English Channel - Indian Express 

Several people, including a child, died trying to cross the Channel from France to England recently.

English Channel

• About: A narrow arm of the Atlantic Ocean which separates the southern coast of England (part of Great Britain) from the northern coast of France. 
• Connection: The channel and the North Sea are connected by the Strait of Dover in the east. 
• Area: ~ 29,000 square miles (75,000 square km) (the smallest of the shallow seas covering the continental shelf of Europe).
• Dimensions: 350 miles (560 kilometers) long, 150 miles (240 kilometers) across at its widest and only 21 miles (34 kilometers) across at its narrowest.
• Average depth: 63 m
• Climate: Temperate maritime climate, with warm summers and cold winters. 
• Main islands: Isle of Wight and the Channel Islands (a collection of islands including Jersey, Guernsey, Alderney, and Sark).
• Significance: 
  • One of the world’s busiest shipping areas, linking southern England, the United Kingdom to northern France.
  • Up to 20% of the global maritime trade and connects the Atlantic Ocean to the North Sea.