Mona-Passage

Geographical location

The Mona Passage (Spanish Canal de la Mona ) is a strait in the Greater Antilles which separates the island of Hispaniola in the West with the Dominican Republic on the island of Puerto Rico to the east. The strait connecting the Atlantic and the Caribbean.

The Mona Passage is an important shipping route between the Panama Canal and the Atlantic Ocean. The 130 km wide strait is one of the most challenging sea routes in the Caribbean. Poor visibility due to mist, vast sandbanks, tidal currents and eddies, which are caused by the two islands that are the reason for the difficult passage.

Almost in the center of the strait, the eponymous island of Mona as well as the much smaller neighboring island of Monito, is both belonging to Puerto Rico. 50 km northeast of Mona Island is the island of Desecheo, which is just 21 km before Puerto Rico. Before the southeastern tip of the Dominican Republic is the island of Saona, 70 km from the island of Mona.

Most cruise ships who want to ride coming through the Mona Passage to the Caribbean from the Atlantic make, previously made ​​a stop in Samana, on the northwest coast of the Dominican Republic, and then 380 km without further stop by the Mona Passage to Puerto Rico drive. Sailing ships have to cross against the coming out of the east wind. The port city on the west coast of Puerto Rico, located at the Mona Passage is, Mayagüez.

• Strait
• Geography (Dominican Republic)
• Geography (Puerto Rico)