Editing Strait (section)

==Terminology==
[[File:Brändö sund 28 april 2011.jpg|thumb|upright|left|Palosaari Strait (''Brändö sund'') in [[Vaasa]], Finland]]
The terms ''[[channel (geography)|channel]]'', ''pass'', or ''passage'' can be synonymous and used interchangeably with ''strait'', although each is sometimes differentiated with varying senses. In Scotland, ''[[firth]]'' or ''Kyle'' are also sometimes used as synonyms for strait.

Many straits are economically important. Straits can be important [[shipping route]]s and [[war]]s have been fought for control of them.

Numerous artificial channels, called ''[[canal]]s'', have been constructed to connect two oceans or seas over land, such as the [[Suez Canal]].  Although [[river]]s and canals often provide passage between two large lakes, and these seem to suit the formal definition of strait, they are not usually referred to as such. Rivers and often canals, generally have a directional flow tied to changes in elevation, whereas straits often are free flowing in either direction or switch direction, maintaining the same elevation. The term ''strait'' is typically reserved for much larger, wider features of the [[marine (ocean)|marine]] environment. There are exceptions, with straits being called canals; [[Pearse Canal]], for example.