Strait of Messina #
Image courtesy of NASA., under PD
The Strait of Messina separates Sicily (left-west) from the mainland of Italy (right-east) and also provides a water passage, connecting the Tyrrhenian Sea with the Ionian Sea. The landscape on both sides of the strait is characterized by rugged mountainous terrain, short-flowing rivers, and clustered urban areas along the narrow coastline.
The concentration of lighter colored areas along the shoreline identifies the location of Messina (Sicily) and Reggio di Calabria (Italy).