Indian Ocean

The coelacanth is often called a "living fossil," once believed to have vanished millions of years ago before a live specimen was unexpectedly caught in the Indian Ocean in 1938.

Cyclones, the equivalent of hurricanes in the North Atlantic or typhoons in the northwestern Pacific, are a regular and deadly menace in the northern Indian Ocean.

Myanmar is seen as China's gateway to the Indian Ocean, and to oil and gas supplies for south-western China.

And Indians and Americans agree that China’s growing military, economic and political clout in the Indian Ocean is a threat.

Col Michael Randrianirina has been sworn in as the new president of Madagascar days after a military takeover on the Indian Ocean nation.