A bridge or tunnel too far perhaps … but as is my wont – I need(ed) a filler post … so coming from a bridge (civil) engineering family …
When I saw that the Marmaray Tunnel – beneath the Bosporus Strait, Istanbul … linking Europe with Asia … had been built … my grandfather's firm of structural engineers had been contracted for the Bridge across the Bosphorus … opened in 1973. I was taken aback …
Their logo
As I'm no engineer my uncle and I would have brief discussions about engineering projects – particularly when we met out in South Africa … but he died in 1997.
Bakirkoy - where the trains meet
The tunnel had passed me by … opened in 2013 just after my mother died, so perhaps understandable I hadn't 'twigged' … as the deepest immersed tube tunnel in the world.
Bosphorus Strait ... dotted
red lines indicate tunnel project
The construction originally mooted in 1860 … obviously not much happened – 130 years later! … preparatory work was able to commence.
As is usual archaeological discoveries held the work up somewhat … still unearthing our history enlightens us … in this instance from the Byzantine-era and other 8,000 year old archaeological finds …
East Mediterranean/West Asia
showing the various plates, including
in the north the North Anatolian Plate
The other part I enjoy learning about is the geology of the area … somewhat to my surprise – the tunnel is only 18 kilometres (11 miles) away from the active North Anatolian Fault:
Tectonic Plates
Since AD 342, it has seen large earthquakes that claimed many thousands of lives. It is expected that there could be a major earthquake in that area fairly soon …
Most of humanity lives through these eruptions, while others lose their lives … perhaps to be discovered at a later date, and then provide new information of eras past …
Simpler map for info
Some basic facts about the Strait …
It connects the Black Sea to the Sea of Marmara, and eventually into the Mediterranean Sea – it is an international waterway …
Length about 19 miles
Width between 0.45 miles – 2.05 miles
Maximum depth of 110 metres (360 feet)
Heavy traffic … 48,000 ships annually … reportedly three and four times denser than the traffic that used to go through (but due to war/drought) in the Suez Canal and Panama Canal; this traffic has also reduced due to restrictions placed on night-time transit of large oil tankers.
My filler got longer than necessary … but those rabbit holes became tunnels or bridges … letting us travel around and learn …
The Bosphorus Bridge
But where Jumping Jelly Beans came from ... I've no idea?!
Links if you wish to look further …
Marmaray Tunnel ...
Marmaray - the portmanteau word for this commuter rail project ...
Bosphorus facts from Marine Insight ...
BUT I almost forgot why this post got written – I found this fascinating interactive image – just click it … it's brilliant – just check it out please …
Bridges schematically shown from Trajan's Roman Bridge, to the Ponte Vecchio, Sydney Harbour Bridge, Brooklyn Bridge and many more … see here:
1915 Canakkale Bridge ... see comparison of notable bridges at end of this link ...
Positive Letters Inspirational Stories
35 comments:
Bridges fascinate me, and many are very beautiful. Tunnels give my claustrophobic self the horrors.
Interactive link? Where is it dear Hilary or am I being foolish?
I've tried clicking various things but nothing's happening, though this is nothing unusual for me!
Oh ok ... if you go to the Canakkale Bridge link ... at the bottom (end) of the Wiki page ... the Comparison as I've shown here ... needs to be clicked on the actual Wiki link ... hope that helps ...
Hi EC and Janice - I hope this clarifies where you can find it ... I've just opened the Wiki Canakkale Bridge link ... it's at the very end ... let me know please ... not stupid - just the way things happen - it's life isn't it!! Cheers Hilary
Thank you.
Hari Om
I really like that interactive (I had twigged it was on the wiki page) - a lot of those bridges familiar, but great to learn of some not so! You post spanned the subject perfectly!!! YAM xx
Underwater tunnel - been in one but it was short. Longer than a mile would make me nervous.
I saw something else about that tunnel recently. Why? Now I can't recall... It must have been at school for some reason.
@ EC and Janice … thanks for looking and I hope you enjpoy the interactive on the Canakkale Bridge Wiki page. Bridges fascinate me … oddly there was a programme on London's bridges last night!
I've been under the Channel a few times … it's fairly daunting … then of course I've spent many an hour (no doubt) on the tube underground – though if I know it's rush hour I'd use the bus or walk. So lots of tunnelling done …
@ Yam – yes you're techie minded … I know that! - well done … glad you worked it out … it's a fun interactive site isn't it … and thanks for the 'spanning' comment …
@ Alex – I'm sure you've used lots of tunnels … as I just realised … eg the tube, etc etc – but one thinks they'll make us nervous, though once on the journey one forgets …
@ Liz – perhaps it was at your school … one of the kids exploring some aspect of a tunnel … there must be lots in California …
Thanks for visiting – I think I'd rather go under the Channel than the Bosphorus … we don't get too many earthquakes here. Cheers Hilary
I still have to go to the interactive link, Hilary, but I will. As for bridges and tunnels, I adore some bridges but I’m not too fond of tunnels. Super modern bridges, or hyperbolically named “engineering marvels” do nothing for me. The Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco seemed amazingly ho-hum. I am quite sure that the British Isles contain the best bridges in the entire world. The contest is not even close. I adore those old bridges, many of them are works of art. I can never resist standing on them, gazing down at the stream below and being transported to another realm. They are truly bridges to my heart. All the best - David
I love hearing about your rabbit holes, Hilary. :) It's amazing what construction can unearth and reveal.
You got my attention. I'm clicking through to find out more about this amazing construction.
@ David - it'll wait for you ... and the bridges are still there - some 2,000 years later! I love those packhorse (very early) bridges - so narrow and often with a sharp curve. I think probably the Scots would want to win the early bridge award ... they built many of your Canadian bridges. Yes - standing quietly in the countryside listening to the bubbling brook under the tiny bridge, with the bird song all around one - I agree ... delightful.
