A waterway which links the Bay of Disune with the Bauxan Sea, thus making the Noriscan 'Peninsular' technically an island. More importantly, it connects the Eastern and Western Oceans. Sailing north around Kakranfé isn't easy but is fairly routine during the summer. However, while boats can get around the Peninsular coast it is far more hazardous. Storms strike more often, the sea is jagged with rocks and the perennial problem of Noriscan piracy remains. With the colonisation of Sh'rlathia and trade with Ellniss expanding, a dependable link between the oceans has been vital over the past fifty years.
The Narlat Canal was cut by the Erish Empire, begun in 790 and completed ten years later. Its commission was one of the first important acts of King Darian; it originally bore his name before being rechristened after the ocean god. Darian's aims were both commercial and military; link Erenland proper with the western shores of recently-conquered Astmad and use it to launch attacks on Kakranfé. The Erish did eventually capture some Kakranfan land around the Bay of Disune. However, shortly afterwards came the Twin Stroke. The Noriscans marched south to seize the west bank of the Canal while the Astic grabbed the east.
Ownership of the waterway has been in dispute ever since. Technically it still belongs to the Erish but they have never been in a position to reclaim it. Many other countries have realised that holding the banks of the Canal, and especially the Gautes Bridge which spans it, would give them some highly profitable control over shipping. A lot of the conflicts in western Flauge have been at least partially about the Narlat Canal. Most blatant was Norisca landing in the Narkusk region in 1018 and encouraging the locals to seek independence from Astmad. With Narkusk now their puppet, the Noriscans held three quarters of the canal. Erenland's intervention in 1146 and the Noriscan invasion a century later can be seen in the same light; and when Astmad gave Narkusk full independence in 1155, one condition was retaining full possession of the east bank. Even Warien once made a short-lived play for the waterway. In 1262, tired of the canal constantly changing hands, Kakranfé played a typically decisive hand. A rapid invasion grabbed the key stretches of land on both banks of the Bay of Disune from Astmad and Norisca. Despite attempts to dislodge them, including one which led to a short war with Norisca, they've held them ever since. The Kakranfans now control the Narlat Canal with brutal efficiency. All boat which pay their tolls are guaranteed safe passage. The rest are denied access. Both policies are backed up with a small fleet of warships which constantly patrol the waterway.