Lombok Strait

The Lombok Strait is a busy stretch of water in Indonesia.

It sits between the islands of Bali and Lombok. The Gili Islands are located on the Lombok side of this passage. This strait connects the Bali Sea to the Indian Ocean. It is a very important path for the world's oceans. One of the main jobs it does is moving water. This movement is called the Indonesian Throughflow. It helps exchange water between the Pacific and Indian Oceans.

This deep water creates a special boundary for nature. Scientists call this the Wallace Line. It is named after a man named Alfred Russel Wallace. He noticed that animals on each side were very different. On one side, the animals come from the Indomalayan realm. On the other side, the animals come from Australasia. The deep water kept these groups separate for a long time. During the Pleistocene ice age, sea levels were much lower. Bali and Java were connected to Asia, but Lombok stayed separate. This kept the Asian animals away from the Australasian ones.

Life under the waves is incredibly rich and diverse. A 2001 expedition found some of the richest coral reefs in the world. Divers visit the area to see many living things. You can find stony corals and soft corals there. There are also many sponges, snails, and types of fish. Many marine mammals live in these waters too. You might see longnosed spinner dolphins or bottlenose dolphins. However, some animals face hard times from fishing activities. Large catches of manta rays and sharks have been recorded in the past.

Because the strait is so deep, it is useful for big ships. It is much deeper than the Strait of Malacca. Some very large vessels use it to travel safely. This makes the strait a major path for global trade. Because of this, there are many maritime issues to manage. These include things like piracy and illegal fishing. The Indonesian government works to keep these waters safe. They use a plan called the Global Maritime Fulcrum. They also create Marine Protective Areas to help the environment.

Even tiny living things play a role in the strait. Some bacteria live here that can help clean up oil. These are called oil-degrading bacteria. They are very helpful when crude oil is traded through the area. Scientists have found several types of these bacteria. They can have different colors like white, yellow, or purple. The water itself is also very active and moving. Strong tides move through a place called the Nusa Penida Sill. This constant movement helps shape the whole region.