The Arabian Sea is a regional sea, centered at approximately 65o
E and 15oN, that is bounded by Pakistan and Iran to the north,
Oman, Yemen and Somalia to the west, India to the east, and the
greater Indian Ocean to the south. The southern boundary, from
an oceanographic point of view, runs from Goa on the Indian
coast along the west side of the Laccadive Islands to the
equator, and thence slightly to the south to near Mombasa on the
Kenyan coast. It covers an area of about 7,456,000 km2. The
Arabian Sea connects to the Persian (Arabian) Gulf through Gulf
of Oman the Strait of Hormuz; and with the Red Sea through the
Gulf of Aden and the Bel-al-Mandeb Strait. Not surprisingly, the
Sea is a major trade route, particularly for oil. Notable
islands in the Arabian Sea include Socotra (actually a group of
four islands) east of the Horn of Africa; and, Masirah just off
the coast of Oman. The Indus River is the largest river
discharging into the Arabian Sea. This is one of the world's
seas where monsoon weather even