Strait ... What is it? Explain

In the process of studying the water world, people are faced with the nuances of determining its various elements, sometimes confusing one with another. It is about such subtle concepts as the channel or the strait. What is special about them differs from other water formations? Let's understand.

The meaning of the word strait

Let's start with the definition. Let's study the very word strait. It is formed by a prefix and a root. The latter is consonant with the word "pouring". If we connect, we get a channel connecting the two reservoirs.

That is, the jumper on which the world ocean level the water level in its tanks. It is clear that nature naturally takes care of making a strait. What is to happen in nature, so that harmony is not violated, can be understood by experience. It's best to spend it on the beach. Make two small slides with indentations in the middle. One fill with water. See what happens. Water will try to find the way to the "level of the ocean", sweep the barrier and rush into the second depression. Only it should be taken into account that all this should occur not on land, but in the water column, as only small pieces of continents or islands limit the "strait". What is happening there, in the thickness of the ocean, we will look at examples.

What are they like?

When classifying straits, two unambiguous characteristics are used: what is connected and what is limited. If the first sign is not so simple - the duct can be formed by a single reservoir, then the second is usually oriented. We will also start from it.

Mainland continent. Such a strait restricts land belonging to large entities. For example, the Kerch Strait. It is small in itself. It connects the Black and Azov Seas. And its edges are the mainland.

Island Island. In this case, the strait is a narrow pond, which is formed by relatively small areas of land. As an example, you can consider Bonifacio. On its banks are the islands of Sardinia and Corsica. The third type of straits, of course, is located within the borders of the continent - a small land area. For example, Mozambique. Its waters are washed on one side by Madagascar, on the other - by the African continent.

Shipping

From the point of view of use, humanity is interested in how deep the strait is. What is the advantage (moreover, with the natural flow) is convenient for ships, known since ancient times, when there were no engines. Then the seamen tried to use straits for more convenient movement. Now the captains have different tasks. They try to shorten the path, using any advantage of sea space. In this sense, the straits differ in depth (not everyone can enter the ocean liner), and also by the mode of formation. They include some artificial channels. There are two of them: Suez and Corinth. It should be noted that natural and artificial straits play a huge role in the world economy. In addition, it is known that narrow channels, mainly in the interior seas, have political significance. The one who controls them can influence the situation in the region.

Gulf and strait

What is the difference between these elements of the world ocean is far from as clear as it seems the first time. Each of them is located next to the land, can connect the seas and oceans between each other. Only a strait is a space bounded by two parts of the land, from different directions. Unlike it, the bay overlooks the vast expanses of the world's ocean a large area. That is, he is in contact with the land on one side, often with an arc. The rest of the space is poured into the waters of that formation of the world ocean that is located nearby.

Record

The longest of the Mozambique Straits is in the Indian Ocean. By itself, it is more than many seas. Its dimensions: length - 1670 km, width - 925 km. Its depth is also impressive - about 3 km.