Makassar Strait facts for kids

The Makassar Strait

The Makassar Strait is a long, narrow stretch of ocean in Indonesia. It separates two large islands: Borneo to the west and Sulawesi to the east. This important waterway connects the Celebes Sea in the north to the Java Sea in the south.

Many ships use the Makassar Strait. It's a key path for very large ships. These ships are often too big to travel through the busy Strait of Malacca.

A major river, the Mahakam River, flows from Borneo into the strait. Several important cities are located along its shores. These include Balikpapan on Borneo and Makassar and Palu on Sulawesi. The city of Samarinda is also nearby, about 48 kilometers (30 miles) from the strait along the Mahakam River.

Images for kids

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  Beras Basah Island in Makassar Strait, administrative part of Bontang.

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  USS Midway (CV-41) and other warships in Makassar Strait, 28 September 1985.

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  Offshore oil rig in Makassar Strait, 2005.

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  Aur island, administrative part of South Kalimantan.

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  KM Arista ship sunk in Makassar Strait, 10 June 2015.

See also

In Spanish: Estrecho de Macasar para niños