List of isthmuses

"Isthmus" redirects here. For other uses, see Isthmus (disambiguation).
The sandy isthmus or tombolo connecting North and South Bruny Island in Tasmania, Australia

An isthmus (/ˈɪsθməs/ or /ˈɪsməs/; plural: isthmuses; from Ancient Greek: ἰσθμός isthmos "neck") is a narrow strip of land connecting two larger land areas, usually with water on either side.[1] A tombolo is an isthmus where the strip of land consists of a spit or bar.

Canals are often built across isthmuses, where they may be a particularly advantageous short cut for marine transport. The Panama Canal crosses the Isthmus of Panama, connecting the North Atlantic and Pacific Oceans; the Suez Canal connects the Mediterranean Sea and the Indian Ocean, cutting across the western side of an isthmus formed by the Sinai Peninsula. An example in the United Kingdom is the Crinan Canal, which crosses the isthmus between Loch Crinan and Loch Gilp, which connects the Kintyre peninsula with the rest of Scotland.

A strait is the sea counterpart of isthmus.

Africa

Egypt

Americas

Argentina

British Overseas Territories

Canada

Central America

Chile

French Overseas Collectivity

Mexico

United States

Venezuela

Asia

The Suez Canal goes across the western side of the Sinai Peninsula

Europe

Black Sea

Iceland

Ireland

Mediterranean Sea

Russia

United Kingdom and British islands

Oceania

Australia

New Zealand

See also

Notes

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Isthmi.
  1. "Isthmus". Britannica.com. Retrieved 2013-09-22.
  2. "Coast to Coast Walkway". Auckland Council. Retrieved 19 December 2012.