The Strait of Hormuz is a strait between the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman. It provides the only sea passage from the Persian Gulf to the open ocean and is one of the world’s most strategically important choke points. It has been so for centuries, with vast hinterlands rich in luxury trade goods, but no easy access to lucrative trading ports. In his memoirs, Babur, the first padishah of the Mughal Empire, recounted how almonds had to be carried from the distant Ferghana region in Central Asia to Hormuz to reach markets.
During 2023–2025, 20% of the world’s liquefied natural gas (LNG) and 25% of seaborne oil trade passed through the strait annually. The strait had never been closed for extended time during Middle East conflicts (until this month) (unlike the Straits of Tiran/Bab-el-Mandeb) though Iran occasionally had threatened to close the strait (and they did), and preparations to mine it have been undertaken.
Etymology
Persian etymology derives “Hormuz” from the Middle Persian pronunciation of the name of the Zoroastrian god Ahura Mazda. Alternatively, it has been suggested that the name derives from the local Persian word Hur-Mogh ‘Place of Dates’. A theory claims that the strait of Hormuz may have been named after Ifra Hormizd, the mother of King Shapur II of Persia, who ruled between 309 and 379 AD.
In the 10th–17th centuries AD, the Kingdom of Ormus was located here. Scholars, historians and linguists derive the name “Ormuz” from the local Persian word هورمغ Hur-mogh meaning date palm.
From the 15th century onward, from a strategic point of view, the geography of the strait maintained and expanded its importance with the arrival of foreign powers such as Portugal, which maintained its presence between the 16th and 18th centuries, also provoking disputes with other emerging powers such as England when it arrived in the region in the 17th century.
Navigation
To reduce the risk of collision, ships moving through the strait follow a traffic separation scheme (TSS): inbound ships use one lane, outbound ships another, each lane being two miles wide. The lanes are separated by a two-mile-wide “median”
In 1959, Iran altered the legal status of the strait by expanding its territorial sea to 12 nmi (22 km) and declaring it would recognize only transit by innocent passage through the newly expanded area.[16] In 1972, Oman also expanded its territorial sea to 12 nmi (22 km) by decree.[16] Thus, by 1972, the Strait of Hormuz was completely “closed” by the combined territorial waters of Iran and Oman. During the 1970s, neither Iran or Oman attempted to impede the passage of warships, but in the 1980s, both countries asserted claims that were different from customary (old) law.
Oil trade flow
During 2023–2025, 20% of the world’s liquefied natural gas and 25% of seaborne oil trade passes through the Strait, illustrating its important location for trade.
More than 85% of these crude oil exports went to Asian markets on a daily basis, with Japan, India, South Korea and China the largest destinations. If shipping through the Strait of Hormuz were significantly disrupted for an extended period, it could lead to a major oil supply crisis for major Asian importers such as India and China.
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How did none of you inform me of this banger? https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_General_Uses_Warp
“The General Uses Warp” (Korean: 장군님 축지법 쓰신다; Hancha: 將軍님 縮地法 쓰신다; RR: Janggun-nim chukjibeop sseusinda) is a North Korean song praising Kim Jong Il. The song was first released in 1996 by Wangjaesan Light Music Band, with lyrics written by Jong Ryol (정렬; 鄭烈) and music composed by Kim Un Ryong (김운룡; 金雲龍).
of course the media used this song to claim ‘north Korean’s think dear leader can teleport’ in the same vein as the golf story
I didn’t realize will Smith was trying to be a rapper again. It is not good music.
i wonder how kurt cobain would feel about ai generated nirvana songs
Huge cobweb. Would be about four, maybe five foot (1m20cm) tall, two and a half feet (60ish cm) wide
The straits are really taking a beating this month, huh.
“1796: A fiercely determined band of pioneers leaves Maryland after misinterpreting a passage in the Bible. Their destination? New Sodom.”
Might be one of the best Simpsons jokes
it is march 16 and stalin saved the world from fascism
Scientific American: “Maybe trans people demonization is overblown?
Normies: “WHAT?!?!?!?! THAT’S CRAZY!1!1!!1!1!”
Scientists: “Aren’t you going to defend your worldview?”
Normies: “Of COURSE not!1!1!1 I’LL JUST DISMISS YOU BECAUSE I JUST CAN’T BELIEVE IT!!!1!1!”
So much for “hearing everyone out in the marketplace of ideas.”
Realized that the voice of my ADHD from childhood onward is basically -and this is a very specific reference- from the Last Podcast series on the Batavia shipwreck, where the running joke is that every new atrocity begins with one of the sailors going “YARR, I’M BORED.”
And as silly as it is, that voice has guided so much of my life it’s insane. It put me on the path to active leftists politics instead of just holding leftists beliefs because, silly as it sounds now, as a politically incoherent radlib teenager i specifically gravitated towards the front line of heated and confrontational protests purely as a form of adrenaline seeking. Then I met people there who educated me, and formed those short little intense protest bonds that only come from shared struggle with a stranger against the police, and realized what real comrederie can be. Then i started reading. But straight up the two primordial electrical impulses that kickstarted my development into an active Marxist Leninist were “This shit isn’t fair” and “YARR, I’M BORED”.
孤独
I feel like a local hero now, my upstairs neighbor’s cat got ought and I rushed into action as the kid watched, I expertly caught it and safely brought it back. It didn’t seem like he actually wanted to be outside though because maybe it’s cold, he sort of hissed and swatted at me but quickly accepted his fate. I’m just proud of my response time even though I’m hella stoned
Genuinely hilarious that no one in that kpop movie seems to be emotionally affected by the demons in that kpop movie literally killing and eating people souls and its the best animated picture apparently.
Religious parents ass logic where any depiction of guns must be instantly banned and replaced with chud laser guns but telling kids they burn in hell for eternity for stealing if they dont repent is fine.
I keep feeling so fucking tired when I get home from work. All I want to do is nap as soon as I get home. But then I’ll get up at like 6-7pm with only 2-3 hours before i have to go to bed to go back to work. I need to stop my pattern of adderall use but like fuck the only time I feel like I have the energy to want to do anything is when i’m on it
Do you condemn February 28th? Do you condemn Israel? Do you condemn USA? Mentioning protestors is islamophobic.
