School course geography programs include the study of the largest water areas - the oceans. This topic is quite interesting. Students are happy to prepare reports and abstracts on it. This article will provide information that contains a description of the geographical position of the Indian Ocean, its characteristics and features. So let's get started.

Brief description of the Indian Ocean

In terms of scale and quantity water reserves Indian Ocean comfortably located in third place, losing to the Pacific and Atlantic. A significant part of it is located on the territory of the Southern Hemisphere of our planet, and its natural aisles are:

• Southern part of Eurasia in the north.
• East coast of Africa in the west.
• Northern and northwestern coasts of Australia in the east.
• Northern part of Antarctica in the south.

In order to indicate the exact geographical position of the Indian Ocean, you need a map. It can also be used during a presentation. So, on the world map, the water area has the following coordinates: 14°05′33.68″ south latitude and 76°18′38.01″ east longitude.

According to one version, the ocean in question was first called Indian in the work of the Portuguese scientist S. Munster called "Cosmography", which was published in 1555.

Characteristic

The total, taking into account all the seas included in its composition, is 76.174 million square meters. km, the depth (average) is more than 3.7 thousand meters, and the maximum was recorded at over 7.7 thousand meters.

Geographical position The Indian Ocean has its own characteristics. Due to its large size, it is found in several climatic zones. It is also worth paying attention to the size of the water area. For example, the maximum width is between Linde Bay and the Toros Strait. The length from west to east is almost 12 thousand km. And if we consider the ocean from north to south, then the largest indicator will be from Cape Ras Jaddi to Antarctica. This distance is 10.2 thousand km.

Features of the water area

Studying the features of the geographical position of the Indian Ocean, it is necessary to consider its boundaries. First, note that the entire water area is located in the Eastern Hemisphere. On the southwest side, it borders the Atlantic Ocean. In order to see this place on the map, you need to find 20 ° along the meridian in. e. The border with the Pacific Ocean is in the southeast. It runs along the 147° meridian east. e. With the North Arctic Ocean Indian not reported. Its border in the north is the most big mainland- Eurasia.

Structure coastline has a weak division. There are several large bays and 8 seas. There are relatively few islands. The largest are Sri Lanka, Seychelles, Curia-Muria, Madagascar, etc.

Bottom relief

The characterization will not be complete if you do not consider the features of the relief.

The Central Indian Ridge is an underwater formation located in the central part of the water area. Its length is about 2.3 thousand km. The width of the relief formation is within 800 km. The height of the ridge is more than 1 thousand meters. Some peaks protrude from the water, forming volcanic islands.

The West Indian Ridge is located in the southwestern part of the ocean. There is a lot of seismic activity here. The length of the ridge is about 4 thousand km. But in width it is less than the previous one by about half.

The Arabian-Indian Range is an underwater relief formation. It is located in the northwestern part of the water area. Its length is slightly less than 4 thousand km, and its width is about 650 km. At the end point (Rodriguez Island) it passes into the Central Indian Range.

The bottom of the Indian Ocean consists of sediments from the Cretaceous period. In some places, their thickness reaches 3 km. has a length of about 4500 km in length, and its width varies from 10 to 50 km. It's called Javanese. The depth of the depression is 7729 m (the largest in the Indian Ocean).

Climatic features

One of the most important circumstances in the formation of climate is the geographical position of the Indian Ocean relative to the equator. It divides the water area into two parts (the largest is in the south). Naturally, this arrangement affects temperature fluctuations and rainfall. The highest temperatures were recorded in the waters of the Red Sea and the Persian Gulf. Here, the average is a mark of +35 ° С. And in the southern point, the temperature can drop to -16 ° C in winter and up to -4 degrees in summer.

The northern part of the ocean is located in a hot climate zone, due to which its waters are among the warmest in the oceans. Here it is mainly influenced by the Asian continent. Due to the current situation in the northern part, there are only two seasons - a hot rainy summer and a non-cold cloudless winter. As for the climate in this part of the water area, it practically does not change throughout the year.

