Persian GulfArticle Free Pass
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Articles from Britannica encyclopedias for elementary and high school students.
- Persian Gulf - Children's Encyclopedia (Ages 8-11)
The Persian Gulf is a body of water that separates the Arabian Peninsula from southwestern Asia. It has been an important waterway in the region for thousands of years.
- Persian Gulf - Student Encyclopedia (Ages 11 and up)
A shallow sea of the Indian Ocean, the Persian Gulf separates the Arabian Peninsula from Iran in southwestern Asia. It is bordered by Iran to the north, part of Oman to the east, the United Arab Emirates and Qatar to the south, Saudi Arabia to the southwest, and Kuwait and Iraq to the northwest. Covering a surface area of 92,500 square miles (240,000 square kilometers), the gulf extends 615 miles (990 kilometers) from northwest to southeast. Its width ranges from 35 miles (56 kilometers) in the southeast to a maximum of 210 miles (338 kilometers). The Strait of Hormuz, 30 to 60 miles (48 to 96 kilometers) wide, connects it with the Gulf of Oman, which opens into the Arabian Sea. The island kingdom of Bahrain is the largest among the numerous islands in the gulf. Khark, Qeys, and Qeshm are some of the other major islands.