Where is the Indian Ocean located? Indian Ocean - area and location

Indian Ocean the third largest ocean after Pacific Ocean. The ocean is approximately 10,000 km wide between the southern tip of Africa and Australia; an area of ​​73,556,000 sq. km, including the Red Sea and the Persian Gulf. The volume of the ocean is approximately 292,131,000 cubic km.

Seas of the Indian Ocean: Andaman, Arabian, Arafura, Red, Laccadive, Timor

There are relatively few islands. The largest of them mainland origin and are located near the coast: Madagascar, Sri Lanka, Socotra. In the open ocean are found volcanic islands- Mascarene, Crozet, Prince Edward and others. In tropical latitudes, on volcanic cones rise coral islands- Maldivian, Laccadive, Chagos, Coconut, most Andaman and others.

Minerals: on the shelves - oil and gas (especially the Persian Gulf), monazite sands (the coastal region of Southwestern India), etc.; in rift zones - ores of chromium, iron, manganese, copper and others; on the bed - huge accumulations of ferromanganese nodules.

The surface water temperature reaches its maximum (over 29C) in May in the northern part of the ocean. In the summer of the Northern Hemisphere, it is here 27-28C and only off the coast of Africa decreases to 22-23C under the influence of cold waters coming to the surface from the depths. At the equator, the temperature is 26-28C and decreases to 16-20C at 30 south latitude, to 3-5 C at 50 south latitude and below -1C south of 55 south latitude. In the winter of the Northern Hemisphere, the temperature on the Sun is 23-25 C, at 30 south latitude 21-25 C, at 50 degrees south latitude from 5 to 9C, south of 60 south latitude temperatures are negative. In subtropical latitudes all year round in the West, the water temperature is 3-5 C higher than in the East.

The salinity of water depends on the water balance, which is formed on average for the surface of the Indian Ocean from evaporation (-1380 mm/year), precipitation (1000 mm/year) and continental runoff (70 cm/year). Main stock fresh water give the rivers of South Asia (Ganges, Brahmaputra, etc.) and Africa (Zambezi, Limpopo). The highest salinity is observed in the Persian Gulf (37-39%), in the Red Sea (41%) and in the Arabian Sea (more than 36.5%). In the Bay of Bengal and the Andaman Sea, it decreases to 32.0-33.0%, in the southern tropics - to 34.0-34.5%. In the southern subtropical latitudes, salinity exceeds 35.5% (maximum 36.5% in summer, 36.0% in winter), and south of 40% south latitude it drops to 33.0-34.3%.

The color of the water is predominantly blue, in the Antarctic latitudes it is blue, in some places with greenish hues.

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 tuna, 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 the islands lying in temperate zone ocean.

Fishing and marine industry. Fishing is underdeveloped (the catch does not exceed 5% of the world catch) and is limited to the 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.

Major ports: Aden, Dar es Salaam, Durban, Kannur, Colombo, Kochi, Mangalore, Muscat, Mogadishu, Mombasa, Mumbai, Port Louis, Port Elizabeth, Sihanoukville, Sofala, Tanga, Hambantota, Chennai, Yangon.

Indian Ocean States: Republic of South Africa, Mozambique, Tanzania, Kenya, Somalia, Ethiopia, Eritrea, Sudan, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Yemen, Oman, United United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait, Iraq, Iran, Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, East Timor, Australia, Comoros, Mauritius, Madagascar, Maldives, Reunion (France), Seychelles, Sri Lanka .

Indian Ocean- most warm ocean 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 the world. 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. Sea urchins, seals, the most exotic species of fish live in the waters of the Indian Ocean. Vegetable world diverse, which makes diving truly exciting.

Fish in the Indian Ocean

The Indian Ocean is 20% of the world's oceans by volume. It is bounded by Asia to the north, Africa to the west, and Australia to the east.

In the zone of 35 ° S passes the conditional border with the Southern Ocean.

Description and characteristics

The waters of the Indian Ocean are famous for their transparency and azure color. The fact is that few freshwater rivers, these "troublemakers," flow into this ocean. Therefore, by the way, the water here is much saltier than in others. The Red Sea, the saltiest sea in the world, is located in the Indian Ocean.