Given the geographical position of the Indian Ocean, it is worth noting that its largest part is under the influence of air currents. From this we can conclude that the climate is mainly formed due to the monsoons. AT summer period over land, areas with low pressure are established, and over the ocean - with high pressure. During this season, the wet monsoon runs from west to east. In winter, the situation changes, and then the dry monsoon begins to dominate, which comes from the east and moves to the west.

In the southern part of the water area, the climate is more severe, since it lies in the subarctic zone. Here, the ocean is influenced by proximity to Antarctica. Off the coast of this continent, the average temperature is fixed at around -1.5 ° C, and the buoyancy limit of ice reaches 60 ° parallel.

Summing up

The geographical position of the Indian Ocean is very important question who deserves special attention. Due enough large sizes This area has many features. Along the coastline there are a huge number of cliffs, estuaries, atolls, coral reefs. It is also worth noting such islands as Madagascar, Socotra, Maldives. They represent sections A Andaman, Nicobar descended from volcanoes that rose to the surface.

Having studied the proposed material, each student will be able to present an informative and interesting presentation.

One of most popular resorts, which many tourists from all over the world aspire to, is Goa. But some vacationers have a question: what is the sea or ocean in Goa?

This is a very important question, since sometimes the opportunity to swim in a reservoir depends on this geographical condition, since, for example, the ocean coast can be dangerous (a large number of sharks, poisonous jellyfish), and the sea coast is created for active water recreation.

Indian pools

If you wondered what awaits you on the coast (sea or ocean), get ready to get multiple answers, contradictory friend.

Read on how to get to Goa by plane, and how long the flight takes.

Is there ocean or sea in India?

From the west, India is washed by the waters of the Arabian Sea, from the east by the Bay of Bengal, a small southern part by the Laccadive Sea, and the union territory of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands is washed by the waters. All these reservoirs, in turn, are part of the Indian Ocean.

Which body of water borders North and South Goa?

For many inexperienced tourists who decide to go on their vacation to Goa, the question of whether what waters wash the resort: marine or oceanic.

The answer here lies on the surface: Goa is located in the west of India, respectively, washed by the Arabian Sea.

Given that the Arabian Sea is an open part of the Indian Ocean, we can say that there is both the sea and the ocean. In the oceanic part of the water expanses of Goa, sharks are rarely found; large concentrations of them are found off the coast and Oceania.

Also, sharks are very fond of reef zones, so divers need to be careful when diving. found in the Indian Ocean brindle, gray and big White shark , and the most dangerous resorts of these waters are Cosi Bay in South Africa, Seychelles, resorts in Australia.

Holidays in Goa

It should be noted that a beach holiday is not the most forte state of Goa.

Coast

The sea coast of North Goa and South Goa is not much different. The only visible difference is that sand. In the southern part of the resort, the sand is whiter. Due to this, it visually seems that the beaches here are cleaner, and the sea is more transparent. In the northern half of the resort from Sinkerim-Candolim to Anjuna, the sand is more yellow with a grayish tinge, coarse.

In general, we can say that lovers of clean "paradise" beaches will have a hard time here, since the Indian mentality is rather indifferent to garbage, so you can talk about cleanliness and order here. forget.

Sea waters here seem cloudy, because it constantly worries and mixes with sand and clay from the coast, so lovers of diving off the coast with a mask will have to give up the idea. Many tourists speak unfavorably about the coast of the northern part of the resort, since the bottom of the coastal waters here is strewn with sharp stones, which you can easily get hurt on.

Find out what time of year the best way suitable for holidays in Goa.

In addition to uneven bottoms, dirty seas and unattractive beaches, here you may encounter, for example, cows roaming freely along the coast. So for those who love an unusual vacation, there will be something to remember after the trip.

