Sea · United Kingdom, France
English Channel
The English Channel is the arm of the Atlantic Ocean between Great Britain and France. It is one of the busiest waterways in the world, and at its narrowest point it is only 34 km wide.
Picture credit: Uk2108 (CC BY-SA 4.0) · W. Bulach (CC BY-SA 4.0) · Wikimedia Commons
Where is English Channel?
Part of: Atlantic Ocean.
Countries on its coasts: the United Kingdom, France.
The story behind it
The English Channel is about 560 km long. In the west it is up to about 240 km wide, but in the east, at the Strait of Dover, only 34 km of water separate England from France. The French call it La Manche, which means the sleeve, and the German name also comes from its sleeve-like shape. More than 500 ships pass through it every day, making it one of the busiest shipping areas in the world. Since 1994, trains have travelled underneath it through the Channel Tunnel. People have crossed it in many brave ways: in 1875 Matthew Webb swam across in 21 hours and 45 minutes, and in 1909 Louis Blériot flew over it in an aeroplane. The Channel Islands, such as Jersey and Guernsey, lie close to the French coast. Grey seals and harbour seals are often spotted in its waters.
Find it on the globe
English Channel is there as a name written across its water — tap the water and its card opens. From far away the planet is only a blue ball; detail arrives as you zoom in, and this one appears once you are close enough. Open it on the globe.
Questions children ask
How big is the English Channel?
The English Channel covers about 75 000 km². It is about 560 km long and between 34 km and about 240 km wide.
Can you swim across the English Channel?
Yes, but it is very hard. The first person seen to swim across without help was Matthew Webb in 1875; it took him 21 hours and 45 minutes.
Why is it called Ärmelkanal in German?
Its shape looks a bit like a sleeve, called Ärmel in German. The French name La Manche also means the sleeve.
Where these numbers come from
Every figure on this page was checked against public reference sources before publication. Where sources genuinely disagree, the text says so.
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