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Major World Straits Overview

The document lists 15 major straits of the world, detailing their locations, connections, countries involved, lengths, widths, and significance. Key straits include the Strait of Hormuz, vital for oil trade, and the Strait of Malacca, a major trade route. Each strait plays a crucial role in global navigation and trade, with varying geographical and strategic importance.

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9 views4 pages

Major World Straits Overview

The document lists 15 major straits of the world, detailing their locations, connections, countries involved, lengths, widths, and significance. Key straits include the Strait of Hormuz, vital for oil trade, and the Strait of Malacca, a major trade route. Each strait plays a crucial role in global navigation and trade, with varying geographical and strategic importance.

Uploaded by

siraj.khosa.17
Copyright
© All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

15 Major Straits of the World

1. Strait of Hormuz

 Location: Between Oman and Iran


 Connects: Persian Gulf ↔ Gulf of Oman ↔ Arabian Sea
 Countries: Iran, Oman, UAE (nearby)
 Length: ~90 km
 Width: Narrowest ~39 km (shipping channel ~3 km each way)
 Importance: World's most vital oil chokepoint (≈20% of global oil trade).

2. Strait of Malacca

 Location: Between Malay Peninsula and Sumatra (Indonesia)


 Connects: Andaman Sea (Indian Ocean) ↔ South China Sea (Pacific Ocean)
 Countries: Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia
 Length: ~890 km
 Width: 65 km (widest), ~2.8 km (narrowest at Phillips Channel, Singapore)
 Importance: Key trade route for China, Japan, and South Korea. ~40% of world trade
passes here.

3. Bosporus Strait

 Location: Istanbul, Turkey


 Connects: Black Sea ↔ Sea of Marmara (and thus Mediterranean)
 Countries: Turkey
 Length: ~31 km
 Width: 0.7–3.7 km
 Importance: Vital for Russian & Ukrainian exports; strategic NATO chokepoint.

4. Dardanelles Strait (Çanakkale Strait)

 Location: Turkey
 Connects: Aegean Sea (Mediterranean) ↔ Sea of Marmara (and thus Black Sea)
 Countries: Turkey
 Length: ~61 km
 Width: 1.2–6 km
 Importance: Historical (Gallipoli, WWI); modern strategic gateway.

5. Bering Strait
 Location: Between Alaska (USA) & Siberia (Russia)
 Connects: Bering Sea (Pacific) ↔ Chukchi Sea (Arctic Ocean)
 Countries: Russia, USA
 Length: ~82 km wide (not long, but a narrow passage)
 Width: ~82 km at narrowest
 Importance: Arctic navigation route; potential future trade route due to melting ice.

6. Strait of Gibraltar

 Location: Between Spain & Morocco


 Connects: Atlantic Ocean ↔ Mediterranean Sea
 Countries: Spain, UK (Gibraltar), Morocco
 Length: ~60 km
 Width: 13–44 km
 Importance: Strategic naval chokepoint since antiquity.

7. Bab el-Mandeb Strait

 Location: Between Djibouti/Eritrea & Yemen


 Connects: Red Sea ↔ Gulf of Aden (Arabian Sea, Indian Ocean)
 Countries: Djibouti, Eritrea, Yemen
 Length: ~70 km
 Width: ~30 km (narrowest 20 km at Perim Island)
 Importance: Entry to Suez Canal route; crucial for oil shipments.

8. Palk Strait

 Location: Between Tamil Nadu (India) & Northern Sri Lanka


 Connects: Bay of Bengal ↔ Gulf of Mannar (Indian Ocean)
 Countries: India, Sri Lanka
 Length: ~85 km
 Width: 40–85 km
 Importance: Regional shipping, shallow waters limit large ships.

9. Korean Strait (Tsushima Strait)

 Location: Between South Korea & Japan


 Connects: East China Sea ↔ Sea of Japan
 Countries: South Korea, Japan
 Length: ~200 km
 Width: 50–130 km
 Importance: Key shipping lane, geopolitically sensitive.

10. Strait of Dover (Pas de Calais)

 Location: Between England & France


 Connects: North Sea ↔ English Channel
 Countries: UK, France
 Length: ~34 km
 Width: ~33 km (narrowest 21 miles)
 Importance: Busiest shipping lane in the world.

11. Sunda Strait

 Location: Between Java & Sumatra, Indonesia


 Connects: Java Sea ↔ Indian Ocean
 Countries: Indonesia
 Length: ~100 km
 Width: ~24 km (narrowest)
 Importance: Alternative to Malacca Strait, less used due to shallow waters & volcano
Krakatoa.

12. Lombok Strait

 Location: Between Bali & Lombok, Indonesia


 Connects: Java Sea ↔ Indian Ocean
 Countries: Indonesia
 Length: ~60 km
 Width: 18–40 km
 Importance: Deepwater route alternative to Malacca, used by large ships.

13. Torres Strait

 Location: Between Australia & Papua New Guinea


 Connects: Coral Sea ↔ Arafura Sea
 Countries: Australia, Papua New Guinea
 Length: ~150 km
 Width: ~150 km
 Importance: Shallow waters, reefs; difficult navigation.
14. Tsugaru Strait

 Location: Between Honshu & Hokkaido (Japan)


 Connects: Sea of Japan ↔ Pacific Ocean
 Countries: Japan
 Length: ~20 km wide
 Width: ~19.5 km (narrowest)
 Importance: International navigation; US Navy allowed passage.

15. Mona Passage

 Location: Between Puerto Rico & Dominican Republic


 Connects: Atlantic Ocean ↔ Caribbean Sea
 Countries: Puerto Rico (US), Dominican Republic
 Length: ~130 km
 Width: ~96 km
 Importance: Key passage for ships entering/exiting Panama Canal from Atlantic

Ocean Area (km²) Extent / Borders Connections


Between Asia,
165m To Indian (Malacca, Sunda, Torres), to Arctic
Pacific Australia &
(largest) (Bering), to Atlantic (Panama Canal, Cape Horn)
Americas
To Arctic (Greenland-Iceland), to Indian (Cape
Between Americas,
Atlantic 106m of Good Hope, Suez), to Pacific (Panama, Cape
Europe & Africa
Horn)
Between Africa, To Pacific (Malacca, Lombok), to Atlantic
Indian 70m
Asia, Australia (Cape, Suez), to Southern Ocean
Southern 20m Surrounds Antarctica Meets all other oceans
14m
Arctic Around North Pole To Atlantic (Greenland), to Pacific (Bering)
(smallest)

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