English Channel On A Map

English Channel

The Atlantic Ocean is an S-shaped ocean extending from the Arctic to Antarctica. It is located betwixt the Americas to the w and Africa and Europe to the east. The bounding main has numerous seas or artillery of varying sizes, of which 40 seas bridge at least 15,000 km². The English language Aqueduct, also known simply as "the Channel," is the Atlantic's 30th largest arm, roofing approximately 75,000 kmⁱⁱ. Information technology is one of the globe'south busiest shipping areas, linking southern England, the U.k. to northern France.

The current proper name, "English language Channel," dates back to the 18th century. Before then, the English mostly referred to the waterway as a "Narrow Sea." Still, there was no fixed proper noun for the English Aqueduct in either French or English. The current name may have been derived from the channel'due south designation as Engelse Kanaal in Dutch Sea Maps. Only the modernistic Dutch body of water map refers to it as Het Kanaal, without the mention of the word "English."

The English Channel was besides known past several other names, including British Sea, British Channel, Oceanus Britannicus (by Ptolemy), and Canalite Anglie ("English language Channel" by the Italians). The French refer to the Channel as "la Manche" because of its sleevelike shape.

Where Is The English Channel?

English Channel map — English language Channel

The English Channel is located betwixt the Island of United kingdom's southern coast and France'southward northern coast and separated from the North Sea on the north by the Strait of Dover. The Strait of Dover is the Aqueduct's narrowest indicate at only 34 km² from Cape Gris-Nez to Dover. The International Hydrographic Organisation defines the English Channel's western limit as a line running from Land'due south Terminate, England to Isle Vierge, France. The eastern limit is defined every bit the North Sea's southwestern limit. Some towns on the English Aqueduct are Calais, Dover, Isle of Wight, and the Island of Bailiwick of jersey.

Geography

Mont St. Michel, France, is an island in the English Channel.

The English Channel is a shallow waterway with a maximum depth of 174 m in the Hurd'southward Deep underwater valley and an average depth of 63 one thousand. It is 560 km long, with a varying width between 34 and 240 km at the widest point between Saint-Malo Gulf, France and Lyme Bay, England.

Several islands dot the English Aqueduct, with the major ones including the Island of Wight, Mont Saint-Michel, the Channel Islands, and Chausey. The channel has strong tides ranging from less than ane meter to over vi meters. The strongest tides are observed on Brittany's north declension, Channel Islands, and the Cotentin Peninsula'southward west coast. The central parts experience semidiurnal tides (ii highs and two lows per day), which facilitates the movement of ships at Southampton.

Earlier the end of the most recent ice age, the British Isles were joined to continental Europe, forming one big mass. Ice covered the entire British Isles and the North Bounding main, with the sea level being 120 m lower than the electric current level. Equally the ice canvas melted, a lake formed in the Doggerland area (Northward Sea'south southern office). Two catastrophic glacial lake burst floods, between 450,000 years and 180,000 years ago, breached the ice, resulting in the English Channel formation. The channel was widened further by the erosion of white cliffs, a procedure that is still ongoing.

Climate

The English Channel's climate can be described as a temperate maritime climate, with warm summers and cold winters. The channel does not experience an extreme climate, meaning that it can be visited at any fourth dimension of the twelvemonth. August is the aqueduct's warmest calendar month, while the coldest calendar month is January. However, November is the wettest month, with Dec and January being the driest months. The surface temperature varies, ranging from 45 °F in February to 61 °F in September. Annual precipitation averages 700-thousand mm. Although gales tin blow in any direction, they commonly originate from the west or southwest.

Economic Importance

Passenger ferries docked at Dover, Kent, Britain on the English language Channel.

The English Channel is the world's busiest aircraft route, serving over 500 ships daily. It accounts for up to xx% of the global maritime trade and connects the Atlantic Ocean to the North Sea. The channel serves both freight and passenger traffic. The intensity of the transport traffic and frequent accidents have led to the installation of the Dover Traffic Separation Scheme (TSS) in 1967.

Sandy beaches, favorable climate, and availability of ferry services have facilitated tourism growth on the English language Channel. Coastal areas such equally Deauville (France) and Brighton (England) have fashionable resorts dating back to the 18th and 19th centuries. Aqueduct-hopping is a popular tourism activity that involves channel crossing for leisure.

Channel Crossing

As a narrow waterway, several people accept crossed the English language Channel using various inventive technologies. Notwithstanding, numerous ferry routes connect England to French republic, of which the shortest is Dover-Calais. Several people also cross channel using an underground Channel Tunnel. The tunnel passes beneath the channel and connects the two countries by runway. Its construction began in 1974 and was opened to the public in 1994.

The aqueduct was kickoff crossed by air in 1785 past John Jeffries and Jean-Pierre Blanchard using a hot air airship. A century after, Matthew Webb became the outset person to swim across the channel, taking 21 hours and 45 minutes. On August six, 1926, Gertrude Ederle swam across the channel in 14 hours, breaking the previous record by 2 hours. She was also the beginning woman to swim across the aqueduct.