An is a narrow strip of land that connects two larger and separates two bodies of water.
Isthmuses have been locations for centuries. They are natural for and linking and . Isthmuses are also key sites for and cultural exchange, as well as .
Isthmuses
The Isthmus of Panama in Panama links the of North and South America, and separates the Pacific and Atlantic . The Panama Canal stretches 77 kilometers (48 miles) across the isthmus, and allows ships to travel from eastern North America to western North America without having to go around South America. The Panama Canal and travel in the 20th century, allowing for faster and more of goods and people.
The Isthmus of Suez in eastern Egypt connects the continents of Africa and Asia, and separates the Mediterranean and Red . The Suez Canal is 192 kilometers (119 miles) long and allows cargo ships to travel between Europe, North Africa, western Asia (via the Mediterranean Sea in the north) and eastern and southern Asia without having to go around Africa. The Suez Canal trade and travel in the 19th century, and continues to the trade today.
The U.S. of Seattle, Washington, is located on an isthmus between the Puget (part of the Pacific Ocean) and Lake Washington. The has been continuously for more than 4,000 years. The earliest of the area were the Duabish, who settled near the ocean, and the Hachuabish, who settled near the freshwater lake. European settlers, who quickly saw the isthmus' for trade along the west of North America as well as across the Pacific, referred to these Native Americans as the Duwamish.
Tombolos are a type of isthmus. A tombolo forms as and create a thin strip of land between a coastal island and the mainland. The island connected to the mainland in a tombolo is called a . (The built-up "ties" the island to the mainland.)
Mount Maunganui, New Zealand, is a tombolo town located on a sandbar connecting the of Mauao to the mainland. Mauao is an , and is a popular spot for hiking and sightseeing the local . Those beaches offer opportunities due to the tombolo formation. Beaches on the side of Mount Maunganui's isthmus facing Tauranga are calm and protected. Beaches on the other side of Mount Maunganui face the (the Pacific), with dramatic waves that are popular with surfers.
Perhaps the most famous tombolo is the Rock of Gibraltar, a tied island narrowly connected to the southwestern tip of Europe's Iberian . The Rock of Gibraltar is the northern part of the "Pillars of Hercules," which form the narrow western entrance to the Mediterranean Sea. This strategic location has made the Rock of Gibraltar a key site for traders and explorers since the Phoenicians. Today, the Rock of Gibraltar Spain, but is part of the British of Gibraltar.
Fast Fact
Passing Through It takes ships about eight to 10 hours to cross the Isthmus of Panama through the Panama Canal. About 14,000 ships make the crossing between the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans every year.
The audio, illustrations, photos, and videos are credited beneath the media asset, except for promotional images, which generally link to another page that contains the media credit. The Rights Holder for media is the person or group credited.
Editor
Jeannie Evers, Emdash Editing, Emdash Editing
Producer
National Geographic Society
other
Last Updated
October 19, 2023
User Permissions
For information on user permissions, please read our Terms of Service. If you have questions about how to cite anything on our website in your project or classroom presentation, please contact your teacher. They will best know the preferred format. When you reach out to them, you will need the page title, URL, and the date you accessed the resource.
Media
If a media asset is downloadable, a download button appears in the corner of the media viewer. If no button appears, you cannot download or save the media.
Text
Text on this page is printable and can be used according to our Terms of Service.
Interactives
Any interactives on this page can only be played while you are visiting our website. You cannot download interactives.
