Jamaica Channel

The northern Caribbean showing in red the location of Jamaica Channel.

The Jamaica Channel is a strait separating the islands of Jamaica and Hispaniola, in the Caribbean Sea.[1] Along with the Windward Passage to its north, it connects the Caribbean Sea to the North Atlantic Ocean. Due to its location about 1,000 kilometres (620 mi) north-east of the Panama Canal, it is a main sea lane through which vessels with Pacific Ocean destinations sailing from the eastern seaboards of the United States and Canada, as well from Europe, frequently pass.[1]

The strait is about 190 kilometres (120 mi) wide with depths of up to 1,200 metres (3,900 ft).[2]

Located in the strait about 55 kilometres (34 mi) west of Haiti is Navassa Island, an uninhabited and disputed island measuring 5.2 km².

Coordinates: 18°08′07″N 75°17′41″W / 18.135412°N 75.2948°W / 18.135412; -75.2948

References

  1. 1 2 CIA World Factbook.
  2. ↑ The Earth and the Ocean Basins, eScholarship.org.
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