Source: NDTV
Subject: Geography/ Mapping
Context: The Bab el-Mandab Strait, known as the Gate of Tears, faces renewed threats of closure as Yemen-based Houthi rebels escalate ballistic missile attacks amid the widening Middle East conflict.
About Bab el-Mandab Strait:
What It Is?
- The Bab el-Mandab is a strategic maritime chokepoint and one of the world’s most vital shipping lanes. It serves as the southern gateway to the Red Sea, acting as the primary link between the Indian Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea (via the Suez Canal).
Location:
- Geography: Situated between the Horn of Africa (Djibouti and Eritrea) to the southwest and the Arabian Peninsula (Yemen) to the northeast.
- Connectivity: It connects the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden and the Arabian Sea.
- Key Point: The strait is split into two channels by Perim Island; the western channel is the primary lane for large commercial vessels.
Origin of the Name:
- In Arabic, Bab el-Mandab translates to Gate of Tears. Legend attributes the name to the many people who drowned there during an ancient earthquake that separated Asia and Africa, or to the extreme danger posed by its narrow, treacherous navigation channels.
Key Features:
- Width: At its narrowest point, the strait is only about 29 kilometers (18 miles) wide, making it highly vulnerable to land-based missile attacks and naval blockades.
- Volume: It accounts for approximately 10% to 12% of global seaborne oil and natural gas shipments.
- Capacity: Over 30 million tonnes of LNG and millions of barrels of oil pass through it annually.
- Alternative Route: If blocked, ships must divert around the Cape of Good Hope (South Africa), adding roughly 4,000 to 6,000 nautical miles and 14 to 20 days to the journey.
Significance:
- It is a critical conduit for Persian Gulf oil and gas heading to Europe and North America via the Suez Canal and the SUMED pipeline.
- A massive volume of container traffic carrying consumer goods, electronics, and food between Asia and Europe relies on this passage.
