Canakkale is a city and seaport in Turkey, in Canakkale Province, on the southern coast of the Dardanelles at their narrowest point. The population of the town is 186,116. The current mayor is UlgUr Gokhan. Canakkale Province, like Istanbul Province, has territory in both Europe and Asia. Ferries cross there to the northern side of the strait. Canakkale is the finishing point every year for an organised swim across the Hellespont from Eceabat. This event emulates the swim in 1810 by Lord Byron, who was himself emulating the legendary swim by Leander in the story of Hero and Leander.