A strait is a narrow waterway between two lands, which two connects two major waters (seas/oceans). A strait is geographically important, as hundreds of vessels pass through the strait daily. Straits are also important because of their being shortest sea routes. Here is a list of the world’s straits, and their geographical and navigational importance as well.
Malacca Strait
The Malacca Strait is 800 kilometer long, but narrow (2.5km) water channel, that links Andaman Sea (Indian Ocean) with the South China Sea (Pacific Ocean). It is located between lands of Sumatra (Indonesia) and Malaysia. It is one of the world’s most important, and busiest shipping lanes, carrying over 30% of global maritime trade and roughly 70–80% of China’s and Japan’s energy imports, it is a vital global chokepoint facilitating enormous economic traffic. This strait is of particular importance for China and Japan. If it is blocked, rerouting ships through the Sunda or Lombok straits would be immensely costly and time-consuming, significantly increasing shipping costs and times.
Strait of Gibraltar
Connects the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea; between Spain and Morocco.
Strait of Hormuz
Connects the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman, between Iran and Oman.
Bering Strait
Connects the Arctic Ocean and the Bering Sea (Pacific Ocean); between Alaska and Russia.
Sunda Strait
Connects the Java Sea and the Indian Ocean; between Indonesian islands of Java and Sumatra.
Bab-el-Mandeb
Connects the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden; between Yemen and Djibouti.
Taiwan Strait (Formosa)
Connects the South China Sea and East China Sea; between China and Taiwan.
English Channel/Dover Strait
Connects the Atlantic Ocean and the North Sea; between England and France.
Palk Strait
Connects the Palk Bay and the Bay of Bengal; between India and Sri Lanka.
Bass Strait
Connects the Tasman Sea and the Southern Ocean; separates Australia from Tasmania.
Bosphorus Strait
Connects the Black Sea and the Sea of Marmara (Turkey).
Dardanelles Strait
Connects the Marmara Sea and the Aegean Sea (Turkey).
Mozambique Strait
Located in the Indian Ocean (Mozambique – Madagascar).
Yucatan Strait
Connects the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean Sea (Mexico-Cuba).
Magellan Strait
Connects the Pacific and South Atlantic Ocean (Chile).
Tsugaru Strait
Connects the Japan Sea and the Pacific Ocean (Japan)