The dividing line between the Indian and Pacific Oceans

The dividing line between the Pacific Ocean and the Indian Ocean: the northern section runs roughly from the northern end of the Strait of Malacca to the south and east, and the southern section runs roughly from the southern corner of Tasmania to the south, that is, the 146°51' east longitude is the boundary. , with the Indian Ocean to the west and the Pacific Ocean to the east. Extended information

Introduction to the Strait of Malacca

The Strait of Malacca is a long strait between the Malay Peninsula and the Indonesian island of Sumatra. It is jointly governed by Singapore, Malaysia and Indonesia. It is an important international trade and transportation port in Malaysia in modern times. It is commonly used in the world to call the strait. The total length of the strait is about 1,080 kilometers, with a maximum width of 370 kilometers in the northwest. The narrowest point in the Singapore Strait in the southeast is only 37 kilometers. It is an international waterway connecting the Pacific and Indian Oceans.

The strategic position of the Strait of Malacca

The Strait of Malacca is an important international waterway, both economically and militarily. Comparable to Suez or Panama Canal.

The Strait of Malacca is an important passage between the Indian Ocean and the Pacific Ocean, connecting the world's three most populous countries: China, India and Indonesia. In addition, it is also an important passage from West Asia to East Asia. The economic giant Japan often calls the Strait of Malacca its "lifeline."

About 50,000 ships pass through the Strait of Malacca every year. With China's economic rise, it is estimated that this number will double in 20 years. Accounts for a quarter of the world's maritime trade. A quarter of the world's oil tankers pass through the Strait of Malacca. For example: In 2003, an estimated 11 million barrels of oil passed through the Strait of Malacca a day.

As a waterway connecting the Indian Ocean and the South China Sea, the Strait of Malacca is the shortest sea lane between India and China, and therefore one of the busiest waterways for water transportation in the world. In its early years it helped legions of Asian immigrants navigate their way through the Malay Archipelago. The Strait of Malacca was successively controlled by the Arabs, Portuguese, Dutch and British.

In the 20th century, the oil wells on the eastern coast of Sumatra not far from the Sunda Shelf have led some oil companies to start exploring for oil in the Strait of Malacca. The Strait of Malacca is used by, among other things, large oil tankers that ply between Middle East oil fields and seaports in Japan and other East Asian countries.