fbpx
Wikipedia

Gulf of Gabès

February 25, 2023

The Gulf of Gabes (or Cabès, Cabes, Gaps;[2] Arabic: خليج قابس, romanized: ḫalīǧ Qābis), also known as Lesser Syrtis (from Ancient Greek: Μικρά Σύρτις, romanized: Mikrá Sýrtis; Latin: Syrtis Minor), contrasting with the Greater Syrtis in Libya, is a gulf on Tunisia's east coast in the Mediterranean Sea, off North Africa. The gulf roughly spans the coast from Sfax to Djerba. At the head of the gulf is the city of Gabès (Ghannouche) where the tides have a large range of up to 2.1 m at spring tides.[3] Both Gabès and Sfax are major ports on the gulf, supporting sponge and tuna fisheries, with Gabès being the economic and administrative center.

Gulf of Gabès
Lesser Syrtis
Satellite image of the Gulf of Gabès
Gulf of Gabès
Location in Tunisia
Coordinates34°00′N 10°25′E / 34.000°N 10.417°E / 34.000; 10.417Coordinates: 34°00′N 10°25′E / 34.000°N 10.417°E / 34.000; 10.417
Native nameخليج قابس (Tunisian Arabic)
Ocean/sea sourcesMediterranean
Basin countriesTunisia
Max. length50 km (31 mi)
Max. width70 km (43 mi)
SettlementsGabès[1]

History

The Latin name Syrtis Minor is used by Pliny the Elder,[4] quoting an earlier description in Polybius 1.39.2, who uses the equivalent Ancient Greek: ἡ μικρά Σύρτις (elsewhere also Σύρτις ἡ μικρά, Σύρτις ἡ μικροτέρα, ἡ μικροτέρα Σύρτις).

An alternative name was Λωτοφαγῖτις σύρτις Lōtophagîtis sýrtis "Syrtis of the lotus-eaters", reported by Strabo.[5] (Compare Syrtis Major, the ancient name of the Gulf of Sidra.)

Syrtis is referred to in the New Testament of the Bible[6] where the Apostle Paul relates being sent in chains to Rome to stand trial before Caesar Nero. The crew of his ship was worried about being driven by a storm into Syrtis,[7] and took precautions to prevent it, resulting, eventually, in being shipwrecked on the island of Malta in the Mediterranean Sea.

Strabo refers to Tacape (the modern Gabès) as an important entrepot of the Lesser Syrtis.

In Book IV of the Histories, Herodotus describes a violent ritual that took place in the region:

During a festival dedicated to the goddess Athena, their young women divided into two camps and then set to fighting each other with blows from stones and wooden clubs, thereby enacting, as they say, a ceremonial that was instituted by their ancestors in honor of the indigenous deity whom we call Athena. Some of them who die from the wounds are called false virgins.

A modern counterpart to this festival of violence, involving two opposing gangs near the Shatt al-Jerid annually engaging in combat with stones and clubs was described in Une fete de printemps au Jerid (1942) by G. Payre.[8]

Geography

Most sources[3][9] consider the Gulf of Gabès as just being within the line between the northwest tip of Djerba (Jerba) Island on the southeast and Ras Yonga (Point Yonga) on the northwest. Ras Yonga is just north of the island of Jazīrat Khunayyis and its marshes[9] and some 52 kilometres (32 mi) southwest of Sfax. The geographer Strabo indicated that the entrance to the gulf was located at the islands of Cercinna (Kerkennah) and Meninx (Djerba).[5] Following Strabo gives a larger area with the line being from just north of Sfax to Djerba Island. That larger area would include part of the Kerkennah Islands and the coast around Sfax. The centroid for the smaller gulf is at 33°59′29″N 10°24′09″E / 33.99139°N 10.40250°E / 33.99139; 10.40250, and the distance across is 68.5 kilometres (42.6 mi), with a depth of 51.0 kilometres (31.7 mi). The larger gulf is 150 kilometres (93 mi) across[10] with a depth of 90 kilometres (56 mi), and the centroid is at 34°04′48″N 10°28′36″E / 34.08000°N 10.47667°E / 34.08000; 10.47667.

