thumb|200px|left|Diagram of a straitA
strait or
straits is a narrow, navigable
channel of water that connects two larger navigable bodies of water. It most commonly refers to a channel of water that lies between two
land masses, but it may also refer to a navigable channel through a body of water that is otherwise not navigable, for example because it is too shallow, or because it contains an unnavigable
reef or
archipelago.
Terminology
The terms
strait,
channel,
passage,
sound, and
firth can be synonymous and interchangeable, although each is sometimes differentiated with varying senses. Many straits are economically important. Straits can be put on important
shipping routes, and
wars have been fought for control of these straits. Numerous artificial channels, called
canals, have been constructed to connect two bodies of water over land.
Although rivers and canals often form a road between two large lakes or a lake and a sea, and these seem to suit the formal definition of straits, they are not usually referred to as straits. Straits are typically much larger, wider structures.
Comparisions
Straits are the converse of
isthmi. That is, while straits lie between two land masses and connect two larger bodies of water, isthmi lie between two bodies of water and connect two larger land masses.
Tidal power
Some straits have the potential to generate significant
tidal power using
tidal stream turbines. Tides are more predictable than
wave power or
wind power. The
Pentland Firth (actually a strait) may be capable of generating 10 GW.
["Marine Briefing" (December 2006) Scottish Renewables Forum. Glasgow.] Cook Strait in New Zealand may be capable of generating 12GW.
Navigational (legal) regime
Straits 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 (
Strait of Gibraltar,
Dover Strait,
Strait of Hormuz). The regime of
innocent passage applies in straits used for international navigation (1) that connect a part of high seas or an exclusive economic zone with the territorial sea of coastal nation (
Strait of Tiran,
Strait of Juan de Fuca,
Strait of Baltiysk) and (2) in straits formed by an island of a state bordering the strait and its mainland if there exists seaward of the island a route through the high seas or through an exclusive economic zone of similar convenience with respect to navigational and hydrographical characteristics (
Strait of Messina,
Pentland Firth). There may be no suspension of innocent passage through such straits.
Well-known straits
thumb|right|The Strait of Gibraltar
(North is to the left: Spain is on the left and Morocco on the right.)Well-known straits in the world include:
