Isthmus
An
isthmus (from
Greek ισθμός,
isthmos, Ancient and
Katharevousa Greek ; plural
isthmuses or
isthmi; pronounced ) is a narrow strip of land that is bordered on two sides by water and connects two larger land masses.It is the inverse of a
strait (which lies between two land masses and connects two larger bodies of water).
Isthmuses are a naturally good place to build
canals. The
Panama Canal, which connects the
Atlantic and
Pacific Oceans, drastically reduces the naval travel time between the east and west coasts of the Americas. The
Suez Canal is another example - it allows
ship transportation between Europe and Asia without the circumnavigation of Africa.
* the
Isthmus of Panama - the most famous isthmus. Connects
North America and
South America.
* the
Isthmus of Corinth in
Greece - the first isthmus to bear that name
* the
Isthmus of Dubrovnik - today's
Stradun, (main center street), which connected Laus and Dub into a single city unit
* the Isthmus of
Suez - the isthmus between
North Africa and
Southwest Asia, in
Egypt where the
Suez Canal is located
* the
Isthmus of Kra, which joins the
Malay Peninsula with mainland Asia
* the Isthmus of Avalon in
Canada - separates the main island of
Newfoundland from the
Avalon Peninsula (where the capital,
St. John's, is located)
* the
Isthmus of Chignecto - connects the mainland portion of
Nova Scotia with
North America* the
Isthmus of Tehuantepec - connects
Yucatan and
Central America with the rest of
Mexico* the
Isthmus of Perekop between
Crimea and
Ukraine proper
* the
Karelian Isthmus between
Gulf of Finland and
Lake Ladoga* the Madison Isthmus, between
Lake Mendota and
Lake Monona in
Madison, Wisconsin* the Auckland Isthmus, in
Auckland, New Zealand* Quezon Province, in
Luzon, Philippines - connecting Bicol peninsula with mainland Luzon
* the
Isthmus of Kushimoto in
Japan - connects
Honshu with Cape Shiono-Misaki
* Eaglehawk Neck,
Tasmania - which connects the
Forestier Peninsula and
Tasman Peninsula* the Neck in
Bruny Island,
Tasmania - connects North and South Bruny
* the
Mavis Grind isthmus in
Shetland,
UK* the
La Coupée isthmus in
Sark*
Geography*
Mainland*
Tombolo*
Peninsula*
Land bridge
