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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''' (Spanish: El Canal de la Mancha) 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''' (Spanish: El Canal de la Mancha) 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 [[United Kingdom|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.

Principal Ports on the Channel are [[Plymouth]], [[Poole]], [[Southampton]], [[Portsmouth]], [[Folkestone]], and [[Dover]] (UK), and [[Roscoff]], [[Cherbourg]], [[Le Havre]], [[Caen]], [[Boulogne]] and [[Calais]] (France).

Principal ports on the Channel are [[Plymouth]], [[Poole]], [[Southampton]], [[Portsmouth]], [[Folkestone]], and [[Dover]] (UK), and [[Roscoff]], [[Cherbourg]], [[Le Havre]], [[Caen]], [[Boulogne]] and [[Calais]] (France).

In 1994, the 31-mile [[Channel Tunnel]], connecting England and France by rail beneath the Channel was completed. There had been a number of previous failed attempts to build such a tunnel throughout history.

In 1994, the 31-mile [[Channel Tunnel]], connecting England and France by rail beneath the Channel, was completed. There had been a number of previous failed attempts to build such a tunnel throughout history.

The [[Channel Islands]] are a British [[dependency]], close to the coast of [[Normandy]], France. The [[Isle of Wight]] also lies in the English Channel, separated from the British Mainland by a narrow extension of the channel called [[The Solent]].

The [[Channel Islands]] are a British [[dependency]], close to the coast of [[Normandy]], France. The [[Isle of Wight]] also lies in the English Channel, separated from the British Mainland by a narrow extension of the channel called [[The Solent]].

[[File:English Channel Canal Mancha NASA WC PD.jpg|500px]]

[[File:English Channel Canal Mancha NASA WC PD.jpg|500px]]

[[Category:Bodies of Water]]

[[Category:Bodies of Water]]