Welcome to Bodrum, a historic port known as the "land of eternal green" and... a center for sponge diving! Today, we'll focus on this very marine creature found all over the world.
Habitats and Distribution
Their preferred habitats vary by species, but the vast majority (about 98%) are marine organisms. There are also a few freshwater species. Those harvested in the Mediterranean Sea (e.g., the Honeycomb or Silk types, which includes Melat) live at depths of up to 200 meters, where they permanently attach to hard substrates.
Some species, such as glass sponges (Hexactinellida), prefer deep, cold waters, even down to 2,000 meters, which is one of the factors contributing to their extreme longevity. Sponges hold the record for the longest lifespan in the animal kingdom. Their slow metabolism, especially in cold, deep waters, allows them to live for an unusually long time. The longest-living sponges, found in the icy waters of the Antarctic Ocean, reach astonishing ages. For example, the species Scolymastra joubini is estimated to live for up to 15,000 years. Commercial species from warm seas are not as long-lived as their deep-sea cousins, typically living up to 20 years in the natural environment, but they do have a great capacity for regeneration.
Role in the Ecosystem
Sponges are biofilters. They pass enormous amounts of water through their bodies, filtering plankton and organic particles from it. This makes them important indicators of water purity.
Uses of Natural Sponges
Marine sponges have been used by humans for millennia, and the sponge diving industry (such as the one commemorated in Bodrum by Melat Sponge) was historically very significant to many Mediterranean communities.
Uses of Natural Sponges
Natural sponges are widely used primarily in hygiene (body washing and bathing), cosmetic application or facial cleansing and makeup removal, also in household chores (cleaning delicate surfaces as they do not scratch the surface being cleaned like porcelain, glass, and even musical instruments), car or plant washing and, less frequently, in other fields, e.g., art, medicine (in the fight against cellulite, aromatherapy, surgery).
Their popularity stems from their gentleness, natural antibacterial properties, and biodegradability, making them an ecological alternative to synthetic sponges.
About the Melat Sponge
The term "Melat" is a local name used by divers from Bodrum and Kalymnos to denote one of the largest and most prized species of sponge, belonging to the genus Hippospongia (known as the woolly sponge). It stands out for its exceptional absorbency, durability, and size.
The Melat Sponge, which served as the model for the object you are standing next to, was harvested on October 6, 2011, by the famous diver-harvester Akson Mehmet from a depth of approximately 60 meters near Bodrum. It is not only a work of art but a symbol of the geohistorical treasure trove that is the Aegean Sea. The sculpture, created by Halil Ibrahim Sever in 2020, commemorates the entire industry that shaped Bodrum's culture and economy for millennia. Sponge divers, often risking their lives, not only supplied valuable goods but also discovered shipwrecks, contributing to the development of underwater archaeology.
Logging Requirements
To log the find, please send the answers to the three questions below via my GC profile and include a photo of your nickname in your log as described in point 4.
1, How would you describe the surface of the sponge located at the coordinates?
A - I don't know, I'm afraid to touch it 😉
B - It is smooth and hard like marble.
C - It is soft like a pillow.
D - It is hard and rough like asphalt.
2. What is the pedestal the sponge stands on made of?
A - Also sponge.
B - Marble.
C - Plastic.
D - Glass.
3. Do you see a 5-cm fossilized amonite on the surface of the sponge?
A - Yes.
B - No.
C - Yes, but it is much larger than 5 cm.
D - No, because it is a fossilzed fern, not fossilizet amonite.
4. Attach a photo to your log where the described object and your nickname are clearly visible simultaneously (images with the nickname pasted using a graphics program will not be accepted).
Logs that do not meet the above requirements will be deleted.
