In this blog we are going to tell you about Differentiate Between Gulf and Strait, so read this blog carefully to get the complete information.
The Gulf and Strait have been recognized as geographical features on the surface of the earth. Both Gulf and Strait are a part of the water body but they differ in meaning. Gulf refers to an inlet within the sea which is quite deep with a narrow opening. It can be in different shapes and deepness sizes. On the other hand, Strait refers to a narrow waterway that acts as a connector with a large water body. It is like a link between two watersheds and is generally due to tectonic shifts. Let’s us understand more about Gulf and Strait in detail along with the main differences between these two geographical features.
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What is the Gulf?
The gulf is a large indentation of the coast which generally refers to the re-entrant of the ocean. These geologic structures are made of different structures, sizes, configurations, and other factors. Depending on the size difference, the gulf is known by different names including bay, firths, fjord, and bights. In contrast to this, many concavities within the ocean do not have any name as ocean currents create many geologic structures. Different geological structures such as bay or bight are recognized as gulf because they have similar features to the gulf. For example, the Marmara Sea and Azov Sea are very small so they are considered gulfs as they are part of the ocean and seas. Similarly in India, the Gulf of Aden is a part of the Arabian Sea. The Red Sea is also very large and contains huge geomorphic structures so from the Red Sea small gulfs are formed including Suez and Aqaba. In addition to this, the Bay of Bengal in the east and the Arabian Sea in the West are Gulf that works on the same water circulation mechanism. All the water bodies are usually formed from forces of nature such as tides, precipitation, and others. This is the reason the length and shape cannot be defined in particular terms because they vary in different regions.
What is Strait?
Strait may be made from isthmus fracture which is narrow in shape and acts as a connector between water bodies. It is considered that the movements of tectonic plates lead to the creation of straits. For instance, the strait of Gibraltar is created from African tectonic activities. So it is known as a breakdown of the Gibraltar isthmus. However human activities may also lead to the creation of straits which are known as canals. These are used for directing water flow for domestic and commercial consumption so that people can easily use the water from the canal. One such strait was built in 1869 and is named as Suez canal. It is a watershed which is built between the Mediterranean And The Red Sea. At that time it was made for trading purposes but now it functions as a water link between European and Asian regions. It reduces the time as without a watershed a person will need to pass the African region for transport commodities. Therefore some straits are helpful in economic activities. In addition to this, some straits are also formed from overflowing water bodies and subsiding lands and erosion also leads to the formation of straits. Overall straits are considered important strategies as it helps control the shipping routes of the countries.
Main Differences between Gulf and Strait
The following are the main differences between Gulf and Strait as mentioned below:
- The Gulf is a sea portion that penetrates within the land whereas Straits are narrow watersheds that work as a connector between two huge water bodies.
- The Gulf connects both land and sea while the Strait connects water bodies only.
- The Gulf is usually formed naturally but the Strait is mainly man-made like canals.
- The Gulf is very helpful for harboring ships while the Strait is very small and cannot be used for harboring purposes.
- The Gulf is sometimes considered a large bay while the straits are very narrow and are used as canals.
The bottom line
Both Gulf and Strait are important geological structures that are formed from biological activities. You can identify the difference between them through their size, shape, and depth along with other features. Both can be man-made and natural and are used for economic purposes. In short, the Gulf is a sea portion that penetrates the land mass whereas straits are surrounded by ocean on all sides. Another major difference is that the Gulf has a narrow opening whereas the straight is narrow completely in shape and size. The gulf of Mexico is the largest Gulf that is used for recreational activities while the Suez Canal is the largest man-made strait that is used for trading and transportation purposes. We hope that this article was helpful and you understood what the gulf and strait are along with the major differences between them.
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Conclusion
We Hope this blog is sufficient enough to provide the information about Differentiate Between Gulf and Strait. Thanks for reading this blog.