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{{short description|Naturally formed, narrow, typically navigable waterway that connects two larger bodies of water}}
{{for|people with the surname|Strait (surname)}}
{{redirect|Straits|the band|Dire Straits|the TV series|The Straits}}
{{more citations needed|date=June 2010}}
[[File:ISS-44 Strait of Gibraltar.jpg|thumb|upright=1.15|[[Strait of Gibraltar]]]]
{{ocean habitat topics|image=[[File:Strait.svg]]|caption=Diagrammatic map of a strait}}

A '''strait''' is a water body connecting two [[sea]]s or two water basins. While the landform generally constricts the flow, the surface water still flows, for the most part, at the same elevation on both sides and through the strait in both directions. In some straits there may be a dominant directional current through the strait. Most commonly, it is a narrowing [[Channel (geography)|channel]] that lies between two [[land mass]]es. Some straits are not navigable, for example because they are either too narrow or too shallow, or because of an unnavigable [[reef]] or [[archipelago]]. Straits are also known to be loci for sediment accumulation. Usually, sand-size deposits occur on both the two opposite strait exits, forming [[subaqueous fans]] or [[deltas]].

==Terminology==
[[File:Brändö sund 28 april 2011.jpg|thumb|upright|left|Palosaari Strait (''Brändö sund'') in [[Vaasa]], [[Finland]]]]
The terms ''[[channel (geography)|channel]]'', ''pass'', or ''passage'' can be synonymous and used interchangeably with ''strait'', although each is sometimes differentiated with varying senses. In Scotland, ''[[firth]]'' or ''Kyle'' are also sometimes used as synonyms for strait.

Many straits are economically important. Straits can be important [[shipping route]]s and [[war]]s have been fought for control of them.

Numerous artificial channels, called ''[[canal]]s'', have been constructed to connect two oceans or seas over land, such as the [[Suez Canal]]. Although [[river]]s 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 term ''strait'' is typically reserved for much larger, wider features of the [[marine (ocean)|marine]] environment. There are exceptions, with straits being called canals; [[Pearse Canal]], for example.

==Comparisons==
Straits are the converse of [[isthmus]]es. 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.

Some straits have the potential to generate significant [[tidal power]] using [[Tidal power#Tidal stream generator|tidal stream turbines]]. Tides are more predictable than [[wave power]] or [[wind power]]. The [[Pentland Firth]] (a strait) may be capable of generating 10&nbsp;[[gigawatt|GW]].<ref name= Marine> "Marine Briefing" (December 2006) Scottish Renewables Forum. Glasgow.</ref> [[Cook Strait]] in New Zealand may be capable of generating 5.6&nbsp;GW<ref name=CookStEnergy> "The Energetics of Large Tidal Turbine Arrays, Ross Vennell, 2012, preprint submitted to Royal Society, 2011." </ref> even though the total energy available in the flow is 15&nbsp;GW.<ref name=CookStPotentialPower> "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}}</ref>

==Navigational (legal) regime==
[[Straits used for international navigation]] through the territorial sea between one part of the high seas or an exclusive economic zone and another part of the [[high seas]] or an [[exclusive economic zone]] are subject to the legal regime of [[transit passage]] ([[Strait of Gibraltar]], [[Dover Strait]], [[Strait of Hormuz]]). The regime of [[innocent passage]] applies in straits used for international navigation (1) that connect a part of high seas or an exclusive economic zone with the territorial sea of a coastal nation ([[Strait of Tiran|Straits of Tiran]], [[Strait of Juan de Fuca]], [[Strait of Baltiysk]]) and (2) in straits formed by an island of a state bordering the strait and its mainland if there exists seaward of the island a route through the high seas or through an exclusive economic zone of similar convenience with respect to navigational and hydrographical characteristics ([[Strait of Messina]], [[Pentland Firth]]). There may be no suspension of innocent passage through such straits.<ref>{{cite book | last=Bugajski | first=Dariusz R. | title=Navigational rights and freedoms in the international law and practice | date=2021 | isbn=978-83-961549-1-0 | oclc=1267382284 | author-link = Dariusz Bugajski | pages = 305–308| publisher=Akademia Marynarki Wojennej }}</ref>

== See also ==
*[[List of straits]]
*[[Strait passage]]
*[[Choke point]]

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

== Bibliography ==

* Longhitano S., 2013. A facies-based depositional model for ancient and modern, tectonically–confined tidal straits. Terra Nova, 25,6, 446-452

==External links==
{{Commons category-inline|Straits}}

{{coastal geography}}

[[Category:Straits| ]]
[[Category:Coastal and oceanic landforms]]
[[Category:Bodies of water]]