Denmark Strait

Denmark Strait
Norwegian Sea map.png
Pack ice in Denmark Strait

The Denmark Strait or Greenland Strait (Danish: Danmarksstrædet, Icelandic: Grænlandssund, the latter meaning Greenland Sound) is an oceanic strait between Greenland (to its northwest) and Iceland (to its southeast). The Norwegian island of Jan Mayen lies northeast of the strait.

It connects the Greenland Sea, an extension of the Arctic Ocean, to the Irminger Sea, a part of the Atlantic Ocean, and is 300 miles (480 km) long and 180 miles (289 km) wide at its narrowest, from Straumnes, the northwestern headland of the north west Icelandic peninsula of Hornstrandir, und Cape Tupinier on Blosseville Coast in East Greenland). The official IHO delineation between the Arctic and the North Atlantic Oceans, however, runs from Straumness to Cape Nansen, which is 132 km southwest of Cape Tunipier. From Straumnes to Cape Nansen the distance is 336 km.

The narrow depth, where the Greenland-Iceland Rise runs on the bottom of the sea, is 625 feet (191 metres) deep. The cold East Greenland Current passes through the strait and carries icebergs south into the north Atlantic Ocean. It hosts important fishing grounds.

Location map

During World War II, the Battle of the Denmark Strait took place on May 24, 1941. The German battleship Bismarck sank the British battlecruiser HMS Hood, which exploded with the loss of all but three of its 1418 crew, and seriously damaged the British battleship Prince of Wales. Bismarck succeeded in entering the Atlantic through the Strait, but damage sustained in the battle prevented it from carrying out its intended destruction of British convoys.

See also

Coordinates: 67°N 24°W / 67°N 24°W / 67; -24


Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Поможем написать реферат

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Denmark Strait — arm of the N Atlantic between SE Greenland & Iceland: c. 130 mi (209 km) wide …   English World dictionary

  • Denmark Strait — a strait between Iceland and Greenland. 130 mi. (210 km) wide. * * * ▪ strait, Arctic Ocean       channel partially within the Arctic Circle, lying between Greenland (west) and Iceland (east). About 180 miles (290 km) wide at its narrowest point …   Universalium

  • Denmark Strait — Den′mark Strait′ n. geg a strait between Iceland and Greenland. 130 mi. (210 km) wide …   From formal English to slang

  • Denmark Strait — geographical name strait 130 miles (209 kilometers) wide between SE Greenland & Iceland connecting Arctic Ocean with the Atlantic …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • Denmark Strait — /dɛnmak ˈstreɪt/ (say denmahk strayt) noun a strait between Iceland and Greenland. 209 km wide …  

  • Denmark Strait — a strait between Iceland and Greenland. 130 mi. (210 km) wide …   Useful english dictionary

  • Battle of the Denmark Strait — Infobox Military Conflict conflict=Battle of the Denmark Strait caption=Bismarck firing at HMS Prince of Wales, shortly after the sinking of HMS Hood on the 24 May 1941. partof=World War II date=May 24 1941 place=Denmark Strait result=German… …   Wikipedia

  • Denmark (disambiguation) — Denmark is a country in Europe Denmark (European Parliament constituency), the associated constituency Kingdom of Denmark, a constitutional monarchy, of which the country Denmark is a constituent part Denmark may also refer to: Contents 1… …   Wikipedia

  • Denmark — /den mahrk/, n. a kingdom in N Europe, on the Jutland peninsula and adjacent islands. 5,268,775; 16,576 sq. mi. (42,930 sq. km). Cap.: Copenhagen. * * * Denmark Introduction Denmark Background: Once the seat of Viking raiders and later a major… …   Universalium

  • Strait of Malacca — The Strait of Malacca connects the Pacific Ocean to the east with the Indian Ocean to the west. Coordinates …   Wikipedia

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”