The Strait of Messina is a narrow strait between the eastern tip of Sicily (Punta del Faro) and the coast of Calabria (Punto Pezzo) on the Italian mainland. The strait connects the Tyrrhenian Sea in the north with the Ionian Sea in the south. At its narrowest point, it is less than two miles wide. Tidal changes cause strong Venturi-effect currents through the strait, resulting in an unusual marine ecosystem that includes the presence of deepwater fish species. The current also controls a natural whirlpool located in the northern reach of the strait, that has been associated with the Greek myth of Scylla and Charybdis.