Strait

A strait is a body of water connecting two seas or other water basins. Its surface is generally at nearly the same elevation on both sides, and water can flow through it in either direction, though the surrounding topography usually constrains the flow to some degree. A strait is a narrow channel lying between two landmasses, and the terms channel, pass and passage are often used interchangeably with it, along with the regional Scottish terms firth or kyle; some straits cannot be navigated at all because they are too narrow, too shallow, or blocked by reefs or archipelagos. Straits differ from rivers and canals in that a river or canal typically flows in one direction tied to a change in elevation, while a strait's water is free to flow either way, or reverse direction, while staying at essentially the same level.