Wordnet 3.0
NOUN (1)
1.
the 3rd largest ocean;
bounded by Africa on the west, Asia on the north, Australia on the east and merging with the Antarctic Ocean to the south;
WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006):
Indian Ocean
n 1: the 3rd largest ocean; bounded by Africa on the west, Asia
on the north, Australia on the east and merging with the
Antarctic Ocean to the south
CIA World Factbook 2002:
Indian Ocean
Introduction Indian Ocean
-------------------------
Background: The Indian Ocean is the third-
largest of the world's five oceans
(after the Pacific Ocean and
Atlantic Ocean, but larger than the
Southern Ocean and Arctic Ocean).
Four critically important access
waterways are the Suez Canal
(Egypt), Bab el Mandeb (Djibouti-
Yemen), Strait of Hormuz (Iran-
Oman), and Strait of Malacca
(Indonesia-Malaysia).
Geography Indian Ocean
----------------------
Location: body of water between Africa, the
Southern Ocean, Asia, and Australia
Geographic coordinates: 20 00 S, 80 00 E
Map references: Political Map of the World
Area: total: 68.556 million sq km
note: includes Andaman Sea, Arabian
Sea, Bay of Bengal, Great Australian
Bight, Gulf of Aden, Gulf of Oman,
Mozambique Channel, Persian Gulf,
Red Sea, Strait of Malacca, and
other tributary water bodies
Area - comparative: about 5.5 times the size of the US
Coastline: 66,526 km
Climate: northeast monsoon (December to
April), southwest monsoon (June to
October); tropical cyclones occur
during May/June and October/November
in the northern Indian Ocean and
January/February in the southern
Indian Ocean
Terrain: surface dominated by
counterclockwise gyre (broad,
circular system of currents) in the
southern Indian Ocean; unique
reversal of surface currents in the
northern Indian Ocean; low
atmospheric pressure over southwest
Asia from hot, rising, summer air
results in the southwest monsoon and
southwest-to-northeast winds and
currents, while high pressure over
northern Asia from cold, falling,
winter air results in the northeast
monsoon and northeast-to-southwest
winds and currents; ocean floor is
dominated by the Mid-Indian Ocean
Ridge and subdivided by the
Southeast Indian Ocean Ridge,
Southwest Indian Ocean Ridge, and
Ninetyeast Ridge
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Java Trench -7,258 m
highest point: sea level 0 m
Natural resources: oil and gas fields, fish, shrimp,
sand and gravel aggregates, placer
deposits, polymetallic nodules
Natural hazards: occasional icebergs pose
navigational hazard in southern
reaches
Environment - current issues: endangered marine species include
the dugong, seals, turtles, and
whales; oil pollution in the Arabian
Sea, Persian Gulf, and Red Sea
Geography - note: major chokepoints include Bab el
Mandeb, Strait of Hormuz, Strait of
Malacca, southern access to the Suez
Canal, and the Lombok Strait
Economy Indian Ocean
--------------------
Economy - overview: The Indian Ocean provides major sea
routes connecting the Middle East,
Africa, and East Asia with Europe
and the Americas. It carries a
particularly heavy traffic of
petroleum and petroleum products
from the oilfields of the Persian
Gulf and Indonesia. Its fish are of
great and growing importance to the
bordering countries for domestic
consumption and export. Fishing
fleets from Russia, Japan, South
Korea, and Taiwan also exploit the
Indian Ocean, mainly for shrimp and
tuna. Large reserves of hydrocarbons
are being tapped in the offshore
areas of Saudi Arabia, Iran, India,
and western Australia. An estimated
40% of the world's offshore oil
production comes from the Indian
Ocean. Beach sands rich in heavy
minerals and offshore placer
deposits are actively exploited by
bordering countries, particularly
India, South Africa, Indonesia, Sri
Lanka, and Thailand.
Transportation Indian Ocean
---------------------------
Ports and harbors: Chennai (Madras; India), Colombo
(Sri Lanka), Durban (South Africa),
Jakarta (Indonesia), Kolkata
(Calcutta; India) Melbourne
(Australia), Mumbai (Bombay; India),
Richards Bay (South Africa)
Transnational Issues Indian Ocean
---------------------------------
Disputes - international: some maritime disputes (see littoral
states)