SUNDA STRAIT

Indonesian Selat Sunda channel, 1670 miles (26110 km) wide, between the islands of Java (east) and Sumatra, that links the Java Sea (Pacific) with the Indian Ocean (south). There are several volcanic islands within the strait, the most famous of which is Krakatoa, which erupted in 1883, destroying 300 towns and villages and killing about 36,000 people. The strait was the scene of an encounter between U.S. and Japanese forces in March 1942. The Sunda Strait is an important passage connecting the Indian Ocean with eastern Asia.