The Persian Gulf is surrounded by Iran (Persia), the predominant state in terms of population, and seven Arab states: Iraq, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates and Oman. Since the 1960s some Arab states have referred to this body of water as the Arabian Gulf. The Persian Gulf is a 600-mile-long arm of the Indian Ocean, which separates the Arabian peninsula from Iran (Persia). While oil spills from the heavy traffic of oil tankers over years have been serious enough, oil spills from 1983, during the Iran-Iraq War, and in 1991, during the Persian Gulf War, have been catastrophic. There have been serious incidents that have affected the environment of the Persian Gulf in recent years. Through the Strait of Hormuz, the Persian Gulf is connected to Gulf of Oman. The main fresh water resource is from Iraq, with the Shatt El Arab, the confluence of the rivers Euphrates, Tigris and Karun. The temperatures are high, and the salt level is as high as 40%, which is the result of higher evaporation than supply of fresh water. To the south, the coast line is low, while the coast on the Iranian side is mountainous.
The length is 1,000 km, and the maximum width is 370 km.
In Western countries it is normally referred to as the Persian Gulf. Persian Gulf bordering Iran (Persia), Iraq, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Qatar, United Arab Emirates and Oman, with an area of 240,000 km, and a maximum depth of 90 metres, while the average depth is 50 metres.