2025 for January 1970

A new cyclonic circulation recently developed over the central region of the Strait of Malacca, reaching an altitude of 5.8 km.

It connects the Andaman Sea (Indian Ocean) and the South China Sea (Pacific Ocean).
It runs between the Indonesian island of Sumatra to the west and peninsular (West) Malaysia and extreme southern Thailand to the east.
The Strait of Malacca’s name was derived from the Malacca Sultanate, who governed the archipelago from 1400 until 1511.
The strait has a width of about 890 kilometres and a depth of 25 meters.
It has an area of about 25,000 square miles (65,000 sq.km.).
The climate of the strait is hot and humid and is characterized by the northeast monsoon during the (northern) winter and the southwest monsoon during the summer.
It links the Indian and Pacific oceans and is one of the busiest and most important shipping lanes in the world.
Singapore, Malaysia, and Indonesia control the joint patrolling of the Malacca Strait.
Significance:
- Roughly 60% of India’s seaborne trade and almost all of its LNG imports pass through the Malacca Strait.
- The route is also a choke point for Chinese shipping, which makes it strategically sensitive.

Source: ODTV

Strait of Malacca FAQs

Q1: The Strait of Malacca connects which two major water bodies?

Ans: It connects the Andaman Sea (Indian Ocean) and the South China Sea (Pacific Ocean).

Q2: Which countries are primarily involved in the joint patrolling of the Strait of Malacca?

Ans: Singapore, Malaysia, and Indonesia

Q3: Why is the Strait of Malacca significant for India’s maritime trade?

Ans: Roughly 60% of India’s seaborne trade and almost all of its LNG imports pass through the Malacca Strait.