Strait of Messina

Strait of Messina Latest News

Japan’s Prime Minister emphasized bilateral cooperation in the ambitious plan to build a bridge across Italy’s Strait of Messina recently.

About Strait of Messina

• It is a narrow water body in the Mediterranean Sea in southern Italy. 
• It is an example of a strait that runs through a country. It separates mainland Italy and the island of Sicily. 
• It is named after the city of Messina, located on the northeastern tip of Sicily. 
• It is a 32 km-long strait that connects the Tyrrhenian Sea in the north with the Ionian Sea in the south. Both are parts of the larger Mediterranean Sea.  
• At its narrowest point, the strait is about 3.1 kilometers wide. 
• The strait is generally narrow and shallow, with an average depth of 90 m, and is 250 m deep at the deepest point. 
• The waters of the strait are known for strong currents, whirlpools, and tidal flows.
• The strait was greatly feared by sailors in antiquity, mainly because of the rocks and whirlpools known as Scylla and Charybdis, which were personified as female monsters in Greek mythology.  
• It has a unique marine ecosystem due to its strong water currents.
• The alternating and intense current, abundant phosphorus and nitrogen, and low water temperature support abundant and diverse species. 
• It is a migratory route used by fish and other species to access the Mediterranean Sea. 
• Every year, several bird species pass through the strait to their breeding grounds in Europe.

News: DEVD

‹ ›