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• The Indian Ocean is the third largest of the world's five oceans after the Atlantic and Pacific. Bordered on the north by Asia, Africa to the west, the South Polar Ocean to the south and Australia, Indochina and the Sunda Islands to the east, the Indian Ocean covers approximately 20% of the earth's surface.

• Climate

  The Indian Ocean climate is heavily influenced by the Monsoon wind system, which brings violent storms and heavy rain to the northern Arabian Sea and south coast of India. Winds, although generally less severe, are also characteristic of the southern Indian Ocean.

• Economy

  The Indian Ocean provides important trade routes connecting the Middle East to Europe and the Americas and, as such, is used to ship many oil and petroleum products.

  Due to its warm waters that inhibit the production of marine life, the Indian Ocean does not see the same variety of fish and and mammal species as other oceans.

• Fast Facts

  1. Over 28 million square miles
  2. Currents are controlled by monsoons
  3. Shrimp and tuna are heavily fished
  4. Estimated volume: 292,131,000 cubic kilometers
  5. The continental plates of Africa, India, and Antarctica meet in the Indian Ocean

• Related Mahalo Pages

  Oceans | Arctic Ocean | Pacific Ocean | Atlantic Ocean | Southern Ocean | Australia | India | Maldives | Indonesia | Africa | Seychelles | Madagascar | Madagascar Vacation | Diving | Surfing | Sailing | Tsunami | Sri Lanka | Malasia | Thailand | Indochina | Borneo | Bali | Java Island | Sumatra | Persian Gulf | Red Sea | Arabian Sea | Bay of Bengal

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