Strait of Dover, Maritime passage between Dover, England and Calais, France
The Strait of Dover is a waterway between the English coast near Dover and the French coast near Calais, linking the North Sea to the English Channel. It spans roughly 32 kilometers and represents the narrowest point between Britain and mainland Europe.
Two major floods around 425,000 and 225,000 years ago broke through the land bridge between Britain and the mainland, creating this waterway. Since then, the passage has served as a main link between the North Sea and the Atlantic.
Numerous individuals attempt to swim across the strait each year, following a curved path from Dover to Cap Gris-Nez due to strong tidal patterns.
The waterway ranks among the world's busiest shipping routes, with strict traffic rules in place since 1977 that organize vessel movement in separate lanes. Travelers can experience the crossing by ferry or through the railway tunnel that runs beneath the seabed.
Swimmers cross this waterway each year on a curved route from Dover to Cap Gris-Nez, as tidal currents push them sideways during the attempt. Beneath the surface run three parallel concrete tunnel tubes that carry trains between England and France.
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