42:
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432:(an alternative name for this strait) about 425,000 years ago. A narrow deep channel along the middle of the strait is the remnants of the main (summer) outflow of the northern Ustrom glacial lake (a collect for other then-seasonal rivers, in winter iced up, such as the Thames and Weser) in the
510:
in the USA. A further update in 2017 attributed a series of previously described underwater holes in the
Channel floor, "100m deep" and in places "several kilometres in diameter", to lake water plunging over a rock ridge causing isolated depressions or
477:
Likewise, a 2007 study concluded that the Strait was formed by erosion caused by two major floods. The first was about 425,000 years ago, when an ice-dammed lake in the southern North Sea overflowed and broke the
1276:
552:
The depth of the strait varies between 68 m (223 ft) at the
Lobourg strait and 20 m (66 ft) at the highest banks. The seabed forms successions of three habitats:
908:
378:. Though pitted by troughs and rivers, the English Channel was almost mainly land at the height of the last ice age. The predominant geology of both and of the seafloor is
522:
The
Lobourg strait, the deepest part the strait, runs its 6 km (4 mi)wide slash on a NNE–SSW axis. Nearer to the French coast than to the English, it borders the
428:, created a vast lake behind the dam, which eventually spilled over the Weald into the English Channel. This overflow followed by further scouring became recognisably the
261:
On a clear day, it is possible to see the opposite coastline of
England from France and vice versa with the naked eye, with the most famous and obvious sight being the
956:
Gupta, Sanjeev; Collier, Jenny S.; Palmer-Felgate, Andy; Potter, Graeme (2007). "Catastrophic
Flooding Origin of Shelf Valley Systems in the English Channel".
296:
passes through the Strait of Dover, rather than taking the longer and more dangerous route around the north of
Scotland. The strait is one of the busiest
354:
Map showing the hypothetical extent of
Doggerland (c. 10,000 BCE), which provided a land bridge between Great Britain and continental Europe
573:
and deep, calm pockets where many species can find shelter. In these calmer lee zones, the water is clearer than in the rest of the strait; thus
255:
464:
in the last glaciation (of over 300,000 years) is a necessary pre-condition for the relatively late cutting through of the Strait to the south.
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to the strait. Moreover, this is a transition zone for the species of the
Atlantic Ocean and those of the southern part of the North Sea.
80:
1331:
912:
832:
Glegg, G; Jefferson, R; Fletcher, S (30 June 2015). Sheppard, Charles; Galgani, Francois; Hutchings, Pat; Quintino, Victor (eds.).
494:
distributary supports). In a second flood about 225,000 years ago supported by glaciers extending from areas then land such as the
1178:
883:
Van Dyke, Jon M. (2009). "Transit
Passage Through International Strait". In Chircop, Aldo; McDorman, Ted; Rolstons, Susan (eds.).
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can grow despite the 46 m (151 ft) average depth. They help increase diversity in the local species – some of which are
1341:
498:, the Meuse and Rhine were ice-dammed into a lake that broke catastrophically through a high weak barrier (perhaps chalk, or an
335:
now provides an alternative route, crossing beneath the strait at an average depth of 45 m (148 ft) below the seabed.
934:
1346:
482:(Boulonnais) chalk range in a catastrophic erosion and flood event. Consequently the ice-age-muted flows from the Thames and
409:) flows northeast into the North Sea as the sea (covering most of the Netherlands) fell during the start of the first of the
265:
from the French coastline and shoreline buildings on both coastlines, as well as lights on either coastline at night, as in
682:", there were reports of severe winter ice in the English Channel and Strait of Dover, including a case in 1684 of only a
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left by the ice sheet). Both floods cut massive flood channels in the dry bed of the
English Channel, somewhat like the
892:
786:
628:, and the Lobourg channel which provides calmer and clearer waters due to its depth reaching 68 m (223 ft).
