Strait of Gibraltar
The Strait of Gibraltar is a narrow strait that connects the Atlantic Ocean to the Mediterranean Sea and separates Europe from Africa. The two continents are separated by 13 kilometres (8.1 miles; 7.0 nautical miles) of ocean at the Strait's narrowest point between Punta de Tarifa in Spain and Point Cires in Morocco. Ferries cross between the two continents every day in as little as 35 minutes. The Strait's depth ranges between 300 and 900 metres (980 and 2,950 feet; 160 and 490 fathoms).
| Strait of Gibraltar | |
|---|---|
The Strait of Gibraltar as seen from space. The Iberian Peninsula is on the left and North Africa is on the right. | |
Strait of Gibraltar Location of the Strait of Gibraltar between Africa (centre right) and Europe (top right), connecting the Atlantic Ocean in the centre to the Mediterranean Sea on the right | |
| Location | Atlantic Ocean – Mediterranean Sea |
| Coordinates | 35°58′N 5°29′W |
| Type | Strait |
| Basin countries | |
| Min. width | 13 km (8.1 mi) |
| Max. depth | 900 metres (2,953 ft) |
The strait lies in the territorial waters of Morocco, Spain, and the British overseas territory of Gibraltar. Under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, foreign vessels and aircraft have the freedom of navigation and overflight to cross the strait of Gibraltar in case of continuous transit.