What strait separates the islands of Corsica and Sardinia?

The strait separating Corsica and Sardinia is the Strait of Bonifacio. It lies between the French island of Corsica to the north and Italy’s Sardinia to the south, connecting the Mediterranean waters around the two islands.

At its narrowest point, the strait is about 11 kilometers wide and reaches a maximum depth of roughly 100 meters. It is named after Bonifacio, the Corsican town on the southern tip of Corsica; the settlement itself was founded around 828 by Boniface I, Margrave of Tuscany.

The passage is challenging for ships because of strong winds, shifting currents, reefs and shallow areas. The French frigate Sémillante sank there during a storm on February 15, 1855, with the loss of everyone aboard, including about 750 soldiers. Following a 1993 tanker disaster, French and Italian ships carrying dangerous goods were prohibited from using the strait. It is often confused with the Strait of Messina, which separates Sicily from mainland Italy.