Five facts about the Indian Ocean: how the third largest ocean differs from others
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SSPDaily has prepared five facts about the Indian Ocean. Learn about the amazing features of the third largest ocean in the world.
Impressive size and coverage
Stretching over an area approximately ten times the size of Australia, the Indian Ocean could accommodate eight United States of America. In addition, it is larger than 575 Greek or 1840 Swiss states.
An ocean with characteristic features
With only eleven coastal seas, the Indian Ocean differs from other oceans that have many small bays. A notable exception is the Bay of Bengal, which is a significant body of water comparable in size to some large seas.
Islands in the middle of the ocean
Madagascar and Sri Lanka are large islands located in the Indian Ocean. In addition, some of the islands located in its waters are the tops of underwater volcanoes, including the Kerguelen, Heard and Macdonald archipelago.
Impressive tidal heights
The Indian Ocean is famous for its formidable tides, with some areas reaching enormous heights. On average, tides reach 2-3 meters, but on the coast they can rise to 5-6 meters. It is noteworthy that in the area of the Australian city of Darwin, the tides can reach an extraordinary height of 7-8 meters.
The Red Sea
The Red Sea, known for its salinity, is the saltiest body of water in the world, except for the Dead Sea. It does not receive river inflows and could completely evaporate if it were not replenished by the waters of the Indian Ocean.