Arafura Sea

American  

[ahr-uh-foor-uh, ahr-uh-] / ˈɑr əˈfʊər ə, ˌɑr ə- /

noun

1. a part of the Pacific Ocean between northern Australia and southwestern New Guinea.

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Arafura Sea British  

/ ˌærəˈfʊərə /

noun

1. a part of the W Pacific Ocean, between N Australia and SW New Guinea

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Etymology

Origin of Arafura Sea

First recorded in 1830–40; possibly a self-designation of the Harrafora people who live in the Moluccas

Example Sentences

The Chinese guided missile destroyer and an amphibious transport dock were sailing east through the Arafura Sea between New Guinea and Australia, and later passed through the narrow Torres Strait, Australia’s defence department says.

From Reuters • Feb. 22, 2022

The Chinese vessel was sailing in the Arafura Sea off northern Australia when the incident happened on Thursday.

From BBC • Feb. 19, 2022

A 2,400-object Melanesian collection features works from every major island in the region extending from the island of New Guinea in the southwestern Pacific Ocean to the Arafura Sea, and eastward to Fiji.

From New York Times • Mar. 12, 2019

Touring the Silver Sea 2 on Friday, Indonesian Fisheries Minister Susi Pudjiastuti said she believed the frozen fish filling up its holds came from eastern Indonesia's Arafura Sea, where foreign fishing vessels are banned.

From US News • Sep. 26, 2015

Since the rise of the Arafura Sea finally separated Australia and New Guinea from each other around 10,000 years ago, gene exchange has been limited to tenuous contact via the chain of Torres Strait islands.

From "Guns, Germs, and Steel: The Fates of Human Societies" by Jared M. Diamond