Qiongzhou Strait

The Qiongzhou Strait

The Qiongzhou Strait (simplified Chinese: 琼州海峡; traditional Chinese: 瓊州海峽; pinyin: Qióngzhōu Hǎixiá; Hainanese: Khāng-tsiú Hái-kiap), also called the Hainan Strait, is a body of water that separates the Leizhou Peninsula in Guangdong, southern China, to the north from Hainan Island to its south. The strait connects the Gulf of Tonkin in the west to the South China Sea on the east.

Qiongzhou Strait with Leizhou Peninsula in background viewed from Haikou City, Hainan, China.

The strait is on average 30 km (19 mi) wide[1] and centered at 20°09′N 110°16′E / 20.150°N 110.267°E / 20.150; 110.267 with a maximum water depth of approximately 120 m (390 ft).[2] The strait is susceptible to closure during strong typhoon activity.[3]

Whales and dugongs were once common in the strait.

Crossings

The strait was crossed by the People's Liberation Army forces in the spring of 1950 (see Landing Operation on Hainan Island).

The Guangdong–Hainan Ferry (part of the Guangdong–Hainan Railway) carries rail cars and automotive vehicles across the strait.

A 140 billion RMB ($21 billion USD) bridge across the strait is planned to begin construction in 2012.[1] The bridge is currently designed to have levels for both trains and cars, and is expected to be 26.3 km (16.3 mi) long.[4]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 "China to bridge the Qiongzhou Strait at a cost of 140 Billion RMB (我国将在琼州海峡建首座跨海大桥 投资超1400亿)" (in Chinese). Sohu. September 1, 2010. Retrieved January 10, 2011.
  2. ↑ "The Role of Qiongzhou Strait in the Seasonal Variation of the South China Sea Circulation" (PDF). January 2002. Archived from the original (PDF) on July 20, 2011. Retrieved January 10, 2011.
  3. ↑ "Typhoon Chanthu lands on south China". Enbar.net. July 22, 2010. Retrieved August 14, 2010.
  4. ↑ "GD, Hainan planning cross-Qiongzhou straits bridge". December 25, 2008. Retrieved January 10, 2011.

Further reading


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