What are the Arabian Basin and the Somali Basin?

The Arabian Sea is divided into two major submarine basins by the Carlsberg Ridge, a seismically active feature that stretches southeastward from Socotra.1

The Arabian Basin

Located to the east of the Carlsberg Ridge, the Arabian Basin occupies much of the northeastern floor of the Arabian Sea. Its floor is largely covered by a massive alluvial fan known as the Indus Cone, which consists of sediments deposited by the Indus River. The basin reaches a maximum depth of 19,275 feet (5,875 metres) and contains an extensive abyssal plain.12

The Somali Basin

The Somali Basin is situated to the west of the Carlsberg Ridge, off the coast of Somalia. It is characterized by a large abyssal plain and connects to the Mascarene and Madagascar basins to the south.31

Both basins contain ferromanganese nodules and are separated by a sill depth of approximately 9,800 feet (3,000 metres).12