Maltepe Municipality and three universities (Uludağ University, Istanbul University and Düzce University) have set up a joint study group including archaeologists and aquanauts for the Istanbul’s lost island Vordonisi to be added to the list of UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization). Studies have been performed since October 2015 to find out the unknown history of Vordonisi in hopes to open it to tourism after being accepted by UNESCO.
Vordonisi is located between Dragos and Kücükyalı at a 700m distance to the Maltepe Coast. Vordonisi was submerged due to the great Istanbul Earthquake that happened in 1010 A.C. Vordonisi consists of 2 separate islands known as the 10th and 11th islands of Istanbul. The island hosts several historical artefacts such as monastery remaining. The mysterious islands were first registered in 1936 by Semavi Eyice who is a Byzantine historian.
