Java Sea

Java Sea
Location of the Java Sea
Java Sea
Location	Sunda Shelf
Coordinates	5°S110°E
Type	Sea
Primary inflows	Barito,Bengawan Solo,Brantas,Ciliwung,Cimanuk,Citarum,Kahayan,Musi,Sampit River
Basincountries	Indonesia
Max. length	1,600 km (990 mi)
Max. width	380 km (240 mi)
Surface area	320,000 km2(120,000 sq mi)
Average depth	46 m (151 ft)
Settlements	Batulicin,Cirebon,Jakarta,Jepara,Makassar,Pekalongan,Probolinggo,Semarang,Surabaya,Tanjung Pandan,Tegal,Toboali,Tuban

TheJava Sea(Indonesian:Laut Jawa,Javanese:Segara Jawa) is an extensive shallow sea on theSunda Shelf,between theIndonesianislands ofBorneoto the north,Javato the south,Sumatrato the west, andSulawesito the east.Karimata Straitto its northwest links it to theSouth China Sea.It is a part of the westernPacific Ocean.

Geography

The Java Sea covers the southern section of the 1,790,000 km²(690,000 sq mi)Sunda Shelf. A shallow sea, it has a mean depth of 46 m (151 ft). It measures about 1,600 km (990 mi) east-west by 380 km (240 mi) north-southand occupies a total surface area of 320,000 km²(120,000 sq mi).

It formed as sea levels rose at the end of the lastice age.Its almost uniformly flat bottom, and the presence of drainage channels (traceable to the mouths of island rivers), indicate that the Sunda Shelf was once a stable, dry, low-relief land area (peneplain) above which were left standing a fewmonadnocks(granite hills that, due to their resistance to erosion, form the present islands).

Extent

TheInternational Hydrographic Organization(IHO) defines the Java Sea as one of the waters of theEast Indian Archipelago,with the following criteria:

On the North.By the Southern limit of theSouth China Sea[Lucipara Point (3°14′S106°05′E) thence to Tanjong Nanka, the Southwest extremity ofBangka Island,through this island to Tanjong Berikat the Eastern point (2°34′S106°51′E), on to Tanjong Djemang (2°36′S107°37′E) inBilliton,along the North coast of this island to Tanjong Boeroeng Mandi (2°46′S108°16′E) and thence a line to Tanjong Sambar (3°00′S110°19′E) the Southwest extreme ofBorneo], the South coast of Borneo and the Southern limit ofMakassar Strait[By a line from the Southwestern extreme ofCelebes(5°37′S119°27′E), through the Southern point of Tana Keke, to the Southern extreme ofLaoet(4°06′S116°06′E) thence up the West coast of that island to Tanjong Kiwi and thence across to Tanjong Petang, Borneo (3°37′S115°57′E) at the Southern end of Laoet Strait].

On the East.By the Western limit ofFlores Sea[A line from Tg Sarokaja (8°22′S117°10′E) to the Western Paternoster island (7°26′S117°08′E) thence to the Northeastern Postiljon Island (6°33′S118°49′E) and to the West point of Laikang Bay, Celebes].

On the South.By the Northern and Northwestern limits ofBali Sea[A line from the Western Paternoster Island to the East point of Sepandjang and thence through this island to the West point of Gedeh Bay on the South coast ofKangean(7°01′S115°18′E). A line from the West point of Gedeh Bay, Kangean Island, to Tg Sedano, the Northeast extreme ofJavaand down the East coast to Tg Bantenan, the Southeast extreme of the island], the North and West coasts of Java to Java Hoofd (6°46′S105°12′E) its Western point, and thence a line to Vlakke Hoek (5°55′S104°35′E) the Southern extreme ofSumatra.

On the West.The East coast ofSumatrabetween Vlakke Hoek and Lucipara Point (3°14′S106°05′E).

History

Coast of Java Sea offAnyer

TheBattle of the Java Seafrom February to March 1942, was one of the costliestnaval battlesofWorld War II.The naval forces of the Netherlands, Britain, Australia, and the United States were nearly destroyed trying to defend Java from Japanese attack.

Incident

On 28 December 2014,Indonesia AirAsia Flight 8501crashed into the Java Sea while on route toSingaporefromSurabaya,East Java. All 162 passengers and crew were killed.

On 29 October 2018,Lion Air Flight 610crashed into the Java Sea shortly after takeoff fromSoekarno–Hatta International AirportinJakartaheading towardsDepati Amir AirportinPangkal Pinang.All 189 passengers and crew on board are dead.

On 9 January 2021, a Boeing 737-500 (PK-CLC) operating asSriwijaya Air Flight 182,crashed, near Laki Island, shortly after taking off fromSoekarno–Hatta International Airport,en route toSupadio International Airport,with 50 passengers and 12 crew members aboard.

Economic activities

The southern section of the seafloor has long been recognized as geologically similar to northern Java, where oil fields occur and extend under the sea. Prospects are also favorable for oil fields in the waters off southeastKalimantan.As the site of successful exploration for petroleum and natural gas, the Java Sea has become the basis of Indonesia's export program.

Fishing is an important economic activity in the Java Sea. Over 3,000 species of marine life are found in the area. A number of national parks exist in the area such asKarimunjawa.TheThousand Islandsare located north of the national capitalJakarta,and are the city's onlyregency.

The area around the Java Sea is also a populartouristdestination.Scuba divingoffers a chance to explore and photograph underwatercaverns,wrecks,coral,sponges,and other marine life.

Further reading

• Touwen, Jeroen (editor) (2001)Shipping and trade in the Java Sea region, 1870-1940: a collection of statistics on the major Java Sea portsISBN90-6718-162-5
• (2008) "Java Sea a study on its economic impacts".