The entire Gulf of Gabes, both larger and smaller versions, is underlain by the continental shelf of the African Plate,[11] and is nowhere deeper than 200 meters.[12] During the Permian Period and Triassic Period, carbonate minerals and evaporites were deposited in the Gulf of Gabes which now form salt domes and diapirs.[13] In addition carbon and hydrocarbons primarily from vegetation were deposited. These now form the basis for the oil and gas industry in the gulf. Among the important oil and gas fields in the gulf are the Ashtart Field[3][14] and the Chergui Field.[15] The Ashtart Oil Terminal lies just outside the gulf at 34°17′N 11°23′E / 34.283°N 11.383°E / 34.283; 11.383 where tankers can easily tranship the oil.[16]

Notes

  1. ^ GoogleEarth
  2. ^ see e.g.: Cabès in John Bostock, Henry Thomas Riley (eds.), The natural history of Pliny, Volume 1, 1855, chapter 4, "The Syrtes", p. 391, fn. 7; Cabes in the "Atlas" article in Copley, John Singleton (chairman) (1835) The Penny Cyclopædia of the Society for the Diffusion of Useful Knowledge, Volume III, Athanaric-Bassano C. Knight, London, page 32, OCLC 2041456; Gaps in Charles Anthon, A classical dictionary: containing an account of the principal proper names mentioned in ancient authors, 1842, p. 1279.
  3. ^ a b c National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (2002) Section 8: Tunisia–Cap Serrat to Ras Ajdir" Sailing Directions (Enroute) for Western Mediterranean (tenth edition) National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency, Bethesda, Maryland, page 102
  4. ^ Naturalis Historia Book V, Chapter 4 — The Syrtes
  5. ^ a b Συνεχὴς δ’ἐστὶν ἡ μικρά σύρτις, ἣν καὶ Λωτοφαγῖτιν σύρτιν λέγουσιν. Strabo Geographica Book XVII, Chapter III, Sections 16-18 pages 288-289
  6. ^ Acts 27:10-19
  7. ^ For usage see Deissmann, Adolf (1912) St. Paul: a study in social and religious history Hodder and Stoughton, London, page 268 footnote 1, OCLC 1240027
  8. ^ Brent D. Shaw. (2011). Sacred Violence. [Online]. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. Available from: Cambridge Books Online doi:10.1017/CBO9780511762079 [Accessed 20 April 2016]. page 23
  9. ^ a b British Naval Intelligence Division (1945) Tunisia London, pages 65-66, OCLC 13589103
  10. ^ It is 150 km from the northwestern point of Djerba Island to the coast just above Sfax, but only 81 km to the island, which comports with the distances from Pliny the Elder, above.
  11. ^ International Court of Justice (1984) Case concerning the continental shelf (Tunisia/Libya) International Court of Justice, The Hague, Netherlands, OCLC 11315850
  12. ^ Tawadros, Edward E. (2001) Geology of Egypt and Libya A.A. Balkema, Rotterdam, Netherlands, page 4, ISBN 90-5809-331-X
  13. ^ Tawadros, Edward E. (2001) Geology of Egypt and Libya A.A. Balkema, Rotterdam, Netherlands, page 6, ISBN 90-5809-331-X
  14. ^ Tawadros, Edward E. (2001) Geology of Egypt and Libya A.A. Balkema, Rotterdam, Netherlands, page 383, ISBN 90-5809-331-X
  15. ^ Dean, Lucy (2006) The Middle East and North Africa 2007 Routledge, London, page 1094, ISBN 1-85743-390-4
  16. ^ National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (2002) Section 8: Tunisia–Cap Serrat to Ras Ajdir" Sailing Directions (Enroute) for Western Mediterranean (tenth edition) National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency, Bethesda, Maryland, page 101

