Strait of Malacca

The Strait of Malacca is a narrow waterway located between the Malaysian Peninsula and Sumatra. It is a vital shipping channel connecting the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is 550 miles (890km) long. High rates of piracy were reported here in the early 2000s (2000-2006). The Strait was named for the Malacca Sultanate that ruled from 1400–1511.