What is the difference between bay, gulf and straits?

The primary differences between bays, gulfs, and straits lie in their size, shape, and the way they are connected to larger bodies of water.

Bays

• A bay is a smaller body of water that is set off from a larger body of water, typically where the land curves inward. It is usually surrounded on three sides by land, with the fourth side (the mouth) wide open towards the ocean or another larger body of water125.
• Bays can vary in size but are generally smaller and less enclosed than gulfs. Examples include the Bay of Pigs, Hudson Bay, and the Bay of Bengal125.

Gulfs

• A gulf is a larger body of water, often considered a large bay, that is almost completely surrounded by land. Unlike bays, gulfs can have a narrow mouth connecting them to the open sea15.
• Gulfs are typically larger than bays. The world's largest gulf is the Gulf of Mexico, and other examples include the Gulf of California, Gulf of Aden, and the Persian Gulf15.

Straits

• A strait is a narrow passageway of water that connects two larger bodies of water, such as oceans, seas, or lakes. Straits are usually located between continents, islands, or other landmasses135.
• Unlike bays and gulfs, straits are not enclosed by land but rather serve as natural channels between larger water bodies. Examples include the Strait of Gibraltar, the Strait of Bosporus, and the Strait of Hormuz135.

In summary:

• Bays are smaller, more open inlets of water surrounded by land on three sides.
• Gulfs are larger, more enclosed bodies of water with a narrow mouth.
• Straits are narrow waterways connecting two larger bodies of water, often between landmasses.