Estrategia para la defensa y ubicación de las fortificaciones de la plaza fuerte de cartagena de indias en el siglo xviii a partir de condiciones océano-atmósfera y variaciones morfológicas en la línea de costa

Abstract

This article explores the expansion that the city of Cartagena de Indias had since the 18th century regarding its military defense infrastructure to ward off the British attacks. A detailed analysis of the ocean and atmosphere conditions is carried out by using modern space data coupling techniques to conduct a morphologic research of such an important port. In addition, it describes the main military constructions such as the Bocagrande submarine wall (La Escollera) built by Don Antonio de Arevalo in 1773. Such wall brought subsequent changes to the shoreline of Cartagena’s bay. This article addresses a multitemporal analysis of the coastline evolution done with the cartography compiled from the 1960´s up to these days; it describes how the Spanish Crown’s influence had a strong impact when deciding on the strategic military locations to guard the treasures garnered and stored in this port and how such fortifications have interacted with the geomorphologic changes along this important colonial city’s coastline.