The first bit of Indian Ocean information that gets hold of anyone’s attention is its size. And it does not just look huge, it is huge. Covering almost 20% of the earth’s total surface, the Indian Ocean makes a huge contribution to the water load of the world.

Covers 20% of the Earth Surface

The Indian Ocean is bound by a number of continents on each side with the Indian subcontinent towards the north, Africa towards the west, The Sunda Islands and Australian lands towards the east and Antarctica towards the south. 

The geographical facts about the Indian Ocean depict the diversity of this Ocean through 57 islands groups, 16 African countries and 18 Asian countries being connected directly through its waters. Many other smaller ports or larger cities are connected indirectly through navigational options of this ocean.

Several Continents by its sides/ Unique Location

Owing to the depth of this ocean, it is interesting Indian Ocean information is that the lowest part of this ocean is about 7,258 m deep-lying on the Java Trench of the Sunda Shelf while its highest point is at sea level.

The Highest Point is at the Sea Level Itself

A rather interesting bit of information on the Indian Ocean is its limited marine animal life which is due to a higher water temperature of this ocean. This ocean is the warmest ocean in the world and offers little scope to plankton and other species for growth.

Limited Marine Life

This ocean holds a unique place owing to its properties. As mentioned in the Indian Ocean facts, the water here has highest concentration of dissolved and floating hydrocarbons, has maximum negative water balance and is single source of water of highest and lowest salinity levels.

Has Unique Chemical and Physical Properties

Indian Ocean has ports that belong to different continents. Chennai, Mumbai and Kolkata are the Indian ports of this ocean while Colombo of Sri Lanka, Durban and Richards Bay in South Africa, Jakarta in Indonesia and Melbourne in Australia make the other important ports of this ocean.

Has World’s Most Important Ports

What is probably one of the little known facts about the Indian Ocean is that it bears many tectonic plate boundaries including the Rodrigues Triple Point where African, Indo-Australian and Antartic continental plates merge.

Has Several Tectonic Plate Boundaries

Waters in the Indian Ocean have one of the lowest oxygen content of the world owing to greater evaporation rate in this ocean than its run off or precipitation influx. This makes life growth in Indian Ocean rather unique.

Has Lowest Oxygen Content

This ocean receives about 6000 km of river run off from various parts including rivers like Ganges and Brahmaputra- two of the largest rivers. Due to the closeness to equator, the evaporation rate here remains considerably high.

6000Km of River Run

Indian Ocean has its own contribution in the world trade. Besides the navigation routes and mineral deposits, this ocean also has many oil deposits which make about 40 percent of total world production.

indian Ocean

Covers 20% of the Earth Surface