The British Channel separates the westernmost island group from the rest of the Franz Josef Land archipelago. To the north the strait starts at the Queen Victoria Sea, in an southwesterly direction. It separates Prince Georg Land to the west from the smaller Koetlitz Island and Hooker Island to the east. About two-thirds down Prince Georg Land, the channel is split in two where the Nightingale Sound continues down the coast of Prince Georg Land and the De Bruyne Sound diverts to the southeast.
