The Strait of Calais is a narrow channel of water that connects the English Channel to the North Sea. There are several synonyms for the Strait of Calais, including the Dover Strait, Pas-de-Calais, and La Manche. The Dover Strait refers specifically to the channel between Dover, England and Calais, France, while Pas-de-Calais is the French term for the entire strait. La Manche, which means "the sleeve" in French, is another term that is commonly used for the body of water between England and France. The Strait of Calais plays an important role in European commerce and transportation, serving as a strategic passage for shipping vessels traveling between the Atlantic Ocean and the Baltic Sea.