Key Facts about Kerch Strait

About Kerch Strait:

• The Kerch Strait is in Eastern Europe and is the only water body that connects the Black Sea with the Sea of Azov.
• The Romans called it the Strait of Cimmerian Bosphorus. In Greek, it was known as the Cimmerian strait.
• It separates the Kerch Peninsula (part of the Russian-occupied Crimean Peninsula) towards the west from the Taman Peninsula (Russia), lying in the east.
• It is about 3 km long, 15 km broad, and 18 metres deep.
• At its narrowest point, which lies at the northern end of the Chushka Landspit, it is only three to five kilometres wide.
• The city of Kerch lies near the middle of the strait, on the Crimean side. 
• It is an important global shipping route, providing passage from the Sea of Azov to the Black Sea.
• It has also been a key point of conflict between Russia and Ukraine after Mosco wannexed the peninsula from Ukraine in 2014.
• Kerch Strait Bridge:
  • Also known as the Crimean Bridge, this infrastructure links mainland Russia with Crimea.
  • Completed in 2018, it includes a road and rail connection and is the longest bridge in Europe at 19 km.
  • It is a symbol of Russia’s annexation of Crimea in 2014.

Q1: What is a Strait?

A strait is a narrow waterway between two pieces of land that connects two large bodies of water. Well-known straits include the Bering Strait, which links the Arctic Ocean with the Bering Sea and separates the continents of Asia and North America at their closest point.

News: Oil Spills Into Kerch Strait As Russian Tanker Splits Apart In Storm, 1 dead