List of Major Straits in the World
What is a Strait?
A Strait is a naturally formed, narrow, typically navigable waterway that connects two larger bodies of water. It most commonly refers to a channel of water that lies between two land masses. It is used for international navigation through the territorial sea between one part of the high seas or an exclusive economic zone and another part of the high seas or an exclusive economic zone are subject to the legal regime of transit passage.
Commercial and Strategic Importance of straits
I. Seaborne trade for commercial shipping
II. Vital oil-producing region
III. Play a vital role in geopolitics
Here, we are providing you with the List of Major Straits in the World, that will give general awareness to the reader in understanding how these straits connect the world.
List of Major Straits in the World
1. Malacca Strait
Joins: the Andaman Sea & South China Sea
Location: Indonesia –Malaysia
2. Palk Strait
Join: Palk Bay & Bay of Bengal
Location: India-Sri Lanka
3. Sunda Strait
Join: the Java Sea & Indian Ocean
Location: Indonesia
4. Yucatan Strait
Join: the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean Sea
Location: Mexico-Cuba
5. Mesina Strait
Join: Mediterranean Sea
Location: Italy-Sicily
6. Otranto Strait
Join: the Adriatic Sea & Ionian Sea
Location: Italy-Albania
7. Bab-el-Mandeb Strait
Join: Red Sea & Gulf of Aden
Location: Yemen-Djibouti
8. Cook Strait
Join: South Pacific Ocean
Location: New Zealand (North & South Islands)
9. Mozambique Strait
Join: Indian Ocean
Location: Mozambique -Malagasy
10. North Channel
Join: the Irish Sea & Atlantic Ocean
Location: Ireland-England
11. Taurus Strait
Join: Arafura Sea & Gulf of Papua
Location: Papua New Guinea — Australia
12. Bass Strait
Join: Tasman Sea & South Sea
Location: Australia
13. Bering Strait
Join: Bering Sea & Chuksi Sea
Location: Alaska-Russia
14. Bonne-Fasio Strait
Join: Mediterranean Sea
Location: Corsika — Sardinia
15. Bosporous Strait
Join: Black Sea and Marmara Sea
Location: Turkey
Other Straits in the World
1. Dardenleez Strait
Join: Marmara Sea and Agean Sea
Location: Turkey
2. Davis Strait
Join: Baffin Bay & Atlantic Ocean
Location: Greenland-Canada
3. Denmark Strait
Join: North Atlantic and Arctic Ocean
Location: Greenland-Iceland
4. Dover strait
Join: English Channel & North Sea
Location: England-France
5. Florida Strait
Join: Gulf of Mexico and Atlantic Ocean
Location: USA-Cuba
6. Hormuz Strait
Join: Gulf of Persia & Gulf of Oman
Location: Oman-Iran
7. Hudson strait
Join: Gulf of Hudson & Atlantic Ocean
Location: Canada
8. Gibraltar Strait
Join: Mediterranean Sea & Atlantic Ocean
Location: Spain-Morocco
9. Magellan strait
Join: Pacific and South Atlantic Ocean
Location: Chile
10. Makkassar Strait
Join: Java Sea & Celebeze Sea
Location: Indonesia
11. Tsungaru Strait
Join: Japan Sea and Pacific Ocean
Location: Japan (Hokkaido-Honshu Island)
12. Tatar Strait
Join: Japan Sea & Okhotsk Sea
Location: Russia (East Russia-Sakhalin Islands)
13. Fovex Strait
Join: South Pacific Ocean
Location: New Zealand (South Island- Stewart Island)
14. Formosa Strait
Join: South China Sea & East China Sea
Location: China-Taiwan
Hence, in the above List of Major Straits in the World gives a quick revision on the concept, definition and straits around the world.
Interesting Facts about Straits in the World
- Longest Strait of the world : Strait of Malacca which separates Malay Peninsula from Sumatra Island of Indonesia It is 800 Km long.
- Widest Strait of World: Demark Strait which separates Greenland from Iceland. It is 290 km wide at the narrowest point.
- Narrowest Strait of the World: Bosphorus Strait at the narrowest point the width is 800 m.
- Shallowest Strait of the World: Sunda Strait at the eastern part the depth decreases to about 20 m making id difficult for navigation.
- Strait that separate Asia from America – the Bering Strait
- Strait that separate Australia from Tasmania – Bass Strait
- Strait that separate Europe from Africa -Gibraltar Strait