594:, a 10–20 m (33–66 ft) deep rocky shoal, partially sand-capped,15 nmi (28 km; 17 mi) west of
570:
315:
In addition to the intensive north-east to south-west traffic, the strait is crossed from north-west to south-east by
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526:(shoals) where it plunges to 68 m (223 ft) and further south, the Ridge bank (shoals) (French name "
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in the world, used by over 400 commercial vessels daily. This has made traffic safety a critical issue, with
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214:. The shortest distance across the strait, at approximately 20 miles (32 kilometres), is from the
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The strong tidal currents of the strait at depth slow around its rocky masses as these stimulate
1156:[The Ridens, Rocky Shallows in the Center of the Channel: A Distinguished Settlement].
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382:. Although somewhat resistant to erosion, erosion of both coasts has created the famous
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834:"Marine Governance in the English Channel (La Manche): Linking Science and Management"
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806:(Illustrated ed.). Springer Science & Business Media. p. 95 & 102.
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Many crossings other than in conventional vessels have been attempted, including by
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was bored through solid chalk – compacted remains of sea creatures and marine-
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331:. Until 1994 these provided the only route across it except for air transport. The
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and Rhine still flowed without any significant link to the inlet (such as today's
1154:"Les Ridens, haut-fond rocheux isolé du Pas de Calais: un peuplement remarquable"
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The World of Wonders: A Record of Things Wonderful in Nature, Science, and Art
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Thus some 682 km (263 sq mi) of the strait is classified as a
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maintaining a 24-hour watch over the strait and enforcing a strict regime of
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The town of Dover gives its name to one of the sea areas of the British
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Most maritime traffic between the Atlantic Ocean and the North Sea and
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This mix of various environments promotes a wide variety of wildlife.
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View from France across the Strait of Dover towards the English coast
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rocky zones relatively deserted by ships wanting to spare their nets
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International Straits: Concept, Classification and Rules of Passage
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allows vessels of other nations to move freely through the strait.
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1185:(in French). Picardy Estuaries and Opal Sea Marine Natural Park.
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flowed through the gap into the English Channel/Inlet, but the
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northward course of the Urstrom-Thames when it also drained
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781:(3rd ed.). Cambridge University Press. p. 1080.
242:. Between these points lies the most popular route for
1292:
Depth Chart showing straits and former course of Rhine
831:
530:") with a maximum depth of 62 m (203 ft).
909:"The Channel Navigation Information Service (CNIS)"
638:
English Channel § History of Channel crossings
202:, marking the boundary between the Channel and the
27:
Strait at the narrowest part of the English Channel
1063:"Evidence of Ancient 'Geological Brexit' Revealed"
686:of open water remaining between Dover and Calais.
515:. The melting ice and rising sea levels submerged
362:. It had for many millennia (since the last warm
250:of France and the United Kingdom, but a right of
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1189:
1173:
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624:of Varne, Colbart, Vergoyer and Bassurelle, the
358:The formation of strait was through scouring by
73:
1197:"Ridens et dunes hydrauliques du Pas de Calais"
777:Crystal, David, ed. (1999). "English Channel".
256:United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea
1151:
420:to Scotland, and the Rhine, combined with the
1246:: 219. 16 March 1861 – via archive.org.
1168:
288:display showing traffic in the strait in 2006
801:
670:, most such crossings originate in England.
1262:. London: Cassel Petter & Galpin. 1869.
416:. The new ice unusually created a dam from
1282:Channel Swimming & Piloting Federation
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1143:
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398:, ground up calciferous rock/soil debris.
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620:of the Dover Strait). This includes the
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1277:Channel Navigation Information Service
614:et dunes hydrauliques du Pas de Calais
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678:In the late 17th century during the "
366:) been a land bridge that linked the
185:
1110:"CoastView – What happens offshore?"
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631:
927:"English Channel | channel, Europe"
885:The Future of Ocean Regime-Building
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276:
24:
887:. Brill (1618). pp. 175–232.
598:, boasts the highest profusion of
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246:. The entire strait is within the
25:
1358:
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1152:Davoult, D.; Richard, A. (1988).
937:from the original on 3 April 2017
1128:"Underwater video of the ridens"
1009:Gibbard, Philip (19 July 2007).
