Which strait separates the European and African continents at their closest point?

The Strait of Gibraltar separates Europe and Africa at their closest point.

The Strait of Gibraltar connects the Atlantic Ocean with the Mediterranean Sea and separates southern Spain from northern Morocco. At its narrowest point, the two continents are about 14 kilometres apart. The strait is approximately 60 kilometres long and varies in width from about 13 to 44 kilometres.

Its position has made it one of the world’s most important maritime gateways. Ships traveling between the Atlantic and Mediterranean pass through it, and its surrounding waters have long influenced trade, migration, and military strategy. The British overseas territory of Gibraltar occupies the strait’s European entrance, while Tangier and other Moroccan ports lie on the African side.

Water movement through the strait is unusual because relatively salty Mediterranean water flows westward at depth, while Atlantic water enters nearer the surface. Ancient writers associated the entrance with the Pillars of Hercules. The Bosporus also separates two continents, but it divides Europe and Asia and links the Black Sea with the Sea of Marmara.