Editing Sunda Strait

{{Short description|Strait between the Indonesian islands of Java and Sumatra}}

{{Infobox body of water
| name                   = Sunda Strait
| native_name            = {{native name|id|Selat Sunda}}
| image                  = The H.C.S. Sir David Scott, Captn. D.I.Ward. at the entrance of the Straights of Sunda. Febry 1830 CKS 2019.jpg
| caption                = H.C.S. ''Sir David Scott'' at the entrance to Sunda Strait, February 1830
| image_bathymetry       = Sunda strait map v4.png
| caption_bathymetry     = 
| location               =
| depth                  = {{convert|-20|m|abbr=on}}
| max-depth              = 
| outflow                =
| catchment              =
| basin_countries        = [[Indonesia]]
| length                 = 
| width                  = 
| min_width              = {{convert|24|km|abbr=on}}
| islands                = 
| etymology              = [[Sunda Kingdom]]
| coordinates            = {{coord|-5.92|105.88|type:waterbody|display=inline,title|format=dms}}
| coor_pinpoint          =
| part_of                = [[Java Sea]]
| alt                    =
| type                   = [[Strait]]
| cities                 = 
| area                   = 
| oceans                 = 
| pushpin_map            = Indonesia
| pushpin_label_position = 
| pushpin_map_alt        = Location of the Sunda Strait in Indonesia.
| pushpin_map_caption    =
}}

The '''Sunda Strait''' ({{langx|id|Selat Sunda}}) is the [[strait]] between the [[Indonesia]]n islands of [[Java island|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.<ref name="everett-heath 2005">"Sunda Islands". Concise Dictionary of World Place-Names. [[John Everett-Heath]]. Oxford University Press 2005. Oxford Reference Online. Oxford University Press.</ref>

The name also alludes to the [[Sundanese people]] native to West Java and Banten.<ref name="everett-heath 2005"/>

==Geography==
[[File:Sunda Strait Map.png|thumb|right|Map of the Sunda Strait in 1729 by Pierre van der Aa]]
Extending in a roughly southwest/northeast orientation, with a minimum width of {{cvt|24|km}} at its northeastern end between Cape Tua on Sumatra and Cape Pujat on Java, the strait is part of the Java Sea.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://iho.int/uploads/user/pubs/standards/s-23/S-23_Ed3_1953_EN.pdf |title=Limits of Oceans and Seas, 3rd edition |year=1953 |publisher=International Hydrographic Organization |access-date=28 December 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111008191433/http://www.iho.int/iho_pubs/standard/S-23/S-23_Ed3_1953_EN.pdf |archive-date=8 October 2011 }}</ref><ref name="Freeman">{{cite book |last1=Freeman |first1=Donald B. |title=Straits of Malacca: Gateway Or Gauntlet? |date=2003 |publisher=[[McGill-Queen's University Press]] |location=Montreal |isbn=0773525157 |url={{GBurl|CaiaOeNMg14C}}}}</ref> 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 {{cvt|20|m}} in parts of its northeastern end.<ref name="Freeman"/>

The strait is notoriously difficult to navigate because of this shallowness, very strong tidal currents, sandbanks, and man-made obstructions such as [[oil platform]]s off the Java coast.<ref name="Freeman"/>

For centuries, the strait was an important shipping route, especially during the period when the [[Dutch East India Company]] used it as the gateway to the [[Maluku Islands|Spice Islands]] of Indonesia (1602–1799). However, its narrowness, shallowness, and lack of accurate charting make it unsuitable for many modern, large ships, most of which use the [[Strait of Malacca]] instead.<ref name="Freeman"/>

The strait is dotted with a number of islands, many of which are volcanic in origin. They include: [[Sangiang]] (Thwart-the-Way), [[Sebesi]], [[Sebuku (Sumatra)|Sebuku]], and [[Panaitan]] (Prince's). The [[Krakatoa|1883 eruption of Krakatau]], one of these islands, had a profound effect on the area, both short and long term. Tsunamis and pyroclastic flows which floated on clouds of steam killed tens of thousands. Out of 3,000 people on nearby Sebesi at the time, not one survived. Some land was never resettled and became [[Ujung Kulon National Park]].