External links

  • Port Gabes, photograph from Panoramio

February 25, 2023
gulf, gabès, gulf, gabes, cabès, cabes, gaps, arabic, خليج, قابس, romanized, ḫalīǧ, qābis, also, known, lesser, syrtis, from, ancient, greek, Μικρά, Σύρτις, romanized, mikrá, sýrtis, latin, syrtis, minor, contrasting, with, greater, syrtis, libya, gulf, tunisi. The Gulf of Gabes or Cabes Cabes Gaps 2 Arabic خليج قابس romanized ḫaliǧ Qabis also known as Lesser Syrtis from Ancient Greek Mikra Syrtis romanized Mikra Syrtis Latin Syrtis Minor contrasting with the Greater Syrtis in Libya is a gulf on Tunisia s east coast in the Mediterranean Sea off North Africa The gulf roughly spans the coast from Sfax to Djerba At the head of the gulf is the city of Gabes Ghannouche where the tides have a large range of up to 2 1 m at spring tides 3 Both Gabes and Sfax are major ports on the gulf supporting sponge and tuna fisheries with Gabes being the economic and administrative center Gulf of GabesLesser SyrtisSatellite image of the Gulf of GabesGulf of GabesLocation in TunisiaCoordinates34 00 N 10 25 E 34 000 N 10 417 E 34 000 10 417 Coordinates 34 00 N 10 25 E 34 000 N 10 417 E 34 000 10 417Native nameخليج قابس Tunisian Arabic Ocean sea sourcesMediterraneanBasin countriesTunisiaMax length50 km 31 mi Max width70 km 43 mi SettlementsGabes 1 Contents 1 History 2 Geography 3 Notes 4 External linksHistory EditThe Latin name Syrtis Minor is used by Pliny the Elder 4 quoting an earlier description in Polybius 1 39 2 who uses the equivalent Ancient Greek ἡ mikra Syrtis elsewhere also Syrtis ἡ mikra Syrtis ἡ mikrotera ἡ mikrotera Syrtis An alternative name was Lwtofagῖtis syrtis Lōtophagitis syrtis Syrtis of the lotus eaters reported by Strabo 5 Compare Syrtis Major the ancient name of the Gulf of Sidra Syrtis is referred to in the New Testament of the Bible 6 where the Apostle Paul relates being sent in chains to Rome to stand trial before Caesar Nero The crew of his ship was worried about being driven by a storm into Syrtis 7 and took precautions to prevent it resulting eventually in being shipwrecked on the island of Malta in the Mediterranean Sea Strabo refers to Tacape the modern Gabes as an important entrepot of the Lesser Syrtis In Book IV of the Histories Herodotus describes a violent ritual that took place in the region During a festival dedicated to the goddess Athena their young women divided into two camps and then set to fighting each other with blows from stones and wooden clubs thereby enacting as they say a ceremonial that was instituted by their ancestors in honor of the indigenous deity whom we call Athena Some of them who die from the wounds are called false virgins A modern counterpart to this festival of violence involving two opposing gangs near the Shatt al Jerid annually engaging in combat with stones and clubs was described in Une fete de printemps au Jerid 1942 by G Payre 8 Geography EditMost sources 3 9 consider the Gulf of Gabes as just being within the line between the northwest tip of Djerba Jerba Island on the southeast and Ras Yonga Point Yonga on the northwest Ras Yonga is just north of the island of Jazirat Khunayyis and its marshes 9 and some 52 kilometres 32 mi southwest of Sfax The geographer Strabo indicated that the entrance to the gulf was located at the islands of Cercinna Kerkennah and Meninx Djerba 5 Following Strabo gives a larger area with the line being from just north of Sfax to Djerba Island That larger area would include part of the Kerkennah Islands and the coast around Sfax The centroid for the smaller gulf is at 33 59 29 N 10 24 09 E 33 99139 N 10 40250 E 33 99139 