Strait of Hormuz
Middle East, Indian Ocean
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| Locations | Middle East, Indian Ocean |
The Strait of Hormuz is a strait between the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman. It provides the only sea passage from the Persian Gulf to the open ocean and is one of the world's most strategically important choke points.[1]
On the north coast lies Iran, and on the south coast the United Arab Emirates and Musandam, an exclave of Oman. The strait is about 104 miles (90 nmi; 167 km) long, with a width varying from about 52 nautical miles (96 km) to 21 nautical miles (39 km).[2]
A third of the world’s liquefied natural gas and almost 20% of total global oil consumption passes through the strait, making it a highly important strategic location for international trade.[3][4]