One of the largest water bodies located among the continents is the Indian Ocean. The geographical location and history of his research is the topic of the article.
The oceans consist of the Pacific, Indian, Atlantic and Arctic. All of them differ from each other in geographical location. Each person has unique natural features. Nevertheless, the Indian Ocean has many similarities with the Pacific.
Geographical position
This water body has a rather peculiar location. The impressive part is located in the Southern Hemisphere. From the northern part, the Indian Ocean is bounded by the Eurasian continent . The geographical position of this object has the following feature: it has no connection with the Arctic Ocean .
The water body referred to in this article is the third largest. What is the geographical position of the Indian Ocean relative to the tropics? In the northeast, as already mentioned, it borders on Eurasia. In the southeast, if you recognize the existence of the Southern Ocean, with the Antarctic convergence zone. The area of the water body is more than sixty two million square kilometers.
The islands
Weak indented coasts are characteristic of the African continent. The second largest continent on the east side is washed by the Indian Ocean. Its geographical location has another feature: a small number of large islands. The coastline is indented weakly. Large islands are located mainly on the border of the ocean. Coral ones include Coconut, Maldives, Andaman, Chagos. To volcanic - Seychelles, Mascaren, Prince Edward, Crozet.
Borders
The physical and geographical position of the Indian Ocean can be seen on the map below. In the north and northwest, that is, from Eurasia and the African continent, relatively large peninsulas cut into. They are separated from each other by seas and bays, which have different depths, bottom structures. By origin, these parts of the ocean are also different. Large peninsulas include only a few. Namely - Arabian and Somalia.
In the east, between the Bay of Bengal and the Arabian Sea, a large part of the Hindustan Peninsula crashes into the ocean. And the Persian Gulf is actually its inland sea.
Madagascar
What else can be said on the topic “The geographical position of the Indian Ocean”? Grade 7 of the school curriculum studies the characteristics of this water body. The basic concepts are stated above. Of course, even elementary school students are aware of the existence of Madagascar. This island is also located in the Indian Ocean and is the largest. And it is the fourth largest among all the islands of the Earth.
Bottom relief
The Indian Ocean is small in size. However, the relief of its bottom is very diverse. The northern part has a distinct underwater outskirts. On the coast of Eurasia there is a fairly large amount of sedimentary material.
The angle of inclination of the mainland slope in the Bay of Bengal is forty-five degrees. This is a distinctive feature of the topography of the Indian Ocean. Such a steep slope in the oceans no longer exists. The mid-ocean ridge has the largest bottom topography . It includes three branches extending in different directions. Parts of the ridge in the south of the Indian Ocean are connected with the ridges of the Pacific and Atlantic oceans. In the northern part there is a rift, which is dissected by deep transverse faults. These faults branch out closer to the Red Sea.
The characteristic features of the bottom topography are the swiftness of the continental slope, the presence of a transition zone and branched mid-ocean ridges.
Above are the features of the bottom topography, as well as the geographical position of the Indian Ocean. Photos of this object are presented in the article. It is worth saying a few words about the history of ocean exploration. It is known that its shores are areas of ancient civilization.
Research history
The first seafarers plowed the water expanses precisely within the Indian Ocean. At least that's what most researchers think. The means by which people in ancient times overcame ocean expanses were small bamboo rafts. However, ships of this type are still used today by the inhabitants of Indochina.
Later in India, a new vehicle was created: a catamaran type ship. Their images are preserved on the walls of ancient temples. The first sailing routes in the Indian Ocean were Arabs. Information about this water body has been accumulating since the travels of Vasco da Gama.
Nature features
The climate features of the Indian Ocean are seasonal monsoon winds that have a huge impact on conditions in the northern part. In the south, a cooling Antarctic influence is noticeable. Climate features also affect water masses. The northern part warms up well.
Plankton is abundant in water masses . Especially a lot of unicellular algae in it, as a result of which the surface layer becomes extremely turbid and changes its color. Mackerel, sardinella, and shark live in the ocean. The natural world of the areas located near coral reefs is especially rich.
In the winter of 2004, as a result of a catastrophic earthquake, the inhabitants of Indonesia, Thailand, and Malaysia were affected. Its epicenter was in the Indian Ocean, two hundred and fifty kilometers from Sumatra.
Economic activity
The natural resources of this ocean are not fully understood. The relief is replete with rich minerals. In some areas, huge oil deposits are present at the bottom. However, the extraction and transportation of this natural fluid leads to pollution. In states located off the northwest coast, desalination is regularly carried out. In these countries, fishing is extremely developed.
Many sea roads pass through this ocean. Especially a lot of shipping routes in the north. The direction of movement of these roads is connected with the monsoons.