January 23rd, 2012

In this post, I decided to make a general overview of the islands of the Indian Ocean. All the main islands in one place.
We will talk about Madagascar, Seychelles, Mauritius, Maldives and Sri Lanka. And a lot of photos.

The history of Madagascar goes back a couple of hundred million years and begins from the moment when the island broke away from the African continent. The island does not have typical African fauna. With the exception of bats, which are able to cross the water obstacle between the island and the continent, there is not a single species of mammal that could be seen in any other place. As the fourth largest island in the world, Madagascar is home to an amazing diversity of animals and plants, eighty percent of which are unique, including birds.

Madagascar's vast rainforests, like El Dorado, attract scientists and researchers from all over the world. Even the great rainforests of South America cannot compete with the enormous biodiversity of flora that creates a unique habitat for some refugees from the time of the dinosaurs, such as chameleons. 40 different species of which, together with fifty species of lemurs, are home to wonderful tree species such as spiny forest and baobabs.

The stunning uniqueness of this island makes it considered the eighth continent. Madagascar's diverse peoples, its unexplored coral reefs and other attractions provide a constant influx of visitors seeking walks off the beaten path of the vast national parks, among rare and endangered species, friendly locals and spectacular marine life with moonlit paths on the ocean surface.

Seychelles

After a long struggle over the islands between France and Great Britain, ending in 1814, independence came in 1976. The first democratically elected president took office in 1993.

455 square kilometers of the Republic of Seychelles, divided into 23 administrative districts, lie in the Indian Ocean, 1600 kilometers from Africa and northeast of Madagascar. Surrounded by other islands: Mauritius and Reunion in the south, Comoros in the southwest and the Maldives in the northeast.

Eighty thousand Islanders are of French, African, Arab, Indian and Chinese descent. The native language of the vast majority of the population is Creole, but French and English are also widely spoken.

The islands include 115 islands in the archipelago, 33 of which are inhabited. The most populated is the group of granite islands around Mahe, on which the capital, Victoria, is located. The smaller outer portion of the islands are coral atolls, including the world's largest atoll, Aldabra, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and home to hundreds of thousands of turtles.

The islands have a subtropical maritime climate, with an average annual temperature of 29 degrees Celsius and plenty of rain in March and November. The cool season of the southeast monsoon occurs from late May to September, while the northwest monsoon brings warmth from March to May. Since most of the island lies outside the cyclone belt, severe storms are rare.

The main direction of recreation on the islands is beach, with visits to natural attractions and diving in unique coral underwater landscapes.

Like the Seychelles, Mauritius is one of Africa's richest countries and a successful multicultural society, where the friendly coexistence of peoples and religions is expressed in croissants for breakfast and curries for lunch, as well as colorful Indian temples adjacent to French colonial mansions.

Despite the fact that the small island of Mauritius can be completely covered in less than a day, it has a wonderful reputation as a resort where the highest service and value for money is combined with high popularity.

Mauritius hotels rightfully occupy high places in the ratings, and the marvelous sandy beaches and lush tropical nature provide a full range of beach holiday, ranging from diving and snorkeling to fishing for big fish.

The season consists of two periods from October to January and from April to May, the best time is December and May; in July-August the temperature drops and the season of strong winds begins. Temperatures in late summer are moderate.

The Maldives is synonymous with luxury, romance and tropical serenity. Scattered specks of low coral islands in the Indian Ocean; a paradise for lovers of diving and sunbathing.

Twenty-six natural atolls and a thousand islands, with perfect white sandy beaches in lagoons washed by turquoise water with bath temperature. Tourism here began to develop relatively recently - since the 70s, but at the moment it is the most important industry in the Maldives. The main offer on the market is concentrated in the luxury segment, which means the Maldives is home to several best hotels in the world.

Thus, now is a good time to visit this country, which is in a frenzy of development. New resorts, boutiques of the world's leading brands and wonderful environmentally friendly hotels open here every month. This resort isn't cheap by any stretch of the imagination, but if you're looking for adventure with breathtaking natural views and absolute beauty that will stay with you long after your wonderful tan has faded, then it's worth it.

The island's ocean coast, lined with delicate golden sandy beaches, is now recovering from the devastating tsunami in 2004. Taking a closer look, we will find artificial reservoirs built around by the first rulers of Singapore ancient city Anuradhapura. In this land of hills, clouds often limit a traveler's view from exploring waterfalls and tea plantations.

