Timor Sea

Timor Sea
Laut Timor (Indonesian) Mar de Timor (Portuguese) Tasi Mane / Tasi Timór (Tetum)
The Timor Sea at Vessoru, East Timor
Location of the Timor Sea
Location	Eastern Indian Ocean, Asia, Oceania
Coordinates	10°S 127°E / 10°S 127°E / -10; 127
Type	Sea
Etymology	Timor Island
Part of	Indian Ocean
Ocean/sea sources	Indian Ocean
Basin countries	Indonesia East Timor Australia
Surface area	610,000 km2 (240,000 sq mi)
Average depth	406 m (1,332 ft)
Max. depth	3,300 m (10,800 ft)
Islands	Ashmore and Cartier Islands, Browse Island, Tiwi Islands
Trenches	Timor Trough
Settlements	Darwin, Northern Territory

The Timor Sea (Indonesian: Laut Timor, Portuguese: Mar de Timor, Tetum: Tasi Mane or Tasi Timór) is a relatively shallow sea in the Indian Ocean bounded to the north by the island of Timor with Timor-Leste to the north, Indonesia to the northwest, Arafura Sea to the east, and to the south by Australia. The Sunda Trench marks the deepest point of the Timor Sea with a depth of more than 3300 metres, separating the continents of Oceania in the southeast and Asia to the northwest and north. The Timor sea is prone to earthquakes and tsunamis north of the Sunda Trench, due to its location on the Ring of Fire as well as volcanic activity and can experience major cyclones, due to the proximity from the Equator.

The sea contains a number of reefs, uninhabited islands and significant hydrocarbon reserves. International disputes emerged after the reserves were discovered resulting in the signing of the Timor Sea Treaty.

The Timor Sea was hit by the worst oil spill for 25 years in 2009.^[1]

It is possible that Australia's first inhabitants crossed the Timor Sea from the Malay Archipelago at a time when sea levels were lower.^{[citation needed]}