Beaches

For those who cannot decide on a beach, here are some of the most popular beaches in both North and South Goa:

Entertainment

Apart from beach holiday, Goa has a number of attractions, among which you can find something that is right for you so that your vacation will be remembered for a long time.

Read in what natural and man-made attractions are worth seeing in North and South Goa.

From aquatic species entertainment, which can be combined with beach passive recreation, are presented:

In addition to water activities, there are land excursions. For example, a popular excursion remains elephant riding. There are not many elephants here, but it is not difficult to find those who provide the opportunity to ride this animal. Sometimes even bathing with elephants is offered, if excursion route passes next to a waterfall or spice plantations.

For those who like to experience another culture, there are Indian dance courses, cooking courses, as well as yoga.

Extreme lovers can purchase tickets for bullfighting- spectacles that are held spontaneously, without special arenas or preparations.

A little about seasonality

In addition to the place of rest, you need to choose the time of rest. High or low season, large or small number of tourists, high or low prices - all this is very important when organizing a holiday.

High season starts in Goa around December and ends in February. It is in December that the most motley audience strives to get a unique golden tan, as well as swim in the sea.

Water temperature in the high season it is not much different from other times in Goa, it ranges from +26 to +29 degrees. You can swim in Goa all year round, so it is not necessary to choose a tourist peak for this. The air temperature is around 29°C to 31°C all year round.

Silence covers Goa in May, this month the parties subside, the hotels are empty, restaurants and cafes are closed. May days bring in Indian state suffocating heat, stuffiness and the rainy season.

Water in the sea it warms up to +30 degrees, with constant unrest and such a temperature, it is impossible to swim. The only plus of a holiday in the low season, perhaps, will be the prices.

The coast of the Arabian Sea in Goa is next video:

The Indian Ocean is smaller in area than the Pacific. Its water area occupies 76 million square kilometers. It is located almost entirely in southern hemisphere. AT ancient times people considered him big sea.

The largest islands of the Indian Ocean are Sri Lanka, Madagascar, Masirai, Kuria Muria, Socotra, Greater Sunda, Seychelles, Nicobar, Andanam, Coconut, Amirant, Chagos, Maldives, Laccadive.

The coast of the Indian Ocean - the places where ancient civilizations were located. Scientists believe that navigation in this ocean began earlier than in others, about 6 thousand years ago. The first to describe ocean routes were the Arabs. The accumulation of navigational information about the Indian Ocean began as early as the travels of Vasco de Gama (1497-1499). At the end XVIII century the first measurements of its depths were made English navigator James Cook.

Detailed study of the ocean began in late XIX century. The most extensive study was carried out by the British research team on board the Challenger. AT this moment, dozens of research expeditions from different countries are studying the nature of the ocean, revealing its wealth.

The average depth of the Indian Ocean is about 3,700 meters, and the maximum is 7,700 meters. Seamounts are located in the western part of the ocean, connecting in a place located south of the cape Good Hope, with the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. Near the center of the ridge in the Indian Ocean are deep faults, areas of seismic activity and volcanic eruptions at the bottom of the ocean. These faults stretch to the Red Sea and come out on land. The bottom of the ocean is crossed by numerous hills.

If the Pacific Ocean inspires with its blue color, then the Indian Ocean is known for the transparency of its dark blue and azure waters. This is due to the purity of the ocean, since little fresh water enters the ocean from rivers - "disturbers of purity", especially in its southern part.

The Indian Ocean is saltier than other oceans. This is especially noticeable in the northwestern part of the ocean, where high temperatures hot water is added air masses from the Sahara. The record holder for salt content is the Red Sea (up to 42%) and the Persian Gulf.

