The War: Cape Kalaghra, Bay of Varna, in the Black Sea

Description

This engraving, published in the May 12, 1877, issue of The Illustrated London News, depicts the rough Black Sea waves and steep rock formations around Cape Kalaghra (present-day Cape Kaliagra, Bulgaria), located on the eastern shore of the Gulf of Varna. During the Russo-Turkish War of 1877, the Black Sea became a critical operational area for both the Ottoman and Russian navies. Therefore, The Illustrated London News aimed to expose to the British public not only the land fronts of the war but also the strategic and natural hazards of the Black Sea coast. During the Russo-Turkish War of 1877, Varna was the Ottoman army's most important port on the Balkan front. It was crucial for the transfer of troops and supplies from Istanbul to the Balkans, the supply of the Black Sea fleet, and defense against pressure from the Russian navy. Cape Kalaghra, in turn, served as a natural barrier at the entrance to the Gulf of Varna and also served as the Ottoman Army's coastal watchpoint.