Dover Strait View from France across the Strait of Dover towards the English coast Location North Sea–English Channel (Atlantic Ocean) Coordinates 51°00′N 1°27′E / 51.000°N 1.450°E / 51.000; 1.450 Coordinates: 51°00′N 1°27′E / 51.000°N 1.450°E / 51.000; 1.450 Type Strait Basin countries France England Min. width 33.3 km (20.7 mi) Average depth 30 m (98 ft) The Strait of Dover or Dover Strait , historically known as the Dover Narrows (French: pas de Calais [pɑ d(ə)‿kalɛ] - Strait of Calais ); Dutch: Nauw van Kales [nʌu̯ vɑn kaːˈlɛː] or Straat van Dover ), is the strait at the narrowest part of the English Channel, marking the boundary between the Channel and North Sea, separating Great Britain from continental Europe. The shortest distance across the strait, 33.3 kilometres (20.7 miles; 18.0 nautical miles), is from the South Foreland, northeast of Dover in the English county of Kent, to Cap Gris Nez, a cape near to Calais ...