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How deep is the Strait of Hormuz?

Humor me and lose yourself in this depth map.

This article was published in Scientific American’s former blog network and reflects the views of the author, not necessarily those of Scientific American



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The other day I was reading a news article about Oman's plan to build a railroad to bypass the Strait of Hormuz. The Strait of Hormuz is likely the world's most important maritime chokepoint - some 17 million barrels per day (about 20 percent of the world's traded oil) flows through the gap between Oman and Iran. And that gap is really tight, in a marime sense. As the Energy Information Administration puts it, "at its narrowest point, the Strait is 21 miles wide, but the width of the shipping lane in either direction is only two miles, separated by a two-mile buffer zone. The Strait is deep and wide enough to handle the world's largest crude oil tankers, with about two-thirds of oil shipments carried by tankers in excess of 150,000 deadweight tons."

But how deep? I've found a handy depth chart for the Strait of Hormuz. So if you love maps like I do, go ahead and lose yourself in this for awhile.

Click through for a larger version from Wikipedia (I know, I try to avoid Wikipedia but this is a pretty sweet map!)

David Wogan is an engineer and policy researcher who writes about energy, technology, and policy.

David's academic and professional background includes a unique blend of technology and policy in the field of energy systems. Most recently, David worked at Austin Energy, a Texas municipal utility, implementing a Department of Energy stimulus grant related to energy efficiency. Previously, David was a member of the Energy & Climate Change team at the White House Council on Environmental Quality for the Obama Administration.

David holds two Master's degrees from The University of Texas at Austin in Mechanical Engineering and Public Affairs. While at UT, David was a researcher in the Webber Energy Group, where his research focused on advanced biofuel production to offset petroleum use in the transportation sector. David holds a Bachelor's of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering from The University of Texas at Austin, where he researched nuclear non-proliferation measurement technology.

David is a 2013 Aspen Institute Journalism Scholar, joining a select group of journalists from Slate, ABC News, and The New York Times.

David lives in Austin, Texas. Follow along on Twitter or email him at david.wogan@me.com.

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