Arabian Sea - wikipedia Arabian Sea Arabian Sea Coordinates 14 ° N 65 ° E ﻿ / ﻿ 14 ° N 65 ° E ﻿ / 14 ; 65 Coordinates : 14 ° N 65 ° E ﻿ / ﻿ 14 ° N 65 ° E ﻿ / 14 ; 65 Type Sea Part of Indian Ocean Basin countries India, Iran, Maldives, Oman, Pakistan, Somalia, United Arab Emirates, Yemen Max. width 2,400 km ( 1,500 mi ) Surface area 3,862,000 km ( 1,491,000 sq mi ) Max. depth 4,652 m ( 15,262 ft ) Islands Astola island, Basavaraja Durga Island, Piram Island, Pirotan, Socotra The Arabian Sea is a region of the northern Indian Ocean bounded on the north by Pakistan and Iran, on the west by northeastern Somalia and the Arabian Peninsula, and on the east by India. Historically the sea has been known by other names including the Erythraean Sea and the Persian Sea. Its total area is 3,862,000 km ( 1,491,000 sq mi ) and its maximum depth is 4,652 metres ( 15,262 ft ). The Gulf of Aden is in the southwest, connecting the Arabian Sea to the Red Sea through the strait of Bab - el - Mandeb, and the Gulf of Oman is in the northwest, connecting it to the Persian Gulf. The Arabian Sea has been crossed by important marine trade routes since the third or second millennium BCE. Major seaports include Jawaharlal Nehru Port in Mumbai, the Port of Karachi and the Gwadar Port in Pakistan and the Port of Salalah in Oman. Other important ports include in India, Cochin Port, Kandla Port, and Mormugao in Goa. The largest islands in the Arabian Sea include Socotra ( Yemen ), Masirah Island ( Oman ), Astola Island ( Pakistan ) and Andrott ( India ). Contents 1 Geography 1.1 Limits 2 Alternative names 3 Trade routes 3.1 Major ports 4 Islands 5 See also 6 Notes 7 References 8 External links Geography Arabian Sea from space The Arabian Sea 's surface area is about 3,862,000 km ( 1,491,130 sq mi ). The maximum width of the Sea is approximately 2,400 km ( 1,490 mi ), and its maximum depth is 4,652 metres ( 15,262 ft ). The biggest river flowing into the Sea is the Indus River. The Arabian Sea has two important branches -- the Gulf of Aden in the southwest, connecting with the Red Sea through the strait of Bab - el - Mandeb ; and the Gulf of Oman to the northwest, connecting with the Persian Gulf. There are also the gulfs of Khambhat and Kutch on the Indian coast. 17th century map depicting the locations of the Periplus of the Erythraean Sea The countries with coastlines on the Arabian Sea are Somalia, Yemen, Oman, Pakistan, India and the Maldives. There are several large cities on the sea 's coast including Mumbai, Surat, Karachi, Gwadar, Pasni, Ormara, Aden, Muscat, Keti Bandar, Salalah and Duqm. Ormara beach, west side of the city Limits International Hydrographic Organization defines the limits of the Arabian Sea as follows : On the West. The Eastern limit of the Gulf of Aden ( The meridian of Cape Guardafui ( Ras Asir, 51 ° 16'E ) ). On the North. A line joining Ràs al Hadd, East point of Arabia ( 22 ° 32'N ) and Ràs Jiyùni ( 61 ° 43'E ) on the coast of Pakistan. On the South. A line running from the South extremity of Addu Atoll ( Maldives ), to the Eastern extreme of Ràs Hafun ( Africa, 10 ° 26'N ). On the East. The Western limit of the Laccadive Sea ( A line running from Sadashivgad Lt. on West Coast of India ( 14 ° 48 ′ N 74 ° 07 ′ E ﻿ / ﻿ 14.800 ° N 74.117 ° E ﻿ / 14.800 ; 74.117 ) to Corah Divh ( 13 ° 42 ′ N 72 ° 10 ′ E ﻿ / ﻿ 13.700 ° N 72.167 ° E ﻿ / 13.700 ; 72.167 ) and thence down the West side of the Laccadive and Maldive Archipelagos to the most Southerly point of Addu Atoll in the Maldives ). Alternative names The Arabian Sea historically and geographically has been referred to by