View source for Luzon Strait

{{Short description|Strait between Luzon and Taiwan}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2023}}
{{Use Philippine English|date=January 2023}}
{{Infobox body of water
| name               = Luzon Strait
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| image              = Philippines-map-blank.png
| alt                = 
| caption            = The Luzon Strait between the islands of [[Luzon]] and [[Taiwan]]
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| location           = 
| coords             = {{coord|21|0|N|121|0|E|display=title}}
| type               = 
| inflow             =
| outflow            =
| catchment          =
| basin_countries    = [[Luzon]] island of the [[Philippines]], [[Taiwan]]
| length             =
| width              = {{convert|250|km|sp=us}}
| depth              =
| max-depth          = ca. {{convert|4000|meters|ft}}
| islands            =
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| pushpin_map             = Southeast Asia
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[[File:1876 Imray Blue-back Nautical Chart or Map of Taiwan (Formosa), China - Geographicus - Taiwan-imray-1876.jpg|thumb|250px|Old map of the Luzon Strait]]
The '''Luzon Strait''' (Tagalog: ''Kipot ng Luzon'', {{zh|t=呂宋海峽|poj=Lū-sòng Hái-kiap|p=Lǚsòng hǎixiá}}) is the [[strait]] between [[Luzon]] and [[Taiwan]].  The strait thereby connects the [[Philippine Sea]] to the [[South China Sea]] in the western [[Pacific Ocean]].<ref>[https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/oceans/pacific-ocean/ "Pacific Ocean"]. CIA World Factbook. Retrieved on June 20, 2011.</ref><ref>[https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/graphics/ref_maps/pdf/southeast_asia.pdf "Southeast Asia Map"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120916231056/https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/graphics/ref_maps/pdf/southeast_asia.pdf |date=September 16, 2012 }}. CIA World Factbook. Retrieved on June 20, 2011.</ref>

This body of water is an important strait for shipping and communications. Many ships from the Americas use this route to go to important East Asian ports. Many [[submarine communications cable]]s pass through the Luzon Strait. These cables provide important data and [[telephony]] services to [[mainland China]], [[Hong Kong]], [[Taiwan]], [[Japan]] and [[South Korea]].<ref>Greenlees, Donald and Arnold, Wayne (2006-12-29). [https://archive.today/20120525182613/http://news.com.com/Asia+scrambles+to+fix+quake+damage+to+data+cables/2100-1037_3-6146387.html?tag=nefd.top "Asia scrambles to fix quake damage to data cables"]. CNET News.com.<!-- Bot generated title --></ref>

== Description ==
The Luzon Strait is approximately {{convert|250|km|sp=us}} wide containing a number of islands belonging to the Philippines that are grouped into two: the islands comprising the province of [[Batanes]] and the [[Babuyan Islands]], which are part of the province of [[Cagayan]]. The strait is divided into a number of smaller channels. The [[Babuyan Channel]] separates Luzon from the Babuyan Islands, which is separated from Batanes by the {{ill|Balintang Channel|tl|Bambang ng Babuyan|display=y}}. Batanes is separated from Taiwan by the [[Bashi Channel]].{{Citation needed|date=January 2021}}

Some of the largest [[ocean waves]] in the world, at times over 170 meters in height and stemming from tides and ocean currents, are found in the north of the strait. These waves or currents are underwater and rarely break the surface, thus posing no danger to shipping but are sometimes visible to satellites.  The oscillation is largely prompted by a long north–south ridge which covers almost all of the strait, then amplified in the northern section by a second parallel ridge.<ref>Oskin, Becky (January 9, 2014). [http://www.livesciLuzonence.com/42459-huge-ocean-internal-waves-explained.html "Ocean's Huge Hidden Waves Explained""]. LiveScience.com. Retrieved on 2014-01-13.</ref>  The depth of the strait reaches the 3,500&nbsp;m and 4,000 contours in north–south trenches in the middle and south-western edge.{{Citation needed|date=January 2021}}

== History ==
{{see also|Japanese occupation of the Philippines}}
The Luzon Strait was part of the [[Japanese people|Japanese]] invasion route during the [[Second World War]]. On December 8, 1941 (the same day as the Japanese [[attack on Pearl Harbor]], due to the [[International Date Line]]), forces of the [[Empire of Japan]] landed on Batanes. By December 10, they had occupied [[Camiguin de Babuyanes]] in the Babuyan Islands (not to be confused with the island-province of [[Camiguin]] off northern [[Mindanao]]) in a soon-abandoned attempt to establish a [[seaplane]] base, and on the same day landed at [[Aparri, Cagayan]] on Luzon.{{Citation needed|date=January 2021}}

Subsequently, during the Second World War, many [[United States|US]] [[submarine]]s hunted Japanese [[convoy]]s passing through the strait on their way from the [[East Indies]] to Japan.{{Citation needed|date=January 2021}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

{{List of Philippine seas}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Straits of the Philippines]]
[[Category:Straits of the South China Sea]]
[[Category:Borders of the Philippines]]
[[Category:Straits of Taiwan]]
[[Category:International straits]]
[[Category:Borders of the Republic of China]]