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Jan 17, 2007

On Snake Island

East of the mouth of the Danube, Snake Island lies in the Black Sea, coordinates: 45N15:18, 30E12:15.

The nearest Romanian city is Sulina, the nearest Ukrainian city: Vilkovo.

Snake island has appr 100 inhabitants who are mostly frontier guard servicemen, their families, and tech personnel.

In 2003 a permanent scientific expedition from Odessa University was established so there's a helicopter platform, a pier built in 2002, and harbour construction is under way. The helicopter platform makes for quick get-aways and refuge-taking, doncha know (see previous post on Stymphalian birds, Hercules, and the raid at Arbil by US forces.)

Sounds like a rockin' place with a 150-year-old lighthouse, electric power, post office, satellite tv, phone service and cell phone tower, internet linkage, and a branch of Aval, a Ukrainian bank.

The lighthouse was built in 1843 by the Black Sea Fleet of the Russian Empire and the Greeks called it 'White Island' because of its marble formations. You'll find several submerged ruins of Thracian temples dedicated to APOLLO who was god of the sun, as his sister, Diana, was goddess of the moon.

Apollo was aka god of music and poetry, archery, and prophecy, and was son of Jupiter and Latona.

Snake Island is also thought anciently to be the resting place of Achilles of heel fame--son of Thetis, at whose marriage the apple of Discord was thrown among the goddesses. Seems to be an apple that keeps on giving, doesn't it?

On Feb 27, 1961, Soviet possession of Snake Island was signed in Bucharest, and there is now a dispute concerning the Island before the International Court of Justice...seems Royal/Dutch Shell signed prospective contracts with the Ukraine while Total (a company I'm unfamiliar with) signed with Romania.

Sounds like a discordant tussle over Snake Island and wouldn't you know? Oil rights are involved.

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