16 اگست، 2015

STRAITS

The straits are narrow bodies of water which connect larger bodies on either side and are situated between two pieces of land. These are navigable with sufficient depth of water for crossing of large ships. Large bodies of water are generally large seas or oceans. Some of them are very important for crossing from one piece of land to the other. They provide links between continents. The invaders have crossed through these straits while conquering various lands. Some of the important straits are as follows:
* Strait of Gibraltar:
This lies between the continents of Africa and Europe. In other word between Morocco and Spain. This connects the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea. There is the famous Rock of Gibraltar situated close to Spain towards its South. Gibraltar is an important location with reference to the International Sea Trade. There is an area of about two square miles under occupation of the United Kingdom (UK). The UK has set up a Royal British Navy Base fully equipped with war-planes.Thus this post serves as a watchdog on the Industrial Trade Route between the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean sea.
Historically this is the location from where the Muslim had crossed to enter Spain from Morocco under the command of Tariq Ibne Ziyad.
* Strait of Bosporus:
This lies between the continents of Asia and Europe. This is now in Turkey. The strait adjoins the Black Sea and the Sea of Marmara. The most important historic city of Istanbul lies on the west of the strait. This location had been very important throughout history of Mankind. The Greeks had founded a city named "Byzantium" on the strait with Military reinforcements. Later Romans conquered it and replaced it with a new name "Constantinople" on the name of Roman Emperor Constantine. Muslim also considered it very important to conquer and occupy. The Muslim conquered the city of Constantinople (Qastuntunia) in 1453 AD and named it as Istanbul. The Muslim Ottoman Turks strengthened their control over this city and marched forward towards Europe with conquests of Bulgaria and other countries. The city of Istanbul (previously Byzantium and Constantinople) had been an important junction between East and West. The important developments had taken place along with famous construction of churches and then mosques. These include the Blue Mosque and Hagia Sophia. Currently Turkey to the east of Bosporus is in Asia and to the west is in Europe.
* Straits of Tiran:
There are four Islands situated in the Red Sea towards the south of the Gulf of Aqaba. These Islands are now under the control of Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. This is considered an important location in Crossing of the Red Sea by the Israeites during their exodus from Egypt under the command of Moses (Hadhrat Musa a.s.). These islands had been very important for the Sea Trade between King Solomon of Kingdom of Israel or Levant (Hadhrat Sulayman a.s.) and Queen Sheeba (Malka Saba) of Yemen and Ethiopia.
* Strait of Bab-el-Mandeb:
This is a narrow link on the Red Sea between Gulf of Aden and the Red Sea. This provides crossing point between Arabia and Africa. Currently between Saudi Arabia, Yemen on the eastern side and Eritrea, Djibouti on the African side. This was the strait through which African Elephants used to be brought to Yemen and Arabia.
* Strait of Hormuz:
This is on the Persian Gulf and in between Iran and the Gulf States. This is basically in Iranian Control and an important Iranian port of "Bender Abbas" is located on it. Through the Persian Gulf and the strait of Hormuz, the International Trading ships move up to Kuwait and Iraq as well.

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