Which strait separates the Malay Peninsula from Sumatra?

The Strait of Malacca separates the Malay Peninsula from the Indonesian island of Sumatra.

This long, narrow waterway runs between mainland Southeast Asia and Sumatra, linking the Andaman Sea and the South China Sea. It is one of the world's most important maritime chokepoints because ships use it to travel between the Indian Ocean and the Pacific Ocean without making a much longer detour.

The strait has shaped regional history for centuries. Srivijaya controlled parts of the route from the 7th century, while the Malacca Sultanate later prospered from trade passing through it. The waterway's name is associated with Malacca, the historic port city on the Malay Peninsula.

Do not confuse it with the Sunda Strait, which separates Sumatra from Java, or the Lombok Strait, which lies farther east between Bali and Lombok. Malaysia, Indonesia, Singapore, and Thailand all have maritime interests connected with the strait.