Straits are narrow, naturally formed waterways that connect two larger water bodies while separating two landmasses. They play a vital role in international trade, naval strategy, and geopolitics.
From the Strait of Hormuz — a lifeline for global oil supply — to the Strait of Malacca — one of the busiest shipping routes in the world — straits hold immense geographical and economic value.
This article presents a comprehensive list of the major straits of the world, highlighting the landmasses they separate, the water bodies they connect, their significance, key facts, and includes a free downloadable PDF map.
Note: A channel is generally wider than a strait and may even be man-made, whereas straits are naturally narrow passages.
List of Major Straits of the World
The following table presents the list of the world’s major straits and channels, along with the landmasses they separate and the water bodies they connect:
| Strait | Landmasses Separated | Water Bodies Connected |
|---|---|---|
| Hormuz Strait | Iran and Oman | Gulf of Oman and Persian Gulf |
| Bab-el-Mandeb Strait | Djibouti, Yemen, Eritrea | Gulf of Aden and Red Sea |
| Strait of Malacca | Malaysia and Sumatra(Indonesia) | Andaman Sea (Indian Ocean) and South China Sea (Pacific Ocean) |
| Strait of Gibraltar | Spain and Morocco | Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea |
| Bering Strait | Russia and USA | Arctic Ocean and Pacific Ocean |
| Palk Strait | India and Sri Lanka | Bay of Bengal and Palk Bay |
| Sunda Strait | Java Island and Sumatra Island of Indonesia | Java Sea and Indian Ocean |
| Florida Strait | USA and Cuba | Gulf of Mexico and Atlantic Ocean |
| Yucatán Channel | Mexico and Cuba | Caribbean Sea and Gulf of Mexico |
| Jamaica Channel | Jamaica and Hispaniola | Caribbean Sea and Atlantic Ocean |
| Davis Strait | Greenland and Canada | Baffin Bay and Labrador Sea |
| Hudson Strait | Baffin Island (Canada) and Quebec (Canada) | Hudson Bay and Labrador Sea |
| North Channel | Northern Ireland (UK) and Scotland (UK) | Irish Sea and Atlantic Ocean |
| English Channel | Great Britain (England) and France | North Sea and Atlantic Ocean |
| Strait of Bonifacio | Corsica (France) and Sardinia (Italy) | Tyrrhenian Sea and Mediterranean Sea |
| Denmark Strait | Greenland and Iceland | Arctic Ocean and Atlantic Ocean |
| Dover Strait | Great Britain and France | North Sea and English Channel |
| Kerch Strait | Crimea and mainland Russia | Sea of Azov and Black Sea |
| Messina Strait | Sicily (Italy) and the Italian mainland | Tyrrhenian Sea and Ionian Sea |
| Strait of Otranto | Italy and Albania | Ionian Sea and Adriatic Sea |
| Bosphorus Strait | Europe (Türkiye) and Asia (Türkiye)** | Black Sea and Sea of Marmara |
| Dardanelles Strait | Europe (Türkiye) and Asia (Türkiye)** | Aegean Sea and Sea of Marmara |
| Mozambique Channel | Mozambique and Madagascar | Indian Ocean and Mozambique Basin |
| Bass Strait | Victoria (Australia) and Tasmania (Australia) | Tasman Sea and Great Australian Bight |
| Cook Strait | New Zealand’s North Island and South Island | Tasman Sea and Pacific Ocean |
| Torres Strait | Australia and Papua New Guinea | Arafura Sea and Coral Sea |
| Makassar Strait | Borneo (Indonesia) and Sulawesi (Indonesia) | Celebes Sea and Java Sea |
| Ten Degree Channel | Little Andaman and Car Nicobar | Andaman Sea and Bay of Bengal |
| Taiwan Strait | Taiwan and China (Fujian Province) | East China Sea and South China Sea |
| Korea Strait | South Korea and Japan | East China Sea and Sea of Japan |
| Tsugaru Strait | Honshu (Japan) and Hokkaido (Japan) | Sea of Japan and Pacific Ocean |
| Strait of Tartary | Sakhalin Island (Russia) and mainland Russia | Sea of Japan and Sea of Okhotsk |
| Strait of Magellan | Mainland South America (Chile) and Tierra del Fuego (Chile and Argentina) | Atlantic Ocean and Pacific Ocean |
**Note: A small part of Türkiye (East Thrace) lies in the continent of Europe, while the rest lies in the continent of Asia.
Major Straits and Their Significance and Key Facts
1. Strait of Hormuz
- Connects the Persian Gulf with the Gulf of Oman.
- Separates Iran on the north from Oman on the south.
