In the process of studying the water world, people are faced with the nuances of determining its various elements, sometimes confusing one with the other. We are talking about such subtle concepts as a duct or strait. What is so special that distinguishes them from other water bodies? Let's get it right.
Meaning of the word strait
Let's start with the definition. We study the word strait. It is formed by the prefix and root. The latter is consonant with the word "pour". If we connect, we get a duct connecting two ponds.
That is, a jumper through which the oceans level the water level in their tanks. It is clear that nature naturally takes care to make a strait. What should happen in nature so that harmony is not broken, can be understood from experience. It is best to spend it on the beach. Make two small slides with indentations in the middle. Fill one with water. See what happens. Water will try to find a way to "ocean level", wash away the barrier and rush to the second deepening. It should only be taken into account that all this should not occur on land, but in the water column, since only small pieces of continents or islands limit the “strait”. What is happening there, in the depths of the ocean, we will consider with examples.
What are they
When classifying straits, two unambiguous characteristics are used: what is connected and what is limited. If the first sign is not so simple - the duct can be formed by one body of water, then it is customary to navigate along the second. We will also build on it.
The mainland is the mainland. Such a strait limits the lands belonging to large entities. For example, the Kerch Strait. It is small in itself. Connects the Black and Azov Seas. And its edges are continental lands.
Island-island. In this case, the strait is a narrow reservoir, which is formed by relatively small areas of land. As an example, consider Bonifacio. On its shores are the islands of Sardinia and Corsica. The third type of straits, of course, is located within the borders of the mainland - a small land area. For example, Mozambique. Its waters are washed on one side of Madagascar, on the other - the African continent.
Shipping
In terms of use, humanity is interested in how deep the strait is. What is an advantage (and even with a natural course) is convenient for ships, it has been known since ancient times when there were no engines. Then the sailors tried to use the straits for more convenient movement. Now captains have other tasks. They try to shorten the path, using any advantage of the sea. In this sense, the straits vary in depth (not everyone can enter an ocean liner), as well as in the way they are formed. These include some artificial channels. There are two of them: Suez and Corinth. It should be noted that natural and artificial straits play a huge role in the global economy.
In addition, it is known that narrow channels, mainly in inland seas, have political significance. The one who controls them can influence the situation in the region.
Bay and strait
What is the difference between these elements of the oceans is far from as clear as it seems the first time. Each of them is located near land, can connect the seas and oceans. Only the strait is a space bounded by two land areas, from different sides. In contrast, the bay overlooks the expanses of the oceans in a large area. That is, it comes into contact with the land on one side only, often with an arc. The rest of the space flows into the waters of the formation of the oceans that are located nearby.
