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The Strait of Otranto (Albanian: Ngushtica e Otrantos; Italian: Canale d'Otranto) connects the Adriatic Sea with the Ionian Sea and separates Italy from Albania. Its width between Punta Palascìa, eastern Salento, and Karaburun Peninsula, western Albania, is less than 72 km (45 miles; 39 nautical miles). The strait is named after the Italian city of Otranto.
| Strait of Otranto | |
|---|---|
 Map showing the location of the Strait of Otranto | |
  Strait of Otranto  Strait of Otranto  Strait of Otranto | |
| Coordinates | 40°13′10″N 18°55′32″E / 40.21944°N 18.92556°E |
| Basin countries | Italy, Albania |
| Min. width | 72 km (45 mi) |
| Average depth | 18 m (59 ft) |
History
Since ancient times, the Strait of Otranto was of vital strategic importance. The Romans used it to transport their troops eastwards. The legions marched to Brundisium (now Brindisi), had only a one-day sea voyage to modern Albania territory and then could move eastwards following the Via Egnatia.
World War I
During World War I, the strait was of strategic significance. The Allied navies of Italy, France, and Great Britain, by blockading the strait, mostly with light naval forces and lightly armed fishing vessels known as drifters, hindered the cautious Austro-Hungarian Navy from freely entering the Mediterranean Sea, and effectively kept them out of the naval theatre of war. The blockade was known as the 'Otranto Barrage'.
However, the barrage was notoriously ineffective against the German and Austrian U-boats operating out of the Adriatic, which were to plague the Allied powers for most of the war throughout the Mediterranean.
After the fall of the Iron Curtain
In 1992, Albania and Italy signed a treaty that delimited the continental shelf boundary between the two countries in the Strait. Whatsoever the administration rights over the Strait were given to Albania not changing much from the former deal of Otranto.
In 1997 and 2004, nearly 100 people died trying to illegally cross the strait following the 1997 unrest in Albania and poor economic conditions in the Tragedy of Otranto and the Karaburun tragedy.
In 2006, the Albanian government imposed a moratorium on motor-powered sailing boats on all lakes, rivers, and seas of Albania to curb organized crime. The only exemption to the rule are government-owned boats, foreign-owned boats, fishing boats, and jet boats. In 2010, the moratorium was extended until 2013.
See also
- Otranto Barrage
- Otranto Raid
- Battle of the Strait of Otranto (disambiguation)
- Karaburun tragedy
References
- Frank K. McKinney (2007). The Northern Adriatic Ecosystem: Deep Time in a Shallow Sea. Columbia University Press. p. 29. ISBN 978-0-231-13242-8. Retrieved 6 March 2013.
- First World War – Willmott, H.P., Dorling Kindersley, 2003, P. 186.
- "Keshilli i Ministrave". Archived from the original on 2011-07-06. Retrieved 2011-02-25. Council of Ministers of the Republic of Albania, www.keshilliministrave.al, 10 August 2006.
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This article needs additional citations for verification Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources Unsourced material may be challenged and removed Find sources Strait of Otranto news newspapers books scholar JSTOR January 2014 Learn how and when to remove this message The Strait of Otranto Albanian Ngushtica e Otrantos Italian Canale d Otranto connects the Adriatic Sea with the Ionian Sea and separates Italy from Albania Its width between Punta Palascia eastern Salento and Karaburun Peninsula western Albania is less than 72 km 45 miles 39 nautical miles The strait is named after the Italian city of Otranto Strait of OtrantoMap showing the location of the Strait of OtrantoStrait of OtrantoShow map of EuropeStrait of OtrantoShow map of ItalyStrait of OtrantoShow map of AlbaniaCoordinates40 13 10 N 18 55 32 E 40 21944 N 18 92556 E 40 21944 18 92556Basin countriesItaly AlbaniaMin width72 km 45 mi Average depth18 m 59 ft Bay of VloraOtranto harbourHistorySince ancient times the Strait of Otranto was of vital strategic importance The Romans used it to transport their troops eastwards The legions marched to Brundisium now Brindisi had only a one day sea voyage to modern Albania territory and then could move eastwards following the Via Egnatia The Strait of Otranto on a map from the early 17th centuryWorld War I During World War I the strait was of strategic significance The Allied navies of Italy France and Great Britain by blockading the strait mostly with light naval forces and lightly armed fishing vessels known as drifters hindered the cautious Austro Hungarian Navy from freely entering the Mediterranean Sea and effectively kept them out of the naval theatre of war The blockade was known as the Otranto Barrage However the barrage was notoriously ineffective against the German and Austrian U boats operating out of the Adriatic which were to plague the Allied powers for most of the war throughout the Mediterranean After the fall of the Iron Curtain In 1992 Albania and Italy signed a treaty that delimited the continental shelf boundary between the two countries in the Strait Whatsoever the administration rights over the Strait were given to Albania not changing much from the former deal of Otranto In 1997 and 2004 nearly 100 people died trying to illegally cross the strait following the 1997 unrest in Albania and poor economic conditions in the Tragedy of Otranto and the Karaburun tragedy In 2006 the Albanian government imposed a moratorium on motor powered sailing boats on all lakes rivers and seas of Albania to curb organized crime The only exemption to the rule are government owned boats foreign owned boats fishing boats and jet boats In 2010 the moratorium was extended until 2013 See alsoWikimedia Commons has media related to Strait of Otranto Otranto Barrage Otranto Raid Battle of the Strait of Otranto disambiguation Karaburun tragedyReferencesFrank K McKinney 2007 The Northern Adriatic Ecosystem Deep Time in a Shallow Sea Columbia University Press p 29 ISBN 978 0 231 13242 8 Retrieved 6 March 2013 First World War Willmott H P Dorling Kindersley 2003 P 186 Keshilli i Ministrave Archived from the original on 2011 07 06 Retrieved 2011 02 25 Council of Ministers of the Republic of Albania www keshilliministrave al 10 August 2006 This article about a specific location in Vlore County Albania is a stub You can help Wikipedia by expanding it vte This Apulia location article is a stub You can help Wikipedia by expanding it vte
