Strait of Kerch

The Kerch Strait connects the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov, separating the Kerch Peninsula in the west from the Taman Peninsula in the east. The strait is 4.5 kilometres (2.8 mi) to 15 kilometres (9.3 mi) wide and up to 18 metres (59 ft) deep.
The most important harbor is the Crimean city of Kerch which gives its name to the strait, formerly known as the Cimmerian Bosporus. The Russian side of the strait contains the Taman Bay encircled by the Tuzla Spit to the south and Chushka Spit to the north. The most important settlement on the Russian side is Taman where an important cargo port is under construction.
==Ferry and bridge transportation==
After the war, ferry transportation across the strait was established in 1952, connecting Crimea and the Krasnodar Krai (Port Krym – Port Kavkaz line). Originally there were four train ferry ships; later three car-ferry ships were added. Train transportation continued for almost 40 years. The aging train ferries became obsolete in the late 1980s and were removed from service. In the autumn of 2004, new ships were delivered as replacements and train transportation was re-established.
===Port Krym===
Port Krym has a ferry connection with Port Kavkaz on the eastern (Russian) shore of the strait. The port is also a base for pilot boats which guide navigation through the Strait of Kerch. The port is served by a fleet of three ships which are property of the Ukrainian State Company "Kerch Ferry" as well as two more ships of the Russian company "ANShIP" which provides railroad ferry connection.
===Kerch Strait bridge===
The Kerch Strait bridge is a proposal for a bridge spanning the Strait of Kerch between the Chushka Spit, Taman Peninsula, Russia and the Kerch Peninsula, Crimea, Ukraine. The current connection is by ferry between Port Kavkaz and Port Krym. On 25 April 2010, Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych and Russian President Dmitry Medvedev signed an agreement to build the bridge
Category:Water
Category:Black Sea
Category:Places