Isthmus
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2008-07-05T16:13:25Z
Verne Equinox
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corr.
{{otheruses}}
{{unreferenced|date=January 2008}}
[[Image:Panama SRTM lrg.jpg|thumb|275px|The [[Isthmus of Panama]] connects North and South America.]]
An '''isthmus''' ({{IPAEng|ˈɪsθməs, ˈɪstməs, ˈɪsməs}}, {{lang-el|ἰσθμός}}, plural '''''isthmuses''''' or '''''isthmi''''') is a narrow strip of land that is bordered on two sides by water and connects two larger land masses. It is the inverse of a [[strait]] (which lies between two land masses and connects two larger bodies of water).
Many [[canal]]s are built on isthmi where it is particularly advantageous to create a shortcut for marine transportation. Of note is the [[Panama Canal]], which connects the [[Atlantic Ocean|Atlantic]] and [[Pacific Ocean]]s, and drastically reduces the naval travel time between the east and west coasts of [[Americas|America]].
== List of isthmuses ==
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* [[Auckland]] isthmus, which connects the [[North Auckland Peninsula|Northland Peninsula]] to the rest of New Zealand's [[North Island]].
* [[Seattle]], [[Washington]] which lies between [[Lake Washington]] and [[Puget Sound]].
* [[Isthmus of Avalon]], which connects the populous [[Avalon Peninsula]] to the rest of [[Newfoundland and Labrador|Newfoundland]].
* Isthmus of [[Saint Pierre and Miquelon]], which connects the island of [[Miquelon]] and [[Langlade Island]]
* [[Isthmus of Catalina Island|Catalina Isthmus]], which divides [[Santa Catalina Island, California]] into a large eastern portion and a smaller western portion.
* [[Isthmus of Corinth]], which connects the [[Peloponnese]] peninsula to the rest of [[Greece]].
* Isthmus near [[Port Arthur, Tasmania]], [[Australia]]
* [[Isthmus of Chignecto]], which connects the [[Nova Scotia]] peninsula to the rest of [[Canada]].
* Isthmus of [[Gibraltar]], which joins [[Gibraltar]] to mainland [[Spain]].
* Isthmus of [[Westfjords]] peninsula, wich connects to the mainland of [[Iceland]].
* [[Karelian Isthmus]] between [[Gulf of Finland]] and [[Lake Ladoga]], which connects [[Russia]] to [[Finland]].
* [[Isthmus of Kra]], which joins the [[Malay Peninsula]] with mainland Asia.
* [[Kushimoto|Isthmus of Kushimoto]] in [[Japan]] - connects [[Honshū]] with Cape Shiono-Misaki.
* [[La Coupée]] isthmus in [[Sark]].
* [[Madison Isthmus]], between [[Lake Mendota]] and [[Lake Monona]] in [[Madison, Wisconsin]].
* [[Mavis Grind]] isthmus in [[Shetland]], [[United Kingdom|UK]].
* [[Isthmus of Médanos]] - links Venezuela to [[Médanos]].
* Neck in [[Bruny Island]], [[Tasmania]] - connects North and South Bruny.
* [[Ofqui Isthmus]], [[Aisén Region]], [[Chile]].
* [[Isthmus of Panama]] - connects [[North America]] and [[South America]]. The [[Panama canal]] goes through this isthmus.
* [[Isthmus of Perekop]] between [[Crimea]] and [[Ukraine]] proper.
* [[Isthmus of Potidea]], connecting the [[Kassandra, Chalkidiki|Kassandra]] peninsula with the mainland of [[Greece]].
* [[Quezon Province]], in [[Luzon, Philippines]] - connecting Bicol peninsula with mainland Luzon.
* [[Adam's Bridge]], between [[India]] and [[Sri Lanka]] (a former Isthmus).
* Isthmus of [[Suez]] - the isthmus between [[North Africa]] and [[Southwest Asia]], in [[Egypt]] where the [[Suez Canal]] is located.
* [[Summerside, Prince Edward Island|Isthmus of Summerside]], connecting the Western section of [[Prince Edward Island]], Canada with the remainder of the island.
* [[Isthmus of Tehuantepec]] - connects [[Yucatan]] and [[Central America]] with the rest of [[Mexico]].
* [[Isthmus of Nahant]] connecting Nahant, Massachusetts to Massachusetts.
* Forth-Clyde isthmus in [[Scotland]]
* Tyne-Solway Isthmus in Scotland, along the [[Stanegate]] in roman times main forts at [[Corbridge]] and [[Carlisle]]
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*Isthmus of Olympia, Washington, North America. Located at the base of Puget Sound, this isthmus connects West Olympia to East Olympia, and creates a separation between Capitol Lake and Budd Inlet, the southernmost point of Puget Sound.
== See also ==
* [[Geography]]
* [[Mainland]]
* [[Tombolo]]
* [[Peninsula]]
* [[Land bridge]]
[[Category:Isthmuses| ]]
[[af:Landengte]]
[[ar:برزخ (جغرافيا)]]
[[ast:Istmu]]
[[br:Strizh-douar]]
[[ca:Istme]]
[[cs:Pevninská šíje]]
[[da:Tange]]
[[de:Isthmus (Geographie)]]
[[et:Maakitsus]]
[[el:Ισθμός]]
[[es:Istmo]]
[[eo:Istmo]]
[[eu:Istmo]]
[[fr:Isthme]]
[[gl:Istmo]]
[[kk:Мойнақ]]
[[ko:지협]]
[[id:Tanah genting]]
[[ia:Isthmo]]
[[is:Eiði]]
[[it:Istmo]]
[[he:מצר יבשה]]
[[ku:Berzax]]
[[lmo:Istmo]]
[[nl:Landengte]]
[[ja:地峡]]
[[no:Eid (landform)]]
[[nn:Landforma eid]]
[[pl:Przesmyk]]
[[pt:Istmo]]
[[ro:Istm]]
[[ru:Перешеек]]
[[simple:Isthmus]]
[[fi:Kannas]]
[[sv:Näs]]
[[sr:Земљоуз]]
[[tr:Kıstak]]
[[uk:Перешийок]]
[[zh:地峡]]