Halmahera Sea
The Halmahera Sea is a regional sea located in the central eastern part of the Australasian Mediterranean Sea. It is centered at about 1°S and 129°E and is bordered by the Pacific Ocean to the north, Halmahera to the west, Waigeo and Southwest Papua to the east, and the Seram Sea to the south. It covers about 95,000 km2 and its topography comprises a number of separate basins and ridges, the chief of which is the Halmahera Basin reaching a depth of 2,039 m.
On its western side, the Halmahera Sea includes three large gulfs or bays which cut deep into the coast of Halmahera island, turning the east coast of that island into four huge peninsulas. These three inlets comprise Wedi Bay in the south, Buli Bay in the centre and Kao Bay in the north. A notable fourth inlet is Galela Bay further to the north, which projects into the coast of North Halmahera Regency.
Extent
The International Hydrographic Organization defines the Halmahera Sea as being one of the waters of the East Indian Archipelago. The IHO defines its limits as follows:
On the North A line from Wajaboela to Tg. Djodjefa, the Northern point of Halmahera.
On the East. A line from Tg. Gorango, the Northeastern point of Morotai Island, through Sajang and Kawé Islands to the Western extremes of Waigeo and Batanta Islands across to the Northwest point of Samawati Island, down the coast to Tg. Menonket its Southwest point, and thence to Tg. Sele, New Guinea.
On the South. The Northern limit of Ceram Sea between Obi Major and New Guinea .
On the West. The Southern limit of Molukka Sea between Halmahera and Obi Major .