Persian Gulf

The Persian Gulf is a mediterranean sea located in West Asia.

It sits between the Arabian Peninsula and the country of Iran. The sea is an extension of the Arabian Sea and the Indian Ocean. To the east, it connects to the Gulf of Oman via the Strait of Hormuz. This narrow passage is only about 33 kilometers wide at its narrowest point. The northwestern shoreline is formed by the Shatt al-Arab river delta. This delta carries the waters of the Tigris and Euphrates rivers into the sea.

The geography of the Gulf is shaped by complex tectonic movements. It sits within the Persian Gulf Basin, which has a Cenozoic origin. This basin is related to the subduction of the Arabian plate under the Zagros Mountains. For much of the Last Glacial Period, the area was not a sea. Because sea levels were much lower, most of the basin was dry land. It was a flat floodplain where several rivers converged. The current marine environment began flooding the basin about 15,000 years ago. This change occurred due to rising sea levels during the Holocene glacial retreat.

The waters of the Persian Gulf have unique oceanographic properties. The sea is quite shallow throughout its entire length. It has an average depth of about 37 meters. The maximum depth reaches only about 90 meters. The water is also very salty, a condition known as high salinity. This happens because the evaporation rate is very high. To maintain a balance, a specific exchange occurs at the Strait of Hormuz. High-salinity water exits through the bottom of the strait. Meanwhile, ocean water with lower salinity flows in through the top.

Many nations share the coastline of this important body of water. The total coastline length for the region is 5,117 kilometers. Iran covers most of the northern coast of the Gulf. Saudi Arabia covers most of the southern coast. Other countries with coastlines include Oman, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait, and Iraq.

Several islands are located within the sea. Qeshm is the largest island and belongs to Iran. Other significant islands include Kish, Greater Tunb, and Lesser Tunb. Some islands are even artificial, such as The World Islands in Dubai.

The history of the region is linked to ancient civilizations. The Sumer, the world's oldest known civilization, developed near the Gulf. In the mid-sixth millennium BC, seagoing vessels were used for trade in Kuwait. During the Achaemenid Empire, the sea was often called the "Persian (Pars) Sea." The king Darius the Great used large ships to patrol various waterways. These ships could carry between 100 and 200 people. The Persian fleet helped secure trade routes between the Middle East and India.

Control over the Gulf has changed hands many times through the centuries. Portuguese influence lasted in the region for about 250 years. In 1521, Portuguese forces invaded Bahrain to control the pearl industry. Later, the Safavid Empire worked with the English to challenge Portuguese power. In 1622, the Persian emperor Shāh Abbās took the island of Hormuz from the Portuguese. This event is still remembered as National Persian Gulf day in Iran. Following these eras, the region saw trade with the Dutch, French, and British.

Today, the Persian Gulf is a vital area for global industry. It contains many fishing grounds and coral reefs. It is also famous for its abundant pearl oysters. However, human activity has impacted the local ecology. Industrialization and oil spills have caused damage to the environment.

There is also a modern naming dispute regarding the water. While it is internationally known as the Persian Gulf, some Arab governments call it the Arabian Gulf. This disagreement has been common since the 1960s due to regional politics.