Facts for Prelims (FFP)
Source: TH
Context: Explosions were reported near a cargo ship in the Bab el-Mandeb Strait on January 2, according to the UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO). The ship was travelling between the coasts of Eritrea and Yemen.
What is a Strait?
A strait is a narrow, naturally formed waterway that connects two larger bodies of water, typically seas or oceans. They can be formed by a variety of geological processes, such as tectonic activity, erosion, or the submersion of land.
The Strait of Bab el-Mandeb is a crucial maritime chokepoint, connecting the Red Sea with the Gulf of Aden and the Indian Ocean.
Important Straits of the World are:
| Strait | Connecting Water Bodies |
| Strait of Gibraltar | Mediterranean Sea and Atlantic Ocean |
| Bosporus Strait | Black Sea and Sea of Marmara |
| Strait of Hormuz | Persian Gulf and Gulf of Oman |
| Malacca Strait | The Andaman Sea and South China Sea |
| Bab el-Mandeb Strait | Red Sea and Gulf of Aden |
| English Channel | North Sea and English Channel |
| Taiwan Strait | East China Sea and South China Sea |
| Cook Strait | Tasman Sea and Pacific Ocean |
| Torres Strait | Coral Sea and Arafura Sea |
| Davis Strait | Baffin Bay and Labrador Sea |
| Palk Strait | Bay of Bengal and Gulf of Mannar |
