Molucca Sea

Molucca Sea
Laut Maluku
Location of the Molucca Sea within Southeast Asia
Molucca Sea
Location	Southeast Asia
Coordinates	0°25′S 125°25′E / 0.417°S 125.417°E / -0.417; 125.417
Type	Sea
Part of	Pacific Ocean
Basin countries	Indonesia
Surface area	200,000 km2 (77,000 sq mi)
Max. depth	4,810 m (15,781 ft)
Settlements	Bitung, Ternate City, Tidore City

The Molucca Sea (Indonesian: Laut Maluku) is located in the western Pacific Ocean, around the vicinity of Indonesia, specifically bordered by the Indonesian Islands of Celebes (Sulawesi) to the west, Halmahera to the east, and the Sula Islands to the south. The Molucca Sea has a total surface area of 77,000 square miles (200,000 square kilometres). The Molucca Sea is rich in coral and has many diving sites due to the deepness of its waters. The deepness of the water explains the reasoning behind dividing the sea into three zones, which functions to transport water from the Pacific Ocean to the shallower seas surrounding it. The deepest hollow in the Molucca Sea is the 15,780-foot (4,810-meter) Batjan (Indonesian: Bacan) basin. This region is known for its periodic experiences of earthquakes, which stems from the sea itself being a micro plate, in which the Molucca Sea is being subducted in two opposite directions: one in the direction of the Eurasian Plate to the west and the other in the direction of the Philippine Sea Plate to the east.