtml/b_1_2.htm A map showing the River Biga]

{{Coord|40|23|N|27|18|E|display=title|region:TR_type:river_source:GNS-enwiki}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Biga Cayi}} Category:Rivers of Turkey Category:Landforms of Çanakkale Province