Astrait is awater body connecting twoseas or water basins. The surface water is, for the most part, at the same elevation on both sides and can flow through the strait in either direction, although thetopography generally constricts the flow somewhat. In some straits, there is a dominant directional current. Most commonly, the strait is a narrowchannel that lies between twoland masses. Straits are loci for sediment accumulation, with sand-sized deposits usually occurring on the two strait exits, formingsubaqueous fans ordeltas. Some straits are not navigable because they are too narrow, too shallow, or due to the presence of areef orarchipelago.
The termschannel,pass, orpassage can be synonymous and used interchangeably withstrait, although each is sometimes differentiated with varying senses. In Scotland,firth orKyle are also sometimes used as synonyms for strait.
Many straits are economically important. Straits can be importantshipping routes andwars have been fought for control of them.
Numerous artificial channels, calledcanals, have been constructed to connect two oceans or seas over land, such as theSuez Canal. Althoughrivers and canals often provide passage between two large lakes, and these seem to suit the formal definition of strait, they are not usually referred to as such. Rivers and often canals, generally have a directional flow tied to changes in elevation, whereas straits often are free flowing in either direction or switch direction, maintaining the same elevation. The termstrait is typically reserved for much larger, wider features of themarine environment. There are exceptions, with straits being called canals;Pearse Canal, for example.
Straits are the converse ofisthmuses. That is, while a strait lies between two land masses and connects two large areas of ocean, an isthmus lies between two areas of ocean and connects two large land masses.
^"The Energetics of Large Tidal Turbine Arrays, Ross Vennell, 2012, preprint submitted to Royal Society, 2011."
^"Estimating the power potential of tidal currents and the impact of power extraction on flow speeds. Ross Vennell, 2011"doi:10.1016/j.renene.2011.05.011