And the ocean is rich in minerals. The region near Sri Lanka has been famous for its pearls, diamonds and emeralds since ancient times. And the Persian Gulf is rich in oil and gas.
Area: 76.170 thousand sq. km

Volume: 282.650 thousand cubic km

Average depth: 3711 m, greatest depth— Sunda Trench (7729 m).

Average temperature: 17°C, but in the north the waters warm up to 28°C.

Currents: two cycles are conditionally distinguished - northern and southern. Both move clockwise and are separated by the Equatorial Countercurrent.

Major currents of the Indian Ocean

Warm:

Northern Tradewind- originates in Oceania, crosses the ocean from east to west. Beyond the peninsula, Hindustan is divided into two branches. Part flows to the north and gives rise to the Somali current. And the second part of the flow goes south, where it merges with the equatorial countercurrent.

South Passatnoye- begins at the islands of Oceania and moves from east to west up to the island of Madagascar.

Madagascar- branches off from the South Tradewind and flows parallel to the Mozambique from north to south, but slightly east of the Madagascar coast. Average temperature: 26°C.

mozambican is another branch of the South Tradewind Current. It washes the coast of Africa and merges with the Agulhas in the south. The average temperature is 25°C, the speed is 2.8 km/h.

Agulhas, or the course of Cape Agulhas- a narrow and fast current that runs along east coast Africa from north to south.

Cold:

Somali- a current off the coast of the Somali peninsula, which changes its direction depending on the monsoon season.

The course of the West winds encircles Earth in southern latitudes. In the Indian Ocean, from it is the South Indian Ocean, which, near the coast of Australia, passes into the West Australian.

Western Australian- moves from south to north along the western coast of Australia. As you get closer to the equator, the water temperature rises from 15°C to 26°C. Speed: 0.9-0.7 km/h.

Underwater world of the Indian Ocean

Most of the ocean is located in the subtropical and tropical zones, and therefore is rich and diverse in terms of species.

The coast of the tropics is represented by vast thickets of mangroves, home to numerous colonies of crabs and amazing fish - mudskippers. Shallow waters are a great habitat for corals. And in temperate waters, brown, calcareous and red algae (kelp, macrocysts, fucuses) grow.

Invertebrates: numerous mollusks, a huge number of species of crustaceans, jellyfish. Lots of sea snakes, especially venomous ones.

Sharks of the Indian Ocean are a special pride of the water area. The largest number of shark species live here: blue, gray, tiger, great white, mako, etc.

Of the mammals, dolphins and killer whales are the most common. And the southern part of the ocean is the natural habitat of many species of whales and pinnipeds: dugongs, seals, seals. Most of the birds are penguins and albatrosses.

Despite the richness of the Indian Ocean, the seafood industry is poorly developed here. The catch is only 5% of the world. They harvest tuna, sardines, rays, lobsters, lobsters and shrimp.

Indian Ocean exploration

Coastal countries of the Indian Ocean - pockets ancient civilizations. That is why the development of the water area began much earlier than, for example, the Atlantic or the Pacific Ocean. Approximately 6 thousand years BC. the waters of the ocean were already plowed by shuttles and boats of ancient people. The inhabitants of Mesopotamia sailed to the shores of India and Arabia, the Egyptians carried on a lively maritime trade with the countries of East Africa and the Arabian Peninsula.

Key dates in the history of ocean exploration:

7th century AD — Arab sailors make detailed navigation maps coastal zones Indian Ocean, explore the water area near the eastern coast of Africa, India, the islands of Java, Ceylon, Timor, Maldives.

1405-1433 - seven sea ​​voyages Zheng He and research trade routes in the northern and eastern parts of the ocean.

1497 Vasco de Gama sails and explores east coast Africa.

(Expedition of Vasco de Gama in 1497)

1642 - two raids by A. Tasman, exploration of the central part of the ocean and the discovery of Australia.

1872-1876 - the first scientific expedition of the English corvette "Challenger", the study of the biology of the ocean, relief, currents.

1886-1889 - expedition of Russian explorers led by S. Makarov.

1960-1965 - International Indian Ocean Expedition, established under the auspices of UNESCO. The study of hydrology, hydrochemistry, geology and biology of the ocean.

1990s - present: studying the ocean with the help of satellites, compiling a detailed bathymetric atlas.

2014 - after the crash of the Malaysian Boeing, detailed mapping of the southern part of the ocean was carried out, new underwater ridges and volcanoes were discovered.