The northern part of the Indian Ocean is heavily influenced by land; it rightfully deserves the name "monsoon sea". AT winter time dry air comes from largest continent- Eurasia. In summer, the situation changes dramatically. The heated ocean saturates the air with a large amount of moisture. Then, moving to the mainland, it breaks out over the south of the continent with heavy rains. Before the summer monsoon winds, thunderstorms pass, generating sea swell, carried by the wind to the southwestern coast of India. In autumn and spring, typhoons form in the northern part of the Indian Ocean, bringing many problems to the inhabitants of the shores of the Arabian Sea and the Bay of Bengal, as well as to sailors. In the south of the Indian Ocean, you can feel the cold breath of Antarctica, in these places the ocean is the most severe.

Indian Ocean forms good conditions for coral life. Their large colonies are located in the Maldives, located south of the Hindustan peninsula. These islands are by composition the longest coral islands in the world.

The Indian Ocean is rich in its fish resources, which have been used by man since ancient times. For many residents of the coast, fishing is the only source of income.

Since time immemorial, pearls have been mined in these places. The coast of the island of Sri Lanka since ancient times served as a place for the extraction of emeralds, diamonds, emeralds and many other types of precious stones.

Under the bottom of the Persian Gulf, located in the northwestern part of the Indian Ocean, gas and oil reserves have been formed for thousands of years.

Indian Ocean is the warmest ocean on our planet. Occupying a fifth of the Earth's surface, the Indian is not the most big ocean, but at the same time it has a rich flora and fauna, as well as a lot of other advantages.

Indian Ocean

Indian Ocean occupies 20% of all the globe. This ocean is characterized by a rich and varied natural life.
shows vast territories and a large number interesting islands for explorers and tourists. If you still don't know where Indian Ocean, map will prompt you.

Map of the currents of the Indian Ocean

Underwater world of the Indian Ocean

Rich and varied underwater world of the indian ocean. In it you can meet both very small aquatic inhabitants, and large and dangerous representatives of the aquatic world.

Since ancient times, man has been trying to subjugate the ocean and its inhabitants. In all ages on the inhabitants underwater world Indian Ocean hunting was organized.

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There are even those that can cause trouble to a person. For example, these are anemones that live in almost all the seas and oceans of our planet. Sea anemones can be found not only in the depths, but also in the shallow waters of the Indian Ocean. They almost always feel hungry, so they sit lurking with widely spaced tentacles. Predatory representatives of this species are poisonous. Their shot can hit small organisms, as well as cause burns to people. Live in the waters of the Indian Ocean sea ​​urchins, seals, the most exotic species of fish. Vegetable world diverse, which makes diving truly exciting.

Fish in the Indian Ocean

Introduction

1.History of the formation and exploration of the Indian Ocean

2.General information about the Indian Ocean

Bottom relief.

.Characteristics of the waters of the Indian Ocean.

.Bottom sediments of the Indian Ocean and its structure

.Minerals

.Climate of the Indian Ocean

.vegetable and animal world

.Fishing and sea ​​fishing

Introduction

Indian Ocean- the youngest and warmest among the world's oceans. Most of it is in the southern hemisphere, and in the north it goes far into the mainland, which is why ancient people considered it just a big sea. It was here, in the Indian Ocean, that man began his first sea voyages.

The largest rivers of Asia belong to the Indian Ocean basin: the Salween, the Irrawaddy and the Ganges with the Brahmaputra, which flow into the Bay of Bengal; the Indus, which flows into the Arabian Sea; Tigris and Euphrates, merging a little above the confluence with the Persian Gulf. Of the major rivers of Africa, which also flow into the Indian Ocean, the Zambezi and Limpopo should be mentioned. Because of them, the water off the coast of the ocean is muddy, with a high content of sedimentary rocks - sand, silt and clay. But open waters the oceans are amazingly clear. The tropical islands of the Indian Ocean are famous for their cleanliness. A variety of animals have found their place on coral reefs. The Indian Ocean is home to the famous sea devils, rare whale sharks, bigmouths, sea cows, sea snakes, etc.

1. History of formation and research

Indian Oceanformed at the junction of the Jurassic and Cretaceous periods as a result of the collapse of Gondwana (130-150 million years ago). Then there was a separation of Africa and the Deccan from Australia with Antarctica, and later - Australia from Antarctica (in the Paleogene, about 50 million years ago).

