Snake Island (Romanian: Insula şerpilor, Ukrainian: ostriv Zmiyinyy) is an isle in the Black Sea, currently claimed by Romania, but administered by Ukraine and included in its Kiliya raion of Odes'ka oblast'.

Geography

The island is a limestone formation located 44 km from the coast, east of the mouth of the Danube River. It is 662 meters by 440 meters, covering an area of 0.17 km². The nearest city on the coast is Sulina, Romania.

Population

Snake Island has about 100 inhabitants (Ukrainian Army and frontier guard servicemen with their families). Helicopter and sea launch are the only connection to the continent, but pier and harbour costructing is underway.

History

It was named by the Greeks Leuce Island ("White Island"), known by Romans as Alba, probably because of the white marble formations that can be found on the isle. The uninhabited Isle Achilleis ("of Achilles") was the major sanctuary of the Achaean hero, where seabirds dipped their wings in water to sweep the temples clean (Kyriazis). Several temples of Thracian Apollo can be found here, and there are submerged ruins. As Greek mythology says, the remains of Achilles were brought to this island by Thetis, to be put in a sanctuary. Ruins believed to be of of a square temple, 30 meters to a side, dedicated to Achilles were discovered by Captain Kritzikly in 1823. Ovid, who was banished to Tomis, mentions the island, and so does Ptolemy and Strabo (Geography, book II.5.22).

In 1948, during the Cold War, a Soviet radar post was built on the isle (for both naval and anti-aircraft purposes).

Later, significant oil and gas deposits were discovered under the sea bottom nearby.

After 1991, Ukraine took control over the isle, although Romania consistently claims it should be included in her territory (since there was no treaty that said otherwise). According to the Romanian side, in the peace treaties of 1918 and 1920 (after WWI), the isle was considered part of Romania, and it was not mentioned in the 1947 frontiers changing treaty between Romania and the Soviet Union.

Due to the isle's geographic position, its possession dramatically affects the frontier line between the two countries. That is why Romanian diplomats also claim that Snake Island is not an isle/island, but a cliff (which has a different role in international law).

Ukrainian authorities are now trying to demilitarize and develop the isle rapidly, mostly in an attempt to prove its island status. There are plans to establish fishing infrastructure there.

In 2004, the Ukrainian authorities announced that a post office and a branch of the Ukrainian Aval bank were opened on Snake Island to service the growing civil activities there.

External links

• 2004 report on Snake Island dispute, including aerial picture of the isle (Russian language)
• BBC Romanian report on the bank opening
• Aurelian Teodorescu, "Snake Island: between rule of law and rule of force" : The Snake Island dispute from the Romanian perspective
• [http://www.noteaccess.com/APPROACHES/AGW/Achilles.htm Constantine D. Kyriazis, Eternal Greece}: Achilles' sanctuary