Java Sea

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Java Sea
Java Sea in Indramayu, West Java
Type	Sea
Primary inflows	Barito, Bengawan Solo, Brantas, Ciliwung, Cimanuk, Citarum, Jeneberang, Kahayan, Musi, Seruyan River, Sampit River
Basin countries	Indonesia
Max. length	1,600 km (990 mi)
Max. width	380 km (240 mi)
Surface area	320,000 km (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

The Java Sea (Indonesian: Laut Jawa Javanese: Segara Jawa) is an extensive shallow sea in Indonesia. It lies on the Sunda Shelf, between the islands of Borneo to the north, Java to the south, Sumatra to the west, and Sulawesi to the east. The Karimata Strait to its northwest links it to the South China Sea. Although generally considered to be a part of the western Pacific Ocean, the Java Sea is occasionally considered to be a part of the Indian Ocean.

46 m (151 ft). It measures about 320,000 km (120,000 sq mi).

It formed as sea levels rose at the end of the last ice 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 few monadnocks (granite hills that, due to their resistance to erosion, form the present islands).

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

On the North. By the Southern limit of the South China Sea [Lucipara Point (2°36′S 107°37′E / 2.600°S 107.617°E / -2.600; 107.617) in Billiton, along the North coast of this island to Tanjong Boeroeng Mandi (5°37′S 119°27′E / 5.617°S 119.450°E / -5.617; 119.450), through the Southern point of Tana Keke, to the Southern extreme of Laoet (8°22′S 117°10′E / 8.367°S 117.167°E / -8.367; 117.167) to the Western Paternoster island (7°01′S 115°18′E / 7.017°S 115.300°E / -7.017; 115.300). A line from the West point of Gedeh Bay, Kangean Island, to Tg Sedano, the Northeast extreme of Java and down the East coast to Tg Bantenan, the Southeast extreme of the island], the North and West coasts of Java to Java Hoofd (3°14′S 106°05′E / 3.233°S 106.083°E / -3.233; 106.083).

Coast of Java Sea off Anyer

The Battle of the Java Sea from February to March 1942, was one of the costliest naval battles of World War II. The naval forces of the Netherlands, Britain, Australia, and the United States were nearly destroyed trying to defend Java from Japanese attack.

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

On 29 October 2018, a Boeing 737 MAX 8 operating as Lion Air Flight 610 crashed into the Java Sea shortly after takeoff from Soekarno–Hatta International Airport in Jakarta heading towards Depati Amir Airport in Pangkal Pinang. All 189 passengers and crew on board died making it the first hull loss of a Boeing 737 MAX aircraft.

On 9 January 2021, a Boeing 737-500 (PK-CLC) operating as Sriwijaya Air Flight 182, crashed, near Laki Island, shortly after taking off from Soekarno–Hatta International Airport, en route to Supadio International Airport, with 50 passengers and 12 crew members aboard, leaving no survivors.

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 southeast Kalimantan. As the site of successful exploration for petroleum and natural gas, the Java Sea has become the basis of Indonesia's national export program. Indonesiaportal