The Arafura Sea is a shallow sea, comprising areas of the Gulf of Carpentaria, the continent of Australia, the region of Timor Seas, Banda Sea, Ceram Sea, and Torres Strait in the Pacific Ocean.The Arafura Sea lays on the western edge of the Pacific Ocean covering an area that is 348 mi (560 km) wide and 801.6 mi (1,290 km) long, the sea is 160-262.5 ft (50-80 m) deep. During glacial maximum, a land bridge evolved joining Australia, New Guinea by Arafura shelf, Torres Strait, and the Gulf of Carpentaria with the decline in sea levels during the last Ice Age. The Gulf of Carpentaria is bound by northern Australia on three sides and the eastern Arafura Sea on one side.The sea is situated in Australia and extends to the west of Papua New Guinea. Aboriginal people used to dominate over Torres strait. The Arafura Sea, a shallow sea, is believedto be named after ‘Alfours’ in Portuguese, meaning free men. Economically and ergonomically, fishing became dominant in the region with shrimp, grouper, barramundi, nemipteridae, and penaeid.Having an arid climate in winter and summer subsequently, the sea temperatures vary between 78.8-82.4 F (26-28 C). The total salt concentration of the sea is between 33%-35%. Unlike other seas, the Digul River is the only major tributary in the Arafura Sea. It concludes several islands, as Goulburn, Howard, Crocker, Aru (the largest) with a population of 84,138 people. Timor Seas Agreement is a significant agreement that was concerned with petroleum development in that area.The Geographical Location Of The Arafura SeaThe Arafura Sea, a curving trench, at Arafura shelf, is generally shallow, and is classified as a water body in the East Indian archipelago by International Hydrographic Organization.In the north, this water body is surrounded by the southeastern part of the Ceram Seas with the range between Karoefa, New Guinea, and Adi Island to Tg. Borang and the northern tip of Kai Besar and the eastern limit is defined by the Banda Sea with the range between Tg. Borang via Noehoe Tjoet to Tanimbar Island, then east of Yamdena Island, to the north of Selaroe passing through Anggarmasa, and meeting at the south Tg Aro Oesoe.In the east, the range of the sea includes Karoefa up to the entry of Bensbak River and meeting at York Peninsula in Australia. In the west, the range lies between Cape Don and Tanjong Aro Oesoe, the southern tip of Selaroe. In the south, the range encapsulates the north coast of Australia from the northwestern tip of the York Peninsula up to the Cape Don. The Timor Sea, Banda Sea, and the Savu Sea are all part of the East Indian archipelago.The Islands Of The Arafura SeaThe Arafura Sea at the western edge encapsulates four prime islands: Aru islands, Croker island, Goulburn islands, and Howard island.Aru Islands are in the Maluku province in the Arafura Sea has a population of 84,138 Austronesian and Papuan origin. Indigenous languages are part of the central Malayo Polynesian, Austronesian, Maluku, Nusa Tenggara, and Timor languages or are related to them.Croker Island lies in Darwin near the Northern Territory, Australia. It is surrounded by the Arafura Sea and Mountnorris Bay. It is segregated from the Cobourg Peninsula by Bowen Strait with a surface area of 128 sq mi (331.5 sq km). Goulburn Islands are in Arnhem Land and Weyirra and Warruwi are the largest islands. The dominant tribe on this island is the Warruwi speaking at least nine languages. Howard Island is in between Gumurr Gatjirrk, Gumurr Marthakal, and Northern Territory, Australia with a surface area of 108.22 sq mi (280.3 sq km).Arafura Sea can reach temperatures of 82.4 F due to its tropical maritime climate (28C).The Difference Between The Arafura Sea And The Tasman SeaIn various ways, the Tasman Sea with its coral reefs differs from the Arafura Sea. The Tasman Sea is in the South Pacific which is identified with Abel Janszoon Tasman; the Arafura Sea lies on the western edge of the Pacific Ocean.The Tasman Sea has a surface area of 890,000 sq mi (2.3 million sq km) and a width of 1,398 mi (2,250 km), depth of 18,021.7 ft (5,493 m). In the west, its range varies from Gabo Island to East Sister Island and 148th Meridian to Flinders Island. On the north coast, the range lies from the east of the Australian coast to Elizabeth reef and South East Rock. In the northeast, it moves south of South East Rock to the Three Kings Islands and the North Cape. In the southeast, it includes the south and north West Cape, Stewart Island, Auckland Island, and the Snares. In the south, it aligns from Auckland to Southeast Cape.Animals In The Arafura SeaNational Oceans Office, Australian Museum, and CSIRO made a discreet Arafura sea overview. They covered only 5% of the total area of the Arafura Sea providing valuable insights into the fauna in the sea.Invertebrates like a sponge, coral, tunicate, worm, sea anemone, brittle and feather star, crustaceans were a few of the 245 invertebrates identified along with six fish. A little deeper various other invertebrates were also discovered.Beside that mammals from Delphinidae, Bovidae, Suidae, Equidae, Felidae, Canidae, Muridae, Dugongidae live in the basin. Several species of bats like Vespertilionidae, Miniopteridae, Molossidae, Emballonuridae, and Peramelidae, Dasyuridae family also exist there.The Arafura Sea is home to sharks, sea turtles, a variety of birds, and sea snakes. The sea is home to five to seven species of turtles. Some of the species are green turtles, flatback, and hawksbill.In addition, birds from Motacillidae, Estrildidae, Nectariniidae, Hirundinidae, Timaliidae, Petroicidae, Monarchidae, Corvidae, Riphiduridae, Artamidae, Pachyciphalidae, Campephagidae, Acanthizidae, Halcyonidae, Cuculidae, Laridae, Scolopacidae, Charadriidae, Rallidae family are also common there. In the context of reptiles, Elapidae, Colubridae, Boidae, Scincidae, Agamidae, Diplodactylidae, Gekkonidae, Hylidae family are often seen. And also amphibians from Hylidae, Ranidae, Myobatrachidae, Limnodynastidae families are common.
The Arafura Sea is a shallow sea, comprising areas of the Gulf of Carpentaria, the continent of Australia, the region of Timor Seas, Banda Sea, Ceram Sea, and Torres Strait in the Pacific Ocean.