779:Cambridge Paperback Encyclopedia
1250:
1228:
1203:
1120:
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1051:
851:10.1016/j.marpolbul.2015.02.020
286:Automatic Identification System
1342:Straits of Metropolitan France
1181:[Richness of the sea]
1092:"Pas de Calais – Dover Strait"
1002:
949:
919:
901:
770:
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448:. The deep sea floor east of
13:
1:
802:López Martín, Ana G. (2010).
701:Battle of Dover Strait (1917)
696:Battle of Dover Strait (1916)
198:at the narrowest part of the
1347:Landforms of Hauts-de-France
1332:France–United Kingdom border
1287:Channel Swimming Association
7:
1211:"The Great Frost of 1683-4"
689:
548:satellite image, March 2001
10:
1363:
1158:Cahiers de Biologie Marine
744:Historically known as the
666:bans many of them, unlike
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424:and drainage from much of
1199:(in French). Natura 2000.
838:Marine Pollution Bulletin
711:South Foreland Lighthouse
222:in the English county of
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72:
57:
39:
34:
761:[ˈnʌuvɑŋkaːˈlɛː]
731:
726:Port of Boulogne-sur-Mer
370:in Great Britain to the
1116:. University of Sussex.
931:Encyclopædia Britannica
160:68 m (223 ft)
1215:www.pastpresented.info
753:
673:
609:protection zone named
549:
474:
355:
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244:cross-channel swimmers
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1337:International straits
1179:"Richesses de la mer"
658:and more commonly by
636:Further information:
541:
470:
384:white cliffs of Dover
353:
298:international seaways
284:
263:White Cliffs of Dover
183:French pronunciation:
144:20 miles (32 km)
757:Dutch pronunciation:
471:NASA Satellite image
456:, connecting to the
346:Geological formation
306:Maritime Gendarmerie
187:[pɑd(ə)kalɛ]
152:150 feet (46 m)
1322:Port of Dover, Kent
1236:"Notes and Queries"
1027:2007Natur.448..259G
1011:"Europe Cut Adrift"
980:10.1038/nature06018
972:2007Natur.448..342G
915:on 17 October 2007.
764:or the lesser used
504:Channeled Scablands
92: /
1312:Straits of England
656:amphibious vehicle
626:Ridens de Boulogne
550:
475:
386:in the UK and the
356:
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248:territorial waters
212:continental Europe
1317:Landforms of Kent
1242:. Second Series.
1240:Notes and Queries
1071:& Environment
706:Calais Lighthouse
632:Unusual crossings
622:sub-aqueous dunes
618:sub-aqueous dunes
563:sub-aqueous dunes
340:Shipping Forecast
230:, a cape near to
206:, and separating
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16:(Redirected from
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1061:(4 April 2017).
1059:Morelle, Rebecca
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1021:(7151): 259–60.
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277:Shipping traffic
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571:countercurrents
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218:, northeast of
200:English Channel
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1164:(1): 93–107.
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1096:sea-seek.com
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1074:. Retrieved
1069:News:Science
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939:. Retrieved
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508:Wabash River
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450:Lincolnshire
434:last Ice Age
429:
426:north Europe
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364:interglacial
357:
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228:Cap Gris Nez
191:
172:Dover Strait
171:
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35:Dover Strait
29:
18:Dover Strait
668:English law
607:Natura 2000
592:de Boulogne
559:sandy flats
500:end-moraine
438:East Anglia
418:Scandinavia
411:Pleistocene
271:Dover Beach
236:département
99: /
74:Coordinates
1301:Categories
664:French law
517:Doggerland
446:Doggerland
442:preglacial
372:Boulonnais
294:Baltic Sea
254:under the
157:Max. depth
141:Min. width
496:Zuiderzee
396:deposited
269:'s poem "
204:North Sea
194:) is the
62:North Sea
1220:20 March
1045:17637645
988:17637667
935:Archived
870:25819447
690:See also
662:. Since
660:swimming
596:Boulogne
460:via the
458:Atlantic
414:Ice Ages
405:(as the
319:linking
304:and the
58:Location
1132:YouTube
1076:6 April
1023:Bibcode
996:4408290
968:Bibcode
652:bathtub
648:jetpack
579:endemic
528:Colbart
506:or the
484:Scheldt
407:Urstrom
374:in the
360:erosion
329:Dunkirk
317:ferries
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