In the northwest, a web of natural earthen bridges almost connects fragile Sri Lanka with modern giant India. Two and a half decades civil war extend this bridge to Tamil Nadu, both geographically and culturally.

Regardless of your national and cultural background: Senegalese, Tamil or Muslim, the locals will be very friendly and hospitable to you. And they will proudly present you with their criminally underrated cuisine, National parks wildlife and especially their national cricket teams.

The island has a tropical climate, with a summer monsoon season during which 95 percent of the annual precipitation falls. Therefore, in the winter months, from November to April, the weather is quite dry and, in general, it is best season for travelers.

Hit by war and the effects of the global financial crisis, the Sri Lankan population spent the next few years working hard to rebuild its tourism infrastructure. And at the moment, Sri Lanka is a fusion ancient history, culture and modern scenery of a developed tourism business.

A noteworthy feature of Sri Lanka is diving not only among the exotic inhabitants of the deep sea, but also visiting grottoes, underwater rocks and sunken ships.

That's all. Thank you for reading us.

I made a little plan for the reports. Read soon:
- Trip to Sri Lanka. Personal experience.
- Neuschwanstein Castle
- PortAventura amusement park in Spain
- European and Scandinavian ferries
- Lithuania, Klaipeda and the Baltic Sea

They are located in the Atlantic Ocean. The Indian Ocean is one of the areas of ancient civilizations. Another large ridge in the Indian Ocean is the East Indian Ridge. There are relatively few seas in the Indian Ocean - the Red, Andaman, Timor, Arafura, etc. There are also few islands.

The Indian Ocean is the third largest body of water in the world, and located in it warm waters A number of spectacular tropical islands will not leave travelers indifferent. Bali is the island of a thousand temples and one of the smallest islands in the Malay archipelago. It is located between the Malaysian peninsula and the island of New Guinea. The island is unlike anything else and it seems that you are somewhere on another planet.

Indian Ocean Islands

Many of these tropical atolls and islands are simply stunning, with swaying palm trees, white sandy beaches and deep blue lagoons. The islands of the Indian Ocean and the state of Mauritius are its Botanical Garden, this is one of its main and most visited attractions. Since the islands are scattered throughout the ocean, their climate is different: from monsoon (northern part) to moderate cyclone.

Geological structure of the bottom and the most important features of the relief.

The islands themselves can have no more than 100 km2 in area. The origin of the local islands is continental, volcanic and coral. The border with the Atlantic Ocean runs along the 20° meridian of eastern longitude; from the Quiet - along the 146°55′ meridian of eastern longitude. The northernmost point of the Indian Ocean is located at approximately 30°N latitude in the Persian Gulf.

Bottom sediments and minerals.

Since the 16th century, the name Oceanus Indicus (Latin Oceanus Indicus) - Indian Ocean, introduced by the Roman scientist Pliny the Elder back in the 1st century, has been established. In Early Jurassic times, the ancient supercontinent Gondwana began to break apart. As a result, Africa with Arabia, Hindustan and Antarctica with Australia were formed. The process ended at the turn of the Jurassic and Cretaceous periods (140-130 million years ago), and the young depression of the modern Indian Ocean began to form.

Physiographic zones.

In the Late Cretaceous, the split of the single Australian-Antarctic continent began. The Indo-Australian segment occupies half the area of ​​the Indian Ocean. The Indus Cone extends far into the Arabian Basin.

The Antarctic segment is limited by the West Indian and Central Indian ridges, and from the south by the shores of Antarctica. Under the influence of tectonic and glaciological factors, the Antarctic shelf has been deepened. The wide continental slope is cut through by large and wide canyons, through which supercooled waters flow from the shelf into the abyssal depressions. The continental foot of Antarctica is distinguished by a wide and significant (up to 1.5 km) thickness of loose sediments.

At the bottom of the Indian Ocean, ferromanganese nodules have become widespread, confined mainly to areas of deposition of red clays and radiolarian oozes. The southern tropics are dominated by the southeast trade wind, which in winter does not extend north of 10°N. w. The average annual temperature reaches 25 °C. In the zone 40-45°S. In winter, they can also occur in the southern tropical zone. Most often, hurricanes occur in the western part of the ocean (up to 8 times a year), in the areas of Madagascar and the Mascarene Islands.

