Tracking Docket Our earth consists of 71 percent of water, out of which 97 percent of water is found in oceans. Whenever we speak of oceans, we largely think of the marine life and the mysteries which are linked to folklore and legends from several thousand years ago. Now imagine, having an ocean that is unique since not only is it the third-largest ocean in the world, but also is named after a country.
Here are 11 interesting facts about the Indian Ocean”
Table of Contents
1: The Indian Ocean is a closed Ocean:
When we think of seas and oceans, we imagine them to be vast and widespread. But when it comes to the Indian Ocean, it is closed since on the north side of this vast ocean lays Asia, the biggest continent of the world.
2: The Indian Ocean is surrounded on all four sides:
Geographically, the most interesting fact about the Indian Ocean is that it is surrounded on all four sides, North, South, East, and West by continents. On the Northside, lies Asia; on the East lies Australia; on the West lies Africa while on the South lies Antarctica. Calculating, the number of countries which are blessed by the Indian Ocean, we have sixteen countries of Africa, eighteen countries of Asia, and as many as fifty-seven small and big islands scattered all around.
3: The Indian Ocean’s size and volume:
The Indian Ocean is counted among the third largest ocean in the world covering about one-fifth of the total ocean area of the world. About 20 percent of the total water on this planet is in the Indian Ocean. This ocean covers approx 70.56 million square kilometers in area.
4: The Indian Ocean’s temperature:
The Indian Ocean is considered to be the warmest ocean of all 12 Facts about the Indian Ocean because of its particular high temperature. The temperature can rise as far as 28 degrees near the Equatorial region. Due to such kind of circumstance, this ocean is not plankton friendly at all. As a result, the marine life is also small in variety compared to the ones found in other water bodies like seas and oceans; except for the majestic Humpback whales that have their home in the Indian Ocean.
5: The Indian Ocean is important for the world economy:
The Indian Ocean is the home for several ports and harbors of the world which is linked to the economy and trade. Some of the important ports and harbors include Kolkata, Mumbai, and Chennai ports of India; Colombo in Sri Lanka; Jakarta in Indonesia; Melbourne in Australia and Durban and Richards Bay in South Africa.
Also, know the facts about the Black Sea.
6: Rodriguez Triple Point:
We know that the entire world had once been part of a singular continental shelf called Pangaea before it split up. In the Indian Ocean, one can find a point where the African, Indo-Australian and Antarctic continental shelves happen to convene. This particular place is called Rodriguez Triple Point for this reason and is a geographic wonder.
7: Ninety East Ridge:
We all know that mountains are an important part of the geographical features of a place. The Indian Ocean also is home to a 5000-kilometer long mountain range by the name of the Ninety East Ridge which runs along the 90th Meridian and specifically divides the ocean into two halves: East and West.
8: Kerguelen Plateau:
The Indian Ocean is also unique because of the presence of a submerged microcontinent named Kerguelen Plateau which is believed to be structured by volcanic eruptions. This place is geographically located about 3000 kilometers towards the southwest region of Australia. It is also about three times the size of Japan. This plateau lies inside the ocean and covers an extensive area.
9: Extensive oil deposits in the Indian Ocean:
The Indian Ocean is truly full of renewable as well as non-renewable resources. The Indian Ocean is not only famous for its deposits of rich minerals along the shores of several countries and continents, but it also is well known to have the storage of about 40 percent of the world’s total oil production.
10: Pirate activity:
We are all well aware of the stories of pirates attacking merchant ships in the seas and oceans. Well, until recently in the 2000s there has been havoc caused by the pirates in the Indian Ocean. After 2013, the incidents have declined rapidly due to the strict interference and surveillance of the Indian Navy to keep the trade route safe.
11: Indian Ocean garbage patch:
A garbage patch is where litter and debris accumulate in the ocean and keeps circulating in a fixed cycle. Garbage patches are found in the Pacific as well, but the Indian Ocean garbage patch is over 5 million square kilometers and has been discovered in the year 2010. This garbage patch over the Indian Ocean takes six long years to complete its circulation and is mostly made of plastic waste. This garbage patch may cause difficulty in marine life and affects our environment drastically.
12: Highest point of the Indian Ocean is the sea level:
It is one of the most interesting facts about the Indian Ocean that the lowest point is on the Java Trench which is about 7528 meters deep while the highest point of the Ocean is at sea level. It has also been reported that the ocean is extending its width by about 20 centimeters each year.
India is a land of mystery and culture. The only ocean in the whole world which is named after this country must also have some deep-seated secrets and mysteries inside of it which require scientific evaluation to be discovered. The Indian Ocean is still considered to be the youngest ocean and thought to have come into existence during the split of the Gondwana land in ancient times. But, it is known that the Indian Ocean plays an important role in directing the climate of the world, especially the monsoon. For easier convenience, the list of the top 12 facts of this majestic Ocean has thus been listed above.
