Which body of water separates Europe from Africa at the western entrance to the Mediterranean Sea?

The Strait of Gibraltar separates Europe from Africa at the western entrance to the Mediterranean Sea.

It lies between southern Spain and northern Morocco, connecting the Atlantic Ocean with the Mediterranean. At its narrowest point, the strait is about 14 kilometres wide. The Rock of Gibraltar rises on the European side and is one of the waterway’s best-known landmarks.

The strait is strategically important because ships moving between the Atlantic and Mediterranean must pass through it. It is also a major route for migratory birds and marine animals. Strong currents flow in both directions: relatively less-salty surface water enters the Mediterranean, while denser deep water flows outward into the Atlantic.

In ancient geography, the two sides were known as the Pillars of Hercules. The name Gibraltar derives from Jabal Ṭāriq, Arabic for “Mountain of Tariq,” referring to the eighth-century commander Tariq ibn Ziyad.