The Java Sea

The Java Sea is a long shallow sea located on the Sunda Shelf. It extends from the Indian Ocean. It is situated between the Indonesian island of Borneo (to the north), Java (to the south), Sumatra (to the west), and Sulawesi (to the east).

On the northwest, the Java Sea is connected to the South China Sea by the Karimata Strait. The Sunda Strait between Sumatra and Java links the Java Sea to the Indian Ocean.

Java Sea Facts for Kids

• The Java Sea covers an area of 320,000 kilometers square (120,000 square miles). It has a maximum length of 1,600 kilometers (900 miles), a maximum width of 380 kilometers (240 miles), and an average depth of 46 meters (151 feet).
• The Java Sea is believed to have been formed as sea levels rose at the end of the last ice age. An ice age is a long period of time during which the temperature of the Earth’s climate is very low. This low temperature leads to the expansion of the continental ice sheets (an ice sheet is a thick covering of ice over a large area), polar ice sheets, and mountain glaciers.
• The Java Sea consists of a group of islands that is collectively known as Sunda. These islands spread across the entire area of the Java Sea. Many of these islands belong to Indonesia and other countries as well.
• The islands in the Java Sea are beautiful, with a rich history and many cultures. They are a great choice for fun-filled holidays and sightseeing.
• The Java Sea contains over 3,000 species of marine plant and animal life, usually referred to as flora and fauna species. As a result of this, fishing is an important activity in the Java Sea.
• The Java Sea is said to contain a lot of treasure as a result of ships that sank beneath the water many years ago. One of such ships, known as Indono, which sank in 1955, is still lying at the bottom of the Java Sea, near the waters of Karimunjawa.
• The Java Sea is one of the most important waterways in the world because it contains a large amount of different marine species that are needed for the nutrition of human beings.
• In the last few years, criminal activities, by sea robbers (pirates), have increased in the Java Sea.
• During the Second World War (WWII) a good number of battles took place on the Java Sea. From February to March 1942 what is known as the Battle of Java Sea occurred between the naval forces of the allied forces (United States, Britain, Australia, and the Netherlands) and the Japanese military force. (Allied forces are a group of nations that come together to fight a common enemy).
• The waters of the Java Sea, off southeast Kalimantan, have become a place for the exploration of petroleum and natural gas, and this has helped the economic growth of Indonesia.

QUESTIONS

1. The Java Sea is a long shallow sea located on the what Shelf.

2. What is the name of the ship, which sank in 1955, and is still lying at the bottom of the Java Sea?

3. The Java Sea consists of a group of islands that is collectively known as

4. The Java Sea has a maximum length of what and a maximum width of?

5. In the last few years, criminal activities, by sea robbers (pirates), have increased in the Java Sea. Yes or No.

6. The Java Sea contains over how many species of marine plant and animal life.

7. The Sunda Strait between what and what links the Java Sea to the Indian Ocean.