Indian Ocean
Madagascar's surrounding waters
The Indian Ocean is the third-largest ocean, bounded by Africa to the west, Asia to the north, Australia to the east, and Antarctica to the south.
It connects major shipping routes between the Middle East, Africa, and Asia: Monsoon winds historically determined sailing patterns across the Indian Ocean.
Underwater rock or coral formation
- atollRing-shaped reef island
- lagoonSheltered coastal shallows
- polypsFixed aquatic invertebrates
- bleachingChemical color removal
barrier reef · diving · snorkeling · clownfish · anemone · parrotfish · moray eel · sea fan
Ocean between India and Oman
- Bay of BengalNortheastern Indian Ocean inlet
- Red SeaAfrican-Arabian saltwater inlet
- Andaman SeaIndian Ocean arm, Southeast Asia
- Persian GulfInlet between Iran and Arabia
Strait of Malacca · Madagascar · Maldives · Seychelles · Mauritius · Sri Lanka · Sumatra · Java
Biggest fish species
- manta rayBroad flat cartilaginous fish
- dugongHerbivorous marine mammal
- dolphinEcholocating marine mammal
- sea turtleOcean-dwelling shelled reptile
humpback whale · blue whale · tuna · marlin · coelacanth · giant clam · nautilus · cuttlefish
Aromatic food flavorings
- dhowArab trading vessel
- trading postsFrontier merchandise exchange stations
- merchantsThose who conduct commerce
- navigationDetermining position and course
Vasco da Gama · colonialism · Portuguese · Dutch · Arab traders · Swahili coast · Muscat · Goa
Recurring annual air patterns
- rainfallWater falling from clouds
- cycloneRotating low-pressure storm system
- precipitationAtmospheric water deposit
- humidityMoisture in atmosphere
tropical depression · weather patterns · climate · atmospheric · wet season · dry season · trade winds · storm surge
Dissolved mineral concentration
- thermoclineRapid temperature-change layer
- currentsDirectional flows of movement
- gyreCircular or spiral motion
- upwellingDeep water rising surfaceward
bathymetry · continental shelf · seafloor · mid-ocean ridge · hydrothermal vents · pelagic · deep-sea · seawater
Designated ocean passages
- Suez CanalManmade strait through Egypt
- tankerVessel for liquid bulk
- container shipVessel carrying standardized freight boxes
- cargoTransported goods
Strait of Hormuz · Cape of Good Hope · maritime · port · Singapore · Mumbai · Colombo · Durban
reef
Underwater rock or coral formation
bleaching · barrier reef · diving · snorkeling · clownfish · anemone · parrotfish · moray eel · sea fan · brain coral
Arabian Sea
Ocean between India and Oman
- Bay of BengalNortheastern Indian Ocean inlet
- Red SeaAfrican-Arabian saltwater inlet
- Andaman SeaIndian Ocean arm, Southeast Asia
Persian Gulf · Strait of Malacca · Madagascar · Maldives · Seychelles · Mauritius · Sri Lanka · Sumatra · Java · Zanzibar
whale shark
Biggest fish species
- manta rayBroad flat cartilaginous fish
- dugongHerbivorous marine mammal
- dolphinEcholocating marine mammal
sea turtle · humpback whale · blue whale · tuna · marlin · coelacanth · giant clam · nautilus · cuttlefish · octopus
spices
Aromatic food flavorings
- dhowArab trading vessel
- trading postsFrontier merchandise exchange stations
- merchantsThose who conduct commerce
Vasco da Gama · navigation · colonialism · Portuguese · Dutch · Arab traders · Swahili coast · Muscat · Goa · pepper
seasonal winds
Recurring annual air patterns
- rainfallWater falling from clouds
- cycloneRotating low-pressure storm system
- precipitationAtmospheric water deposit
humidity · tropical depression · weather patterns · climate · atmospheric · wet season · dry season · trade winds · storm surge · typhoon
salinity
Dissolved mineral concentration
- thermoclineRapid temperature-change layer
- currentsDirectional flows of movement
- gyreCircular or spiral motion
upwelling · bathymetry · continental shelf · seafloor · mid-ocean ridge · hydrothermal vents · pelagic · deep-sea · seawater · tides
sea lanes
Designated ocean passages
- Suez CanalManmade strait through Egypt
- tankerVessel for liquid bulk
- container shipVessel carrying standardized freight boxes
cargo · Strait of Hormuz · Cape of Good Hope · maritime · port · Singapore · Mumbai · Colombo · Durban · Mombasa
- oceansAtlantic Ocean, Pacific Ocean, Arctic Ocean, Southern Ocean, deep sea
- Southern HemisphereAntarctica, Australia, South America, South Africa, New Zealand
- warm watersCaribbean Sea, Gulf Stream, Red Sea, Bay of Bengal, tropical oceans
- India ExplorationBritish Raj, Vasco da Gama, British explorers, colonial maps, Bombay
- Indian geographyGanges, Himalayas, Indus, subcontinent, Punjab
- Indian Ocean tradedhow, dhows, Swahili coast, monsoon winds, trade winds
Indian OceanArctic Ocean
Earth's northernmost body of water
Southern Ocean · Antarctic waters · Atlantic Ocean · North Atlantic · Pacific Ocean