Timor Sea

Timor Sea is a beautiful hydrocarbon rich sea located to the west of Australia and to the east of Arafura Sea and south of Timor Island. It is believed that Australia’s first inhabitants got to Australia through the Timor Sea. The International Hydrographic organisation which is an intergovernmental organisation established in 1921 for the protection of the marine environment considered the Timor Sea to be part of the East Indian Waters.

Timor Sea Facts for Kids

• Deep within the Timor Sea is a large reserve of natural oil and gas. After refining natural oil it becomes the fuel used to power vehicles. To tap the large oil reserve a pipeline exists from the Joint Petroleum Development Area to Wickham Point.
• The average depth of the Timor Sea is 406 m while the maximum depth is 3,200 m.
• Tropical storms are known to originate or pass through the Timor Sea.
• The Islands located within the Timor Sea are Melville Island, Asmore, Cartier Islands and parts of the Tiwi Islands.
• Eight rivers flow into the Timor Sea and they are King River, Fish River, Victoria River, Dry River, Alligator Rivers, Ord River, Forrest River, Pentecost River and Durak River.
• The surface area of Timor Sea is 610,000km2. This makes the sea larger than the European country of Ukraine.
• Australia’s largest oil spill occurred in the Timor Sea. The spill lasted from August 21 to November 3, 2009. During the spill 400 barrels of oil leaked each day.
• Due to its proven large reserve of hydrocarbon, the ownership of the sea has been a subject of disputes among Australia and Indonesia. To resolve the disputes a treaty called the Timor Sea treaty was established.
• The sea was used by the Japanese Navy during the Second World War to launch air raids on Australia.
• The Timor Sea is home to rare species of marine animals which includes the blue and beaked whales, short-finned pilot whales, melon headed whales, Bottlenose dolphin and five other rare species of dolphins.
• The deepest point of Timor Sea is Timor Trough and is considered the south-east extension of Java Trench.
• Darwin, Australia is the only large city that touches on the coast of Timor Sea.

Question: What is the deepest point of the Timor Sea called?

Answer: The deepest point of Timor Sea is Timor Trough.

Question: What is the surface area of Timor Sea?

Answer: The surface area of Timor Sea is 610,000km2

Question: Identify some of the rare species of marine animals found in the Timor Sea

Answer: The Timor Sea is home to rare species of marine animals like the blue and beaked whales, short-finned pilot whales, melon headed whales and Bottlenose dolphin.

Question: What is the natural resources found in the Timor Sea?

Answer: A huge reserve of natural oil and gas is found beneath the Timor Sea

Question: What is the average and maximum depth of the Timor Sea?

Answer: The average depth of the Timor Sea is 406 m while the maximum depth is 3,200 m

Question: Where did the Australia’s biggest oil spill occur?

Answer: Australia’s largest oil spill occurred in the Timor Sea and it lasted from August 21 to November 3, 2009.

Question: Name the rivers that flow into the Timor Sea.

Answer: Eight rivers flow into the Timor Sea and they are King River, Fish River, Victoria River, Dry River, Alligator Rivers, Ord River, Forrest River, Pentecost River and Durak River.

Question: Identify the islands that are located within the Timor Sea

Answer: The islands that are located within the Timor Sea are the Melville Island, Asmore, Cartier Islands and parts of the Tiwi Islands.

Question: What is the name of the only large city that touches the coast of Timor Sea?

Answer: Darwin, Australia is the only large city that touches on the coast of Timor Sea.