Reading a map of the Strait of Hormuz

The shape of the channel

The strait bends. Traffic entering from the Gulf of Oman heads roughly north-west, then turns west into the Gulf itself. It is not a straight corridor, and the turn happens near the narrowest section, which is part of why the traffic separation scheme exists.

North of the channel sits a cluster of Iranian islands. South of it, the Musandam Peninsula pushes into the strait as a mountainous headland with deeply indented inlets.

The traffic separation scheme

Inbound and outbound lanes each run about two miles wide, separated by a median of about the same width. Deep-draught vessels — loaded crude carriers in particular — have far less room to manoeuvre than the width of the strait suggests, because the usable water is the lane, not the channel.

How the game map differs

Our map is a game map and should not be used to understand the real waterway. Specifically:

The projection is stretched

The crossing is compressed and the channel widened for playability.

Islands are procedural

Positions are inspired by real geography; shapes are generated, not surveyed.

Names are invented

Ports, landmarks and several islands carry fictional names.

Hazards are fiction

Nothing in the game reflects real conditions, positions or events.

Common questions

Can I use the game map for navigation?

No, and it is not close enough to reality to be useful for anything except playing the game. Use official charts and notices to mariners.