
Map of the Java Sea
The 'Java Sea' (
Indonesian: ''Laut Jawa'') is a large (310,000 km²) shallow sea on the
Sunda Shelf. It was formed as sea levels rose at the end of the last
ice age.
[1] The Java Sea lies between the
Indonesian islands of
Borneo to the north,
Java to the south;
Sumatra to the west, and
Sulawesi to the east.
Karimata Strait to its northwest, links it to the
South China Sea.
Fishing is an important economic activity in the Java Sea. There are over 3,000 species of marine life in the area. A number of national parks exist in the area such as
Karimunjawa. The
Thousand Islands are located north of the mainland
Jakarta. The area around the Java Sea is a popular
tourist destination.
Scuba diving offers a chance to explore and photograph underwater caverns, wrecks,
coral,
sponges, and other marine life.
The
Battle of the Java Sea, during February and March of 1942, was one of the costliest
naval battles of
World War II. The naval forces of the
Netherlands,
Britain,
Australia, and the U.S. were nearly completely destroyed trying to defend Java from
Japanese attack.
References
★ Epton, Nina. ''The islands of Indonesia''. London, Pitman 1955
★ Oosten, F. C. van ''The Battle of the Java Sea'' Publisher: London : I. Allen, 1976. ISBN 0711006156
★ Thomas, David A. ''Battle of the Java Sea''. London: Pan Books, 1971. ISBN 0330026089
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 ports'' ISBN 9067181625
Notes
1. Pleistocene Sea Level Maps
See also
★
Battle of the Java Sea
★
Karimata Strait