many different names by Arab travellers and European geographers, that include Indian Sea, Persian Sea, Sindhu Sagar, Erythraean Sea, Sindh Sea, and Akhzar Sea. Trade routes The Arabian Sea has been an important marine trade route since the era of the coastal sailing vessels from possibly as early as the 3rd millennium BCE, certainly the late 2nd millennium BCE through the later days known as the Age of Sail. By the time of Julius Caesar, several well - established combined land - sea trade routes depended upon water transport through the Sea around the rough inland terrain features to its north. Names, routes and locations of the Periplus of the Erythraean Sea These routes usually began in the Far East or down river from Madhya Pradesh with transshipment via historic Bharuch ( Bharakuccha ), traversed past the inhospitable coast of today 's Iran then split around Hadhramaut into two streams north into the Gulf of Aden and thence into the Levant, or south into Alexandria via Red Sea ports such as Axum. Each major route involved transhipping to pack animal caravan, travel through desert country and risk of bandits and extortionate tolls by local potentiates. This southern coastal route past the rough country in the southern Arabian peninsula ( Yemen and Oman today ) was significant, and the Egyptian Pharaohs built several shallow canals to service the trade, one more or less along the route of today 's Suez canal, and another from the Red Sea to the Nile River, both shallow works that were swallowed up by huge sand storms in antiquity. Later the kingdom of Axum arose in Ethiopia to rule a mercantile empire rooted in the trade with Europe via Alexandria. Major ports The Kochi Port located on the south - west coast of India is the nearest Indian port to the international shipping routes, as well as one of the largest and busiest ports serving the Arabian Sea. Seen here is the International Container Transshipment Terminal, the only such facility in India. Jawaharlal Nehru Port in Mumbai is the largest port in the Arabian Sea, and the largest container port in India. The Port of Karachi ( Urdu : بندر گاہ كراچى, Bandargāh - i Karācī ) is Pakistan 's largest and busiest seaport, handling about 60 % of the nation 's cargo ( 25 million tons per annum ). It is located between the Karachi towns of Kiamari and Saddar, close to the main business district and several industrial areas. The geographic position of the port places it in close proximity to major shipping routes such as the Strait of Hormuz. The history of the port is intertwined with that of the city of Karachi. Several ancient ports have been attributed in the area including `` Krokola '', `` Morontobara '' ( Woman 's Harbour ) ( mentioned by Nearchus ), Barbarikon ( the Periplus of the Erythraean Sea, and Debal ( a city invaded and captured by the Muslim general Muhammad bin Qasim in 712 AD ). There is a reference to the early existence of the port of Karachi in the `` Umdah '', by the Arab navigator Sulaiman al Mahri ( AD 1511 ), who mentions `` Ras al Karazi '' and `` Ras Karashi '' while describing a route along the coast from Pasni to Ras Karashi. Karachi is also mentioned in the sixteenth century Turkish treatise Mirat ul Memalik ( Mirror of Countries, 1557 ) by the Ottoman captain Seydi Ali Reis, which is a compilation of sailing directions from the Portuguese island of Diu to Hormuz in the Persian Gulf. It warns sailors about whirlpools and advises them to seek safety in `` Kaurashi '' harbour if they found themselves drifting dangerously. The gate facing the sea was called `` Kharadar '' ( salt gate ), and