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(Image: rainbowtours) |
The Mozambique Channel, located between the southeastern coast of the African continent and Madagascar, stretches for 1,670 kilometers, making it the longest channel in the world.
According to geologists, over 100 million years ago, Madagascar was connected to Africa as one landmass. Later geological upheavals caused the western part of the island to sink, forming this long and narrow channel. The average width of the channel is 450 kilometers, with its widest point at the northern end measuring 960 kilometers. The deepest point reaches 3,533 meters, just shy of the Drake Passage. Large vessels easily navigate through this channel, which serves as a vital route for oil tankers traveling from the Persian Gulf to Europe, South America, and North America, continuing around the Cape of Good Hope to various destinations. The Mozambique Channel has become a crucial maritime pathway that connects the Atlantic Ocean and the Indian Ocean.
The Mozambique Channel lies within the tropical zone. The warm Mozambique current flows from north to south, resulting in a consistently warm climate with abundant rainfall year-round. The waters are rich in coral, and the Comoros Islands and the port city of Maputo hold significant strategic importance in the region.
