Denmark Strait

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Not to be confused with Danish straits.

The Denmark Strait is a strait between Greenland (northwest) and Iceland (southeast). Northeast of the strait lies the island of Jan Mayen.

It connects the Arctic Ocean to the Atlantic Ocean and is 300 miles (480 km) long and 180 miles (290 km) wide at its narrowest. The cold East Greenland Current passes through the strait and carries icebergs south into the north Atlantic Ocean. It hosts important fishing grounds.

During World War II, the Battle of the Denmark Strait took place in May 1941 between German and British ships, thwarting a German squadron's attempt to break through into the Northern Atlantic Ocean. The German squadron was led by the battleship Bismarck. During the battle, HMS Hood was sunk with great loss of life.

In Iceland, this strait is known as Greenland Strait (Grænlandssund).

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