The ancient name of the ocean is Eastern.

Many species of wildlife in the Indian Ocean have an unusual property - they glow. In particular, this explains the appearance of luminous circles in the ocean.

In the Indian Ocean, ships are periodically found in good condition, however, where the entire crew disappears remains a mystery. Over the past century, this has happened to three ships at once: the ship "Cabin Cruiser", the tankers "Houston Market" and "Tarbon".

All this becomes a reality for tourists coming to the resorts of the Indian Ocean.

The Indian Ocean Islands are an all-season destination for luxury holidays. It remains to decide what you prefer: relaxation and contemplation, active sports, the opportunity to touch the antiquities or watch the most unusual creatures on Earth.

Mauritius

Tropical Mauritius was once a favorite haunt of pirates, and now the island attracts thousands of tourists every year with its luxurious hotels and white sandy beaches surrounded by mountains of volcanic origin. This place is suitable not only for heat-loving couch potatoes, but also for inquisitive travelers who want to get acquainted with the amazing colonial architecture of the region, Indian temples and botanical gardens. Here you can also find rare birds, take a walk in the park with lions or swim with dolphins, or you can even test yourself for strength by doing extreme views sports - windsurfing and kitesurfing are very popular on the island.

Mauritius is located just 20 degrees south of the equator, so the temperature here does not drop below +25 ° C. Most tourists go here on vacation when it gets cold in the Northern Hemisphere, so the peak tourist season on the island is from October to April. However, at this time of the year it is quite hot and humid, and sometimes rainy. The best time to visit Mauritius is the local winter, which begins in the Southern Hemisphere in May.

Mauritius is quite small, only 45 × 65 sq. km, however, due to the unique landscape, the weather here is very changeable. You are unlikely to be able to quickly go around this small island, and all because it is riddled with narrow and winding roads, on which it is simply impossible to accelerate. In addition, when planning excursions, it is worth remembering that left-hand traffic has remained on the island since the British colonial era. Therefore, it is better for tourists to use the services of a taxi or an organized transfer.

The tourist center of Mauritius is the resort town of Grand Baie in the northeast of the island, it is here that the most hotels and entertainment venues. The west coast is the most expensive and prestigious: those who are accustomed to relaxing in the most luxurious hotels and who want to sunbathe on the most beautiful beaches with white sand. The south is considered the greenest, wildest and very interesting part of the island.

Where to settle

The pearl of Mauritius - Paradis & Golf Club on the Le Morne peninsula. This hotel is considered one of the best on the southwest coast. It is especially remembered by the guests due to the breathtaking views from the rooms on picturesque beach and the lagoon.

The Paradis resort will suit both lovers a relaxing holiday(here they have several restaurants, a well-known cosmetic brand spa, the largest fitness center in Mauritius, their own international golf course and a golf academy), and for those who prefer leisure and enjoys water sports. On the beach, hotel guests can use any equipment free of charge, including masks with a snorkel and windsurfing equipment. A separate fee will be asked only for the services of a personal instructor. By the way, this hotel hosts the Kite Jam Festival, which every year gathers professionals and amateurs of wind and kite surfing from all over the world. Within the framework of the festival, amateur competitions, master classes from world champions and the best athletes of the planet are held, as well as surfing and kiteboarding schools.

Madagascar

Madagascar - largest island Indian Ocean, one of the poorest countries in the world, but at the same time one of the most safe countries Africa. Such nature as in Madagascar cannot be found anywhere else. The flora and fauna of the island are rich in absolutely endemic plants and animals that cannot be found in other parts of the world.

Baobabs grow everywhere in Madagascar. In some areas, impressive rows of giant trees line up, in the crowns of which an African sun pancake beautifully "gets stuck" during sunset, giving tourists the opportunity to take photos of amazing beauty.

Here you can see 70 species of lemurs and chameleons and even watch humpback whales. The best time to see whales migrating is from June to September, but they appear all year round in the waters of the east coast.

Also on the island is a unique stone forest, covering an area of ​​more than 150 thousand hectares and representing sharp karst spiers, approximate age which is a million years. Stone Forest consists of intricate labyrinths, through which tours are organized for tourists.

