List of the Major Straits of the World

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.

 

Source: en.wikipedia.org

Here, we are giving the list of the World’s major Straits that will give general awareness to the reader in understanding how these straits connect the world.

Commercial and Strategic Importance of straits

I. Seaborne trade for commercial shipping

II. Vital oil producing region

III. Play vital role in geo-politics

Basic Concepts in Geography

List of the Major Straits of the World

1. Malacca Strait

Joins: 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: Java Sea & Indian Ocean

Location: Indonesia

4. Yucatan Strait

Join: Gulf of Mexico and Caribbean Sea

Location: Mexico-Cuba

5. Mesina Strait  

Join: Mediterranean Sea

Location: Italy-Sicily

6. Otranto Strait

Join: 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: 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

List of the world's important cities situated on the Bank of Rivers

16. Dardenleez Strait  

Join: Marmara Sea and Agean Sea

Location: Turkey

17. Davis Strait  

Join: Baffin Bay & Atlantic Ocean

Location: Greenland-Canada

18. Denmark Strait     

Join: North Atlantic and Arctic Ocean

Location: Greenland-Iceland

19. Dover strait  

Join: English Channel & North Sea

Location: England-France

20. Florida Strait

Join: Gulf of Mexico and Atlantic Ocean

Location: USA-Cuba

21. Hormuz Strait       

Join: Gulf of Persia & Gulf of Oman

Location: Oman-Iran

22. Hudson strait         

Join: Gulf of Hudson & Atlantic Ocean

Location: Canada

23. Gibraltar Strait      

Join: Mediterranean Sea & Atlantic Ocean

Location: Spain-Morocco

24. Magellan strait       

Join: Pacific and South Atlantic Ocean

Location: Chile

25. Makkassar Strait   

Join: Java Sea & Celebeze Sea

Location: Indonesia

26. Tsungaru Strait     

Join: Japan Sea and Pacific Ocean

Location: Japan (Hokkaido-Honshu Island)

27. Tatar Strait  

Join: Japan Sea & Okhotsk Sea

Location: Russia (East Russia-Sakhalin Islands)

28. Fovex Strait 

Join: South Pacific Ocean

Location: New Zealand (South Island- Stewart Island)

29. Formosa Strait      

Join: South China Sea & East China Sea

Location: China-Taiwan

The Straits have commercial and strategic importance. Bering, Gibraltar, Bab-el-Mandeb, Bosporus and Torres, etc. are straits which separates the continents. Gibraltar is also known as ‘the key to the Mediterranean Sea’. There is a railway tunnel which joins landmasses through straits like Tsungaru and Dover. Hence, in the above list of World’s major Straits gives a quick revision on the concept, definition and straits around the world.

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