English Channel

Stretch of water between England and France, leading in the west to the Atlantic Ocean, and in the east via the Strait of Dover to the North Sea; it is also known as La Manche (French ‘the sleeve’) from its shape. The Channel Tunnel, opened in 1994, runs between Folkestone, Kent, England, and Sangatte, west of Calais, France.

The English Channel is 560 km/348 mi long west–east; 27 km/17 mi wide at its narrowest (Cap Gris Nez–Dover) and 177 km/110 mi wide at its widest (Ushant–Land's End). The average depth is 40–60 m/131–197 ft, reaching 120 m/394 ft at the entrance to the Strait of Dover and as much as 180 m/590 ft at Hurds Deep, 30 km/19 mi northwest of Guernsey.

The tides are generally higher on the French coast than the English, with a double tide in areas of the English coast. Westerly winds are the most prevalent, with winter gales and year-round fogs occurring. Regular shipping services are run between Southampton and St Malo, Cherbourg, and Le Havre; between Newhaven and Dieppe; and also across the narrower Strait of Dover. The main islands are the Channel Islands and the Isle of Wight.