In the northern part of the ocean there is a seasonal change in currents caused by the monsoon circulation. In winter, the Northeast monsoon current is established, starting in the Bay of Bengal. South of 10° N. w. this current turns into the Western Current, crossing the ocean from Nicobar Islands to the coast of East Africa.

In the southern hemisphere, currents are constant, without seasonal fluctuations. Driven by trade winds, the Southern Trade Wind Current crosses the ocean from east to west towards Madagascar.

Near Madagascar, the Southern Trade Wind Current branches, giving rise to the Equatorial Countercurrent, the Mozambique and Madagascar Currents. The southern part of this current goes into the Atlantic Ocean, and part of it flows into the Western Winds. Local gyres operate in the Arabian Sea, the Bay of Bengal and the Great Australian Bay, and in the Antarctic waters.

In Arctic waters in winter, salinity increases slightly due to salinization of waters during the process of ice formation. From the surface to the bottom of the ocean, salinity decreases. Below 3.5-4 thousand m, bottom water masses are common, forming from the Antarctic supercooled and dense salty waters of the Red Sea and the Persian Gulf. Human activities in the Indian Ocean have led to the pollution of its waters and a reduction in biodiversity.

The Mauritius dodo, destroyed by 1651 on the island of Mauritius, became a symbol of extinction and extinction of species. A great danger in the ocean is water pollution with oil and oil products (the main pollutants), some heavy metals and waste from the nuclear industry. The routes of oil tankers transporting oil from the Persian Gulf countries lie across the ocean.

In ancient times, vessels such as junks and catamarans were used by people to sail under the monsoons from India to East Africa and back. The Egyptians, 3500 BC, conducted brisk maritime trade with the countries of the Arabian Peninsula, India and East Africa.

Organic world.

Byzantine merchants in the 4th-6th centuries penetrated into India in the east, and into Ethiopia and Arabia in the south. Beginning in the 7th century, Arab sailors began intensive exploration of the Indian Ocean. They perfectly studied the coast of East Africa, Western and Eastern India, the islands of Socotra, Java and Ceylon, visited the Laccadive and Maldives, the islands of Sulawesi, Timor and others. At the end of the 13th century, the Venetian traveler Marco Polo, on his way back from China, passed through the Indian Ocean from the Strait of Malacca to the Strait of Hormuz, visiting Sumatra, India, and Ceylon.

In the equatorial zone of the Indian Ocean, the surface water temperature is about 28 °C all year round in both the western and eastern parts of the ocean. The Indian Ocean contains a system of mid-ocean ridges that form the basis of the orographic framework of the Indian Ocean floor. Under the influence of the Asian continent, a monsoon climate is established in the northern part of the Indian Ocean with frequent cyclones moving towards the coasts.

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

Tropical Mauritius was once a favorite haven of pirates, and now the island attracts thousands of tourists every year with its luxury hotels and white beaches surrounded by volcanic mountains. This place is suitable not only for heat-loving couch potatoes, but also for curious travelers who want to get acquainted with the amazing colonial architecture of the region, Indian temples and botanical gardens. Here you can also spot rare birds, walk through the park with lions or swim with dolphins, or you can even test your strength by doing extreme sports - wind and kite surfing 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 the cold weather sets in in the Northern Hemisphere, so the peak tourist season on the island is considered to be from October to April. However, at this time of year it is quite hot and humid and sometimes rainy. The best time to holiday in Mauritius is the local winter, which begins in the Southern Hemisphere in May.

Important: When we have summer, it is best to choose resorts on the northern and western coasts of Mauritius. Rest on east coast It will be more pleasant when winter approaches the Northern Hemisphere.

Mauritius is very small, only 45x65 square meters. km, however, due to the unique landscape, the weather here is very changeable. You are unlikely to be able to quickly drive 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 taxi services or organized transfers.

The tourist center of Mauritius is the resort town of Grand Bay in the northeast of the island, where most hotels and entertainment venues are concentrated. The West Coast is the most expensive and prestigious: those who come here are accustomed to relaxing in the most luxurious hotels and want to sunbathe on the most beautiful beaches with white sand. The south is considered the greenest, wildest and most interesting part of the island.

WHERE TO STAY

Those who prefer privacy and silence on vacation will certainly like the Angsana Balaclava hotel, located on the northwestern coast of Mauritius in the Turtle Bay area. This five-star boutique hotel is surrounded by gardens where the island's birds sing their gentle songs, and its secluded beach is perfect for relaxing with sunshine during the day and spectacular sunsets in the evenings. The romantic and very intimate Angsana Balaclava is loved by couples and newlyweds who come here for their honeymoon.