the gate facing the Lyari River was called `` Mithadar '' ( sweet gate ). The modern neighbourhoods around the location of the gates are called Mithadar and Kharadar. Surrounded by mangrove swamps to the east, the sea to the southwest, and the Lyari River to the north, the town was well defended and engaged in a profitable trade with Muscat and Bahrain. The Port of Karachi in Pakistan 's largest city, Karachi, with some of the city 's residential areas visible. The port is one of the busiest in the Arabian Sea The Gwadar Port is a warm - water, deep - sea port situated at Gwadar in Balochistan, Pakistan at the apex of the Arabian Sea and at the entrance of the Persian Gulf, about 460 km west of Karachi and approximately 75 km ( 47 mi ) east of Pakistan 's border with Iran. The port is located on the eastern bay of a natural hammerhead - shaped peninsula jutting out into the Arabian Sea from the coastline. Port of Salalah in Salalah, Oman is also a major port in the area. From a modest start in 1997, the Omani container transhipment port has achieved consistent growth. It is a key container transhipment hub on the Arabian Sea and is often used as the first port of call for vessels whose crew have just been released from the clutches of Somali pirates following ransom payments for withheld vessels and crew. The port also plays host as a supply base for the visiting warships that provide protective escorts for merchant shipping in the sea lanes. From that dual role has emerged another, one as an intelligence network -- both military and civilian -- to exchange information on possible pirate sightings and near misses. Also, the International Task Force often uses the port as a base. There is a significant number of warships of all nations coming in and out of the port, which makes it a very safe bubble. The port handled just under 3.5 m teu in 2009 Major Indian ports in the Arabian Sea are Mundra Port, Kandla Port, Nava Sheva, Kochi Port, Mumbai Port, and Mormugão. Islands There are several islands in the Arabian Sea, with the largest being Socotra ( Yemen ), Masirah ( Oman ), Astola Island ( Pakistan ) and Andrott ( India ). Astola is a Pakistani island just off the coast of Balochistan, Pakistan Astola Island, also known as Jezira Haft Talar ( Urdu : زروان ءِ ہفت تلار Balochi ‎ ) or ' Island of the Seven Hills ', is a small, uninhabited island in the northern tip of the Arabian Sea in Pakistan 's territorial waters. It is a popular eco-tourism destination in the region. Overnight tourists camp on the island and bring their own provisions. Camping, fishing and scuba - diving expeditions are popular. It is also a site for observing turtle breeding. Endangered animals such as the green turtle ( Chelonia mydas ) and the Hawksbill turtle ( Eretmochelys imbracata ) nest on the beach at the foot of the cliffs. The island is also a very important area for endemic reptiles such as the Astola Viper ( Echis carinatus astolae ). Landsat view over Socotra, a Yemeni island. Socotra ( Arabic : سُقُطْرَى ‎ ‎ Suquṭra ), also spelled Soqotra, is the largest island, being part of a small archipelago of four islands. It lies some 240 kilometres ( 150 mi ) east of the Horn of Africa and 380 kilometres ( 240 mi ) south of the Arabian Peninsula. The island is very isolated and through the process of speciation, a third of its plant life is found nowhere else on the planet. It has been described as the most alien - looking place on Earth. Masirah ( Arabic : مصيرة ‎ ‎ ) is an island off the East coast of Oman. The main industries here are fishing and traditional textile manufacturing. Formerly, traditional