The Indian Ocean (Area: 73,430,000 sq. km) is the third-largest ocean in the world. It is the only ocean that is named after a country (India).
- It is surrounded by the Indian subcontinent in the north, East Africa on the west and Indo China in the east.
- It is deeper than the Atlantic Ocean. Sunda Trench is the deepest point in this Ocean.
- It contains numerous continental islands, Madagascar and Sri lanka are being the largest ones.
- Some of the islands of volcanic origin are those of Mauritius, Andaman and Nicobar, Seychelles, and Lakshadweep are of coral origin.
- After the construction of the Suez Canal (connecting the Indian Ocean with the Mediterranean Sea), its commercial importance has increased.
Also, Read Importance of Oceans