The Indian Ocean and its shores remain poorly explored. The name of the Indian Ocean is found already in early XVI Art. Schöner under the name Oceanus orientalis indicus, in contrast to the Atlantic Ocean, then known as Oceanus occidentalis. Subsequent geographers called the Indian Ocean for the most part the sea of ​​India, some (Varenius) the Australian Ocean, and Fleurie recommended (in the 18th century) to call it even the Great Indian Gulf, considering it as part of the Pacific Ocean.

In ancient times (3000-1000 BC), sailors from India, Egypt and Phoenicia traveled across the northern part of the Indian Ocean. First navigation charts were compiled by the ancient Arabs. At the end of the 15th century, the first European, the famous Portuguese Vasco da Gama, circled Africa from the south and entered the waters of the Indian Ocean. By the 16th-17th centuries, Europeans (the Portuguese, and later the Dutch, French and British) increasingly appeared in the Indian Ocean basin, and by the middle of the 19th century, most of its coasts and islands were already the property of Great Britain.

Discovery historycan be divided into 3 periods: from ancient voyages to 1772; from 1772 to 1873 and from 1873 to the present. The first period is characterized by the study of the distribution of ocean and land waters in this part of the globe. It began with the first voyages of Indian, Egyptian and Phoenician navigators, who, in 3000-1000 BC. traveled through the northern part of the Indian Ocean, and ended with the voyage of J. Cook, who in 1772-75 penetrated south to 71 ° S. sh.

The second period was marked by the beginning of deep-sea research, first conducted by Cook in 1772 and continued by Russian and foreign expeditions. The main Russian expeditions were - O. Kotzebue on the "Rurik" (1818) and Pallen on the "Cyclone" (1858-59).

The third period is characterized by complex oceanographic research. Until 1960 they were carried out on separate ships. Most major works were carried out by expeditions on the ships Challenger (English) in 1873-74, Vityaz (Russian) in 1886, Valdivia (German) in 1898-99 and Gauss (German) in 1901-03, Discovery II (English) in 1930-51, the Soviet expedition to the Ob in 1956-58, etc. geophysics and biology of the Indian Ocean.

. General information

Indian Ocean- the third largest ocean of the Earth (after the Pacific and Atlantic), covering about 20% of its water surface. Almost all of it is in the southern hemisphere. Its area is 74917 thousand km ² ; average volume of water - 291945 thousand km ³. In the north it is bounded by Asia, in the west by Arabian Peninsula and Africa, in the east - Indochina, the Sunda Islands and Australia, in the south - Southern Ocean. The border between the Indian and Atlantic Oceans runs along the 20° meridian of east longitude. (Meridian of the Cape of Needles), between the Indian and Pacific Oceans runs along the 147 ° meridian of east longitude (meridian of the southern cape of the island of Tasmania). The most north point The Indian Ocean is located at approximately 30° north latitude in the Persian Gulf. The width of the Indian Ocean is approximately 10,000 km between southern points Australia and Africa.

The greatest depth of the Indian Ocean is the Sunda, or Java Trench (7729 m), the average depth is 3700 m.

The Indian Ocean washes three continents at once: Africa from the east, Asia from the south, Australia from the north and northwest.

The Indian Ocean has the fewest seas compared to other oceans. In the northern part are located the most large seas: Mediterranean - the Red Sea and the Persian Gulf, the semi-enclosed Andaman Sea and the marginal Arabian Sea; in the eastern part - the Arafura and Timor seas.

