See Also

Strait

A strait is a narrow channel of water Water

Water is a taste [i]less, odor [i]less substance that is essential to all known forms of life [i] and i ... 

 that connects two larger bodies of water, and thus lies between two land masses. The terms strait, channel, passage and firth can be synonymous and interchangeable, although channel and firth have other meanings too. Many straits are economically important. Straits can lie on important shipping routes, and war War

War is a conflict involving the organized use of weapon [i]s and physical force by state [i]s or other l ... 

s have been fought for control of these straits. Numerous artificial channels, called canal Canal

Canals are man-made waterway [i]s, usually connecting existing lake [i]s, river [i]s, or ocean [i]s. ... 

s
, have been constructed to connect two bodies of water over land. Well-known straits in the world include the Strait of Dover Strait of Dover

The Strait of Dover or Dover Strait is the strait [i] at the narrowest part of the English Channel [i] ... 

, between England England

England is the largest and most populous constituent country [i] of the United Kingdom [i]. ... 

 and France France

France, officially the French Republic, is a country [i] whose metropolitan territory [i] ... 

, which connects the North Sea North Sea

he North Sea is a sea [i] of the Atlantic Ocean [i], located between Norway [i] and Denmark [i] in the ... 

 with the English Channel English Channel

The English Channel is the part of the Atlantic Ocean [i] that separates the island [i] of Great Britain [i] ... 

; the Strait of Gibraltar Strait of Gibraltar

The Strait of Gibraltar is the strait [i] that connects the Atlantic Ocean [i] from the Mediterranean Sea [i] ... 

, the only natural passage between the Atlantic Ocean Atlantic Ocean

The Atlantic Ocean is the second-largest ocean [i], covering approximately one-fifth of the Earth [i]'s ... 

 and the Mediterranean Sea Mediterranean Sea

The Mediterranean Sea is a part of the Atlantic Ocean [i] almost completely enclosed by land: on the nor ... 

;

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Timeline

1520   After navigating through the South America South America

South America is a continent [i] situated in the western hemisphere [i] and, mostly, ... 

n strait, three ships under the command of Portuguese Portugal

Portugal, officially the Portuguese Republic is located in southwestern Europe [i] on the Iberian Peninsula [i] ... 

 explorer Ferdinand Magellan Ferdinand Magellan

Ferdinand Magellan was a Portuguese [i] maritime explorer [i] ... 

 reach the Pacific Ocean Pacific Ocean

The Pacific Ocean is the world's largest body of water [i]. ... 

, becoming the first Europe Europe

Europe is one of the seven traditional continent [i]s of the Earth [i]. ... 

ans to sail from the Atlantic Ocean Atlantic Ocean

The Atlantic Ocean is the second-largest ocean [i], covering approximately one-fifth of the Earth [i]'s ... 

 to the Pacific (the strait was later named the Strait of Magellan Strait of Magellan

The Strait of Magellan is a navigable route immediately south of mainland South America [i]. ... 

).



Encyclopedia



A strait is a narrow channel of water Water

Water is a taste [i]less, odor [i]less substance that is essential to all known forms of life [i] and i ... 

 that connects two larger bodies of water, and thus lies between two land masses. The terms strait, channel, passage and firth can be synonymous and interchangeable, although channel and firth have other meanings too. Many straits are economically important. Straits can lie on important shipping routes, and war War

War is a conflict involving the organized use of weapon [i]s and physical force by state [i]s or other l ... 

s have been fought for control of these straits. Numerous artificial channels, called canal Canal

Canals are man-made waterway [i]s, usually connecting existing lake [i]s, river [i]s, or ocean [i]s. ... 

s
, have been constructed to connect two bodies of water over land.
Well-known straits in the world include the Strait of Dover Strait of Dover

The Strait of Dover or Dover Strait is the strait [i] at the narrowest part of the English Channel [i] ... 

, between England England

England is the largest and most populous constituent country [i] of the United Kingdom [i]. ... 

 and France France

France, officially the French Republic, is a country [i] whose metropolitan territory [i] ... 

, which connects the North Sea North Sea

he North Sea is a sea [i] of the Atlantic Ocean [i], located between Norway [i] and Denmark [i] in the ... 

 with the English Channel English Channel

The English Channel is the part of the Atlantic Ocean [i] that separates the island [i] of Great Britain [i] ... 

; the Strait of Gibraltar Strait of Gibraltar

The Strait of Gibraltar is the strait [i] that connects the Atlantic Ocean [i] from the Mediterranean Sea [i] ... 

, the only natural passage between the Atlantic Ocean Atlantic Ocean

The Atlantic Ocean is the second-largest ocean [i], covering approximately one-fifth of the Earth [i]'s ... 

 and the Mediterranean Sea Mediterranean Sea

The Mediterranean Sea is a part of the Atlantic Ocean [i] almost completely enclosed by land: on the nor... 

; the Bosporus Bosphorus

The Bosphorus or Bosporus, also known as Istanbul Strait, is a strait [i] that forms the bound ... 

 and the Dardanelles Dardanelles

The Dardanelles , formerly known as the Hellespont [i]
... 

, which connect the Mediterranean Mediterranean Sea

The Mediterranean Sea is a part of the Atlantic Ocean [i] almost completely enclosed by land: on the nor... 

 and the Black Sea Black Sea

The Black Sea is an inland sea [i] between southeastern Europe [i] and Anatolia [i] that is actually a d ... 

; the Strait of Magellan Strait of Magellan

The Strait of Magellan is a navigable route immediately south of mainland South America [i]. ... 

, connecting the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans north of Tierra del Fuego Tierra del Fuego

Tierra del Fuego , an archipelago [i], 28,476 sq mi , separated from the mainland by the Strait of Magellan [i] ... 

, the Bering Strait Bering Strait

The Bering Strait is a sea strait [i] between Cape Dezhnev [i], Russia [i], the easternmost point of th ... 

 between Alaska Alaska

Alaska is a U.S. state [i], located on the northwest tier [i] of North America [i] ... 

 and Siberia Siberia

Siberia is a vast region of Russia [i] constituting almost all of Northern Asia [i]. ... 

 which connects the Pacific Pacific Ocean

The Pacific Ocean is the world's largest body of water [i]. ... 

 and Arctic Ocean Arctic Ocean

The Arctic Ocean, located mostly in the Arctic [i] north polar [i] region, is the smallest ... 

s; and the Strait of Malacca Strait of Malacca

The Strait [i] of Malacca is a narrow stretch of water between Peninsular Malaysia [i] and the Indonesia [i] ... 

, which lie between Peninsular Malaysia Peninsular Malaysia

Peninsular Malaysia is the part of Malaysia [i] which lies on the Malay Peninsula [i], and shares a lan ... 

 and Sumatra Sumatra

Sumatra is the sixth largest island [i] of the world and is the largest island... 

 and connect the Indian Ocean Indian Ocean

The Indian Ocean is the third largest body of water in the world, covering about 20% of the Earth's wate... 

 with the South China Sea South China Sea

The South China Sea is a marginal sea [i] south of China [i]. ... 

.

Although rivers and canals often form a bridge between two large lakes or a lake and a sea, and these seem to suit the formal definition of straits, they are not usually referred to as straits. Straits are typically much larger, wider structures that do not have water running in a single direction, and normally connect two seas.

Straits are the duals of isthmus Isthmus

An isthmus is a narrow strip of land that is bordered on two sides by water and connects two larger land... 

es. That is, while straits lie between two land masses and connect two larger bodies of water, isthmuses lie between two bodies of water and connect two larger land masses.

See also


External links