@ Elizabeth - my rabbit holes are far too many ... and yes as you mention ... it's fascinating what we can and do find lost underground ... they keep finding lots of archaeology here, as you probably are aware - enhancing our knowledge of life before us.
@ Jacqui - thanks ... the interactive image is fascinating to glance at ... brings the bridges to life - in comparative mode.
Take care all three of you ... things be happening over the pond ... cheers Hilary
Fascinating, Hills. I don't think I'd do very well with an underwater tunnel.
You and your grandfather must have had many fascinating conversation, Hils.
My former husband is an engineer. A lot of responsibility goes with the job of creating workable and safe "things". I'm always amazed.
Tunnels, bridges are both so cool and some are beautiful but at the same time a little scary. 🙄😁
The interactive version was fun. Thanks for sharing:)
I'm sure you can't tunnel anywhere without turning up some ancient artifacts. Turkey is a treasure trove of stratified civilizations-- 8000 years! https://substack.com/home/post/p-150486288
@ Sandra x 3! ... Thanks for your support - it was my uncle, my grandfather died when I was three or four - so I never knew him. Amazing how many tunnels you've been through underwater - if you thought about it ... the Channel tunnel is over 31 miles long!
@ Teresa - I'd love to have been married to an engineer - I know my aunt used to get frustrated with her husband, who spent his time recording things ... I guess not listening to inanities uttered around him - when we travelled in SA, or here ... if they and I were going to an event on our own. But you're right about the care and concern we need to make sure things work - often there's not a second choice or try out ...
@ Holly - great to see you ... yes tunnels and bridges : both scary, but brilliant ... standing in the middle of the Humber Bridge I didn't feel too good - I was glad to get off it ... over half a mile to walk to the middle ... no car stopping off - just walk or cycle.
@ Lee - wherever they're tunnelling here in the UK - artifacts appear at all levels. Turkey has many sites - you're right there ... wonderful to see.
Cheers to the four of you - thanks for visiting and commenting - Hilary
Fabulous post, Hilary! I love bridges. And how fun discovering your family was part of it. Jumping Jelly Beans? Hmm. Out here, in the wild, wild west, we have jumping beans but you don't want to know what's in them - ha!
Hmm, I'm not sure I'd be keen to use that tunnel, especially as it seems unnervingly close to the fault line!
Both the tunnel and the bridge are amazing, but being so close to the Anatolian Fault would worry me, Hilary. I love that interactive map and will have to play with it later. About rabbit holes? Oh yes, I know them well. :)
Those are amazing constructions. I could never travel through that tunnel. I would be terrified, especially with that fault so close.
I didn't know your family had been involved in the Bosphorus bridge, how neat! I suppose the tunnel is necessary, but just like the idea of a tunnel under Lake Geneva, I worry about the environmental aspects...
I love bridges and tunnels. The engineering involved is quite amazing. Kudos to your kin who worked the magic math to make pieces unite.
With your questing mind, I think you would have made a grand engineer.
@ Diedre – great to see you … and yes the jumping jelly beans was a very much tongue in cheek title … thinking back to such beans from Southern Africa … actually, of course, not jelly ones! Fortunately I've known my family were bridge builders – Africa, Australia, and of course here. Oh – ok I won't ask what's in your jumping beans … and actually I don't crave them!
@ Annalisa – the tunnel does sound interesting doesn't it – I've been under the Channel a few times … the worry about the fault line does prevail.
@ Val – it was interesting to read that the Anatolian Fault is so nearby – while the 'yellow line' denoting the tri-split of the fault is worrying to say the least: thankfully it's all happening in geological time. Rabbit holes happen in human time and at all times of day and night …?! As most of us know …
@ Susan – would we or wouldn't we use the tunnel … mostly we wouldn't know or think about it – eg Manhattan, San Francisco … and other cities, rivers etc tunnelled through … the Fault just adds to the mix of life …
@ Deniz – yes … he would have enjoyed consulting with other engineers … when we met in South Africa we usually visited an engineering project. I know we are messing with our environment … I'm really unhappy with wind-farms – they seem to fall onto the negative side of the line … but I'm no politician.
@ Joanne – magic maths … not my forte – though is in the family that's for certain. Bridges in particular are beautiful and let us know about different eras of history …
@ Sandra – I was never any good at toy building … so my questing mind might help, but not much else!
Great to see you all – thanks for being here … have a Peaceful Remembrance weekend – cheers Hilary
I don't even like to drive through the tunnels in mountains, and worse the ones that go under water, but I've done both out of necessity. It is amazing what we, as a society, can build though.
Bridges and tunnels are so fascinating. I am always amazed at the math and science that goes into them. They allow us to travel to so many more places. Interesting post!
@ Rosey - but we all use these tunnels ... necessity prevails so often. It is extraordinary how architects, engineers and designers have created such amazing edifices - I couldn't agree more ... it's fascinating to be able to find out about them ...
@ Jess/DMS - bridges and tunnels are just so interesting ... and of course all the maths and science that is needed in this day and age - we have come far. But as you mention they do allow us to travel far and wide ...
Great to hear from you both - thanks for visiting - cheers Hilary
That's fascinating. I'm so glad you went down that rabbit hole. I love bridges.
Hi Dan - as I wrote the post ... I knew you'd be interested - so I'm pleased you are/were ... cheers Hilary
Under the water, over the water. From bridges across streams to tunnels beneath oceans, no two are the same! A really interesting post, Hilary.
Thanks Keith ... the history of cross water initially, recently under and over makes for informative reading - good to see you here - cheers Hilary
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