The English Channel separates England and France and connects the Atlantic Ocean to the North Sea. Its maximum depth is about 600 feet. The Isle of Wight sits on its north end, off the coast of England at Portsmouth.
Swimming the English Channel
The Strait of Dover is the Channel's narrowest point, with a distance from England to France of about 20 miles. The first person to successfully swim the Channel was Matthew Webb on August 25, 1875. The journey took him twenty-one hours and forty-five minutes. He aborted his first swimming attempt due to strong winds, but succeeded the second time, after covering himself in porpoise oil and being stung by numerous jellyfish.
Petar Stoychev set the record for fastest swim of the channel in August 2007. He completed the swim in six hours and fifty-seven minutes.
Busy Seaway
Over 400 ships pass through the Channel every day. The method by which ships navigate the passage is strictly regulated by the Dover Traffic Separation System, based on a number of accidents in 1971. At present day, the Channel averages one or two crashes every year.
Featured Video
English Channel Organizations and Societies
References
Fast Facts
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Length
350 miles
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Width
21 miles (min) to 150 miles (max)
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Area covered
29,000 square miles
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Fact:
A natural key defense for England
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Has a rail tunnel called [http
//en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Channel_Tunnel The Channel Tunnel]
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Average temperature
Under 45 degrees Fahrenheit
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Final resting place for numerous ships
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Average depth
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Fishing ground for scallops, dogfish, and whiting JNCC.gov: English Channel
