What is the strait that connects the Mediterranean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean? Between which plates is the Atlantic Ocean located?

The Atlantic Ocean is vast, connecting many plates in the east, south, west and north. For example, the northeastern Atlantic Ocean belongs to the Eurasian Plate, the southeastern Atlantic Ocean belongs to the African Plate, the northwest Atlantic Ocean belongs to the American Plate, and the southwest Atlantic Ocean belongs to the Antarctic Plate. If you are interested in this knowledge, you can read the detailed introduction in the article below, including what the strait connecting the Mediterranean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean is, which is very interesting!

Contents of this article

1. The strait connecting the Mediterranean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean is

2. Between which plates is the Atlantic Ocean located?

3. Why is the Atlantic Ocean expanding?

The strait connecting the Mediterranean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean is

The Strait of Gibraltar is a strait connecting the Mediterranean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean. The Strait of Gibraltar is located between the southernmost part of Spain and the northwestern part of Africa. Its name comes from Arabic, meaning the Strait of Gibraltar. The narrowest part of the strait is only 13 kilometers, and the widest part of the strait in the west is 43 kilometers. It is an important waterway from the Atlantic Ocean to Southern Europe, North Africa and West Asia.

In 711 AD, Ziad crossed the strait in the name of Nusair and commanded the battle on the present-day Rock of Gibraltar, defeating 100,000 Spanish defenders. Ziad then ordered the construction of a castle here and named it "Gibraltar Tariq", which means "Mount Tariq" in Arabic. This strait is therefore called the "Gibraltar Tariq Strait", and the Strait of Gibraltar is its English translation.

The Strait of Gibraltar has a Mediterranean climate. In summer, it is controlled by the subtropical high pressure, with little rain, dryness, and high evaporation. In winter, it is controlled by the westerly belt, with many cyclones, mild weather and much rain. In spring, heavy fog will occur, covering the strait and posing a great obstacle to ship navigation.

The Strait of Gibraltar is known as the lifeline of the West

The Strait of Gibraltar is the only channel connecting the Mediterranean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean. Together with the Mediterranean Sea, it forms the dividing line between Europe and Africa. It is hailed as the "lifeline" by Westerners. Ships always sail downstream when passing through the Strait of Gibraltar. It is the main channel for the transportation of energy and one of the busiest channels in international shipping.

Between which plates is the Atlantic Ocean located?

Between the four plates: the American Plate, the Antarctic Plate, the African Plate and the Eurasian Plate.

The northeastern Atlantic Ocean belongs to the Eurasian Plate, the southeastern Atlantic Ocean belongs to the African Plate, the northwest Atlantic Ocean belongs to the American Plate, and the southwest Atlantic Ocean belongs to the Antarctic Plate.

Plate is a concept proposed by the theory of plate tectonics. In 1968, Le Pichon divided the global crust into six major plates: the Pacific Plate, the Eurasian Plate, the African Plate, the American Plate, the Indian Plate and the Antarctic Plate.

African Plate: includes the area east of the southern section of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, west of the Indian Ridge, north of the southwestern branch of the Indian Ridge and south of the Alps.

Eurasian Plate: includes the vast area west of the Western Pacific Trench System, north of the Himalayas and Alps, east of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge and south of the Arctic Ridge.

American Plate: Includes North and South America, part of the Atlantic Ocean in the east, and a narrow area of ​​the Pacific Ocean north of the Tropic of Cancer in the west.

Antarctic Plate: It is a plate that includes Antarctica and the surrounding ocean. It is moving towards the Atlantic Ocean at a speed of 1 cm per year.

Why is the Atlantic Ocean expanding?

1. As the earth warms, the ice and snow in the Arctic and Antarctic melt and the sea water itself expands, the global sea level is rising, so the scope of the Atlantic Ocean is expanding.

2. The southeastern part of the Western Ocean belongs to the African Plate, and the northwestern part belongs to the American Plate. After the American Plate and the African Plate were separated by the trench, they are still expanding, thereby expanding the area of ​​the Atlantic Ocean.