As a rule, travelers go to Madagascar to see the jungle, wild animals, take part in a safaris or follow adapted and safe tourist routes, which are complemented by a few days of relaxation on the coast. The most popular recreation areas foreign tourists- these are the resorts of the Anakao Peninsula and the beaches of a tiny island near Madagascar - Nosy Be.

The north of the country is very fond of divers all over the world, including from Russia. Extended coastline with unique underwater plants and animals gives them a completely new diving experience.

The climate of Madagascar is very diverse: on the coast it is tropical, in the depths it is closer to subtropical, and in the south it is dry (arid), with high air temperatures that experience large daily fluctuations and with negligible rainfall. The island has two seasons. The hot and humid season - the Madagascar summer - lasts from November to April, the air temperature in these months is + 25 + 27 ° C, the cooler dry season is set from May to October (+ 20 + 24 ° C).

Where to settle

One of the best hotels the popular resort island of Nosy Be - Ravintsara Wellness Hotel. "Fantastic holidays", "royal vacation", "heaven on earth" - these are the reviews of tourists for Ravintsara's beautiful and spacious beachfront bungalows, green gardens around, excellent service and gourmet cuisine. The hotel also offers entertainment for all tastes: boat trips, quad bike trips. The cost of accommodation - from 300 dollars per day.

Seychelles

Seychelles is an archipelago of magical beauty, 115 islands, many of which are uninhabited, scattered in the waters of the Indian Ocean off the coast of East Africa. Breathtaking secluded beaches, unique nature and climate have made the islands perhaps the most idyllic tourist destination in the world.

Seychelles is one of the few resort areas where you can just take and fly at any time of the year without worrying about seasonal changes weather. The climate here is quite stable throughout the year, the average air temperature on the islands is + 26 + 30º C. During the peak season (December-January), precipitation becomes more frequent on the islands, which disappear only by mid-March, but they cannot be called plentiful and in fact they do not interfere with the rest of tourists.

The warmest and calmest weather is set in April-May and October-November. During this period, the islands have ideal conditions for swimming, snorkeling and diving: the water temperature reaches +29º C, and visibility often exceeds 30 meters.

Period from October to April - best time for lovers of fishing, and from April to October - the season for watching exotic birds. It is during these months that they breed, nurse their offspring and migrate to other lands. From May to September, fans of surfing and windsurfing flock to the Seychelles.

The main island of the archipelago, on which the international airport is located - about. Mahe. Those who fly to the Seychelles in search of peace and secluded relaxation are unlikely to appreciate the bustle of Mahe, but it is worth staying here at least in order to study the colonial architecture of the capital of the Seychelles - the city of Victoria, or visit Botanical Garden, which contains dozens of species tropical plants. The surroundings of Mahe Island have great opportunities for deep-sea diving: here you can not only swim with magnificent tropical fish, but also walk through the habitats of reef and nosed sharks, stingrays, sea ​​urchins, sea turtles.

Each island of the archipelago has its own atmosphere, and if you don’t want the noise of Mahe at all, then you can go to small islands where complete peace and quiet reigns.

Where to settle

One of the best hotels in Mahe is Banyan Tree Seychelles, located on the picturesque southwestern coast of the island. There are 60 villas on the territory of Banyan Tree, each of which has its own pool.

This resort is in quiet place, away from anything that might disturb you during your vacation. This sometimes makes the guests think that they are on a desert island, on which someone invisible provides round-the-clock comfort. Nearby there are no places of entertainment and significant tourist places, so it is chosen by those who are going to enjoy a vacation away from civilization. The cost of renting a villa - from 1200 dollars per day.

Maldives

The Maldives is about 20 groups of atolls, but only half of the islands that make up them are open to tourists. If you are planning to visit Republic of Maldives For the first time and looking for some general recommendations on choosing a resort, then you need to remember the main thing: each of the Maldivian resorts is on its own island, the sizes of the islands vary from 2.5 km to 150 m (from coast to coast). This means that all facilities in the resort (restaurants, bars, sports facilities, etc.) will be the only entertainment for the duration of your stay in the Maldives. Therefore, their infrastructure must be carefully studied in advance in order to long-awaited vacation do not fall into deep despair. In general, there are offers for tourists for every taste: from affordable bungalows adjacent to diving equipment rental points, to secluded luxury villas on stilts in the sea, from the terrace of which you can hang your legs and admire the colored fish swimming in the water.

