Sulu Sea
The Sulu Sea is inter-island and belongs to the Pacific Ocean. It does not wash the shores of the continents, but is distinguished by clear boundaries along the islands. The Philippine archipelago borders a body of water in the northeast and north. Palawan Island is the border of the sea in the northwest. In the south, the border runs along the islands of Kalimantan and Sulu. The water area resembles a deep bowl filled with water.
A map of the Sulu Sea shows that it stretches between the islands, joining the straits with such seas as Sulawesi, the Philippine and South China. The sea in question has gained great popularity among tourists due to the unique sites where wonderful diving is possible. In the southern part of the reservoir there are magnificent coral reefs. Among them is the Tubbataha Atoll, which is the most attractive place for divers. This atoll is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site..
Geographic characteristics
The area of the Sulu Sea is 335 thousand square meters. km. On average, it has a depth of just over 1000 m. The deepest place is recorded at 5576 m. The inter-island straits are shallow. The Mindorro Strait, for example, is about 450 m deep. In deep-water places, the bottom is muddy. In some places, silt is mixed with volcanic particles. Near the coast, the sea has a pebble, sandy and rocky bottom. There is white coral sand near the coral formations.
Climatic features
The Sulu Sea is located in the equatorial climate zone. Its waters are always warm and gentle. In winter, the upper layers of water have an average temperature of about +25 degrees. In the summer months, the water warms up to +29 degrees. It is also warm on the coast of the Sulu Sea. Areas of reduced pressure favor the formation of moist and warm air masses. The average air temperature on the shore is + 26 degrees in summer and winter.
Sunny weather prevails here, but heavy rains fall in the summer. In this sea, medium tides are observed, with a height of no more than 3 m. Water exchange between neighboring seas is rather weak due to shallow straits. The water in the Sulu Sea is amazingly clear. Underwater visibility is 50 m.
Features of nature
The fauna of the Sulu Sea is very diverse. The seascapes are of stunning beauty. There are natural coral formations, shipwrecks, interesting plants and tropical fish. The commercial fish are mackerel and tuna. The locals are engaged in fishing for sea turtles. Major ports of the sea are Iloilo, Puerto Princesa, Zamboanga, Sandakan.
The largest inhabitants of the warm sea are stingrays, dolphins, swordfish, sharks. This reservoir is inhabited by sharks of different species, especially many reef sharks. Dangerous inhabitants of the sea are not only sharks, but also box jellyfish, blue-ringed octopuses, barracudas, moray eels, molluscs cones.
