MAJOR STRAITS AND ISTHMUS OF THE WORLD

STRAIT: Narrow body of water connecting two water bodies
ISTHMUS: Narrow strip of land connecting two land masses.

IMPORTANT STRAITS AND ISTHMUS OF THE WORLD

SIGNIFICANCE

Straits:
Shortcut Routes: Straits provide shorter maritime routes, reducing distance and travel time, thus saving costs and increasing efficiency in international trade.
Example: The Strait of Hormuz connects the Persian Gulf with the Arabian Sea, making it a vital route for global oil trade.

Nodal Points:
They are critical nodes in global shipping, with significant volumes of global maritime traffic passing through them.
Example: Nearly 30% of the world’s shipping trade volume passes through the South China Sea and the Strait of Malacca.