The Strait of Dover, also known as the Dover Strait, is a narrow body of water that separates England and France. It is approximately 20-30 miles wide and connects the English Channel to the North Sea. This famous waterway has several synonyms, including Dover Narrows, Pas de Calais (French for "Strait of Calais"), and the Dover-Calais Straits. The Strait of Dover is of great strategic importance as it serves as a key shipping route for vessels traveling across the English Channel to ports in northern Europe and the United Kingdom. Its name derives from the town of Dover in England and Calais in France, which are located on either side of the strait.