Indian ocean
General data
- Water type: Ocean
- Progression: Planet Earth
- Climates: Tropical, Subtropical
- Continents: Africa, Asia, Australia & Oceania
- Countries: Australia, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Egypt, India, Indonesia, Kenya, Madagascar, Malaysia, Maldives, Myanmar, Oman, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Thailand
Description
The Indian Ocean is the third-largest of the world, covering 70,560,000 km2 (27,240,000 sq mi) or 19.8% of the water on surface. It is bounded by Asia to the north, Africa to the west and Australia to the east. To the south it is bounded by the Southern Ocean or Antarctica, depending on the definition in use. Along its core, the Indian Ocean has some large marginal or regional seas such as the Arabian Sea, the Laccadive Sea, the Somali Sea, Bay of Bengal, and the Andaman Sea. Rivers The Indian Ocean drainage basin covers 21,100,000 km2 (8,100,000 sq mi), virtually identical to that of the Pacific Ocean and half that of the Atlantic basin, or 30% of its ocean surface (compared to 15% for the Pacific). The Indian Ocean drainage basin is divided into roughly 800 individual basins, half that of the Pacific, of which 50% are located in Asia, 30% in Africa, and 20% in Australasia. The rivers of the Indian Ocean are shorter on average (740 km (460 mi)) than those of the other major oceans. The largest rivers are (order 5) the Zambezi, Ganges-Brahmaputra, Indus, Jubba, and Murray rivers and the Shatt al-Arab, Wadi Ad Dawasir (a dried-out river system on the Arabian Peninsula) and Limpopo rivers. After the breakup of East Gondwana and the formation of Himalayas, the Ganges-Brahmaputra rivers flowed into the largest delta on the world - Bengal delta. Marginal seas Along the east coast of Africa, the Mozambique Channel separates Madagascar from mainland Africa, while the Sea of Zanj is located north of Madagascar. On the northern coast of the Arabian Sea, Gulf of Aden is connected to the Red Sea by the strait of Bab-el-Mandeb. In the Gulf of Aden, the Gulf of Tadjoura is located in Djibouti and the Guardafui Channel separates Socotra island from the Horn of Africa. The northern end of the Red Sea terminates in the Gulf of Aqaba and Gulf of Suez. The Indian Ocean is artificially connected to the Mediterranean Sea without ship lock through the Suez Canal, which is accessible via the Red Sea. The Arabian Sea is connected to the Persian Gulf by the Gulf of Oman and the Strait of Hormuz. In the Persian Gulf, the Gulf of Bahrain separates Qatar from the Arabic Peninsula. Along the west coast of India, the Gulf of Kutch and Gulf of Khambat are located in Gujarat in the northern end while the Laccadive Sea separates the Maldives from the southern tip of India. The Bay of Bengal is off the east coast of India. The Gulf of Mannar and the Palk Strait separates Sri Lanka from India, while the Adam Bridge separates the two. The Andaman Sea is located between the Bay of Bengal and the Andaman Islands. In Indonesia, the so-called Indonesian Seaway is composed of the Malacca, Sunda and Torres Straits. The Gulf of Carpentaria of located on the Australian north coast, while the Great Australian Bight constitutes a large part of its southern coast. Arabian Sea - 3.862 million km2 Bay of Bengal - 2.172 million km2 Andaman Sea - 797,700 km2 Laccadive Sea - 786,000 km2 Mozambique Channel - 700,000 km2 Timor Sea - 610,000 km2 Red Sea - 438,000 km2 Gulf of Aden - 410,000 km2 Persian Gulf - 251,000 km2 Flores Sea - 240,000 km2 Molucca Sea - 200,000 km2 Oman Sea - 181,000 km2 Great Australian Bight - 45,926 km2 Gulf of Aqaba - 239 km2 Gulf of Khambhat Gulf of Kutch Gulf of Suez
Mugiliformes - Mullets
Perciformes - Perches
Carangiformes - Jacks
Istiophoriformes - Barracudas
Scorpaeniformes - Mail-cheeked fishes
Lamniformes - Mackerel sharks
Carcharhiniformes - Ground sharks
Torpediniformes - Electric rays
Orectolobiformes - Carpet shark
Elopiformes - Tarpons and tenpounders
Coelacanthiformes - Coelacanths
Squatiniformes - Angelsharks
Spariformes - Breams and porgies
Hexanchiformes - Six-gill sharks
Rhinopristiformes - Shovelnose rays
Myliobatiformes - Stingrays
Scombriformes - Mackerels
Anguilliformes - Eels and morays
Tetraodontiformes - Puffers and filefishes
Holocentriformes - Squirrelfishes
Lophiiformes - Anglerfishes
Acanthuriformes - Surgeonfishes
Labriformes - Wrasses
Gobiiformes - Gobies
Lampriformes - Lamprids
Squaliformes - Sleeper and dogfish sharks
Mulliformes - Goatfishes
Centrarchiformes - Basses and sunfishes
Myxiniformes - Hagfishes
Syngnathiformes - Pipefishes and Seahorses
Gadiformes - Cods
Beloniformes - Needlefishes
Pristiophoriformes - Saw sharks
Notacanthiformes - Spiny eels
Gonorynchiformes - Milkfishes
Beryciformes - Sawbellies
Ophidiiformes - Cusk-eels
Acropomatiformes - Oceanic basses
Trachiniformes - Weeverfishes
Kurtiformes - Nurseryfishes & Cardinalfishes
Pleuronectiformes - Flatfishes
Aulopiformes - Grinners
Blenniiformes - Blennies
Clupeiformes - Herrings
Atheriniformes - Silversides
Albuliformes - Bonefishes
Siluriformes - Catfishes
Heterodontiformes - Bullhead and horn sharks
Catches
