Which sea passage separates Europe from Africa at the western end of the Mediterranean?

The Strait of Gibraltar separates Europe from Africa at the western end of the Mediterranean.

The strait lies between southern Spain and northern Morocco, linking the Mediterranean Sea with the Atlantic Ocean. At its narrowest point, it is about 14 kilometres wide. The Rock of Gibraltar stands on the European side and gives the passage its modern name.

The waterway has been important since antiquity because it is the natural gateway between the Atlantic and Mediterranean worlds. Ancient Greeks called the surrounding landmarks the Pillars of Hercules. Control of the passage has influenced trade, naval strategy, and migration for thousands of years.

The strait is also a major biological boundary. Its currents include an upper flow of relatively less salty Atlantic water into the Mediterranean and a deeper return flow of denser Mediterranean water toward the Atlantic. It is sometimes confused with the Bosporus or Dardanelles, which connect the Black Sea system with the Aegean and Mediterranean.