Anegada Passage
| Anegada Passage | |
|---|---|
Map of the British Virgin Islands, with the Anegada Passage labeled at right side. | |
| Location | British Virgin Islands Anguilla |
| Coordinates | 18°22′41″N 63°50′15″W / 18.37806°N 63.83750°W |
| Max. length | 104 kilometres (65 mi) |
| Max. width | 127 kilometres (79 mi) |
| Average depth | 2,300 metres (7,500 ft) |
The Anegada Passage /ˌænəˈɡɑːdə/, also known as the Anegada Trough, is a strait in the Caribbean that separates the British Virgin Islands and the British ruled Sombrero Island of Anguilla, and connects the Caribbean and the Atlantic Ocean. It is 2300 m deep. Because the threshold depths are 1800 and 1600 m, Atlantic deep water from 1600 m level may flow into the deep areas in the Caribbean Sea.
The Anegada Passage is a key shipping lane for the Panama Canal. Often called the "Oh-my-god-a Passage", it is considered a difficult passage for sailors because of the winds, waves, and swells.
The Anegada Passage was the site of the 1867 Virgin Islands earthquake and subsequent tsunami.