Exploring The World: Bosporus

The Bosphorus (Greek for cow or ox ford) is a strait between Europe and small Asia, which connects the Black sea with the Marmarameer; therefore it represents a section of the southern Innereurasi border. On both sides of the strait is the city İstanbul. The Bosphorus has a length of approx. 30 km and minimum width of 700 M. in the center varies the depth between 36 and 124 m (with Bebek). The current at the surface is from the black sea to the Marmarameer (large rivers flow into the black sea and lead to a water surplus) and in approximately 40 m depth a return flow into reverse direction (different Salinität: Mediterranean 3.6 - 3.9 weight percentage, black of sea 1.7 - 1,8; salty water is heavier).

The rights of passage for the international navigation were regulated 1936 in the contract of Montreux.

1997 provided the American sea biologists William Ryan and walter Pitman with their Sintflut hypothesis for attention. It means that the Bosphorus is only about 7,500 years old. Before it the black sea was inland waters in lowlandses the far under today's sea level. In the course of the melting of the last ice age it came then within centuries to rising the sea level into the Mediterranean as well as the Marmarameer within few days or weeks attached to it to a very broad, racing river, which created the Bosphorus in its current form. That much flattens reason of the deeply into the rock cut, relatively spreads water way as indication for the very large flow rate of the water with its emergence is interpreted.

Above hypothesis is not considered however as scientifically secured. Environmental researchers from the USA and Canada (June Abrajano, Rensselaer Polytechnic of institutes, Ali Aksu, University OF Newfoundland) accomplished analyses of the sediments in the Marmarameer, which disproves the Sintflut hypothesis in its opinion. Therefore the water flows already since the end of the last ice age continuously out of the black sea into the Mediterranean.

The great powers, those in the course of history the Bosphorus controlled (eastRoman realm, Osmani realm) aimed at with it also control of the black sea. Thus Sultan Bayezid Ith let establish 1390 the Gelibolu dockyard, in order to control the Bosphorus and thus the navigation route between Konstantinopel (today Istanbul) and the black sea. Konstantinopel was not yet osmanisch at this time.

For this purpose it introduced also ship inspections for all ships, those the Bosphorus driven through wanted and refused if necessary also the passage. For the purpose of control of the Bosphorus also the fortress Anadolu Hisarı (on the asiatic side) was established. Mehmed II. than preparation on the FE storage and conquest Konstantinopels let the fortress Rumeli Hisarı (on the European side) later establish - exactly opposite the fortress Anadolu Hisarı. Afterwards the osmanische realm had full control of the entrance to the black sea and fought for its full control. For a certain time ships, which drove the free and unhindered under the flag of the Republic of Venice and/or the Republic of Genova passage to their colonies in the black sea grants, later had it became a travel permission (izn i sefine) to acquire and a tax pay. After 1484 (after the conquest of Kili and Akkirman under Bayezid II.) however the passage was then refused to all ships under foreign flag by the Bosphorus. Because of the complete isolation of the black sea area of the international trade this region became in 16. Century to the internal sea of the Osmani realm. At first the entire black sea coast was osmanisch controlled. A privileged fleet of 120 ships (Unkapani kapan i dakik; ever 175 t charge) transported on behalf the realm grain from the Danube delta and of the anatolischen black sea coast. Additional trading vessels were on own calculation on the way, which had to provide a request for each journey.

Later Russia conquered parts of the northern black sea coast (1739 fortress Asow, 1769 Taygan, 1778 establishment of the ports Kerson and 1794 Odessa, 1783 Russian conquest of the Krim) and there was a free trade with these areas, which was particularly operated from the Greeks the Ägäis (at that time under osmanischer rule). The captains of the running out ships had to vouch for the fact that the entire crew returned again, since in the Russian fleet a large need qualified on (Greek) sailors existed and she had already recruited herself to a large part from Greek sailors from the osmanischen rule range. The captain had to submit in later years even an endorsement document (money endorsement) to his homeland municipality and/or to show a wealthy defiency guarantee in Istanbul. The cases of (allegedly) on the way the deceased, and therefore returning no longer, sailors were strictly examined.

This status remained to 1774, when the peace was closed of Küçük Kaynarca. Up to the beginning 18. Century had the Osmani realm all ships under strange flag, including the trading vessels, also not that smallest boat, which approach road to the black sea malfunctions. Thus the region under total osmanischer control remained. After 1774 Russian ships were allowed to pass the Bosphorus and around 1800 also the ships of other European states (1783 Austria, 1802 France and England). However the transport of certain goods was forbidden to the Russian ships by the Bosphorus. In particular the Osmanen wanted to prevent that grain was carried on, since they had a large need for it.

To request Russian warships however the passage by the Bosphorus strictly refused, also as one tried the passage for Russian warships without armament. This should be transported as separate charge on trading vessels by the Bosphorus. The prohibition of the passage of Russian warships was loosened, as Russia to the Osmani realm its military assistance for the first time on the occasion of of Napoleons' Egypt campaign (1798 to 1801) offered. The Osmani realm permitted Russian warships for the duration of the war the passage. As the 7. Russian-Turkish war (1806 to 1812), closed the Osmanen broke off an assistance pact with England (1809 in Kala i Sultaniye) - for the case of a French attack. To drive the British warships the right granted up to the southern entrance of the Bosphorus.

In the contract of contract of Hünkâr İskelesi (1833) one granted to Russian ships a right of passage and the osmanische government committed themselves to close in case of a war the Bosphorus for ships of all countries. Because of the loud protest of England and France the present Treaty held however not for a long time. Corresponds to the Londoner to contract of 1841 had the Bosphorus in times of peace for all warships to remain closed - the passage could be granted to only smaller warships of allied nations - after permission by a special assigned one. Thus the question of the Bosphorus passage became an affair of the great powers.

The following Krimkrieg (1853 to 1856) France and England on the side of the Osmani realm occurred and sent its war fleet into the black sea.

After the Krimkrieg (peace treaty in London - 1856) the Bosphorus had the status of an international water way, remained closed however for warships. The maintenance of a war fleet was forbidden to the Osmani realm and Russia in the black sea. With the Londoner contract of 1871 was permitted Russia however a war fleet in the black sea and permitted to allied countries the Bosphorus passage by warships during times of peace. this status remained up to the First World War.

In the contract of Edirne, which was closed after Greek unrests (1921, stimulated of England, France and Russia), the free passage was granted to the trading vessels of all countries by the Bosphorus.