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Physical Geography

Strait

A strait is a narrow waterway between two landmasses that connects two larger bodies of water. Straits serving as major shipping lanes are geopolitically critical and have historically caused numerous conflicts.

Major straits: Malacca (between Malaysia and Indonesia, 25% of world trade), Hormuz (between Iran and Oman, 20% of world oil), Bosphorus (Turkey, connecting Black Sea and Mediterranean), Gibraltar (between Spain and Morocco), Dover (between UK and France).

StraitCountries on its shoresWhat to remember
MalaccaMalaysia, Indonesia, SingaporeA main artery of world trade
HormuzIran, OmanA chokepoint for the world's oil shipments
BosphorusTurkeyConnects the Black Sea and the Mediterranean
GibraltarSpain, MoroccoConnects the Atlantic and the Mediterranean
DoverUnited Kingdom, FranceSeparates the island of Britain from mainland Europe
When a strait is the clue, the number of countries on its shores is the number of candidates. Some settle the answer on their own, like the Bosphorus; others narrow it to three, like Malacca.

Has the Bosphorus means Turkey. Faces the Strait of Malacca means Malaysia, Indonesia, or Singapore.

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