English Channel
The English Channel is a body of water that separates the island of Great Britain from the rest of Europe. People who live in the UK and want to visit Europe, or people from Europe who want to visit the UK, can take a ferry across or ride a train under the channel in a special tunnel called the Channel Tunnel (nicknamed the Chunnel). Both the ferries and trains carry cars. It is 563 km long, 246 km wide, and its narrowest part (34 km) is the Strait of Dover. On a clear day, it is possible to see the cliffs of Dover from Calais on the French side.
In 1875, Matthew Webb became the first known person to swim the English Channel, crossing it in just under 22 hours. The first woman to do this was Gertrude Ederle. In 2004, over 600 people were recorded making the crossing. The fastest time was achieved by Bulgarian swimmer Peter Stoychev in 2007, who managed it in 7 hours. Recently, officials have outlawed swimming in the English Channel.
In France, it is known as La manche (The Sleeve).
English Channel Media
Satellite image of the English Channel
The Strait of Dover between England and France is the narrowest part of the English Channel, which separates Great Britain from continental Europe, and marks the boundary between the Channel and the North Sea.
Osborne House, the summer retreat of Queen Victoria on the Isle of Wight. Starting from the late 18th century, settlements on and around the English Channel coastline in England grew rapidly into thriving seaside resorts, bolstered by their association with royalty and the middle and upper classes.
Map of the channel area with French nomenclature
Map of the English Channel
The Strait of Dover viewed from France, looking towards England. The white cliffs of Dover on the English coast are visible from France on a clear day.
Europe during the Last Glacial Maximum ca. 20,000 years ago
The approximate extent of Old Norse and related languages in the early 10th century around the North Sea. Old West Norse Old East Norse other Germanic languages with which Old Norse still retained some mutual intelligibility
The Hermitage of St Helier lies in the bay off Saint Helier and is accessible on foot at low tide.
Other websites
Media related to English Channel at Wikimedia Commons
This short article about a place or feature can be made longer. You can help Wikipedia by adding to it.