10 40250 and the distance across is 68 5 kilometres 42 6 mi with a depth of 51 0 kilometres 31 7 mi The larger gulf is 150 kilometres 93 mi across 10 with a depth of 90 kilometres 56 mi and the centroid is at 34 04 48 N 10 28 36 E 34 08000 N 10 47667 E 34 08000 10 47667 The entire Gulf of Gabes both larger and smaller versions is underlain by the continental shelf of the African Plate 11 and is nowhere deeper than 200 meters 12 During the Permian Period and Triassic Period carbonate minerals and evaporites were deposited in the Gulf of Gabes which now form salt domes and diapirs 13 In addition carbon and hydrocarbons primarily from vegetation were deposited These now form the basis for the oil and gas industry in the gulf Among the important oil and gas fields in the gulf are the Ashtart Field 3 14 and the Chergui Field 15 The Ashtart Oil Terminal lies just outside the gulf at 34 17 N 11 23 E 34 283 N 11 383 E 34 283 11 383 where tankers can easily tranship the oil 16 Notes Edit GoogleEarth see e g Cabes in John Bostock Henry Thomas Riley eds The natural history of Pliny Volume 1 1855 chapter 4 The Syrtes p 391 fn 7 Cabes in the Atlas article in Copley John Singleton chairman 1835 The Penny Cyclopaedia of the Society for the Diffusion of Useful Knowledge Volume III Athanaric Bassano C Knight London page 32 OCLC 2041456 Gaps in Charles Anthon A classical dictionary containing an account of the principal proper names mentioned in ancient authors 1842 p 1279 a b c National Geospatial Intelligence Agency 2002 Section 8 Tunisia Cap Serrat to Ras Ajdir Sailing Directions Enroute for Western Mediterranean tenth edition National Geospatial Intelligence Agency Bethesda Maryland page 102 Naturalis Historia Book V Chapter 4 The Syrtes a b Synexὴs d ἐstὶn ἡ mikra syrtis ἣn kaὶ Lwtofagῖtin syrtin legoysin Strabo Geographica Book XVII Chapter III Sections 16 18 pages 288 289 Acts 27 10 19 For usage see Deissmann Adolf 1912 St Paul a study in social and religious history Hodder and Stoughton London page 268 footnote 1 OCLC 1240027 Brent D Shaw 2011 Sacred Violence Online Cambridge Cambridge University Press Available from Cambridge Books Online doi 10 1017 CBO9780511762079 Accessed 20 April 2016 page 23 a b British Naval Intelligence Division 1945 Tunisia London pages 65 66 OCLC 13589103 It is 150 km from the northwestern point of Djerba Island to the coast just above Sfax but only 81 km to the island which comports with the distances from Pliny the Elder above International Court of Justice 1984 Case concerning the continental shelf Tunisia Libya International Court of Justice The Hague Netherlands OCLC 11315850 Tawadros Edward E 2001 Geology of Egypt and Libya A A Balkema Rotterdam Netherlands page 4 ISBN 90 5809 331 X Tawadros Edward E 2001 Geology of Egypt and Libya A A Balkema Rotterdam Netherlands page 6 ISBN 90 5809 331 X Tawadros Edward E 2001 Geology of Egypt and Libya A A Balkema Rotterdam Netherlands page 383 ISBN 90 5809 331 X Dean Lucy 2006 The Middle East and North Africa 2007 Routledge London page 1094 ISBN 1 85743 390 4 National Geospatial Intelligence Agency 2002 Section 8 Tunisia Cap Serrat to Ras Ajdir Sailing Directions Enroute for Western Mediterranean tenth edition National Geospatial Intelligence Agency Bethesda Maryland page 101External links EditPort Gabes photograph from Panoramio Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Gulf of Gabes amp oldid 1118574056, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

article

, read, download, free, free download, mp3, video, mp4, 3gp, jpg, jpeg, gif, png, picture, music, song, movie, book, game, games.