Khambhat, Gulf of

Khambhat, Gulf of
or Gulf of Cambay

Inlet, Arabian Sea, on the northwestern coast of India, southeast of the Kathiawar Peninsula.

It is 120 mi (190 km) wide at its widest but rapidly narrows. It receives many rivers, including the Tapi and Mahi. Its orientation to the southwestern monsoon winds produces a high tidal range. All its ports have suffered from silting caused by tides and flood torrents. On its eastern side are Bharuch, one of India's oldest ports, and Surat. At the gulf's head is the city of Khambhat (pop., 2001 prelim.: 80,439), which was mentioned by Marco Polo as one of India's most important seaports.

* * *

gulf, India
also called  Gulf of Cambay 

      trumpet-shaped gulf of the Arabian Sea, indenting northward the coast of Gujarat (Gujarāt) state, western India, between Mumbai (Bombay) and the Kathiawar Peninsula. It is 120 miles (190 km) wide at its mouth between Diu and Daman, but it rapidly narrows to 15 miles (24 km). The gulf receives many rivers, including the Sabarmati, Mahi, Narmada (Narbada), and Tapti. Its shape and its orientation in relation to the southwest monsoon winds account for its high tidal range (40 feet [12 metres]) and the high velocity of the entering tides. Shoals and sandbanks are treacherous to navigation, and all the gulf ports have suffered from silting caused by tides and flood torrents from the rivers.

      On the eastern side of the gulf are Bharuch, one of the oldest Indian ports, and Surat, identified with early European commercial contacts with India. The town of Khambhat is at the head of the gulf. Although the importance of the gulf ports has been only local, the discovery and exploration of oil—particularly near Bharuch, around the head of the gulf, and in the offshore Mumbai High field—has caused a commercial revival in the region.

* * *


Universalium. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Поможем сделать НИР

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Khambhat,Gulf of — Kham·bhat (kŭmʹbət), Gulf of or Gulf of Cam·bay (kăm bāʹ) An inlet of the Arabian Sea on the northwest coast of India. * * * …   Universalium

  • Khambhat, Gulf of — or Gulf of Cambay geographical name inlet of Arabian Sea in India N of Bombay …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • Khambhat, Gulf of — …   Useful english dictionary

  • Gulf of Oman — The Gulf of Oman or Sea of Oman (Arabic: خليج عُمان‎ Ḫalīdj ʾUmān; alternatively known as خليج مکران , Ḫalīdj Makrān; in Persian: دریای عمان Daryā ye Ommān, or دریای پارس Daryā ye Pārs) is a strait (and not an actual gulf) that connects the… …   Wikipedia

  • Khambhat — ▪ India also called  Cambay        town, east central Gujarat (Gujarāt) state, west central India. It lies at the head of the Gulf of Khambhat (Khambhat, Gulf of) (Cambay) and the mouth of the Mahi River. The town was mentioned in 1293 by the… …   Universalium

  • Gulf of Mexico — The Gulf of Mexico in 3D perspective Earth s oceans (World Ocean) Arctic Ocean Atlanti …   Wikipedia

  • Gulf of California — For the book by John Steinbeck, see The Log from the Sea of Cortez. Coordinates: 28°0′N 112°0′W / 28°N 112°W / 28; 1 …   Wikipedia

  • gulf — gulflike, adj. gulfy, adj. /gulf/, n. 1. a portion of an ocean or sea partly enclosed by land. 2. a deep hollow; chasm or abyss. 3. any wide separation, as in position, status, or education. 4. something that engulfs or swallows up. v.t. 5. to… …   Universalium

  • Gulf of Cambay — geographical name see Khambhat, Gulf of …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • Gulf of Mannar — Coordinates …   Wikipedia

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”