Strait of Bonifacio

Strait of Bonifacio
Bucchi di Bunifaziu (Corsican) Bocchi di Bunifaciu (Gallurese) Buccas de Bonifatziu (Sardinian)
Strait of Bonifacio
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Location	Mediterranean Sea
Coordinates	41°18′43″N9°12′46″E / 41.31194°N 9.21278°E / 41.31194; 9.21278
Type	Strait
Basin  countries	France Italy
Min. width	11 kilometres (6.8 mi)
Max. depth	100 metres (330 ft)
Settlements	Bonifacio

The Strait of Bonifacio (French : Bouches de Bonifacio; Italian : Bocche di Bonifacio; Corsican : Bucchi di Bunifaziu; Gallurese : Bocchi di Bunifaciu; Sardinian : Buccas de Bonifatziu; Ligurian : Bocche de Bunifazziu; Latin : Fretum Gallicum, Fretum Taphros) is the strait which connects the islands of Corsica and Sardinia. It is named after the Corsican town Bonifacio, the most southerly on the island, which was in turn named after Boniface I, Margrave of Tuscany, who founded a citadel in its location circa 828AD. ^[1]

Location

At its narrowest point, the strait is 11 km (6.8 mi) wide ^[2] and divides the Tyrrhenian Sea from the western Mediterranean Sea. Its maximum depth is 100 metres (330 ft). ^[3] The Sea of Sardinia and the Gulf of Asinara are located to the west of the Strait. ^[4]

The strait is notorious among sailors for its weather, currents, shoals, and other obstacles. The strait, while relatively narrow, has no bridge crossing and relies on ferry services. ^[4]

Disasters

The most famous disaster in the Strait of Bonifacio was that of the French frigate Sémillante on February 15, 1855. Sémillante had left the port of Toulon the day before on her way into the Black Sea to supply the Crimean War with troops. A storm caused her to hit a reef; the ship sank and none of the 750 soldiers on board survived. ^[4]

After a tanker disaster in 1993, the passage through the Strait of Bonifacio has been prohibited for French and Italian flag ships with dangerous goods. Passage for ships with dangerous goods sailing under other flags is strongly discouraged and subject to mandatory piloting. ^{[5] [6]}

Gallery

• Strait of Bonifacio
• 
  Location of the Strait.
• 
  The Strait as seen from Santa Teresa di Gallura in Sardinia; Corsica is in the background.
• 
  The Strait as seen from the northernmost tip of Sardinia; the southern coast of Corsica is barely visible.
• 
  The Strait as seen from the Corsican coast.
• 
  The Strait as seen from the air.

See also

• France–Italy Maritime Boundary Agreement
• Lavezzi archipelago
• Maddalena archipelago

References

1. "Columbia Electronic Encyclopedia, 6th Edition". Bonifacio. 1 March 2021. pp. 1-1–1.
2. "European Space Agency Observing the Earth". web page. European Space Agency. Retrieved 4 October 2011.
3. "International Maritime Organization Marine Environment Protection Committee 61st Session, Agenda Item 9 Annex, page 1" (PDF). International Maritime Organization. Retrieved 4 October 2011.
4. "Where Is The Strait Of Bonifacio?". WorldAtlas. 11 December 2019. Retrieved 20 June 2025.
5. "The Strait of Bonifacio: a Particularly Sensitive Sea Area (PSSA)" . Retrieved 18 June 2013.
6. "IMO Resolution A.666(18) Navigation in the Strait of Bonifacio" (PDF). Retrieved 18 June 2013.