Timor Sea facts for kids
The Timor Sea is a sea that isn't very deep. It's found between the island of Timor to the north and Australia to the south. To its east is the Arafura Sea, and to its west is the larger Indian Ocean.
This sea is home to many coral reefs and islands where no one lives. It also has important reserves of oil and gas, which are called hydrocarbons. In 2009, the Timor Sea experienced a very large oil spill, one of the biggest in 25 years.
Exploring the Timor Sea
The waters to the east of the Timor Sea are known as the Arafura Sea. The Timor Sea also has three large bays along the northern coast of Australia. These are the Joseph Bonaparte Gulf, Beagle Gulf, and Van Diemen Gulf.
The city of Darwin in Australia is the only big city right by the Timor Sea. A smaller town called Wyndham is also located near one of its inlets.
Many rivers flow into the Timor Sea from Australia. These include the Victoria River and the Alligator Rivers from the Northern Territory. Rivers like the Ord River and Pentecost River from the Kimberley region also empty into this sea.
The Timor Sea is about 480 kilometers (300 miles) wide. It covers a huge area of about 610,000 square kilometers (235,000 square miles). The deepest part is called the Timor Trough, which is in the northern area. It goes down about 3,300 meters (10,800 feet). Most of the sea, however, is much shallower, usually less than 200 meters (650 feet) deep.
In 2010, scientists reported finding a very large crater on the seabed of the Timor Sea. It was about 50 kilometers (31 miles) wide!
Islands and Reefs
There are several important islands in the Timor Sea. One of them is Melville Island, which is part of Australia's Tiwi Islands. Another important group of islands is the Australian-governed Ashmore and Cartier Islands.
It's believed that early humans traveled to Australia by "island-hopping" across the Timor Sea. This means they moved from one island to another until they reached the mainland.
The sea also has several famous coral reefs. These include the Scott and Seringapatam Reefs. Further west, on the same underwater platform, you can find the beautiful Rowley Shoals.
Images for kids
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Tropical cyclone Floyd over the Timor Sea in 2006.
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An oil slick from the Montara oil spill in the Timor Sea in September 2009.
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A protest related to the Timor Sea in December 2013.
See also
In Spanish: Mar de Timor para niños