Another pearl of Mauritius is located on the Le Morne Peninsula. Paradis & Golf Club is considered one of the best hotels on the southwest coast. It is especially memorable for guests due to the breathtaking views from the rooms of the picturesque beach and lagoon.

Paradis Resort is suitable for both those who want a relaxing holiday (there are several restaurants, a spa center of a famous cosmetic brand, the largest fitness center in Mauritius, its own international golf course and golf academy), and for those who prefer leisure and is engaged aquatic species sports On the beach, hotel guests can use any equipment for free, including snorkel masks and windsurfing equipment. A separate fee will be asked only for the services of a personal instructor. By the way, this very hotel hosts the Kite Jam Festival, which every year brings together professionals and amateurs of wind and kitesurfing from all over the world. The festival includes amateur competitions, master classes from world champions and the best athletes on the planet, as well as surfing and kiteboarding schools.

Timezone: There is no time difference between Mauritius and Moscow. So it doesn’t matter how long your vacation is - you won’t remember what jet lag is after returning home.

Visa: A visa for up to 60 days is issued upon arrival. To do this, at customs you must provide a passport valid for at least 6 months after the end of your stay in the country, a return ticket, a hotel reservation, a completed entry form and pay a fee of $17.

How to get there: The best flight option is with Air France to Paris with a transfer to an Air Mauritius flight. Travel time including connections is about 16 hours. The price of a round-trip ticket is from 49 thousand rubles.

Madagascar is the largest island of the Indian Ocean, one of the poorest countries in the world, but it is also one of the safest countries in 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 planet.

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

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

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

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

The north of the country is very fond of divers all over the world, including those 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 interior it is closer to subtropical, and in the south it is dry (arid), with high air temperatures experiencing large daily fluctuations and with negligible amounts of precipitation. The island has two seasons. The hot and humid season - the Madagascan summer - lasts from November to April, the air temperature in these months is +25 + 27 ° C, the cooler dry season is established from May to October (+20 + 24 ° C).

WHERE TO STAY

One of the best hotels in the popular resort island of Nosy Be is Ravintsara Wellness Hotel. “Fantastic vacation”, “royal vacation”, “heaven on earth” - these are the reviews from tourists that Ravintsara received for its beautiful and spacious bungalows on the beach, green gardens around, excellent service and exquisite cuisine. The hotel also offers entertainment for every taste: boat trips, ATV rides. The cost of accommodation is from 300 dollars per day.

Timezone: Madagascar time is an hour behind Moscow.

Visa: A tourist visa for up to 90 days can be issued upon arrival. To do this, you must provide a passport valid for at least 6 months and a return air ticket.

How to get there: You can get to Madagascar's largest airport, Antananarivo, from Moscow via Paris (Air France). Flight time is 14 hours excluding connections. Ticket price – from 50 thousand rubles.

The 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. Breathtakingly secluded beaches, unique nature and climate make the islands perhaps the most idyllic tourist destination in the world.

Seychelles is one of the few resort areas, where you can simply pick up and fly away at any time of the year without worrying about seasonal weather changes. 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 on the islands becomes more frequent, which subsides only by mid-March, but it cannot be called abundant and essentially they do not interfere with tourists' recreation.

The warmest and calmest weather occurs 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.

The period from October to April is the best time for fishing lovers, and from April to October is the season for observing exotic birds. It is during these months that they reproduce, nurse their offspring and migrate to other regions. 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, is 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’s worth staying here if only to study the colonial architecture of the capital of the Seychelles, the city of Victoria, or visit the botanical garden, which contains dozens of tropical species plants. The surrounding area of ​​Mahe Island has 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 nose 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 the small islands, where complete peace and quiet reigns.

WHERE TO STAY

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

This resort is located in a quiet location, away from anything that might disturb you during your holiday. This sometimes makes guests think that they are on a desert island, where someone invisible provides round-the-clock comfort. There are no entertainment venues or significant tourist sites nearby, so it is chosen by those who are going to enjoy a vacation away from civilization. The cost of renting a villa is from $1,200 per day.

Timezone: In the Seychelles, the time coincides with Moscow.

Visa: Russian citizens arriving in the Seychelles for a period not exceeding 30 days do not require a visa. It is placed at the border when entering the country.

