9 Interesting Facts about the Indian Ocean
- Scientists believe that the Indian Ocean began to form about 200 million years ago when Australia broke away from Africa, followed by India.
- The Indian Ocean is 10,000 km across at its widest point, between Africa and Australia.
- Unlike in other oceans, currents in the Indian Ocean change course twice a year. They are blown by monsoon winds towards Africa in winter, and then in the other direction towards India in summer.
- The Indian Ocean is the third largest ocean after the Pacific and Atlantic with a total area of 73,426,000 sq km.
- The deepest point is the Java Trench off the coast of Indonesia, which is 7450 m deep.
- The Indian Ocean is getting 20 cm wider every year.
- The average depth of the Indian Ocean is 3890 m.
- The Indian Ocean is scattered with thousands of tropical islands such as the Seychelles and Maldives.
- The Maldives are so low lying that they may be swamped if global warming melts the polar ice.
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