Regional Studies

A survey of past oceanographic activities in and around the Gulf of Trieste was compiled by Malačič (1993, 1995). The earliest hydrographc observation in the Gulf of Trieste probably dates back to 1703, when Edmund Halley, the famous astronomer who was also a navigator, geophysicist and oceanographer, was appointed to survey the state of the Adriatic ports in the Holy Roman Empire (Hook, 1984). His task was to sound the depths of the ports and to provide security in the event that an English fleet be sent to pass the winter in the northern Adriatic Sea in order to help push the Spanish troops out of the Italian peninsula. Hook (1984) describes Halley’s activities in detail, including a bathymetrie chart of the Port of Trieste created with the help of Count Strasoldi. Eventually, because the opening of the Gulf was deemed too wide (Figure 6–1), the Port of Bakar (now in Croatia) was recommended to shelter the British fleet. The political situation changed, and the English troops did not invade Italy until 1943.