Straits in News (2024–2025)

 1. Bosporus Strait

• Location: Turkey
• Connects: Black Sea → Sea of Marmara → Mediterranean Sea
• Significance: Key strategic maritime route; separates European Turkey from Asian Turkey.

2. Dardanelles Strait

• Location: Turkey
• Connects: Aegean Sea → Sea of Marmara → Black Sea (via Bosporus)
• Significance: Historically important for trade and military; part of the Turkish Straits.

3. Strait of Gibraltar

• Location: Between Spain and Morocco
• Connects: Atlantic Ocean → Mediterranean Sea
• Significance: Controls access to the Mediterranean; strategic naval chokepoint.

4. Strait of Hormuz

• Location: Between Oman and Iran
• Connects: Persian Gulf → Gulf of Oman → Arabian Sea
• Significance: Vital for global oil shipments; ~20% of world crude oil passes through it.

5. Malacca Strait

• Location: Between Peninsular Malaysia and Sumatra (Indonesia)
• Connects: Andaman Sea / Indian Ocean → South China Sea
• Significance: One of the busiest shipping lanes in the world; key trade route for East Asia.

6. Bab-el-Mandeb Strait

• Location: Between Djibouti / Eritrea and Yemen
• Connects: Red Sea → Gulf of Aden → Arabian Sea
• Significance: Strategic chokepoint for shipping between Europe/Asia and the Indian Ocean.

7. Strait of Dover

• Location: Between UK and France
• Connects: North Sea → English Channel → Atlantic Ocean
• Significance: Narrowest part of English Channel; major European shipping route.

8. Taiwan Strait

• Location: Between Taiwan and Mainland China
• Connects: East China Sea → South China Sea
• Significance: Strategic for regional trade and military; separates Taiwan from China.

9. Palk Strait

• Location: Between India (Tamil Nadu) and Sri Lanka
• Connects: Bay of Bengal → Gulf of Mannar
• Significance: Shallow waterway; historically used for fishing and trade.

10. Tsugaru Strait

• Location: Between Honshu and Hokkaido (Japan)
• Connects: Sea of Japan → Pacific Ocean
• Significance: Key domestic shipping route in Japan; separates major Japanese islands.