Captain's Log for Thursday, 20 January 2000
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At 0700 EST the T/S Empire State was enroute to the City of Gibraltar and was located at 34 degrees and 58 minutes North Latitude and 009 degrees 33 minutes West Longitude. She was steering course 070 degrees true at a speed of 16 knots. The skies were partly cloudy with light winds out of the east-northeast at 3 knots. Barometric pressure was 1023 millibars of mercury. The air temperature was 61 degrees and seawater was 58 degrees. Seas were 3 to 6 feet and the depth of water beneath the keel was 2100 fathoms. CAPTAIN'S LOG We are nearly one full day and a complete watch rotation from Madeira and the progress we are making could not be better. All eyes are ahead looking to Gibraltar. How quickly we forget. The weather continues to amaze as we sail eastward, gently propelled by fair winds and following seas. 'Not exactly what I have come to expect of the Atlantic in winter but the remarkable conditions are just fine with me. We have begun preparations early, for what promises to be a work packed stay in port. Lifeboat qualifications are the agenda for our visit to Gibraltar and the promise of liberty afterwards always improves efficiency. When the work is done we will enjoy liberty in a unique part of the world. Gibraltar is truly the stuff that myths are made of. According to mythology, Hercules fashioned the Strait of Gibraltar while creating the world's largest Inland Sea, the Mediterranean. He reportedly used his extraordinary strength to separate the Rock of Gibraltar (Spain) to the north, from Mount Abyla (Morocco) to the south, creating the Pillars of Hercules and constructing a channel that let ocean water fill the Mediterranean; Quite the "Herculean" effort; even for the Son of Zeus. Hercules' efforts, undertaken by direction of Hera, created a place that retained genuine strategic importance throughout history. It is at the natural choke point for some of the world's most heavily traveled maritime routes to Southern Europe, Northern Africa and through the Suez Canal to the East. Consequently, control of the peninsula has been hotly contested down through time. Conquerors have included the Phoenicians, Carthaginians, Romans, the Spanish and the British. While modern war fighting technology has somewhat lessened Gibraltar's current military importance, its historical significance is absolutely secure. Gibraltar will always shape some aspect of world politics. Today, the peninsula of Gibraltar is a British possession administered by an appointee of the British crown and quite naturally, heavily influenced by British culture. The City of Gibraltar is located on the more gently sloped and terraced southwestern areas, as is the port. The main thoroughfares and primary attractions are conveniently situated nearby so that our adventurous Cadets should find the city very comfortable. The north and east facing sections of the "Rock" are very steep and inhospitable, rising almost 1400 feet above sea level. These areas are heavily populated with monkeys, which see themselves as the center of the universe. Wish you were here. See you tomorrow from the Pillars of Hercules. QUESTIONS FOR FRIDAY 21 JANUARY 2000 GEOGRAPHY: Greece is strategically located dominating the Aegean Sea and southern approaches to the Turkish Straits. Greece is also a peninsular country, possessing an archipelago of how many islands? SCIENCE: Petroleum and natural gas are two of the sea's most important resources. How did they form? HISTORY: What important event occurred in Greece on December 8, 1974? MATH: The answers in addition problems are called the_____? The answers in subtraction problems are called the____? The answers in multiplication problems are called the________? The answers in division problems are called the_______? ANSWERS FOR THURSDAY 20 JANUARY 2000 GEOGRAPHY: Four. Albania, Bulgaria, Turkey, and the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia. SCIENCE: Gases released along hydrothermal vents. HISTORY: 1829. The Ottoman Empire. MATH: 7.4342
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