Why in news?
Recently the U.S. Navy's advanced USS Gerald R. Ford carrier strike group transit through the strait on November 16, 2025, as part of a major military buildup for a counter-narcotics operation in the Caribbean.
About
- The Anegada Passage is a channel in the West Indies connecting the Atlantic Ocean with the Caribbean Sea.
- It is about 40 miles (65 km) wide.
- The passage separates the British Virgin Islands to the west from the Leeward Islands to the southeast.
- It is the deepest channel in the eastern Caribbean, with depths exceeding 7,550 feet (2,300 meters).
Significance
- It is a major shipping lane for vessels transiting to and from the Panama Canal, making it important for maritime trade.
- The passage represents one of the two main sills through which oceanic deep water flows into the Caribbean Sea, influencing water circulation and marine ecosystems.
- The passage is known for challenging sailing conditions, with strong winds and waves making navigation difficult.
- It plays a role in oceanographic processes impacting the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC) by serving as a pathway for subtropical gyre inflow and cross-equatorial water flow.
- Ecologically, it is adjacent to coral reefs and marine habitats important for biodiversity in the Caribbean region.
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