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An isthmus (from Greek ισθμός, isthmos, Ancient and Katharevousa Greek ; plural isthmuses or isthmi; pronounced ) is a narrow strip of land that is bordered on two sides by water and connects two larger land masses.
It is the inverse of a strait (which lies between two land masses and connects two larger bodies of water).
Isthmuses are a naturally good place to build canals. The Panama Canal, which connects the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, drastically reduces the naval travel time between the east and west coasts of the Americas. The Suez Canal is another example - it allows ship transportation between Europe and Asia without the circumnavigation of Africa.
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List of isthmuses
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See also
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