ship building was important. The rugged terrain of the island and surrounding rough coastline has led to the appearance of many wrecked dhows on the beaches of the island, most of them well preserved by the salt water and intense heat. The ocean bottom environment surrounding Masirah is hostile as the majority of the area is covered in either sand or hard rock. Despite the poor quality ocean bottom, the area is very productive with marine fisheries, and any hard objects ( barrels, engines ) are immediately colonized by local fauna. See also Erythraean Sea North Indian Ocean tropical cyclone Piracy off the coast of Somalia Notes Jump up ^ Arabian Sea, Encyclopædia Britannica Jump up ^ `` Limits of Oceans and Seas, 3rd edition '' ( PDF ). International Hydrographic Organization. 1953. Retrieved 7 February 2010. Jump up ^ `` The Voyage around the Erythraean Sea ''. washington.edu. Jump up ^ `` Kamat 's Potpourri : The Arabian Sea ''. kamat.com. Jump up ^ The Periplus of the Erythraean Sea : Travel and Trade in the Indian Ocean by a Merchant of the First Century Jump up ^ Salalah 's versatility beats the slump Archived October 25, 2012, at the Wayback Machine., Port of Salalah Jump up ^ `` TRAFFIC HANDLED AT MAJOR PORTS ( LAST 7 YEARS ) '' ( PDF ). shipping.gov.in. Jump up ^ `` WORLD PORT RANKINGS '' ( PDF ). aapa.files.cms-plus.com. 2009. References This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain : Chisholm, Hugh, ed. ( 1911 ). `` Arabian Sea ''. Encyclopædia Britannica ( 11th ed. ). Cambridge University Press. External links Wikimedia Commons has media related to Arabian Sea. Arabian Sea ( World Wildlife Fund ) Al - Hind : Early Medieval India and the Expansion of Islam 7Th - 11th Earth 's oceans and seas Arctic Ocean Amundsen Gulf Barents Sea Beaufort Sea Chukchi Sea East Siberian Sea Greenland Sea Gulf of Boothia Kara Sea Laptev Sea Lincoln Sea Prince Gustav Adolf Sea Pechora Sea Queen Victoria Sea Wandel Sea White Sea Atlantic Ocean Adriatic Sea Aegean Sea Alboran Sea Archipelago Sea Argentine Sea Baffin Bay Balearic Sea Baltic Sea Bay of Biscay Bay of Bothnia Bay of Campeche Bay of Fundy Black Sea Bothnian Sea Caribbean Sea Celtic Sea English Channel Foxe Basin Greenland Sea Gulf of Bothnia Gulf of Finland Gulf of Lion Gulf of Guinea Gulf of Maine Gulf of Mexico Gulf of Saint Lawrence Gulf of Sidra Gulf of Venezuela Hudson Bay Ionian Sea Irish Sea Irminger Sea James Bay Labrador Sea Levantine Sea Libyan Sea Ligurian Sea Marmara Sea Mediterranean Sea Myrtoan Sea North Sea Norwegian Sea Sargasso Sea Sea of Åland Sea of Azov Sea of Crete Sea of the Hebrides Thracian Sea Tyrrhenian Sea Wadden Sea Indian Ocean Andaman Sea Arabian Sea Bali Sea Bay of Bengal Flores Sea Great Australian Bight Gulf of Aden Gulf of Aqaba Gulf of Khambhat Gulf of Kutch Gulf of Oman Gulf of Suez Java Sea Laccadive Sea Mozambique Channel Persian Gulf Red Sea Timor Sea Pacific Ocean Arafura Sea Banda Sea Bering Sea Bismarck Sea Bohai Sea Bohol Sea Camotes Sea Celebes Sea Ceram Sea Chilean Sea Coral Sea East China Sea Gulf of Alaska Gulf of Anadyr Gulf of California Gulf of Carpentaria Gulf of Fonseca Gulf of Panama Gulf of Thailand Gulf of Tonkin Halmahera Sea Koro Sea Mar de Grau Molucca Sea Moro Gulf Philippine Sea Salish Sea Savu Sea Sea of Japan Sea of Okhotsk Seto Inland Sea Shantar Sea Sibuyan Sea Solomon Sea South China Sea Sulu Sea Tasman Sea Visayan Sea Yellow Sea Southern Ocean Amundsen Sea Bellingshausen Sea Cooperation Sea Cosmonauts Sea Davis Sea D'Urville Sea King Haakon VII Sea Lazarev Sea Mawson Sea Riiser - Larsen Sea Ross Sea Scotia Sea Somov Sea