The Sunda Strait () is the strait between the Indonesian islands of Java and Sumatra. It connects the Java Sea with the Indian Ocean.

Etymology

The strait takes its name from the Sunda Kingdom, which ruled the western portion of Java (an area covering the present day West Java, Jakarta, Banten, and some of western Central Java) from 669 to around 1579.

The name also alludes to the Sundanese people native to West Java and Banten. It is essentially triangular in shape, with two large bays on its northern side. It is also very broad and deep at its southwestern end, but as it narrows to the northeast it becomes much shallower, with a minimum depth of only in parts of its northeastern end.

Battle of Sunda Strait

On March 1, 1942, the Battle of Sunda Strait—part of the larger Battle of the Java Sea—took place when the Allied cruisers HMAS Perth and USS Houston encountered a Japanese amphibious landing force near Bantam, commanded by Rear Admiral Kenzaburo Hara. That force included a light cruiser and eleven destroyers, four heavy cruisers and a light aircraft carrier. The two Allied cruisers were sunk, while a Japanese minesweeper and a transport vessel were sunk by friendly fire.

An accord was signed in April 2012 with China Railway Construction Corporation for an $11 billion road and double track rail bridge. However, in November 2014 the incoming government of President Joko Widodo shelved plans to build the bridge.

Islands in the strait

  • Calmeyer
  • Krakatau Archipelago
  • Anak Krakatau
  • Krakatau, mostly destroyed volcanic island
  • Danan (volcano), destroyed volcanic cone on Krakatau
  • Perboewatan, destroyed volcanic cone on Krakatau
  • Rakata, partially destroyed volcanic cone and remnant of original island
  • Poolsche Hoed, destroyed in 1883 eruption of Krakatoa
  • Panjang, or Rakata Ketjil (Lang)
  • Sertung (Verlaten)
  • Legundi
  • Panaitan (Prince's Island)
  • Peucang
  • Handeuleum
  • Sangiang (Thwart-the-way)
  • Sebesi
  • Sebuku
  • Steers (island)
  • Tabuan

Bays

  • Lampung Bay, Sumatra
  • Semangka Bay, Sumatra

<gallery>

File:Tamil Nadu topo deutsch mit Gebirgen.png|Gulf of Mannar

File:Andaman_nicobar_76.jpg|Cocos Strait, Duncan Passage and other Indian channels

File:Andaman_Islands.PNG|Cocos Strait is at the northern end of Andaman Islands in red square

File:India_Andaman_and_Nicobar_Islands_relief_map.png|Ten Degrees Channel

File:Ten_Degree_Channel,_Andaman_and_Nicobar_Islands,_India.png|Ten Degrees Channel, closeup

File:Strait_of_malacca.jpg|Malacca Strait

File:Straits_of_Singapore_locator_map.PNG|Singapore Strait

File:Sunda_Strait_map-fr.svg|Sunda Strait

File:Lombok_strait.png|Lombok Strait

File:My-map.png|South China Sea, Malacca Strait, Gulf of Thailand, Sulu Sea, Celebes Sea

</gallery>

See also

; Geostrategic context

  • Andaman and Nicobar Command
  • Andaman Sea
  • Bay of Bengal
  • Exclusive economic zone of Indonesia
  • Exclusive economic zone of India

; Local context

  • Sunda Straits Crisis
  • Java Head
  • Kra Canal
  • Lombok Strait
  • Makassar Strait
  • Malaccamax
  • List of road-rail bridges
  • 2018 Sunda Strait tsunami

References