Sunda Strait

The Sunda Strait is a body of water between Sumatra and Java that connects the Java Sea with the Indian Ocean. Its narrowest point measures about 24 kilometers or roughly 15 miles, and strong tides plus sandbanks make navigation difficult, especially for larger vessels.

The passage served as a key route for traders and explorers traveling to the Spice Islands for centuries. In 1942, a naval battle took place here when Allied ships fought Japanese forces, and several vessels sank during the fighting.

The name Sunda Strait comes from the old Sunda Kingdom that once ruled parts of Java. Today, fishers and boat operators use this passage daily to move goods and people between the two large islands.

Small boats pass through the passage regularly, but larger ships usually prefer other routes like the Malacca Strait because of the shallow and narrow conditions. Visitors can see the volcanic islands when traveling along the coast, especially on clear days.

The Krakatau volcano located in the passage produced one of the loudest sounds in recorded history in 1883, heard around the world. After the eruption, a new island called Anak Krakatau emerged from the caldera in 1927 and continues to grow actively.