what is an isthmus with examples
Meaning of Isthmus Explained with Examples
When we speak of the Panama Canal, we often refer to the fact that it was built across the Isthmus of Panama, and yet, the latter is nowhere as famous as the canal. That can be said about isthmuses in general. In this Buzzle article, we shall explain what an isthmus is, and also provide some examples of isthmuses across the world.
Did You Know?
The term isthmus is derived from the Greek word isthmós, meaning 'narrow neck of land'.What is an Isthmus?
In geography, an isthmus is a narrow strip of land with water on either sides, which connects two large masses of land. An isthmus is primarily formed as result of tectonic movement and volcanic activity. At times, even the erosion and deposition activity of wind and water can lead to the formation of this landform. Erosion results in the formation of an isthmus when a specific stretch of land is made of softer material, and thus, erodes faster than the adjacent landmass.
Additionally, there is a geographic feature known as tombolo, which is often considered a type of isthmus. In this case, the narrow piece of land is usually a strip or bar, connecting an island to the mainland. These islands are thus called tied islands. These deposition landforms form as a result of the action of waves and tides.
As isthmuses are narrow, it's easier to build navigable canals across them to facilitate transportation. Among the several trans-isthmian canals across the world, two in particular are very famous: the Panama Canal across the Isthmus of Panama, and the Suez Canal across the Isthmus of Suez. It's also worth noting that these landforms are of strategic importance in the field of trade and commerce, as well as from a defense perspective.
Examples of an Isthmus
Isthmus of Panama
The most famous example of an isthmus in the world is the Isthmus of Panama, which connects the continent of North America to South America. This landform, dubbed as the isthmus that changed the world, separated the Pacific Ocean from the Atlantic Ocean, and led to the formation of the Gulf Stream. It is also credited for the Great American Interchange, a paleozoogeographic event marked by the migration of North American species to South America, and vice versa, and the current climate of this region.
The Panama Canal was built across this isthmus in the beginning of the 20th century. It reduced the distance from the east coast of North America to the west coast by about 3,000 miles, as ships no longer had to navigate around Cape Horn at the southern tip of South America.Isthmus of Suez
The 75-mile-wide Isthmus of Suez lies between the Mediterranean Sea and the Red Sea, and connects the continents of Asia and Africa. If the entire Isthmus of Panama lies in the Central American nation of Panama, the entire Isthmus of Suez lies in Egypt―a transcontinental country, lying partly in Africa and partly in Asia.
The Suez Canal on this isthmus, which opened in November 1869, forms the backbone of maritime transportation in the Middle East. It allows ships to travel between Asia and Europe without having to navigate around the continent of Africa, thus reducing the distance of the entire journey by 4,300 miles.Kra Isthmus
In Asia, there is the Kra Isthmus connecting the Malay Peninsula with the mainland of Asia, with the Andaman Sea to the west and the Gulf of Thailand to the east. In 1677, the construction of a canal, then known as the Kra Canal project, was contemplated to link the Andaman Sea with the Gulf of Thailand. There has been no development since then, except that the site of the project has been shifted from the Kra Isthmus, and renamed the Thai Canal Project.Isthmus of Chignecto
In Canada, there is the Isthmus of Chignecto, which connects the Nova Scotia Peninsula to North America, and separates the Bay of Fundy from the Gulf of St. Lawrence. It is mere 15 miles wide at its narrowest point. The most interesting thing about the Isthmus of Chignecto is its elevation above sea level, which is so low that a mere 12 meter rise in sea level can flood the isthmus, and turn Nova Scotia into an island.Eaglehawk Neck
The Eaglehawk Neck, simply called the neck at times, is an isthmus linking the Forestier Peninsula to the Tasman Peninsula in Australia. It separates the Pirates Bay from the Eaglehawk Bay. It is not just narrow―measuring mere 30 meters at its narrowest point, but also very small, with a length of just 400 meters.