An isthmus is a narrow strip of land that connects two larger landmasses and separates two bodies of water. Ex: Isthmus of Panama and Isthmus of Kra. A strait is an oceanic landform connecting two seas or two other large areas of water. Ex: Palk strait andTsushima Strait.
Significance of Straits in International Trade
International straits, by way of geography— are known as ‘choke points’—and are a crucial component of the maritime domain. By controlling the ‘Choke Points’, one can control the accessibility to the entire ocean itself. This is particularly true of the Indian Ocean Region within which India holds a prime position while being surrounded by ‘choke points’ on both its eastern (Malacca Straits) and western seaboards (Strait of Hormuz and Strait of Bab El Mandeb).
Maritime transport accounts for 95% of India’s international tradeby volume and 65% by value, much of which passes through the international straits located within the Indian Ocean. Example, Strait of Hormuz or Strait of Malacca.
Strait connects the Exclusive Economic Zones (EEZs) of a far larger number of States. For instance, the Strait of Bab-el-Mandeb which connects Sudan, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, Eritrea and Egypt in addition to Djibouti and Yemen. The adverse impact of the ongoing conflict in Yemen has already been touched upon, and control of the strait by any of the parties to the conflict, State or non-State, would not bode well for the region in terms of both security as well as movement of international trade.
The millions of barrels of oil and liquified natural gas — flows through one or another of the international straits of the Indian Ocean and thus geopolitical tensions in countries near the straits will have adverse impact on the supply of energy resources to the entire world.
Significance of Isthmus in International Trade:
Connectivity: They reduce distance between the places and facilitate greater trade. Ex1: Panama canal on the isthmus of Panama connecting the Atlantic Ocean and Pacific Ocean. EX2: the Suez Canal on the isthmus of Suez prevents the circumvention of Africa by ships for trade between Asia and Europe.
They are natural sites for ports and canals linking terrestrial and aquatic trade routes.
Isthmuses are also key sites for communications and cultural exchange, as well as military outposts.
They played an important part in movement of goods and migration of workers during ancient times when water and air transport were not well developed.
