Community hub
Recent from talks
Knowledge base stats:
Talk channels stats:
Members stats:
Strait of Malacca
The Strait of Malacca is a narrow stretch of water, 900 kilometres (560 mi) long and from 65 to 250 km (40 to 155 mi) wide, between the Malay Peninsula to the northeast and the Indonesian island of Sumatra to the southwest, connecting the Andaman Sea (Indian Ocean) and the South China Sea (Pacific Ocean).
As the main shipping channel between the Indian and Pacific oceans, it is one of the most important shipping lanes in the world. Over 94,000 vessels pass through the strait each year (2008) making it the busiest strait in the world, carrying about 25% of the world's traded goods, including oil, Chinese manufactured products, coal, palm oil and Indonesian coffee. As of 2024, over 35% of oil transported by sea and 20% of gas flowed through the strait. Because of the high volume of traffic, modern piracy and smuggling is a concern for the strait.
The strait has historically been a contested area, with regional powers, such as the Srivijaya empire, conquering the region to control the spice trade in the 7th century. Subsequent prosperous states controlling the strait include Malacca Sultanate in the 15th century, the Johor Sultanate, the Straits Settlements, and the modern city-state of Singapore.
The name "Malacca" is traditionally associated with the Malacca tree (Phyllanthus emblica), also known as the Indian gooseberry tree, and is believed to derive from the local Malay word "Melaka". According to historical traditions, Parameswara, a Sumatran prince and the founder of the Malacca Sultanate, selected the site for his new kingdom where the city of Malacca now stands. It is said that he named the location "Melaka" after the Malacca tree under which he had rested. Over time, the name "Malacca" came to refer not only to the city but also to the strategically significant waterway between the Malay Peninsula and the Indonesian island of Sumatra, known as the Malacca Strait.
The International Hydrographic Organization define the limits of the Strait of Malacca as follows:
On the west. A line joining Pedropunt, the northernmost point of Sumatra (5°40′N 95°26′E / 5.667°N 95.433°E), and Lem Voalan, the southern extremity of Goh Puket [Phromthep Cape on Phuket Island] in Siam [Thailand] (7°45′N 98°18′E / 7.750°N 98.300°E).
On the east. A line joining Tanjong Piai (Bulus), the southern extremity of the Malay Peninsula (1°16′N 103°31′E / 1.267°N 103.517°E), and The Brothers (1°11.5′N 103°21′E / 1.1917°N 103.350°E), and thence to Klein Karimoen (1°10′N 103°23.5′E / 1.167°N 103.3917°E).
On the north. The southwestern coast of the Malay Peninsula.
Hub AI
Strait of Malacca AI simulator
(@Strait of Malacca_simulator)
Strait of Malacca
The Strait of Malacca is a narrow stretch of water, 900 kilometres (560 mi) long and from 65 to 250 km (40 to 155 mi) wide, between the Malay Peninsula to the northeast and the Indonesian island of Sumatra to the southwest, connecting the Andaman Sea (Indian Ocean) and the South China Sea (Pacific Ocean).
As the main shipping channel between the Indian and Pacific oceans, it is one of the most important shipping lanes in the world. Over 94,000 vessels pass through the strait each year (2008) making it the busiest strait in the world, carrying about 25% of the world's traded goods, including oil, Chinese manufactured products, coal, palm oil and Indonesian coffee. As of 2024, over 35% of oil transported by sea and 20% of gas flowed through the strait. Because of the high volume of traffic, modern piracy and smuggling is a concern for the strait.
The strait has historically been a contested area, with regional powers, such as the Srivijaya empire, conquering the region to control the spice trade in the 7th century. Subsequent prosperous states controlling the strait include Malacca Sultanate in the 15th century, the Johor Sultanate, the Straits Settlements, and the modern city-state of Singapore.
The name "Malacca" is traditionally associated with the Malacca tree (Phyllanthus emblica), also known as the Indian gooseberry tree, and is believed to derive from the local Malay word "Melaka". According to historical traditions, Parameswara, a Sumatran prince and the founder of the Malacca Sultanate, selected the site for his new kingdom where the city of Malacca now stands. It is said that he named the location "Melaka" after the Malacca tree under which he had rested. Over time, the name "Malacca" came to refer not only to the city but also to the strategically significant waterway between the Malay Peninsula and the Indonesian island of Sumatra, known as the Malacca Strait.
The International Hydrographic Organization define the limits of the Strait of Malacca as follows:
On the west. A line joining Pedropunt, the northernmost point of Sumatra (5°40′N 95°26′E / 5.667°N 95.433°E), and Lem Voalan, the southern extremity of Goh Puket [Phromthep Cape on Phuket Island] in Siam [Thailand] (7°45′N 98°18′E / 7.750°N 98.300°E).
On the east. A line joining Tanjong Piai (Bulus), the southern extremity of the Malay Peninsula (1°16′N 103°31′E / 1.267°N 103.517°E), and The Brothers (1°11.5′N 103°21′E / 1.1917°N 103.350°E), and thence to Klein Karimoen (1°10′N 103°23.5′E / 1.167°N 103.3917°E).
On the north. The southwestern coast of the Malay Peninsula.