The Maldives archipelago is located almost on the equator, the climate here is tropical, the temperature is stable all year round (about +28+30º C). The hottest season on the islands falls on our winter: from December to April, the islands are dry, and the air temperature reaches its highest levels.

Most of the activities in the Maldives are centered around water activities. Snorkeling and diving are very popular - vacationers have the opportunity to see the most beautiful coral reefs and get acquainted with 700 species of exotic fish that live in the Indian Ocean. Surfers (both advanced and beginners) also like to come here to spend an invigorating vacation, cutting the waves on the board. Fans of a more relaxing holiday may be interested in fishing in open water.

Where to settle

One of the most famous Maldivian resorts Shangri-La's Villingili Resort & Spa is located on the large and very picturesque Addu Atoll, on Villingili Island. Shangri-La offers accommodation in fully equipped villas in traditional style. Guests can choose a house in the garden, on the shore or on stilts right above the water. Several restaurants are available to guests open pool, gym, kids club, beauty salon and spa center, where they offer various programs face and body care, scrubs, body wraps, as well as massage and stone therapy. On the territory there are tennis and badminton courts, a small golf course, as well as everything you need for snorkeling, diving, windsurfing and fishing.

Tourists are delivered to the resort from Male International Airport by plane or speedboat.

O. Ceylon

Ceylon (Sri Lanka) - real corner eternal holiday. The number of significant events that are celebrated here is more than 160 a year! Add to that colorful beaches, misty mountains, tea plantations and luxurious hotels - and you will get a truly unforgettable vacation in the realm of nature on the shores of the Indian Ocean.

Developed tourism infrastructure Sri Lanka provides holidaymakers with great leisure opportunities for all tastes, from "doing nothing" on the beaches and pampering in local spas to wildlife watching, extreme sports and pilgrimages to ancient cities.

The climate in Sri Lanka is equatorial. It is warm and humid all year round, with a rainy season in summer. Average annual temperature air on the island is +28º C, the water temperature in the Indian Ocean reaches +26º C.

The largest city of the island nation is noisy, crazy Colombo. Tourists come here to get acquainted with the main attractions: admire the colonial buildings, mosques, churches, Buddhist and Hindu temples, see the presidential residence (or the Queen's House), visit National Museum and an art gallery. There is also a wonderful zoo in Colombo, where tourists tend to get to the elephant show.

The beaches of the island enjoy great love of tourists. Moreover, Sri Lanka is gaining more and more popularity among those who love active species water sports. Surfers managed to take a fancy to Arugam Bay - a place 314 km from Colombo, on the southeast coast of Ceylon, which was included in the honorary list of the ten best surf beaches in the world. Arugam Bay is popular with beginners, but for experienced athletes, the west coast has become a point of attraction, where you can catch an impressive wave. The town of Negombo on the west coast of Sri Lanka has become a hangout for kitesurfers who come here for the winds from May to the end of September.

Due to the diverse relief of the island, Ceylon has excellent conditions for rafting, hiking and mountain biking.

lovers wildlife come to Sri Lanka to watch whales and dolphins that appear in the waters near the town of Mirissa. At certain times of the year, sea turtles can also be seen coming ashore to lay their eggs.

Where to settle

Most famous resort for a beach holiday in Sri Lanka - the town of Bentota and its environs. Most of the hotels offering accommodation for every taste are located here. Nevertheless, the hotels are located at a considerable distance from each other, so tourists can enjoy a relaxing holiday.

Beautiful secluded hotel in Benot - Saman Villas, which is located on a small rocky hill, right on the ocean. It is quiet and comfortable here, the number of rooms (and especially the open-air bathroom) pleases travelers who do not skimp on positive reviews. Tourists also note the excellent cuisine at the hotel restaurant and praise the treatments at the local spa. The cost of living is about 300 dollars per day.

The small village of Hikkaduwa is popular with divers and surfers, who are not known to be too whimsical, so it is mainly located here. cheap hotels and apartments.

You can swim with a mask, swim in calm waters, which are protected from waves by a coral ridge, in the resort of Trincomalee, which is located on the east coast of the country.

Irina Lavery

We bring to your attention a brief overview of the countries located in the Indian Ocean, which will take part in the Eighth Olympic Games of the Indian Ocean. The Games will be held in the Seychelles from 5 to 14 August 2011.

