Complete List of Major Straits in the World

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

  1. Longest Strait of the world : Strait of Malacca which separates Malay Peninsula from Sumatra Island of Indonesia It is 800 Km long.
  2. Widest Strait of World: Demark Strait which separates Greenland from Iceland. It is 290 km wide at the narrowest point.
  3. Narrowest Strait of the World: Bosphorus Strait at the narrowest point the width is 800 m.
  4. Shallowest Strait of the World: Sunda Strait at the eastern part the depth decreases to about 20 m making id difficult for navigation.
  5. Strait that separate Asia from America – the Bering Strait
  6. Strait that separate Australia from Tasmania – Bass Strait
  7. Strait that separate Europe from Africa -Gibraltar Strait

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