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Context

China, Iran and Russia have begun a joint naval drill in the Gulf of Oman.

Details

Gulf of Oman

• The Gulf of Oman covers an area spanning 115,000 square kilometres. It is the western extension of the Arabian Sea and lies in the Middle East, bordered by the nations of Oman, Iran, Pakistan and the United Arab Emirates.
• The Gulf of Oman, also known as the Sea of Oman, is in the northwestern Indian Ocean. It links the Arabian Sea with the Hormuz Strait, which eventually drains into the Persian Gulf. It runs 560 km when it connects to the Persian Gulf, going northwest to the Hormuz Strait.
• The Gulf of Oman has some of the islands, such as the Al Fahal Island, Sheytan Island, Sawadi and Dimaniyat Islands. The islands support diverse fish and coral species.

Ancient  trade routes

• The Gulf of Oman was known by many different names, like the Makran Sea and the Akhzar Sea, by Arabian, Iranian and European geographers and travellers. It was called the Makran Sea till the 18th century, as evidenced by historical maps and manuscripts of the period.

A vital maritime chokepoint for oil shipments

• The Western side of the gulf connects to the Strait of Hormuz, a strategic route through which a third of the world's liquefied natural gas and 20% of global oil consumption passes from Middle East producers.

Major  ports

• Port of Fujairah, Fujairah, United Arab Emirates
• Khor Fakkan Container Terminal, Khor Fakkan, United Arab Emirates
• Port of Chabahar, Chabahar, Iran
• Port Sultan Qaboos, Muttrah, Oman

The Gulf of Oman has one of the world’s largest marine dead zone

• In 2018, scientists revealed that the Gulf of Oman has one of the biggest marine dead zones in the world, an area with little to no oxygen where marine flora and fauna cannot live.
• The dead zone covers 165,000 km2 of area, equal to the size of Florida in the U.S. It is caused by increased global warming and phosphorus and nitrogen runoff from fertilisers.

Ecology

• The reefs of the Gulf of Oman stretch from the coast into the Arabian Sea. Critically endangered species of corals, including the Dendrophyllia and Elkhorn corals, can be found here. 

International underwater rail tunnel

• In 2018, a rail tunnel under the sea was suggested to link the UAE with the western coast of India. The bullet train tunnel would be supported by pontoons and be nearly 2,000 kilometres (1,200 mi) in length

PRACTICE QUESTION Strait of Hormuz connects which of the following? Red Sea and Gulf of Aden Persian Gulf and Gulf of Oman Mediterranean Sea and Red Sea Persian Gulf and Gulf of Aden Answer B