Mayotte
Mayotte (fr. Mayotte) is an overseas community of France located in the Mozambique Channel, in the western Indian Ocean, between northern Mozambique and northern Madagascar. It consists of the main island, Grande-Terre (or Maore), the smaller island of Petit-Terre (or Pamanzi), and several other tiny islets. Geographically, it belongs to the Comoros. Area - 374 km², population - 223.8 thousand (July 2009 estimate). Religions - Muslims 97%, Christians (mostly Catholics) 3%. Mayotte is separate member Indian Ocean Commission (COI), separate from the Comoros. On March 29, 2009, the inhabitants of the island of Mayotte voted by a majority in a referendum to make the island a department of France. 95.2% of voters out of 61.2% of Mayotte residents who took part in the voting were in favor. Mayotte will finally receive the status of a department in 2011 and will thus become the 101st department in France.

Economy of Mayotte The main economic activity is in agriculture and fisheries. Mayotte does not provide itself with food and imports it, as well as manufactured goods, fuel, etc. Export is very insignificant - mainly flavors (vanilla and ylang-ylang), copra, coconuts. The development of the tourism business is difficult due to the remoteness of the island. Mayotte's budget is supported by substantial financial subsidies from France. Currency unit- Euro.

Maldives

The Republic of Maldives is located in equatorial waters Indian Ocean about 700 km southwest of Sri Lanka. A chain of 20 atolls, consisting of 1192 coral islands. The population is a little over 309 thousand people. Religion - Sunni Islam. The total area is about 300 km². The capital of Male, the only city and port of the archipelago, is located on the atoll of the same name. On July 26, 1965, Britain granted independence to the Maldives. On November 11, 1968, according to the results of a referendum, the Maldives was proclaimed a republic. Since 1978, the Maldives has been ruled by President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom (6 consecutive five-year terms). In October 2008, Mohamed Nasheed became the first President of the Republic of Maldives elected by popular vote.

Economy of the Maldives The main sectors of the economy are tourist services (28% of GDP) and fishing. The industrial sector is the production of clothing, souvenirs and boats. Agriculture is poorly developed. A significant part of food is imported. The main crop is coconut palm, bananas, vegetables, fruits, sweet potatoes, breadfruit are also grown. Livestock is practically not bred. Export commodities are fish and postage stamps. Main vehicles- sailing and motor boats.

Mauritius

Mauritius - Island state in the southwestern Indian Ocean, about 900 km east of Madagascar. The republic includes the islands of Mauritius (the largest, 1,865 km²) and Rodrigues (104 km²), which are part of the archipelago Mascarene Islands, as well as the Cargados Carajos archipelago, the Agalega Islands and many small islands. The total area of ​​the country is 2,045 km². Population - 1.284 million (July 2009 estimate). The capital of Mauritius is the city of Port Louis, located on the island of Mauritius. On March 12, 1968, Mauritius was declared an independent state within the British Commonwealth. Mauritius became a republic on March 12, 1992.

Economy of Mauritius It is based on sugar production (sugar cane is grown on about 90% of cultivated farmland), on tourism and on the textile industry. IN Lately offshore and banking business is developing, as well as the extraction and processing of fish. 9% of employees are employed in agriculture, 30% in industry, and 61% in the service sector. Export commodities ($2.4 billion in 2008): sugar, clothing and textiles, flowers, shellfish, fish. The main buyers are Great Britain 30%, France 15%, USA 8%. Imports ($4.4 billion in 2008): manufactured goods, foodstuffs, petroleum products, chemicals. The main suppliers are India 21%, France 11%, China 9%. Despite the remoteness, Mauritius is very popular among European tourists. Mainly distributed in Mauritius beach holiday, but excursions to the ocean are also popular, less often - inland. Mauritius is one of the three most beautiful and popular tourist resorts along with the Maldives and Seychelles.

