Øresund is the strait separating Denmark from Sweden and connecting the Kattegat with the Baltic Sea.
The strait lies between Zealand, Denmark’s largest island, and Scania, the southernmost province of Sweden. Its northern entrance meets the Kattegat, while its southern waters open toward the Baltic Sea. Copenhagen stands on the Danish side, and Malmö is on the Swedish side.
Øresund is crossed by the Øresund Bridge, a combined road-and-rail link opened in 2000. The crossing also includes an artificial island and a tunnel, allowing ships and trains to pass without a high bridge spanning the entire route.
The name can appear in different forms, including Öresund in Swedish and Øresund in Danish. It is sometimes confused with the nearby Great Belt and Little Belt, which are separate Danish straits.