How does the Strait of Gibraltar connect the Mediterranean Sea with the Atlantic Ocean?

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The Strait of Gibraltar serves as a vital 36-mile-long channel that connects the Mediterranean Sea to the Atlantic Ocean.1

This connection is defined by a continuous exchange of water that is essential for the Mediterranean's ecological balance:

Surface Flow: A surface current generally flows eastward from the Atlantic into the Mediterranean.1
Deep Flow: A deeper, westward-moving current carries heavier, colder, and more saline water out of the Mediterranean into the Atlantic at depths below approximately 400 feet.1

Without this constant exchange through the strait, the Mediterranean would likely become a shrinking salt lake due to evaporation. Historically and economically, this passage remains a critical shipping route for southern Europe, northern Africa, and western Asia.1