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[[Image:Channel.jpg|thumb|The English Channel from the Cliff top at Tennyson Down, the Isle of Wight]]

[[Image:Channel.jpg|thumb|The English Channel from the Cliff top at Tennyson Down, the Isle of Wight]]

The '''English Channel''' is the name of the shallow extension of the [[Atlantic Ocean]] which separates the Island of [[Great Britain]] from [[France]] where it is referred to as 'La Manche' (meaning ''the sleeve''). It is narrowest in the east at the Straits of Dover, where it joins the [[North Sea]]. At this point, the UK and France are just 24 miles apart and on a clear day you can see right across.

The '''English Channel''' is the name of the shallow extension of the [[Atlantic Ocean]] which separates the Island of [[Great Britain]] from [[France]] where it is referred to as 'La Manche' (meaning ''the sleeve''). It is narrowest in the east at the Straits of [[Dover]], where it joins the [[North Sea]]. At this point, the UK and France are just 24 miles apart and on a clear day you can see right across.

It is the busiest shipping route in the world, and much of the sea cargo bound to and from Western and Northern [[Europe]] pass through the channel, as well as regular ferry links between the [[British Isles]] and the mainland.

It is the busiest shipping route in the world, and much of the sea cargo bound to and from Western and Northern [[Europe]] pass through the channel, as well as regular ferry links between the [[British Isles]] and the mainland.