- Around 20–30% of global oil trade passes through this strait, making it the world’s most critical chokepoint for energy supplies.
- Any blockade could cause a global energy crisis.
- Frequent Iran–U.S. tensions and incidents of tanker seizures highlight its geopolitical sensitivity.
2. Strait of Malacca
- Connects the Andaman Sea (Indian Ocean) with the South China Sea (Pacific Ocean).
- Separates the Malay Peninsula (Malaysia) from Sumatra (Indonesia).
- One of the busiest shipping lanes, carrying about 25% of global traded goods.
- Strategic chokepoint often cited in discussions of regional security.
- Termed China’s “Malacca Dilemma” due to heavy reliance for energy imports.
- Piracy and smuggling threats continue, though joint patrols have improved security.
3. Strait of Gibraltar
- Connects the Atlantic Ocean with the Mediterranean Sea.
- Separates southern Spain (Europe) from northern Morocco (Africa).
- Strategic for trade between Europe, Africa, and Asia.
- NATO and EU keep strong surveillance here due to its role in European energy imports.
- Rising illegal migration from North Africa to Europe makes it a humanitarian and political hotspot.
4. Bab-el-Mandeb Strait
- Links the Red Sea with the Gulf of Aden and Arabian Sea.
- Separates Yemen on the Arabian Peninsula from Djibouti and Eritrea in Africa.
- Crucial for ships using the Suez Canal route.
- Key part of the Suez Canal route, connecting Europe with Asia.
- Yemen conflict and Houthi attacks on vessels (2023–25) threaten global supply chains.
5. Bosphorus & Dardanelles (Turkish Straits)
- The Bosphorus & Dardanelles straits are together called the Turkish Straits.
- They connect the Black Sea to the Mediterranean Sea via the Sea of Marmara.
- Vital for Russia, Ukraine, and other Black Sea nations for trade and energy exports.
- Governed by the Montreux Convention (1936), regulating passage of naval ships.
- During the Russia–Ukraine war (since 2022), Türkiye restricted passage of certain warships through these straits.
6. Sunda Strait
- Connects the Java Sea with the Indian Ocean.
- Separates the islands of Java and Sumatra in Indonesia.
- The strait contains several islands, the most famous being Krakatoa (Krakatau), site of the catastrophic 1883 volcanic eruption.
- Known for shallow depths, strong currents, and volcanic hazards.
7. Palk Strait
- Connects the Bay of Bengal with the Palk Bay.
- Extends between Pamban Island (Tamil Nadu, India) and Talaimannar (Northern Province, Sri Lanka).
- Contains several islands and reef shoals, collectively called Ram Setu or Adam’s Bridge.
- As per the epic Ramayana, Ram Setu was built by Rama’s vanara army to rescue Sita from Ravana.
- Shallow waters (around 9–13 m) and reefs make it unsuitable for large ships; only fishing boats and small craft can navigate.
- The island of Rameswaram (India) is linked to the Indian mainland by the New Pamban Bridge, opened in April 2025.
- The New Pamban Bridge replaced the Old Pamban Bridge, which had opened in 1914 and was permanently shut down in December 2022 due to safety concerns.
- Rich in fishing resources, but also the center of frequent India–Sri Lanka fishermen disputes.
- Strategically important for security, cultural heritage, and proposed Sethusamudram Shipping Canal Project.
8. Bering Strait
- Connects the Arctic Ocean with the Pacific Ocean.
- Separates Russia from Alaska (USA).
- Contains two small islands — Diomede Islands (Big Diomede in Russia, Little Diomede in the USA) separated by the International Date Line.
- Strategically important today for Arctic navigation, military presence, and resource access.
- Faces climate change concerns, as melting Arctic ice is opening new shipping routes like the Northern Sea Route.
9. English Channel & Dover Strait
- The English Channel separates southern England from northern France and links the North Sea to the Atlantic Ocean.
- About 560 km long and 240 km wide at its broadest point.
- Narrowest part is the Dover Strait, only 33 km wide, between Dover (England) and Calais (France).
- One of the world’s busiest shipping lanes, vital for European and global trade.
- The Channel Tunnel (Eurotunnel), opened in 1994, connects Folkestone (UK) to Coquelles (France) beneath the Dover Strait.
- Rich in marine biodiversity and supports fishing industries along both coasts.
- Remains geopolitically significant due to Brexit-related trade routes, migration issues, and maritime security.
10. Taiwan Strait
- Separates China (Fujian Province) and Taiwan.
- Connects the East China Sea with the South China Sea.
- Strategically critical as a major international shipping lane and for military presence in the region.
- Rising China–Taiwan tensions and U.S. naval patrols keep it in global news.
