Location: The English Channel is a body of water between England and France that connects the Atlantic Ocean and the North Sea.
Size: The channel is about 350 miles (563 kilometers) long. It ranges from about 21 to 100 miles (34 to 160 kilometers) in width.
Discovered by: Most geologists believe that what are now England and France were joined by a low-lying plain at the end of the Ice Age, about 10,000 years ago. They believe that about 7,000 years ago, large amounts of ice melted nearby. The water from the melting ice raised the level of the sea, flooding the low-lying plain and creating the English Channel.
How it got it’s Name: It got its name by just being located in England. I’m not entirely sure, but I read that the people of England named it that for that reason.
Interesting Information:
1. The English Channel is the world's busiest sea passage believe it or not. About 5 to 6 hundred boats, ships, etc. sail through or across the Strait of Dover daily.
2. The channel has for a long time protected England from attacks. The Spanish Armada in the 1500's, Napoleon's fleet in the 1800's, and Adolf Hitler' s warships in the 1940's all failed to clinch the victory of crossing the channel and conquer England.
3. The English Channel has for a long time been a challenge for swimmers. In 1875, Matthew Webb of Great Britain made the first recorded crossing of the channel, swimming from England to France in 21 hours 45 minutes. Quite amazing isn’t it. Personally I could never do it.
Bibliography:
1. D. Ian Scargill, English Channel. , World Book Encyclopedia, 01-01-2000.
2. http://corbis.altavista.com/referrals/av_image_details.asp?linkid=2623&imageid=10692369, Corbis The Place for Pictures on the Internet Wednesday, September 19, 2001
3. L. Sargie, English Channel. , Article World Magazine March 21, 1999