How to get there: You can fly from Moscow to the Seychelles by plane Emirates airlines with a transfer at your home airport (Dubai). Travel time including connections is 12.5 hours. Ticket price – from 30 thousand rubles.

The Maldives is made up of 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 the Maldives for the first time and are looking for some general advice on choosing a resort, then the main thing you need to remember is that each of the Maldives resorts is located on its own island, the size of the islands varies from 2.5 km to 150 m (from coast to coast). This means that all resort facilities (restaurants, bars, sports facilities, etc.) will be the only entertainment during your stay in the Maldives. Therefore, their infrastructure needs to be carefully studied in advance, so as not to fall into deep despondency on your long-awaited vacation. 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 feet and admire the colorful 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 occurs in 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 living in the Indian Ocean. Surfers (both advanced and beginners) also enjoy coming here to spend an invigorating holiday cutting through the waves on a board. Those who like a more relaxing holiday may be interested in fishing in open water.

WHERE TO STAY

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 traditional style villas. Guests can choose a house in the garden, on the shore or on stilts directly over the water. Vacationers have access to several restaurants, an outdoor swimming pool, a gym, kids club, a beauty salon and spa center that offers various facial and body care programs, scrubs, wraps, as well as massage and stone therapy. The territory has tennis and badminton courts, a small golf course, as well as everything you need for snorkeling, diving, windsurfing and fishing.

To the resort from international airport Tourists are transported to Male by plane or speedboat.

Timezone: Time in the Maldives is one hour ahead of Moscow.

Visa: For Russian citizens, a visa is not required in advance if the tourist flies into the country for a period of no more than 30 days. It is placed at the border upon entry into the country, for which you will need a valid passport and a dated return ticket.

How to get there: International flights arrive at Hulhule Airport, which is located next to the capital island of Male. Flights to the Maldives are regularly carried out by Emirates (via Dubai), Singapore Airlines (via Singapore), Qatar (via Doha). Travel time depends on the length of the connection at the carrier's home airport.

In the winter season, Aeroflot opens a direct flight to Male. Travel time is about 9 hours. The cost of the flight is from 49 thousand rubles.

The island of Ceylon (Sri Lanka) is a real corner of eternal celebration. The number of significant events celebrated here is more than 160 per year! Add to this colorful beaches, misty mountains, tea plantations and luxury hotels - and you get truly unforgettable vacation in the kingdom of nature on the shores of the Indian Ocean.

The developed tourism infrastructure in Sri Lanka provides vacationers with excellent opportunities for recreation for every taste: from “doing nothing” on the beaches and self-care in local spas to observing wildlife, practicing extreme sports and pilgrimages to ancient cities.

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

The largest city of the island state is noisy, crazy Colombo. Tourists come here to see the main attractions: admire colonial buildings, mosques, churches, Buddhist and Hindu temples, see the Presidential Residence (or Queen's House), visit the National Museum and Art Gallery. There is also a wonderful zoo in Colombo, where tourists try to go to the elephant show.

The beaches of the island are very popular among tourists. Moreover, Sri Lanka is gaining increasing popularity among those who love active water sports. Surfers managed to fall in love with Arugam Bay, a place 314 km from Colombo, on the southeastern coast of Ceylon, which was included in the honorary list of the ten best surf beaches in the world. Arugam Bay is popular among beginners, and for experienced athletes, the point of attraction has become the west coast, where you can catch impressive waves. 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.

Thanks to the varied topography of the island, Ceylon has excellent conditions for rafting, the now fashionable hiking and mountain biking.

Wildlife lovers come to Sri Lanka to watch the 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 eggs.

WHERE TO STAY

Most famous resort for a beach holiday in Sri Lanka – the town of Bentota and its surroundings. This is where the largest number of hotels are located, offering accommodation for every taste. However, the hotels are located at a considerable distance from each other, so tourists can enjoy a relaxing holiday.

A beautiful secluded hotel in Benote - Saman Villas, which is located on a small rocky hill, right on the ocean. It is quiet and cozy 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 in 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 among divers and surfers, who are known to be not too fussy, so there are mainly inexpensive hotels and apartments here.

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

Timezone: Sri Lanka time is 1.5 hours ahead of Moscow.

Visa: It is not necessary for Russian citizens to apply for a visa in advance. It is placed at the airport upon arrival.

