What is the area of the Indian Ocean? The very name of the water area implies quite large numbers. Immediately it is worth paying attention to the fact that the Indian Ocean is the third largest among 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 look into history
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 humanity began its first long-distance travels.
On the old maps it (or rather, the western part) was called the "Eritrean Sea". BUTthe ancient Russians called him Black. In the IV century, for the first time, a consonant name with the present one began to appear: the Greek "Indicon Pelagos" - "Indian Sea", the Arabic Bar-el-Hind - "Indian Ocean". And since the 16th century, a hydronym, which was proposed by Roman scientists, was officially assigned to the ocean.
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 are Limpopo, Tigris, Ganges and Euphrates. The near-continental waters of the ocean are muddy due to the abundance of clay and sand that rivers carry into them, but its open water surface is surprisingly clean. There are many islands in the Indian Ocean. Some of them are fragments of the ancient mainland. The largest are Madagascar, Sri Lanka, Comoros, Maldives, Seychelles and many others.
The Indian Ocean has seven seas and six bays, as well as several straits. Their area is more than 11 million square meters. km. The most famous are the Red (the most s alty in the world), Arabian, Andaman seas, Persian and Bengal bays.
The ocean is located above the oldest tectonic plates that are still moving. Because of this, tsunamis and underwater volcano eruptions are not uncommon in the region.
Climatic indicators
The Indian Ocean, with an area of more than 76 million square meters. km, located in four climatic zones. The north of the water basin is influenced by the Asian continent, which is why frequent tsunamis are observed here withcharacteristic monsoonal climate. Due to high temperatures, the water heats up well, so the seas and bays are the warmest there. In the south, the southeast trade wind prevails with its cold air. Tropical hurricanes often form in the midsection.
The entire weather background is formed by monsoons - winds that change direction depending on the season. There are two of them: summer - hot and rainy and winter, with sudden changes in weather, often accompanied by storms and floods.
World of flora and fauna
The Indian Ocean, whose area is quite large, has an extremely diverse fauna and flora, both on land and in the water. The tropics are rich in plankton, which, unlike the Pacific, is replete with luminous organisms. A huge number of crustaceans, jellyfish and squid. Of the fish, flying varieties are most often found, a poisonous sea snake, tuna, and some types of sharks. On the water expanses you can see whales, seals and dolphins. The coast was chosen by giant turtles and seals.
Albatrosses and frigatebirds can be distinguished from the variety of birds. And in southern Africa there are various populations of penguins. Corals grow in shallow waters, sometimes forming entire islands. Many representatives of this region live among these beautiful structures - sea urchin and starfish, crabs, sponges, coral fish.
Like any other body of water, the Indian Ocean is replete with numerous species of algae. For example, Sargasso, which are also found in the Pacific region. Alsothere are lush and strong lithotamnia and halimedes, helping corals build atolls, turbinaria and caulerps, forming entire underwater jungles. The ebb and flow zone was chosen by mangroves - dense, always green forests.
Economic characteristics of the Indian Ocean
The Indian Ocean is divided between 28 mainland and 8 island states. Due to the fact that some species of whales are on the verge of extinction, the once very developed whaling industry is coming to naught. Fishing occupies a small percentage in the economy of this region. Mother-of-pearl and pearls are mined off the coast of Australia, Bahrain and Sri Lanka.
The ocean is the largest transport artery for ships in the region. The main maritime transport hub is the Suez Canal, which connects the Indian Ocean with the Atlantic. From there, the way opens to Europe and America. Almost most of the region's business life is concentrated in 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 we alth, of course, is the richest oil and gas fields. They are concentrated mainly in the shallows of the Persian and Suez Gulfs.
Unfortunately, human activity is becoming a threat to the integrity and preservation of this world. Large numbers of tankers and industrial ships ply across the Indian Ocean. Any leakeven a small one can be a disaster for the entire region.