In the Indian Ocean, there are the island states of Madagascar (the fourth largest island in the world), Sri Lanka, the Maldives, Mauritius, the Comoros, and the Seychelles. The ocean washes in the east such states: Australia, Indonesia; in the northeast: Malaysia, Thailand, Myanmar; in the north: Bangladesh, India, Pakistan; in the west: Oman, Somalia, Kenya, Tanzania, Mozambique, South Africa. In the south it borders on Antarctica. There are relatively few islands. In the open part of the ocean, there are volcanic islands - Mascarene, Crozet, Prince Edward, etc. In tropical latitudes, coral islands rise on volcanic cones - Maldives, Laccadive, Chagos, Cocos, most of the Andaman, etc.

. Bottom relief

The ocean floor is a system of mid-ocean ridges and basins. In the region of Rodrigues Island (Mascarene Archipelago) there is a so-called triple junction, where the Central Indian and West Indian ridges converge, as well as the Australo-Antarctic Rise. The ridges consist of steep mountain ranges cut by normal or oblique faults with respect to the axes of the chains and divide the basalt ocean floor into 3 segments, and their tops are, as a rule, extinct volcanoes. The bottom of the Indian Ocean is covered with deposits of the Cretaceous and later periods, the thickness of which varies from several hundred meters to 2-3 km. The deepest of the numerous trenches of the ocean is the Yavan (4,500 km long and 29 km wide). The rivers flowing into the Indian Ocean carry with them huge amounts of sedimentary material, especially from the territory of India, creating high alluvial rapids.

The coast of the Indian Ocean is replete with cliffs, deltas, atolls, coastal coral reefs and salt marshes overgrown with mangroves. Some islands - for example, Madagascar, Socotra, Maldives - are fragments of ancient continents. Numerous islands and archipelagos of volcanic origin are scattered in the open part of the Indian Ocean. In the northern part of the ocean, many of them are crowned with coral structures. Andaman, Nicobar or Christmas Island - are of volcanic origin. The Kerguelen Plateau, located in the southern part of the ocean, also has a volcanic origin.

An underwater earthquake in the Indian Ocean on December 26, 2004 triggered a tsunami, which was recognized as the deadliest natural disaster in modern history. The magnitude of the earthquake was, according to various estimates, from 9.1 to 9.3. This is the second or third strongest earthquake on record.

The epicenter of the earthquake was located in the Indian Ocean, north of the island of Simeulue, located near the northwestern coast of the island of Sumatra (Indonesia). The tsunami reached the shores of Indonesia, Sri Lanka, southern India, Thailand and other countries. The height of the waves exceeded 15 meters. The tsunami caused massive damage and a huge number dead people, even in Port Elizabeth, in South Africa, 6900 km from the epicenter. Died, according to various estimates, from 225 thousand to 300 thousand people. The true death toll is unlikely to ever be known, as many people were swept into the sea by the water.

With regard to the properties of the bottom soil, then, like in other oceans, sediments on the bottom of the Indian Ocean can be divided into three classes: coastal sediments, organic silt (globigerine, radiolar or diatom) and special clay of great depths, the so-called red clay. Coastal sediments are sand, located mostly on coastal shallows to a depth of 200 meters, green or blue silt near rocky coasts, brown in volcanic areas, but lighter and sometimes pinkish or yellowish near coral coasts due to the lime prevailing here. Globigerin ooze, composed of microscopic foraminifera, covers the deeper parts ocean floor almost to a depth of 4500 meters; south of parallel 50°S sh. calcareous foraminiferal deposits disappear and are replaced by microscopic siliceous, from the group of algae, diatoms. With regard to the accumulation of diatom remains on the bottom, the southern part of the Indian Ocean is especially different from other oceans, where diatoms are found only in places. Red clay occurs at depths greater than 4500 m; it has the color red, or brown, or chocolate.

indian ocean climate fossil fishery

4. Characteristics of waters

Circulation surface water in the northern part of the Indian Ocean has a monsoonal character: in summer - northeast and east current, in winter - southwestern and western currents. AT winter months between 3° and 8° S sh. an inter-trade (equatorial) countercurrent develops. In the southern part of the Indian Ocean, water circulation forms an anticyclonic circulation, which is formed from warm currents- South Tradewind in the North, Madagascar and Needle in the West and cold - currents of the West Winds in the South and West Australian in the East South of 55 ° S. sh. several weak cyclonic water cycles develop, closing off the coast of Antarctica with an easterly current.

