Difference between revisions of "English Channel"
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Image:Channel.jpg|The English Channel from the Cliff top at Tennyson Down, the Isle of Wight | Image:Channel.jpg|The English Channel from the Cliff top at Tennyson Down, the Isle of Wight | ||
| − | </gallery> 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 at its easternmost end where it joins the [[North sea]]. At this point, the UK and France are just 24 miles apart and the one is visible from the other on clear days. It is | + | </gallery> |
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| + | 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 at the Straits of Dover, at its easternmost end where it joins the [[North sea]]. At this point, the UK and France are just 24 miles apart and the one is visible from the other on clear days. | ||
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| + | 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. | ||
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| + | Principal Ports on the Channel are [[Plymouth]], [[Poole]], [[Southampton]], [[Portsmouth]], [[Folkestone]], and [[Dover]] (UK), and [[Roscoff]], [[Cherbourg]], [[Le Havre]], [[Caen]], [[Boulogne]] and [[Calais]] (France). | ||
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| + | 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 abortive historical attempts to build such a tunnel. | ||
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The [[Channel Islands]] are a British dependancy, close to the coast of [[Normandy]], France. The [[Isle of Wight]] also lies in the English Channel, seperated from the British Mainland by a narrow extension of the channel called [[The Solent]]. | The [[Channel Islands]] are a British dependancy, close to the coast of [[Normandy]], France. The [[Isle of Wight]] also lies in the English Channel, seperated from the British Mainland by a narrow extension of the channel called [[The Solent]]. | ||
Revision as of 16:10, April 11, 2007
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 at the Straits of Dover, at its easternmost end where it joins the North sea. At this point, the UK and France are just 24 miles apart and the one is visible from the other on clear days.
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).
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 abortive historical attempts to build such a tunnel.
The Channel Islands are a British dependancy, close to the coast of Normandy, France. The Isle of Wight also lies in the English Channel, seperated from the British Mainland by a narrow extension of the channel called The Solent.