Strait of Malacca

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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 approximately 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 flows 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...

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