Belt of the Indian Oceanbetween 10 ° with. sh. and 10 ° Yu. sh. called the thermal equator, where the surface water temperature is 28-29°C. To the south of this zone, the temperature drops, reaching ?1°C off the coast of Antarctica. In January and February, the ice along the coast of this continent melts, huge blocks of ice break off from the ice sheet of Antarctica and drift towards the open ocean. North temperature characteristics waters are determined by monsoon air circulation. In summer, temperature anomalies are observed here, when the Somali current cools surface waters to a temperature of 21-23°C. In the eastern part of the ocean at the same geographical latitude, the water temperature is 28 ° C, and the highest temperature mark - about 30 ° C - was recorded in the Persian Gulf and the Red Sea. The average salinity of ocean waters is 34.8‰ fresh water carried to the seas by rivers.

The tides in the Indian Ocean, as a rule, are small (off the coast of the open ocean and on the islands from 0.5 to 1.6 m), only at the tops of some bays they reach 5-7 m; in the Gulf of Cambay 11.9 m. The tides are predominantly semi-diurnal.

Ice forms in high latitudes and are carried by winds and currents along with icebergs in a northerly direction (up to 55 ° S in August and up to 65-68 S in February).

. Bottom sediments of the Indian Ocean and its structure

Bottom sedimentsthe Indian Ocean have the greatest thickness (up to 3-4 km) at the foot of the continental slopes; in the middle of the ocean - small (about 100 m) thickness and in places where the dissected relief is distributed - discontinuous distribution. The most widely represented are foraminiferal (on the continental slopes, ridges and at the bottom of most basins at a depth of up to 4700 m), diatoms (south of 50 ° S), radiolarian (near the equator) and coral sediments. Polygenic sediments - red deep-sea clays - are distributed south of the equator at a depth of 4.5-6 km or more. Terrigenous sediments - off the coast of the continents. Chemogenic sediments are mainly represented by ferromanganese nodules, while riftogenic sediments are represented by destruction products of deep rocks. Outcrops of bedrocks are most often found on continental slopes (sedimentary and metamorphic rocks), mountains (basalts) and mid-ocean ridges, where, in addition to basalts, serpentinites and peridotites have been found, representing little-altered matter of the Earth's upper mantle.

The Indian Ocean is characterized by the predominance of stable tectonic structures both on the bed (thalassocratons) and along the periphery (continental platforms); active developing structures - modern geosynclines (Sonda arc) and georiftogenals (mid-ocean ridge) - occupy smaller areas and continue in the corresponding structures of Indochina and rifts of East Africa. These basic macrostructures, which differ sharply in morphology, structure earth's crust, seismic activity, volcanism, are subdivided into smaller structures: plates, usually corresponding to the bottom of oceanic basins, blocky ridges, volcanic ridges, in places topped with coral islands and banks (Chagos, Maldives, etc.), trench faults (Chagos, Obi, etc.), often confined to the foot of blocky ridges (East Indian, West Australian, Maldives, etc.), fault zones, tectonic ledges. Among the structures of the bed of the Indian Ocean special place(according to the presence of continental rocks - granites of the Seychelles and the continental type of the earth's crust) occupies the northern part of the Mascarene Range - a structure that, apparently, is part of the ancient mainland of Gondwana.

