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ENGLISH CHANNEL

5th January, 2024

ENGLISH CHANNEL

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Context

  • The U.K. is not sufficiently coordinating with France in efforts to reduce the number of migrants crossing the English Channel in small boats, according to a French report that points to the “uncertain effectiveness” of illegal migration policies.

About English Channel

  • The English Channel, also known as 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. It is the busiest shipping area in the world.
  • It is about 560 kilometres (300 nautical miles; 350 statute miles) long and varies in width from 240 km (130 nmi; 150 mi) at its widest to 34 km (18 nmi; 21 mi) at its narrowest in the Strait of Dover.
  • It is the smallest of the shallow seas around the continental shelf of Europe, covering an area of some 75,000 square kilometres (22,000 square nautical miles; 29,000 square miles).
  • The Channel was a key factor in Britain becoming a naval superpower and has been utilised by Britain as a natural defence mechanism to halt attempted invasions, such as in the Napoleonic Wars and in the Second World War.
  • The population around the English Channel is predominantly located on the English coast and the major languages spoken in this region are English and French.

Key Facts about North Sea

  • The North Sea lies between Great Britain, Denmark, Norway, Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium and France.
  • An epeiric sea on the European continental shelf, it connects to the Atlantic Ocean through the English Channel in the south and the Norwegian Sea in the north.
  • It is more than 970 kilometres long.
  • It hosts key north European shipping lanes and is a major fishery.
  • The coast is a popular destination for recreation and tourism in bordering countries, and a rich source of energy resources, including wind and wave power.
  • The North Sea has featured prominently in geopolitical and military affairs, particularly in Northern Europe, from the Middle Ages to the modern era.

PRACTICE QUESTION

Discuss the geopolitical significance of the English Channel in European history and its impact on trade and military strategies.