[[File:Port of Bakauheni and Siger Tower.JPG|thumb|[[Siger Tower]], [[Port of Bakauheni|Bakauheni]], Sumatra, at the strait's northeastern entrance]]

The Krakatoa eruption drastically altered the topography of the strait, with as much as 18–21&nbsp;km<sup>3</sup> of [[ignimbrite]] being deposited over an area of 1.1&nbsp;million km<sup>2</sup> around the volcano. However, the population has recovered and much of the coastline is now very densely populated. Aside from Krakatoa's sole remaining peak, [[Rakata]], the [[Krakatoa Archipelago]] consists of the islands of [[Lang Island|Lang]] (Panjang or Rakata Kecil), [[Verlaten]] (Sertung), and most recently, [[Anak Krakatau]], which emerged in 1927 from the original Krakatoa's shattered remains.

==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 [[cruiser]]s [[HMAS Perth (D29)|HMAS ''Perth'']] and [[USS Houston (CA-30)|USS ''Houston'']] encountered a [[Japan]]ese amphibious landing force near [[Bantam (city)|Bantam]], commanded by Rear Admiral Kenzaburo Hara.<ref>{{cite web|first=Klemen|last=L |url=https://warfare.gq/dutcheastindies/hara.html |title= Rear-Admiral Kenzaburo Hara |date=1999–2000 |work=Forgotten Campaign: The Dutch East Indies Campaign 1941-1942}}</ref> That force included a light cruiser and eleven [[destroyer]]s, four heavy cruisers and a light [[aircraft carrier]].<ref>{{cite web |first = Jan |last = Visser |url = http://www.dutcheastindies.webs.com/SundaStrait.html |title = The Sunda Strait Battle |date = 1999–2000 |work = Forgotten Campaign: The Dutch East Indies Campaign 1941-1942 |url-status = dead |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20141203155704/http://www.dutcheastindies.webs.com/SundaStrait.html |archive-date = 2014-12-03 }}</ref> The two Allied cruisers were sunk, while a Japanese [[Minesweeper (ship)|minesweeper]] and a transport vessel were sunk by friendly fire.<ref name="Freeman" />

==Planned bridge==
{{Main|Sunda Strait Bridge}}

In the 1960s proposals were made for a bridge across the Sunda Strait, and in the 1990s further suggestions arose. A new plan was announced in October 2007. It would use the islands of Ular, [[Sangiang]] and [[Prajurit]] to create a four-part [[suspension bridge]] reaching {{convert|70|m|ft|0}} above sea level. This bridge would have a maximum span of 3 kilometers, around 50% longer than the current record holder, the [[1915 Çanakkale Bridge]]. Construction was projected to begin in 2014 if funding of at least US$10 billion could be secured.<ref>{{cite news| url=http://www.theage.com.au/news/world/bridge-plan-to-link-java-and-sumatra/2007/10/04/1191091279251.html | location=Melbourne | work=The Age | first1=Mark | last1=Forbes | title=Bridge plan to link Java and Sumatra | date=October 5, 2007}}</ref>

An accord was signed in April 2012 with [[China Railway Construction Corporation]] for an $11 billion road and double track rail bridge.<ref>[[Railway Gazette International]] June 2012 p25</ref> However, in November 2014 the incoming government of President [[Joko Widodo]] shelved plans to build the bridge.<ref name=Shelve2014>Satria Sambijantoro, '[http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2014/11/03/no-more-sunda-strait-bridge-plan.html No more Sunda Strait Bridge plan'], ''The Jakarta Post'', 3 November 2014. See also '[http://www.globalindonesianvoices.com/17165/new-government-will-not-prioritize-sunda-strait-bridge-project/ New Government Will Not Prioritize Sunda Strait Bridge Project'] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190620002454/http://www.globalindonesianvoices.com/17165/new-government-will-not-prioritize-sunda-strait-bridge-project/ |date=2019-06-20 }}, '' Global Indonesian Voices'', 2 November 2014.</ref>

==Islands in the strait==
{{div col}}
* [[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
** [[Lang Island|Panjang]], or Rakata Ketjil (Lang)
** [[Sertung]] (Verlaten)
* [[Legundi]]
* [[Panaitan]] (Prince's Island)
* [[Peucang]] 
* [[Handeuleum]]
* [[Sangiang]] (Thwart-the-way)
* [[Sebesi]]
* [[Sebuku (Sumatra)|Sebuku]]
* [[Steers (island)]]
* [[Tabuan]]
{{div col end}}

===Bays===
* [[Lampung Bay]], Sumatra
* [[Semangka Bay]], Sumatra

==Gallery of nearby important channels==

<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==

{{Reflist}}

{{List of Indonesian seas}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Sunda Strait| ]]
[[Category:Landforms of Banten]]
[[Category:Landforms of Java]]
[[Category:Landforms of Sumatra]]
[[Category:Straits of the Java Sea]]
[[Category:Straits of the Indian Ocean]]
[[Category:Western Indo-Pacific]]