An isthmus connects two pieces of land. The connections is actually a small narrow strip of land. The most famous or recognized isthmus is the connection of Central America to South America. This isthmus is the Panama Canal. Since the area is so narrow, most times it would be helpful to create a path through the narrowest part of the isthmus.
Then a ship would not have to go all the way around a large country or continent. Other examples of an isthmus include the Suez Canal which lies between the Mediterranean Sea and the Red Sea which includes the Isthmus of Suez. Another isthmus is located near Lake Erie. Living on an isthmus allows people to be close to two different bodies of water.