Weddell Sea Endorheic basins Aral Sea Caspian Sea Dead Sea Sea of Galilee Salton Sea Book Hydrography of the Indian subcontinent Inland rivers Beas Betwa Bhagirathi Brahmaputra Chambal Chenab Damodar Godavari Gandaki Ganges Ghaghara Indus Jhelum Kali Kaveri Kosi Krishna Luni Mahanadi Mahaweli Meghna Narmada Padma Ravi Sarasvati Sankosh Sharda Son Sutlej Tapti Yamuna Inland lakes, deltas, etc. Ganges Basin Ganges Delta Indus Delta Dal Lake Pookode Lake Skeleton Lake Chilika Lake Lake Powai Borith Lake Saiful Muluk Gosaikunda Nizam Sagar Red Hills Lake Malampuzha Kerala backwaters Pulicat Lake Coastal Indian Ocean Arabian Sea Bay of Bengal Gulf of Kutch Gulf of Khambhat Gulf of Mannar Laccadive Sea Palk Strait Categories Lakes of Bangladesh / India / Nepal / Pakistan Reservoirs and dams in India Rivers of Bangladesh / Bhutan / India / Nepal / Pakistan Countries bordering the Arabian Sea India Iran Maldives Oman Pakistan Somalia Yemen VIAF : 251500992 LCCN : sh85006295 GND : 4002533 - 0 NDL : 00628155 Retrieved from `` https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Arabian_Sea&oldid=801595641 '' Categories : Arabian Peninsula Marine ecoregions Arabian Sea India -- Pakistan border Oman -- Yemen border Bodies of water of Pakistan Bodies of water of India Bodies of water of Oman Seas of Yemen Bodies of water of Somalia Bodies of water of Iran Bodies of water of the Maldives Bodies of water of the United Arab Emirates Seas of the Indian Ocean Seas of Asia Hidden categories : Webarchive template wayback links Coordinates on Wikidata All articles with unsourced statements Articles with unsourced statements from December 2012 Articles with unsourced statements from August 2012 Wikipedia articles needing clarification from December 2012 Articles containing Urdu - language text Articles containing Arabic - language text Wikipedia articles incorporating a citation from the 1911 Encyclopaedia Britannica with Wikisource reference Wikipedia articles incorporating text from the 1911 Encyclopædia Britannica Wikipedia articles with VIAF identifiers Wikipedia articles with LCCN identifiers Wikipedia articles with GND identifiers Talk Contents About Wikipedia Afrikaans Alemannisch አማርኛ অসমীয়া Azərbaycanca تۆرکجه বাংলা Bân - lâm - gú Башҡортса Беларуская Беларуская ( тарашкевіца ) ‎ भोजपुरी Български Bosanski Brezhoneg Буряад Català Чӑвашла Čeština Cymraeg Dansk Deutsch ދިވެހިބަސް Dolnoserbski Eesti Ελληνικά Español Esperanto Euskara فارسی Fiji Hindi Français Frysk Gaeilge Galego ગુજરાતી गोंयची कोंकणी / Gõychi Konknni 한국어 Հայերեն हिन्दी Hornjoserbsce Hrvatski Ido Ilokano Bahasa Indonesia Ирон Íslenska Italiano עברית ಕನ್ನಡ ქართული Қазақша Kurdî Кыргызча Latviešu Lëtzebuergesch Lietuvių Magyar मैथिली Македонски മലയാളം मराठी მარგალური مصرى Bahasa Melayu Монгол မြန်မာဘာသာ Nederlands नेपाली 日本 語 Norsk Norsk nynorsk Occitan ଓଡ଼ିଆ Oʻzbekcha / ўзбекча ਪੰਜਾਬੀ پنجابی پښتو Polski Português Română Русский Scots සිංහල Simple English Slovenčina Slovenščina Soomaaliga کوردی Српски / srpski Srpskohrvatski / српскохрватски Suomi Svenska தமிழ் Taqbaylit Татарча / tatarça తెలుగు ไทย Türkçe Українська اردو Tiếng Việt Winaray Yorùbá 粵語 Zazaki 中文 Edit links This page was last edited on 20 September 2017, at 17 : 04. Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution - ShareAlike License ; additional terms may apply. By using this site, you agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. Wikipedia ® is a registered trademark of the Wikimedia Foundation, Inc., a non-profit organization. About Wikipedia

Question: name the groups of islands lying in the arabian sea
Answer: Astola island