The English Channel (French: la Manche; also called the British Channel or simply the Channel) is an arm of the Atlantic Ocean that separates Southern England from northern France. It links to the southern part of the North Sea by the Strait of Dover at its northeastern end.
Is the English Channel a sea?
The English Channel: La Manche
It is a shallow epicontinental sea with a maximum depth of 174 m, characterized by strong currents, presence of important gyres especially around the Channel Islands and near the capes, and a large intertidal zone which is easily accessible for professional and touristic activities.
Do British people call the ocean the sea?
They don’t. They refer to the Atlantic Ocean as “the pond” and North America as “across the pond”. Here in Australia we call the Tasman Sea “the dutch” and New Zealand as “across the dutch”.
What is the English ocean called?
| Celtic Sea | |
|---|---|
| Bathymetric map of the Celtic Sea, part of the Atlantic Ocean, and its surroundings | |
| Location | Northwestern Europe |
| Coordinates | 50°N 8°W |
| Type | Sea |
Why do British people call the ocean the pond?
Here in Britain, when we say ‘across the pond’ or ‘the other side of the pond’ we might be referring to the Atlantic Ocean and the United States. Because there’s so much contact between the two continents, we compare the ocean to a pond.
Can someone swim across the English Channel?
Today many people have swum across the English Channel – 63% of the swimmers to have completed it have been male. The latest notable crossing was Sarah Thomas of the United States. She became the first person to swim across the channel four ways non-stop in 2019 (it took 54 hours and 10 minutes).
Can we swim through English Channel?
The English Channel is the body of water separating England and France, and the 33 km (20.5-mile) swim across it is the world’s most historically significant and iconic marathon swim. The standards and traditions of Channel swimming inspired the global sport of unassisted Marathon Swimming.
Whats is the difference between a sea and an ocean?
In terms of geography, seas are smaller than oceans and are usually located where the land and ocean meet. Typically, seas are partially enclosed by land. Seas are found on the margins of the ocean and are partially enclosed by land.
What is the Old English word for sea?
mere
Old English had mere for “sea, ocean, lake, pool, pond”, encompassing both salt- and freshwater bodies. Modern English “mere” came to denote the latter type, “pool, small lake, pond”; nowadays it exists only in place names, such as Windermere.
What would the UK be called if Scotland left?
Irish independence in 1922 reduced it to the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. Subtraction of Scotland would, in theory, make it the United Kingdom of England and Northern Ireland. Thus Great Britain (GB) would cease to exist, but the United Kingdom (UK) would continue.
What are the 7 sea in the world?
The Seven Seas include the Arctic, North Atlantic, South Atlantic, North Pacific, South Pacific, Indian, and Southern oceans. The exact origin of the phrase ‘Seven Seas’ is uncertain, although there are references in ancient literature that date back thousands of years.
What are the 7 seas and 5 ocean?
Some geographers point to the Age of Discovery and suggest that the seven seas represent the Atlantic, Pacific, Arctic, and Indian Oceans, as well as the Mediterranean Sea, the Caribbean, and the Gulf of Mexico.
Which is deeper the ocean or the sea?
Generally, the ocean is much deeper than the sea even if some seas can be almost as deep as big oceans. To give you a few examples, the depth of the Channel is 174m, the one of the North Sea is 700m and for the Black Sea it is 2,212m.
What do Brits call a faucet?
ANSWER: It’s called a tap in British English and a faucet in American English.
What do British people call the floor?
In British English, the floor of a building which is level with the ground is called the ground floor. The floor above it is called the first floor, the floor above that is the second floor, and so on.
What do the British call driveways?
A driveway (also called drive in UK English) is a type of private road for local access to one or a small group of structures, and is owned and maintained by an individual or group.
Are there sharks in the English Channel?
Are there sharks in the English Channel? The short answer is NO there are no sharks…but there are jelly fish. There are lots and lots of jellyfish, so if you plan to attempt a swim just accept that you will get stung at least a few times!
How far underwater is the English Channel?
At its deepest, the tunnel is 75 meters (246 feet) below the sea level. That’s the same as 107 baguettes balancing on top of each other. The English Channel is much deeper than the tunnel, with its deepest point measuring 175 meters (574 feet) below sea level.
Do cars drive through the Chunnel?
It is not possible to drive a car or motorcycle through the Channel Tunnel. Instead, motorists must drive onto the Eurotunnel Le Shuttle train, which boards at the Channel Tunnel terminals in Folkestone and Calais.
How cold is English Channel swim?
In the English Channel the water temperature can vary from 59°F (15°C) at the end of June, increasing to 64/65°F (18°C) by the beginning of September. It is extremely important that you are accustomed to swimming in temperatures of 59°F and below comfortably before contemplating a channel swim.
How cold is the English Channel?
Surface temperatures range from 45 °F (7 °C) in February to 61 °F (16 °C) in September, although shallow coastal waters are warmer in summer. There is little temperature change with depth in the well-mixed eastern waters of the channel, but bottom-water temperatures fall to 41 °F (5 °C) in the west.