The Indian Ocean is the third-largest body of water in the world (after Pacific Ocean and Atlantic Ocean) covering an area of 73,442,477 km2 (28,356,300 mi2). It is bounded on the north by southern Asia; on the west by the Arabian Peninsula and Africa; on the east by the Malay Peninsula, the Sunda Islands, and Australia; and on the south by Antarctica.
It is subdivided into the Arabian Sea and the Bay of Bengal by the southward jutting peninsula of India and it has played an important role in the history of world trade.
Most of the Indian Ocean lies within areas of tropical or subtropical climate. North of the equator, the climate over the Arabian Sea and the Bay of Bengal is dominated by the seasonal flow of the monsoon.
The Indian Ocean lies astride the sea-lanes connecting Europe and Asia and it has been a route to trade in silks, spices, and other sought after products from the East. Completion of the Suez Canal in 1869 shortened the sailing time from Europe to the Far East and Australia, leading to expansion of trade through such ports as Zanzibar, Aden, Bombay, and Singapore, and today most trade is centered on the ports of Singapore and Durban in South Africa.
In addition to its importance in trade, the Indian Ocean is rich in mineral and energy resources.
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