How to get there: Flights to Colombo are carried out by Etihad (with a transfer in Abu Dhabi), Emirates (with a transfer in Dubai), as well as Aeroflot. Travel time is about 10 hours. The cost of a round-trip ticket is from 25 thousand rubles.

Irina Lavery

Today we will look at the islands of the Indian Ocean. After all, it is the third largest body of water in the world. In its warm waters there are many very spectacular tropical islands that simply cannot leave travelers indifferent. In addition, they are all classified as nature reserves. Most of them are predominantly concentrated in the western part. Now we will take a closer look at some of them, as well as what types they are divided into. Genetically they are: coral, volcanic and continental.

Mainland and volcanic islands

The first include the largest - Sri Lanka, Madagascar, Masirai, Kuria Muria, Socotra, Greater Sunda, as well as many small islands located along the coasts of Western Australia, Indochina and Arabia. Most of them are limestone plateaus on ancient Precambrian granites. There are also mountainous ones. Everyone knows them and have their own special structure. Within the ocean floor, these are the only structures composed of granites. The Indian Ocean islands, which are of volcanic origin, are in turn divided into open ocean islands and transition zone islands. The latter are elements of island arcs.

They have mountainous terrain, their peaks are crowned with volcanic cones. These are Nicobar, Andaman and they are based to a lesser extent on and to a greater extent on basalt. The volcanic islands of the Indian Ocean, such as Prince Edward, Crozet, Kerguelen, Saint-Paul, Amsterdam, Mascarene, Comoros, have small size and are the surface peaks of volcanoes. Around them there are almost always

Coral Islands

The most important feature of this part of the earth's water bodies are the islands consisting of corals. They are for the most part typical atolls, which are composed of a large amount of moss, coral sand, rubble and gravel. A striking example of such an atoll is Diego Garcia. But the coral islands of the Indian Ocean are also more complex atolls, consisting of many small atolls, and are up to 150 km across. These are huge ring-shaped structures, such islands as Cocos, Amirant, Chagos, Maldives, Laccadive. Many of them were formed due to the rise of reefs.

A few examples. Christmas Island, 365 meters above sea level, was formed at the top of the Cocos Rise, Tromelin Island is five meters above water level, and below it is 4000 meters of the Mascarene Trench. What else stands out about the coral islands of the Indian Ocean? Because dense impenetrable thickets of mangrove forests mainly grow and have been preserved on them. This is especially typical, for example, for the Amirant Islands. Thanks to all their beauties and unexplored places, such places are especially attractive to travelers and tourists.

Indian Ocean Islands, list of islands in the eastern region

Now we will list you the islands that belong to the region of East India: Andaman, Ashmore and Cartier, Christmas, Kakadu, Coconut (Keeling), Dirk Hartog, Garden Island, Jaffna, Kangaroo, Langkawi, King Island, Mentawai, Nias, Nicobar , Penang, Phi Phi, Phuket, Simelue, Sri Lanka, Mannar.

Let's continue the topic of what islands are in the Indian Ocean, in its western part. These are: Agalega, Banc du Geyser, Bassas da India, Cargados Carajos, Chagos Archipelago, Comoros, Europe, Juan di Nova Islands, Lakshadweep archipelago, Madagascar, Mafia, Maldives, Mauritius, Mayotte, Pemba, Reunion, Rodrigues , Seychelles, Tromelin, Zanzibar. And finally, just a few southern islands that are located south of Madagascar: Amsterdam, Crozet, Heard, Macdonald, Kerguelen, Prince Edward, Saint-Paul.

Madagascar - a unique island of the Indian Ocean

If we consider the largest islands of the Indian Ocean, we cannot help but pay attention to Madagascar, whose history begins from the moment it broke away from Africa, approximately a couple of hundred million years. It is the fourth largest among all the islands in the world. It contains an amazing variety of plants, animals and birds, most of which - about 80% - are unique. The huge forests found here attract researchers and scientists from all over the world.

Even the tropics of South America cannot compete with them in terms of biological diversity of flora. In these places you can even find creatures from the time of dinosaurs, such as chameleons, which have forty species. Take fifty more varieties of lemurs. Together they chose such wonderful trees as baobabs and thorny forest. Thanks to its stunning uniqueness, Madagascar makes itself considered the eighth continent.

