(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

People Indian Ocean

Population growth rate: NA%

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 growin