Sea of Zanj

The Sea of Zanj (Arabic: بحر زنج‎) is a former name for that portion of the western Indian Ocean adjacent to the region in the African Great Lakes referred to by medieval Arab geographers as Zanj.[1] The Sea of Zanj was deemed a fearful zone by Arab mariners and legends regarding dangers in the waters abounded, especially near its far southern limits.[2]

Sea of Zanj
Sea of Zanj
Location in the Indian Ocean
LocationIndian Ocean
Coordinates7°0′S 50°0′E
TypeSea
Native nameبحر زنج
Basin countriesZanzibar, Comoros, Madagascar
Max. length2,400 km (1,500 mi)
Max. width1,500 km (930 mi)
ReferencesThe Meadows of Gold

Geography

The term was applied to the sea expanses near the eastern portion of the African continent known by ancient Muslim travelers and chroniclers such as Al Masudi and Ibn Batuta.[2][3]

Although geographically insufficiently defined, the area of the Sea of Zanj included a vast maritime region roughly stretching as far as ancient navigators reached on their dhows. Subject to Monsoon wind variations, the Sea of Zanj was located to the south of the Erythraean Sea. It stretched off the coast of Southeast Africa as far south as the Mozambique Channel, including the Comoros and the waters off the eastern coast of Madagascar. On its eastern side the sea extended west of the Seychelles and to the northwest of the islands of the Mascarenes.[2]

See also

References
  1. دانشنامه جهان اسلام، بنیاد دائرة المعارف اسلامی، برگرفته از مقاله «بحرالزنج»، شماره۵۴۲ Article in Islamic World Encyclopedia
  2. Al-Masudi, Meadows of Gold and Mines of Gems, vol. 1, p. 234
  3. Ibn Battuta, The Travels of Ibn Battuta
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