Construction of the Enzeli Port in Persia by the Russian Treasury at the Beginning of the 20th Century

This article focuses on the history of the modernization of the Persian port of Enzeli by the Russian Treasury, through which the main trade exchange between Russia and Persia took place in the early 20th century. The source base of the research is grounded in archival documents from the Ministry of Trade and Industry and the Ministry of Finance of the Russian State Historical Archive. These documents significantly expand our understanding of the construction process of a seaport under challenging environmental conditions in a foreign country. The aim of this study is to assess the outcomes of Russia's efforts in terms of increasing the cargo turnover at the Enzeli Port. The author concludes that despite various difficulties, Russian specialists succeeded in fulfilling their tasks and constructing a port that met contemporary requirements: not only shallow-draft vessels but also medium-draft ships were able to enter the port and carry out loading and unloading operations. Although not all issues were resolved by the time the port was operational, the achieved results undoubtedly contributed to an increase in the number of steamships entering the port, which in turn led to an enhancement in the cargo turnover between the two neighboring states.