English Channel

It is a narrow arm of the Atlantic Ocean.  It separates the southern coast of England (part of Great Britain) from the northern coast of France.  The channel and the North Sea are connected by the Strait of Dover in the east.  The current name, “English Channel,” dates back to the 18th century. Before then, the English mostly referred to the waterway as a “Narrow Sea.” The French refer to the Channel as “la Manche” because of its sleevelike shape. It is one of the world’s busiest shipping areas, linking southern England, the United Kingdom to northern France. It accounts for up to 20% of the global maritime trade and connects the Atlantic Ocean to the North Sea.