Gallipoli

---

Geo: 40.2313, 26.327

The Gallipoli Peninsula is reached by ferry from Canakkale to Kilitihar. It is a short 10 minute ferry ride across a busy shipping channel. Reminded me of the Gulf Island Ferries until we went to get off. They don't direct the cars off the ferry. They just drop the ramp and it is a free for all. Interesting. Once there we drove past the fortress which seems to be under restoration at the moment. Next stop was the Namazgah Fort with a good historical explanation of the Gallipoli battle. The fort itself was a major gun emplacement to protect the Dardanelles channel which is at its narrowest point. This is a strategic location because it is on the Aegean Sea and has direct access to the Sea of Marmara, Istanbul and the the Black Sea and Russia. There is a great deal of historical information related to this area. The Gallipoli Campaign was waged during the First World War by Great Britain and France in an attempt to capture the Ottoman Capital of Constantinople thereby securing a sea route to Russia. Many lives were lost on both sides (120 thousand +) and there are many cemeteries and memorials to the soldiers of both sides. At the beginning of the war the Turkish government purchased 2 warships from Britain which were paid for but never delivered. Subsequently, 2 German warships were permitted past the entrance and Turkey was seen by the allies as friendly to Germany and the allies including Russia were concerned that the Turks would block the access to the Black Sea and so the war began. Today Turkey is a member of NATO and is a friendly nation. a lot of changes in 100 years. Turkey retains military control the Strait and can stop non Black Sea Nations from access if they choose to do so. We stopped at the museum which had a theatre type of presentation which they called simulation rooms. It was very well done. We are staying at a pretty hotel with a number of small guest houses in a small village called Kocedere.

---

Comments

[crw]

Thanks for the historical explanation. However, in its simplest form, a lot of lives were lost over the image portrayed by two ships - mistrust set in and it seem to spiral out of control.

[Carla]

Very interesting place. Nice hotel.