Seychelles

If we take the largest islands of the Indian Ocean, then we can include the Seychelles, which became independent in 1976. They cover an area of ​​455 square kilometers, are divided into 23 districts, and are located 1,600 kilometers from Africa. Around them are the following and Mauritius - in the south, the Maldives - in the northeast and Comoros - in the southwest. Local residents there are about 80 thousand here, most of them are of Chinese, Indian, Arab, African and French origin.

The native language is Creole, but English and French are also widely spoken. The Seychelles consists of 115 islands in the archipelago, of which 33 are inhabited. The climate here is maritime subtropical, the average annual temperature is 29 degrees, there is a lot of rain in March and November. Most tourists come here for beach holidays, diving and natural sightseeing.

Mauritius - a holiday paradise

If we consider one single island in the Indian Ocean that is most suitable for a comfortable holiday, then you need to pay attention to Mauritius. The country of the same name is one of the richest in Africa, characterized by colonial French mansions, colorful Indian temples, croissants for breakfast and curries for lunch. Various religions and peoples coexist friendly here, and a successful multicultural society has been created.

The size of the island is small, you can travel around it in one day, this is a top-class resort where excellent service is combined with enormous popularity. There is a wide range of beach holidays available, you can even go fishing for big fish.

The Indian Ocean is an integral part of the world ocean. Its maximum depth is 7729 m (Sunda Trench), and the average depth is just over 3700 m, which is the second result after the depths Pacific Ocean. The size of the Indian Ocean is 76.174 million km2. This is 20% of the world's oceans. The volume of water is about 290 million km3 (together with all the seas).

The waters of the Indian Ocean are light blue in color and have good transparency. This is due to the fact that very few freshwater rivers flow into it, which are the main “troublemakers.” By the way, due to this, the water in the Indian Ocean is much saltier compared to the salinity levels of other oceans.

Location of the Indian Ocean

Most of the Indian Ocean is in the Southern Hemisphere. It is bordered to the north by Asia, to the south by Antarctica, to the east by Australia and to the west by the African continent. In addition, in the southeast its waters connect with the waters of the Pacific Ocean, and in the southwest with the Atlantic Ocean.

Seas and bays of the Indian Ocean

The Indian Ocean does not have as many seas as other oceans. For example, in comparison with the Atlantic Ocean there are 3 times less of them. Most of the seas are located in its northern part. In the tropical zone there are: the Red Sea (the saltiest sea on Earth), the Laccadive Sea, the Arabian Sea, the Arafura Sea, the Timor Sea and the Andaman Sea. The Antarctic zone contains the D'Urville Sea, the Commonwealth Sea, the Davis Sea, the Riiser-Larsen Sea, and the Cosmonaut Sea.

The largest bays of the Indian Ocean are the Persian, Bengal, Oman, Aden, Prydz and Great Australian.

Indian Ocean Islands

The Indian Ocean is not distinguished by an abundance of islands. Largest islands those of continental origin - Madagascar, Sumatra, Sri Lanka, Java, Tasmania, Timor. Also, there are volcanic islands such as Mauritius, Regyon, Kerguelen, and coral islands - Chagos, Maldives, Andaman, etc.

The underwater world of the Indian Ocean

Since more than half of the Indian Ocean is located in the tropical and subtropical zones, its underwater world is very rich and diverse in species. The coastal zone in the tropics is replete with numerous colonies of crabs and unique fish - mudskippers. Corals live in shallow waters, and in temperate waters a variety of algae grow - calcareous, brown, red.

The Indian Ocean is home to dozens of species of crustaceans, mollusks and jellyfish. A fairly large number of sea snakes also live in ocean waters, among which there are poisonous species.

The special pride of the Indian Ocean is sharks. Its waters are plied by many species of these predators, namely tiger, mako, gray, blue, great white shark, etc.

Mammals are represented by killer whales and dolphins. The southern part of the ocean is home to several species of pinnipeds (seals, dugongs, seals) and whales.

Despite all the richness of the underwater world, seafood fishing in the Indian Ocean is rather poorly developed - only 5% of the world catch. Sardines, tuna, shrimp, lobsters, rays and lobsters are caught in the ocean.

1. The ancient name of the Indian Ocean is Eastern.

2. In the Indian Ocean, ships are regularly found in good condition, but without a crew. Where he disappears is a mystery. Over the past 100 years, there have been 3 such ships - the Tarbon, the Houston Market (tankers) and the Cabin Cruiser.

3. Many species of the underwater world of the Indian Ocean have a unique property - they can glow. This is what explains the appearance of luminous circles in the ocean.

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