Why in the News?
The Dardanelles Strait in northwestern Turkey has been temporarily closed to maritime traffic due to forest fires near Canakkale, prompting evacuations and firefighting operations.
About Dardanelles Strait:
- Location: Northwestern Turkey; separates Gallipoli Peninsula (Europe) from Troad/Biga Peninsula (Asia).
- Connection: Links Aegean Sea → Sea of Marmara → Bosporus → Black Sea.
- Dimensions: Length 61 km, width 1.2–6.5 km, average depth 55 m, max depth 103 m.
- Historical Name: Hellespont, named after mythical princess Helle; current name from ancient city of Dardanus.
- Currents: Surface current flows from Sea of Marmara to Aegean; saline undercurrent in reverse.
- Ports: Gallipoli, Eceabat, Çanakkale.
Strategic & Economic Importance:
- Part of Turkish Straits system with Bosporus; only maritime link between Black Sea and Mediterranean.
- Critical for Black Sea nations’ trade (Russia, Ukraine, Bulgaria, etc.).
- Major route for grain, oil, energy shipments from Black Sea region to global markets.
- Governed by Montreux Convention (1936) for warship passage.
- Vital for NATO naval strategy and maritime security.
| [UPSC 2008] Through which one of the following Straits does a tunnel connect the United Kingdom and France?
Options: (a) Davis Strait (b) Denmark Strait (c) Strait of Dover* (d) Strait of Gibraltar |
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