The Strait of Gibraltar is a narrow strait that connects the Atlantic Ocean to the Mediterranean Sea and separates Europe from Africa.
The two continents are separated by 13 kilometres of ocean at the Strait's narrowest point between Punta de Tarifa in Spain and Point Cires in Morocco. Ferries cross between the two continents every day in as little as 35 minutes. The Strait's depth ranges between 300 and 900 metres.
The Strait of Gibraltar as seen from space. The Iberian Peninsula is on the left and North Africa is on the right.
Europe (left) and Africa (right)
A view across the Strait of Gibraltar taken from the hills above Tarifa, Spain
3-D rendering, looking eastwards towards the Mediterranean
The Atlantic Ocean is the second-largest of the world's five oceans, with an area of about 85,133,000 km2 (32,870,000 sq mi). It covers approximately 17% of Earth's surface and about 24% of its water surface area. During the Age of Discovery, it was known for separating the New World of the Americas from the Old World of Afro-Eurasia.
As the Gulf Stream meanders across the North Atlantic from the North American east coast to Western Europe its temperature drops by 20 °C (36 °F).
Path of the thermohaline circulation. Purple paths represent deep-water currents, while blue paths represent surface currents.
Sargassum fish (Histrio histrio)
Iceberg A22A in the South Atlantic Ocean
