Key facts about the Strait of Hormuz

1. Just 21 miles wide between Oman and Iran

The Strait of Hormuz is a passage of water between the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman. It is located beneath Iran and more importantly, provides the only sea passage from the Persian Gulf to the open ocean. The Strait of Hormuz is considered to be one of the world’s most strategically important stress points. In dimensions, the Strait is approximately 90 miles long, and the width varies from 52 to 21 miles wide. The Strait, in modern day, is most notable for it’s navigation of oil tankers to and from the Middle East. Approximately one fifth of the world’s oil is used to channel through the Strait of Hormuz. This makes the Strait of Hormuz one of the most important strategic locations for international trade. It is said that up to 20 million barrels of oil flow through the Strait on a daily basis, which equates to around 15 or so tankers. There are two lanes for tankers to travel in through the Strait, both 2 miles wide, one for entry, the other for exiting. Oil tankers that leave the Strait will often go onto various different parts of the world, such as Africa, Asia, Europe and the Americas. Here are some key facts about the Strait of Hormuz and why it’s so important to modern day international affairs.

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