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Sulu Sea

geography Maturity 7-9 Next article →

The Sulu Sea is a large body of water. It sits in the southwestern part of the Philippines.

Roxas, Endemic plants and trees on the beach, Palawan, Philippines
Roxas, Endemic plants and trees on the beach, Palawan, Philippines

This sea is part of the East Indian Archipelago. It is also a marginal sea of the Pacific Ocean. Many different islands sit within these waters. Some islands belong to the province of Palawan. These are the Cuyo Islands and the Cagayan Islands. Other islands belong to the province of Tawi-Tawi. These are the Mapun and the Turtle Islands.

Many landforms surround this sea. Palawan sits to the northwest of the water. The Sulu Archipelago is found to the southeast. To the southwest, you will find Borneo. The Visayas are located to the northeast. The sea is connected to other waters by several paths. These paths are called straits. You can find the Iloilo Strait here. The Guimaras Strait and the Basilan Strait also lead out. The Panay Gulf is an extension of the Sulu Sea.

Tubbataha Shark
Tubbataha Shark

The sea is very deep in many spots. However, the floor rises at the southern end. This happens because the Sulu Archipelago raises the sea floor. One very special place is the Tubbataha Reef National Marine Park. It is a World Heritage Site. This park is a very important area for nature. You can find sharks living in these waters. It is a place where many living things thrive.

Water moves into the Sulu Sea from different directions. The Pacific Ocean flows in at northern Mindanao. It also flows in between the Sangihe Talaud Archipelago. This area is in North Sulawesi. The International Hydrographic Organization helps define the sea's limits. They look at how it stretches north to south. They also look at how it stretches east to west. Waves can even stretch across a wide area of the sea.

This sea is even known in stories and shows. A famous character from Star Trek is named Hikaru Sulu. He was named after this sea. The actor George Takei has shared some interesting facts about this. He said the creator, Gene Roddenberry, wanted the name to represent all of Asia. Using a sea name was better than using one country name. It is a way to connect a character to a large part of the world.

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File:Roxas, Endemic plants and trees on the beach, Palawan, Philippines.jpg
Roxas, Endemic plants and trees on the...
File:Tubbataha Shark.jpg
Tubbataha Shark.jpg
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