An Isthmus is a strip of land joining two greater landmasses which would otherwise have been separated by a water body.

A strait is the sea counterpart of an isthmus – which separates two landmasses through a channel of water.

Major Isthmuses include:

1) Isthmus of Panama – It links the continents of North and South America, and separates the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans. The entire isthmus is a country. This is the country of Panama (bordered by Costa Rica in N. America and Columbia is S. America)

The Panama Canal – is built across the isthmus that stretches 77kms which allows ships to navigate between the Pacific and Atlantic oceans without having to go around South America. It is as important as the Suez canal.

2) The Isthmus of Suez – It connects the continents of Africa and Asia and separates the Mediterranean and the Red Seas. It runs through only Egypt and no other country.

The Suez canal – is built across this isthmus and it stretches 192kms which allows ships to pass through to Europe and forms the sole link between Asia and Europe. It forms one of the main oil passageways of the World.