Comoros

Union of the Comoros, Comoros, until 2002 Islamic Federal Republic of the Comoros - a state in the Indian Ocean, located in the northern part Mozambique Channel between northern Madagascar and northern Mozambique. Area - 2170 km². Population - about 798,000 people (2005), mainly the Antaloatran people. The capital is the city of Moroni. The official languages ​​are Comorian, French and Arabic. The state religion is Islam. On July 6, 1975, the Chamber of Deputies unilaterally proclaimed independent republic Comoros (RKO) as part of the islands of Anjouan, Grande Comore and Moheli. Ahmed Abdallah, chairman of the Government Council, became president. This council was abolished, a parliament was formed, a constitution was adopted and the Arabic names islands. In November 1975, the Comoros were admitted to the UN as part of four islands as a single state. France, recognizing the independence of the RKO, assigned to Fr. Mayotte the status of its "territorial unit". Following a referendum in April 2002, a new constitution was approved, granting the islands more autonomous rights. The country became known as the Union of the Comoros (UKO).

Economy The Comoros is one of the poorest countries in Africa. Main income items: export of ylang-ylang (the world's largest exporter), vanilla (the world's second largest exporter after Madagascar); tourism, fishing.

reunion

Reunion is an island in the Indian Ocean, east of Madagascar, an overseas region of France. The area is 2.5 thousand km². The population is 793 thousand people (2007 estimate). More than half of the population of Reunion are Creoles (of mixed origin, mainly French-African-Malagasy), "white" French make up about a quarter of the population, Indians - about 20%, the rest - Chinese and others. About 90% of the population are Catholics, there are Hindus, Muslims, Buddhists, and also Rastafarians. Creole is still widely spoken (based on French), although the school teaches only in official French. Administrative center- Saint-Denis (95 thousand people in 2004). Since 1946, Reunion has become an overseas department of France, since 1974 - administrative region. Reunion is governed by a prefect appointed by the President of France.

Economy of Reunion The main agricultural export crop is sugar cane. Corn, potatoes, bananas, and mangoes are also cultivated. Livestock - mainly pigs and goats. Widely developed travel business. The industry is mainly the production of sugar and rum from sugar cane. In addition to sugar, rum, vanilla, geranium essence and other flavors are exported. There is a noticeable difference in the standard of living of the French living on the island and those of the Indian, Creole and other communities. The French government subsidizes the island's economy in an attempt to close this gap.

Madagascar

The Republic of Madagascar is a state in the western Indian Ocean, on the island of Madagascar and adjacent small islands off the east coast of Africa. The total area of ​​the state is 587.040 km². The length is about 1600 km, the width is over 600 km. central part The islands are occupied by the high-altitude Anjafi plateau, gently descending to the west and abruptly dropping to the lowlands of the eastern coast. Population - 18.4 million people. (2005 UN est.). The capital is Antananarivo. Date of independence June 26, 1960 (from France). Official languages ​​- Malagasy, French, English.

Economy of Madagascar generally regarded as developing. The main sectors of the economy of Madagascar are agriculture, fishing and the cultivation of spices and spices for export. The main exports are coffee, vanilla (Madagascar is the world's largest producer), cocoa powder, sugarcane, rice, tapioca, legumes, bananas and peanuts. There is a well-known incident when the Coca-Cola company switched from real vanilla to synthetic, which was a significant blow to the economy of the republic. The main sources of economic growth in this moment are tourism, exports of textile and light industry, exports of agricultural products and exports of minerals. Thanks to unique fauna islands, bio-tourism attracts everything large quantity people from different corners planets. Approximately 80% of the entire flora and fauna of the island are endemic, and 5% of the total species diversity of the planet live in Madagascar. The Free Trade Zones, located near Antananarivo and Antsirabe, aim to trade with the US and Europe. As natural resources, coal, ilmenite and nickel are mainly mined for export. Two large oil fields have been discovered in the south of the republic. Structural reforms in the economic sector began in the 80s of the last century, mainly under pressure from foreign financial institutions, especially the World Bank. A privatization program was carried out (1988-1993), a free trade zone (Export Processing Zone) was introduced. Madagascar and Mauritania are the last countries in the world not to use a decimal currency. Madagascar ariary is equal to five iraimbilany.

Seychelles

Economy of the Seychelles It is based on serving tourists (30% of employees and more than 70% of foreign exchange earnings) and on fishing (canned and frozen fish are the main export goods). Agriculture is poorly developed. Coconuts, cinnamon and vanilla (for export), sweet potato, cassava (tapioca), bananas are grown. Breeding poultry. In 1978, the national airline, Air Seychelles, was founded.