What Does Isthmus Mean?

The term isthmus is used to describe a narrow strip of land which connects two bigger masses of land. It is bordered by water on both sides. The term is also used in the field of anatomy where it usually refers to a narrow strip of tissue which connects two larger organs or even parts of an organ. In anatomy it is also used to refer to a narrow passage which connects two larger cavities.

It is a noun which has its roots in the Greek term isthmus.

It may be observed that Isthmuses provide a naturally good location to build canals. For instance The Panama Canal, which was built to connect the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean, has radically reduced the naval time taken to commute between the two coasts of the America continent. Another classic example is The Suez Canal which allows ship to shuttle between Europe and Asia eliminating the need for circumnavigation of Africa.

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