Persian Gulf
The Arabian or Persian Gulf separates the Arabian Peninsula from Iran. It connects to the Indian Ocean, the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Oman through the Strait of Hormuz. Many experts argue that it would be more correct to call the Persian Gulf the inland sea of the Indian Ocean, since its hydrological regime is similar to that of the sea. But most often this gulf is considered a section of the Arabian Sea. A map of the Persian Gulf shows that rivers such as the Euphrates and the Tigris flow into it. Previously, they passed as separate river systems, but due to sediments, the land area gradually increased and the rivers merged into a single stream..
Economic significance of the bay
In the area of the gulf, there are the richest deposits of gas and oil. Safania is the largest oil field. The states located on the coast of the Persian Gulf extract at least 25% of the world's oil reserves per year.
In addition, pearl mining is well developed there. Therefore, the economic significance of the Persian Gulf is difficult to overestimate. The following states are located on its shores: UAE, Oman, Kuwait, Iran, Bahrain, Iraq, Qatar, Saudi Arabia. The Persian Gulf contains one fourth of the world's mineral reserves. Therefore, it plays an essential role in the economy. This bay connects the countries of the East with the West. It constantly serves as the object of the claims of the colonial states. The political situation in the region has always been tense.
Geographic features
The bay covers an area of about 239 thousand square meters. km. Its length is 926 km, and its width varies from 180 to 320 km. The average depth is 50 m. The deepest place reaches 102 m. There are many islands in the water area. The state of Bahrain has three large islands and a large number of small ones. It is connected to the mainland by a bridge and is 16 km away from Saudi Arabia.
The largest island in the bay is Qeshm, which is 136 km long. It is owned by Iran and is located across the strait from the coast. Iran also owns the islands of Kish, Small and Big Tomb. The large island of Bubiyan is considered the territory of Kuwait. It is an uninhabited island with swampy soil. The UAE and Saudi Arabia also have their own islands in the Persian Gulf. Even artificial islands have appeared there, which are created with the aim of developing the tourism business. There are many coral reefs in the Persian Gulf, which makes it even more interesting for travelers. In summer, the water reaches a temperature of +33 degrees. In winter, it cools down to 15 degrees. The seawater of the bay has a salinity of about 40 ppm. The circulation of currents occurs there counterclockwise. The main ports of the Persian Gulf are Basra, Fao, Abadan, Kuwait, Abu Dhabi, Manama, Dubai, etc..
