In Dire Straits Trivia Quiz

Answer: Bass Strait

The Bass Strait lies between the Australian mainland and Australia's only island state of Tasmania. It is named after George Bass, an English explorer and physicist. George Bass, along with Matthew Flinders, completed the first recorded circumnavigation of Tasmania (then known as Van Diemen's Land) in the late 18th century.

Answer: Dover Strait

The Dover Strait separates England from continental Europe. At its narrowest, only 32 km separate the English county of Kent from France. The strait is an important maritime route connecting the Atlantic Ocean to the North Sea and the Baltic Sea.

Answer: Cook Strait

The Cook Strait is named after the English explorer, James Cook, who was the first European to sail through it in 1770. It separates New Zealand's North Island from the South Island. Its Maori name translates to 'The Sea of Raukawa'.

Answer: Strait of Gibraltar

The Strait of Gibraltar is one of the most famous straits in the world. It is the only natural link between the Mediterranean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean. The strait is named after the Rock of Gibraltar and its waters are claimed by Morocco, Spain, and the British Overseas Territory of Gibraltar. At its narrowest point, only 13 km separate the continents of Europe and Africa.

Answer: Bosphorus Strait

The Bosphorus Strait is considered one of the natural boundaries between the continents of Asia and Europe. It is located near Istanbul, one of the most famous bi-continental cities. At the other end of the Sea of Marmara lies the Dardanelles Strait. Together, both of these straits are known as the Turkish Straits.

Answer: Strait of Hormuz

The Strait of Hormuz facilitates the shipping of 25% of the global oil consumption and a third of the liquefied natural gas making it one of the most important economic trade routes in the world. It is the only connection for the Persian Gulf to the ocean further increasing its strategic importance.

Answer: Strait of Malacca

The Strait of Malacca is one of the key shipping routes between the Indian Ocean and the Pacific Ocean. The water body flows between the Malay Peninsula and the Indonesian island of Sumatra. It is estimated that around 25% of the global traded goods pass through these waters making the strait the busiest in the world.

Answer: Strait of Magellan

The Strait of Magellan is named after the Portuguese explorer, Ferdinand Magellan, who was among the first Europeans to discover it. The strait lies between mainland South America and the archipelago of Tierra del Fuego. It is one of the most important natural passages connecting the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans. Prior to the construction of the Panama Canal, it was one of the only ways connecting these two bodies, along with the Beagle Channel.

Answer: Strait of Otranto

The Strait of Otranto separates the European countries of Italy and Albania. It gets its name from the Italian city of Otranto. This channel played an important part in World War I with the Allies using it to block the Austro-Hungarian navy from the Mediterranean Sea, a manoeuvre known as the "Otranto Barrage".

Answer: Sunda Strait

The Sunda Strait lies between the islands of Java and Sumatra in Indonesia. It is named after the Sunda Kingdom that ruled over this region from the 7th century to the 16th century. The indigenous people of western Java are also referred to as the Sundanese.