How Turkey is racing to save Gallipoli’s vanishing shipwrecks
A recently launched project called Deep Heritage aims to slow the disintegration of dozens of warships sunk off Turkey's coast during the devastating First World War campaign
The Turkish government is taking action to preserve the extensive collection of First World War shipwrecks scattered along the Gallipoli Peninsula, before they are claimed by the sea. Over a century since the armistice, the strategic location has become a graveyard for more than 100 ships, both Allied and Ottoman, whose deterioration is accelerating due to corrosion, saltwater, and rust.
A new initiative called Deep Heritage is being implemented by the Turkish government to protect these underwater historical artifacts. Utilizing a cathodic protection system, the project aims to safeguard the wrecks for centuries to come. While the cost is significant, potentially increasing four-fold for larger sites, the Turkish government hopes to protect 17 significant sites over the next eight years.
The Gallipoli peninsula has a rich history of shipwrecks, with the most devastating naval loss being the French battleship Bouvet, which sank in under two minutes after striking an Ottoman mine in 1915. Today, the peninsula is a popular dive site, attracting around 4,700 divers each year. As tourism to the area grows, there are concerns about the potential impact on the fragile wrecks.
Conservation efforts are crucial to preserving the stories of soldiers who lost their lives at Gallipoli for future generations.
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