Wat (wie) is noticeboard - definitie
![[[Automatic identification system]] display showing traffic in the Channel in 2006](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Special:FilePath/AIS Manche Est.png?width=200 "[[Automatic identification system]] display showing traffic in the Channel in 2006")
![British radar facilities during the [[Battle of Britain]] 1940](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Special:FilePath/Battle of Britain map.svg?width=200 "British radar facilities during the [[Battle of Britain]] 1940")
![Landing in England scene from the [[Bayeux Tapestry]], depicting ships coming in and horses landing](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Special:FilePath/BayeuxTapestry39.jpg?width=200 "Landing in England scene from the [[Bayeux Tapestry]], depicting ships coming in and horses landing")
![The [[Spanish Armada]] off the English coast in 1588](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Special:FilePath/Elizabeth I Watching Defeat of Spanish Armada by an unknown artist, 16th century.jpg?width=200 "The [[Spanish Armada]] off the English coast in 1588")
![The Strait of Dover viewed from France, looking towards England. The [[white cliffs of Dover]] on the English coast are visible from France on a clear day.](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Special:FilePath/FranceGrisNez2Dover.jpg?width=200 "The Strait of Dover viewed from France, looking towards England. The [[white cliffs of Dover]] on the English coast are visible from France on a clear day.")
![German forces]] and the [[Organisation Todt]] constructed fortifications round the coasts of the Channel Islands, such as this observation tower at Les Landes, Jersey.](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Special:FilePath/German World War II tower Jersey.jpg?width=200 "German forces]] and the [[Organisation Todt]] constructed fortifications round the coasts of the Channel Islands, such as this observation tower at Les Landes, Jersey.")
![St Helier]] lies in the bay off [[Saint Helier]] and is accessible on foot at low tide.](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Special:FilePath/Hermitage St Helier Jersey.jpg?width=200 "St Helier]] lies in the bay off [[Saint Helier]] and is accessible on foot at low tide.")
![French invasion plans]] in 1759](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Special:FilePath/La bataille des Cadinaux en novembre 1759.jpg?width=200 "French invasion plans]] in 1759")
![The [[Mont Saint-Michel]] is one of the most visited and recognisable landmarks on the English Channel.](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Special:FilePath/Le Mont Saint-Michel.jpg?width=200 "The [[Mont Saint-Michel]] is one of the most visited and recognisable landmarks on the English Channel.")
![Kelham's ''Dictionary of the Norman or Old French Language'' (1779), defining [[Law French]], a language historically used in English law courts](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Special:FilePath/Norman dictionary 1779 Kelham.jpg?width=200 "Kelham's ''Dictionary of the Norman or Old French Language'' (1779), defining [[Law French]], a language historically used in English law courts")
![Old West Norse]], the orange area [[Old East Norse]], and the green area the other Germanic languages with which Old Norse still retained some mutual intelligibility.](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Special:FilePath/North sea languages 900.png?width=200 "Old West Norse]], the orange area [[Old East Norse]], and the green area the other Germanic languages with which Old Norse still retained some mutual intelligibility.")
![[[Osborne House]], the summer retreat of [[Queen Victoria]] on the [[Isle of Wight]]. Starting from the late 18th century, settlements on and around the English Channel coastline in England grew rapidly into thriving [[seaside resort]]s, bolstered by their association with royalty and the middle and upper classes.](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Special:FilePath/Osborne-iow-3Ja10-10876.jpg?width=200 "[[Osborne House]], the summer retreat of [[Queen Victoria]] on the [[Isle of Wight]]. Starting from the late 18th century, settlements on and around the English Channel coastline in England grew rapidly into thriving [[seaside resort]]s, bolstered by their association with royalty and the middle and upper classes.")
![corsairs]].](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Special:FilePath/Saintmalo.jpg?width=200 "corsairs]].")
![Spinnaker (observation) Tower]], [[Portsmouth Harbour]]](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Special:FilePath/Spinnaker Tower - geograph.org.uk - 1255913.jpg?width=200 "Spinnaker (observation) Tower]], [[Portsmouth Harbour]]")
![Authie]] and the [[Canche]]](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Special:FilePath/Three French river mouths.JPG?width=200 "Authie]] and the [[Canche]]")
![Europe during the [[Last Glacial Maximum]] ca. 20,000 years ago](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Special:FilePath/Weichsel-Würm-Glaciation.png?width=200 "Europe during the [[Last Glacial Maximum]] ca. 20,000 years ago")
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Wikipedia
The English Channel, also known as simply the Channel (or historically as the British Channel), is an arm of the Atlantic Ocean that separates Southern England from northern France. It links to the southern part of the North Sea by the Strait of Dover at its northeastern end. It is the busiest shipping area in the world.
It is about 560 kilometres (300 nautical miles; 350 statute miles) long and varies in width from 240 km (130 nmi; 150 mi) at its widest to 34 km (18 nmi; 21 mi) at its narrowest in the Strait of Dover. It is the smallest of the shallow seas around the continental shelf of Europe, covering an area of some 75,000 square kilometres (22,000 square nautical miles; 29,000 square miles).
The Channel was a key factor in Britain becoming a naval superpower and has been utilised by Britain as a natural defence mechanism by which many would-be invasions, such as the Napoleonic Wars and those of Adolf Hitler in World War II, were halted.
The population around the English Channel is predominantly located on the English coast and the major languages spoken in this region are English and French.
