Indian Ocean
The Indian Ocean is the third-largest ocean on Earth, covering about 27 million square miles. It is bounded by Asia to the north, Africa to the west, Australia to the east, and Antarctica to the south.
Some Key Facts About the Indian Ocean
- It got its name from the country India which borders it. However, it doesn’t belong to India.
- It has important shipping lanes that connect the Middle East, Africa, and East Asia with Europe and the Americas. Huge amounts of cargo traffic use these routes.
- Many major rivers drain into the Indian Ocean, including the Nile, Zambezi, Indus, Ganges, and Brahmaputra rivers.
- The ocean has several marginal seas – the Red Sea, Persian Gulf, Arabian Sea, Bay of Bengal, and Andaman Sea are all connected to it.
- There are several island nations situated in the Indian Ocean like the Maldives, Seychelles, Mauritius, and Sri Lanka.
- The climate around the Indian Ocean is generally warm, with temperate regions in the south. Monsoon winds blow from land to sea and back, bringing rainy and dry seasons.
- Marine life is abundant, with large populations of fish, whales, dolphins, dugongs, sea turtles, and more. The Great Barrier Reef borders the ocean.
- Some key resources from the Indian Ocean include fish, oil and natural gas from offshore areas, and beach tourism for countries like Maldives.
Indian Ocean
The Indian Ocean, the third-largest body of water on Earth, has been an essential maritime highway for centuries, facilitating trade, cultural exchanges, and interactions between diverse civilizations. Stretching from Africa to Australia, this vast expanse of water has played an important role in shaping the course of human history, serving as a bridge between nations and continents.
Let’s know more about the Indian Ocean in detail.
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