Strait of Hormuz: The increasing tension in the Middle East has once again drawn the world’s attention towards the Strait of Hormuz. Iran recently announced a ban on shipping through this important sea route. After this, the concern about oil shortage has increased all over the world. This situation is very worrying for countries like India. This is because about 2.6 million barrels of crude oil sent to India passes through this route every day. However, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps has said that this ban targets only America, Israel, Europe and their Western allies. In the meantime, let us know what the Strait of Hormuz is and how it got this name.

What is the Strait of Hormuz?

The Strait of Hormuz is a narrow but very strategic water route that connects the Gulf of India to the Gulf of Oman and the Arabian Sea. It works as a main gateway. Through this, oil and gas from the Middle East is transported to the international market.

Geographically, this strait is between Iran on the northern side and Musandam Peninsula of Oman and United Arab Emirates on the southern side. Due to its location, it is in the center of one of the most energy dense areas in the world.

A narrow path of global importance

Despite its global importance, the Strait of Hormuz is surprisingly very thin. It is only about 33 kilometers wide at its narrowest point. What is even more surprising is that the shipping lane used by oil tankers is only about 3 kilometers wide in each direction. This means that thousands of big tankers carrying crude oil and liquefied natural gas have to pass through a very limited corridor.

The world’s most important energy chokepoint

The Strait of Hormuz is often described as the world’s most critical oil chokepoint. According to reports, 20% to 30% of the world’s total oil trade passes through this waterway alone. Big oil exporting countries like Saudi Arabia, Iran, United Arab Emirates, Kuwait and Iraq depend on this route to send their energy resources to Asia, Europe and other global markets.

How did the Strait of Hormuz get its name?

There are many historical and cultural reasons for the name Hormuz. According to a common theory, this name is related to the Middle Persian word Hormoz. It is derived from Ahura Mazda, the greatest deity of the old Zoroastrian religion. This means that the old Persians considered this sea route sacred and called it the road of Ahura Mazda.

Another big reason comes from history. Between the 11th and 17th centuries, the area was controlled by the Empire of Hormuz, a wealthy trading empire based on the island of Hormuz. This empire served as a major commercial hub connecting Persia, Arabia, India and East Africa. Due to its importance in maritime trade, this waterway came to be known as the Gulf of Hormuz.

Apart from this, some historians say that this name may have come from the local Persian word Hur Mogh. It means dates. This is a common plant in this area. It is believed that local tribes used this name historically.

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