Major World Straits Important for Various Competitive Written Exams

NCERT notes ( Study Material ) on important topics for the UPSC civil services exam. These notes will also be useful for other competitive exams like, UPSC Civil Services, State Civil Services exams, Bank PO, SSC and so on. Check Other NCERT Notes Here

A Strait is a narrow passage of water connecting two seas or two other large bodies of water. Most commonly it is a channel of water that lies between two land masses. You should know that a thin piece of land which connects two bigger lands is called Isthmus, and when it (isthmus) forms a crack or fracture it may result in the formation of a Strait, example: Strait of Gibraltar. Crack in Isthmus can be formed due to meteor strike or tectonic shifts. Fractures in an isthmus, when created by human activity, the straits are usually called canals, example: Suez Canal.

LIST OF MAJOR STRAITS OF THE WORLD

In this article on Major Straits of the World, I will list down all the important Straits along with the important factual details that are very important for various competitive exams like AFCAT CDS NDA SSC etc.

1. Strait of Gibraltar : Connects Mediterranean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean. It was formed by tectonic activity, and is the only link between the Mediterranean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean.

2. Bering Strait : Connects the Arctic Ocean with the Bering Sea. This strait separates the continents of Asia and North America.

3. Malacca Strait : Connects Andaman Sea and South China Sea. The strait derived its name from the trading port of Melaka (formerly Malacca.

4. Bosporous Strait : Connects the Black Sea and the Marmara Sea. Formed by overflowing of one of the two rivers, it separates the two continents of Europe and Asia. It splits the European part of Turkey, called Thrace, and the Asian part, called Anatolia.

5. Strait of Dover : Connects the English Channel with the North Sea. Digging for the construction of a rail tunnel began on both sides of the Strait of Dover in 1987–88 and was completed in 1991. The tunnel was officially opened on May 6, 1994.

6. Dardenleez Strait : Connects the Aegean Sea with the Sea of Marmara.

7. Sunda Strait : Connects Java Sea and Indian Ocean.

8. Suez Canal : Connects Mediterranean Sea and the Red Sea. An important economic strait, allows transportation between Europe and Asia without having to go around the entire continent of Africa.

9. Yucatan Strait : Connects Gulf of Mexico and Caribbean Sea.

10. Strait of Hormuz : Connects the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman. The strait is jointly controlled by Oman, the United Arab Emirates, and Iran. They all have military centers in the region.

11. Bab-el-Mandeb Strait : Connects Red Sea and Gulf of Aden. The BabelMa ded strait, also known as “Gateway of Tears” is sometimes called the Mandab Strait in the English language.

12. Strait of Magellan : Connects the Pacific and the Atlantic Oceans. It is very narrow and the temperatures can reach freezing. Strong wind and waves make visibility and steering complex.

TABLE OF MAJOR STRAITS OF THE WORLD

Also Read : Major Lakes In The World | Interesting Facts You Don't Know

Strait Name	Water Bodies Linked
Bab-el-Mandeb Strait	Red Sea & Arabian Sea
Bering Strait	Arctic Ocean & Bering Sea
Bosphorus Strait	Black Sea & Marmara Sea
Dover Strait	North Sea & Atlantic Ocean
Florida Strait	Gulf of Mexico & Atlantic Ocean
Gibraltar Strait	Mediterranean Sea & Atlantic Ocean
Malacca Strait	Java Sea & Bay of Bengal
Magellan Strait	South Pacific & South Atlantic Ocean

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