. Minerals

The most important mineral resources of the Indian Ocean are oil and natural gas. Their deposits are found on the shelves of the Persian and Suez Gulfs, in the Bass Strait, on the shelf of the Hindustan Peninsula. In terms of reserves and production of these minerals, the Indian Ocean ranks first in the world. On the coasts of Mozambique, the islands of Madagascar and Ceylon, ilmenite, monazite, rutile, titanite and zirconium are exploited. There are deposits of barite and phosphorite off the coast of India and Australia, and deposits of cassiterite and ilmenite are exploited on an industrial scale in the shelf zones of Indonesia, Thailand and Malaysia. On the shelves - oil and gas (especially the Persian Gulf), monazite sands (the coastal region of Southwestern India), etc.; in reef zones - ores of chromium, iron, manganese, copper, etc.; on the bed - huge accumulations of ferromanganese nodules.

. Climateindian ocean

Most of The Indian Ocean is located in warm climatic zones - equatorial, subequatorial and tropical. Only its southern regions, located in high latitudes, experience strong influence Antarctica. equatorial zone climate of the Indian Ocean is characterized by a constant predominance of humid warm equatorial air. Average monthly temperatures range here from 27° to 29°. The water temperature is slightly higher than the air temperature, which creates favorable conditions for convection and precipitation. Their annual amount is large - up to 3000 mm and more.

. Flora and fauna

The most dangerous mollusks in the world live in the Indian Ocean - cone snails. Inside the snail there is a rod-like container with poison, which it injects into its prey (fish, worms), its poison is also dangerous for humans.

The entire water area of ​​the Indian Ocean lies within the tropical and southern temperate zones. For shallow water tropical zone characteristic are numerous 6- and 8-ray corals, hydrocorals, capable of creating islands and atolls together with calcareous red algae. The richest fauna of various invertebrates (sponges, worms, crabs, mollusks, sea urchins, brittle stars and sea ​​stars), small but brightly colored coral fish. Most of the coasts are occupied by mangroves, in which the mudskipper stands out - a fish that can exist for a long time in air environment. The fauna and flora of the beaches and rocks that dry out at low tide are quantitatively depleted as a result of the oppressive effect sun rays. AT temperate zone life on such sections of the coast is much richer; dense thickets of red and brown algae (kelp, fucus, reaching the huge size of microcystis) develop here, various invertebrates are abundant. For the open spaces of the Indian Ocean, especially for the surface layer of the water column (up to 100 m), rich flora is also characteristic. Of the unicellular planktonic algae, several species of peredinium and diatom algae predominate, and in the Arabian Sea - blue-green algae, often causing the so-called water bloom during mass development.

The bulk of the ocean's animals are copepods (more than 100 species), followed by pteropods, jellyfish, siphonophores, and other invertebrates. Of the unicellular, radiolarians are characteristic; numerous squids. Of the fish, the most abundant are several species of flying fish, luminous anchovies - myctophids, dolphins, large and small tunas, sailfish and various sharks, poisonous sea snakes. Sea turtles and large marine mammals (dugongs, toothed and toothless whales, pinnipeds) are common. Among the birds, the most characteristic are albatrosses and frigatebirds, as well as several species of penguins that inhabit the coast. South Africa, Antarctica and islands lying in the temperate zone of the ocean.

At night, the surface of the Indian Ocean shimmers with lights. Light is produced by small marine plants called dinoflagellates. Luminous areas sometimes have the shape of a wheel with a diameter of 1.5 m.

. Fishing and marine industry

Fishing is underdeveloped (catch does not exceed 5% of the world catch) and is limited to local coastal zone. Near the equator (Japan) is fishing for tuna, and in Antarctic waters - whale fishing. In Sri Lanka, on the Bahrain Islands and on the northwestern coast of Australia, pearls and mother-of-pearl are mined.

The countries of the Indian Ocean also have significant resources of other valuable types of mineral raw materials (tin, iron and manganese ores, natural gas, diamonds, phosphorites, etc.).

Bibliography:

1.Encyclopedia "Science" Dorling Kindersley.

.“I know the world. Geography” V.A. Markin

3.slovari.yandex.ru ~ TSB books / Indian Ocean /

4.Large encyclopedic Dictionary Brockhaus F.A., Efron I.A.

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