Indian Ocean: area and characteristics

What is the area of the Indian Ocean? Already the very name of the water area implies quite large figures. At once it is worthwhile to pay attention to the fact that the Indian Ocean is the third largest in terms of the number of similar reservoirs of our planet. In the widest part of the ocean the distance is about 10 thousand km. This value visually connects the southern points of Africa and Australia. It is located between four continents: Antarctica, Eurasia, Africa and Australia. So, what is the area of the Indian Ocean (million km2)? This figure is 76.174 million square meters. Km.

Let's take a look at the story

The Indian Ocean in the north cuts so far into the land that the people of the ancient world defined it as a very large sea. It was in these waters that mankind began its first long voyages.

On ancient maps it (or rather, the western part) was called, "Eritrean Sea". And the ancient Rusich called him Black. In the IV century, the first thing that began to appear was a consonant name with the present: the Greek "Indikon Pelagos" - "Indian Sea", Arab Bar-El-Hind - "Indian Ocean". And already since the XVI century overseas officially established the hydronome, which was proposed by Roman scientists.

Geography

The Indian Ocean, whose area is inferior to the Pacific and Atlantic, is younger and much warmer than these reservoirs. This water body receives many rivers of the region, the largest of them - Limpopo, Tigris, Ganges and Euphrates. Near the ocean waters of the ocean are cloudy because of the abundance of clay and sand that the rivers flow in them, but the open water surface of it is surprisingly clear. In the Indian Ocean, many islands. Some of them are fragments of the ancient continent. The largest - Madagascar, Sri Lanka, Comoros, Maldives, Seychelles and many others.

Seven seas and six bays, as well as several straits, have the Indian Ocean. Their area is more than 11 million square meters. Km. The most famous are Krasnoe (the most saline in the world), the Arabian, Andaman, Persian and Bengal gulfs.
The ocean is located above the oldest tectonic plates, which are still moving. Because of this, tsunamis and eruptions of underwater volcanoes are not uncommon in the region.

Climatic indicators

The Indian Ocean, an area of more than 76 million square meters. Km, is located in four climatic zones. The north of the water basin lends itself to the influence of the Asian continent, which is why there are frequent tsunamis with a characteristic monsoon climate. Due to high temperatures, the water warms up well, so the seas and bays are the warmest. In the south, the southeast trade wind with its cold air prevails. In the middle part, tropical hurricanes are often formed.

The entire weather background is formed by monsoons - winds, which change direction depending on the season. There are only two: summer - hot and rainy and winter, with sharp weather changes, often accompanied by storms and floods.

World of flora and fauna

The Indian Ocean, the area of which is quite large, has an extremely diverse fauna and flora, both on land and in the water part. Tropics are rich in plankton, which, unlike the Pacific, is replete with luminous organisms. A huge number of crustaceans, jellyfish and squid. Of fish, there are often volatile species, poisonous sea snake, tuna, some species of sharks. On the water, you can see whales, seals and dolphins. The coast was chosen by giant turtles and sea elephants.

Of the variety of birds can be distinguished albatross and frigates. And in the south of Africa there are different populations of penguins. In shallow waters, corals grow, sometimes forming entire islands. Among these beautiful structures lives many representatives of this region - sea urchin and starfish, crabs, sponges, coral fish.

Like any other pond, the Indian Ocean is replete with numerous species of algae. For example, Sargassov, which exist in the Pacific region. Also here are lush and strong litotamnii and halimedes, helping corals build atolls, turbines and kaulerpas, forming whole underwater jungles. The zone of tides and tides was chosen by mangroves - dense, always green forests.

Economic characteristics of the Indian Ocean

The Indian Ocean is divided between 28 continental and 8 island states. Due to the fact that some species of whales are on the verge of extinction, the once very developed whaling comes to naught. Fisheries occupy a small percentage in the economy of this region. On the shores of Australia, Bahrain and Sri Lanka, mother of pearl and pearls is extracted.

The ocean is the largest transport artery for ships of the region. The main sea transport junction is the Suez Canal, which connects the Indian Ocean with the Atlantic. From there the way to Europe and America opens. Almost the majority of the region's business life is concentrated in the port cities - Mumbai, Karachi, Durban, Colombo, Dubai and others.

Due to the fact that the area of the Indian Ocean (million km2) is more than 76, this area contains a huge number of mineral deposits. Huge deposits of non-ferrous metals and ores. But the main wealth, of course, are the richest oil and gas fields. They are concentrated mainly on the shallows of the Persian and Suez bays.

Unfortunately, human activity becomes a threat to the integrity and preservation of this world. Through the Indian Ocean in large numbers, tankers and industrial vessels cruise. Any leak, even small, can be a disaster for the whole region.