Which ocean is the largest? From the largest ocean on earth to the smallest

Depths of oceans and seas

This table provides data on the average and maximum depths of oceans and seas, the total area, including the Pacific Ocean, Atlantic Ocean, Indian Ocean, Southern Ocean, Mediterranean Sea, North Arctic Ocean, Caribbean Sea, Bering Sea, and others.

Name	Square	Average depth	Maximum depth	Name of the deepest point
sq.	sq.km	ft.	m.	ft.	m.
Pacific Ocean	60 060 700	155 557 000	13 215	4 028	36 198	11 971	Mariana Trench
Atlantic Ocean	29 637 900	76 762 000	12 880	3 926	30 246	9 219	Puerto Rico Trench
Indian Ocean	26 469 500	68 556 000	13 002	3 963	24 460	7 455	Sunda Trench
South ocean (Northern boundary of the ocean 60 degrees south latitude)	7 848 300	20 327 000	13 100-16 400	4 000-5 000	23 736	7 235	South Sandwich Trench
Arctic Ocean	5 427 000	14 056 000	3 953	1 205	18 456	5 625	Point with coordinates: 77°45\’N; 175°W
Mediterranean Sea	1 144 800	2 965 800	4 688	1 429	15 197	4 632	From the Cape Matapan, Greece
Caribbean Sea	1 049 500	2 718 200	8 685	2 647	22 788	6 946	From the Cayman Islands
South China Sea	895 400	2 319 000	5 419	1 652	16 456	5 016	West of Luzon
Bering Sea	884 900	2 291 900	5 075	1 547	15 659	4 773	From Buldyr Island
Gulf of Mexico	615 000	1 592 800	4 874	1 486	12 425	3 787	Sigsbee Depression
Sea of ​​Okhotsk	613 800	1 589 700	2 749	838	12 001	3 658	Point with coordinates: 146°10\’E; 46°50\’N
East China Sea	482 300	1 249 200	617	188	9 126	2 782	Point with coordinates: 25°16\’N; 125°E
Hudson Bay	475 800	1 232 300	420	128	600	183	Near the entrance to the bay
Sea of ​​Japan	389 100	1 007 800	4 429	1 350	12 276	3 742	Central pool
Andaman Sea	308 000	797 700	2 854	870	12 392	3 777	Near Nicobar Islands
North Sea	222 100	575 200	308	94	2 165	660	Skagerrak Strait
Red sea	169 100	438 000	1 611	491	7 254	2 211	Near Port Sudan
Baltic Sea	163 000	422 200	180	55	1 380	421	Near the island of Gotland

Shallowest ocean

Measuring the depth of the oceans

Man has learned to measure the depth of seas and oceans: to do this, ultrasonic waves are sent into the water and the time it takes for them to reach the bottom and return is measured, and the resulting value must be divided in half. Which ocean is the shallowest and which is the deepest?

The smallest, coldest, calmest and freshest ocean is the Arctic Ocean. It is located in the very north of the planet, in the center of the Arctic, and washes the shores of Eurasia and North America, and also borders two oceans: the Atlantic and the Pacific. A significant part of its area is occupied by seas, and the ocean itself is a huge deep bowl called the Arctic Basin.

Animal life in the Arctic Ocean

The Arctic Ocean is also shallowest ocean on the planet. Its average depth is only 1,225 m, and the most deep place is located in the Greenland Sea, beyond the ocean floor and its depth is 5,527 m.

A variety of algae and plankton that were able to adapt to low temperatures, can only be found in Atlantic waters. Animals that live in the shallowest ocean– these are whales, walruses, seals, as well as many species commercial fish(cod, navaga, halibut, etc.).

Challenger Deep

If the Arctic is shallowest ocean, then the deepest ocean is the Pacific. Its average depth is 3,984 m. Maximum deep point Pacific Ocean(like the entire World Ocean) is located in the southwestern part Mariana Trench in the area of ​​​​the island of Guam, it is called the Challenger Deep and is 10,994 m according to research in 2011.

Besides, deepest ocean It is also the largest in area, which with all the seas occupies 179.7 million km². It washes the shores of Eurasia and Australia in the west, located between Northern and South America in the east, reaches Antarctica in the south and borders the other three oceans.

Perhaps we can say that Quiet is also most beautiful ocean , since the diversity and abundance of its life forms is nothing short of admirable: 4 thousand species of algae, 30 thousand plants, and the species composition of the animal world is 3-4 times richer than in other oceans.

In addition, the Pacific Ocean surpasses all others in the number of islands (about 30 thousand), many of which can be called heaven on earth/

The smallest ocean in the world– The Arctic Ocean has distinctive features.

The depth of this ocean is shallow, but it is surrounded by a harsh climate and a lot of ice. More than 80% of its surface is submerged under ice in winter. Winds and currents cause ice masses to compress and form ice piles or hummocks. The height of the hummocks reaches ten meters or more. At any time of the year, ice occurs in all seas of the Arctic Ocean, and its central areas covered by pack ice.

From the shores of North America to Eurasia, the waters of this small ocean stretch in the center of the Arctic. The Arctic Ocean is rightfully considered the smallest ocean on Earth, because...

it occupies an area of ​​only 14.74 million square meters. km. This figure is approximately equal to 4% of the total area of ​​the World Ocean, which occupies 361.26 million square meters. km. The deepest depression in the ocean is located in the Greenland Sea, it is 5527 meters. And if we consider the average value of its depth, it will be only 1225 meters.

The waters of the Arctic Ocean border with the waters of the Atlantic and Pacific oceans. Some scientists even propose to consider this baby one of the seas of the Atlantic Ocean. The smallest ocean in the world It has great value for our planet, because its waters warm vast areas in the Northern Hemisphere.

In terms of the number of islands, this small ocean ranks second after the Pacific Ocean. Greenland (the largest island on planet Earth) is located in the Arctic Ocean.

The waters of the Arctic Ocean wash only a few countries. Among them are the two largest in the world by territory - Russia and Canada. The latter is known as one of the most attractive countries in the world for business and professional immigration. Canadian higher education institutions are also famous throughout the world. But in order to get to Canada, as well as the United States, to work or study, you must pass an English language exam, a mandatory test for all applicants for study and business visas to these countries.

Continental shelves occupy about 45% of the ocean floor area. Here the depth reaches only 350 meters. The underwater edge of the continent, located off the coast of Eurasia, reaches 1300 meters. If we consider central part ocean, then you can find several deep pits there, the depth of which reaches 5000 meters. They are separated by the transoceanic ridges - Lomonosov, Gakkel and Mendeleev.

The water temperature of the Arctic Ocean and its salinity vary depending on depth. IN upper layers salinity is reduced, because The composition of the water is influenced by meltwater and river runoff, which replenish the ocean waters. In addition, the low evaporation of its waters has an effect. The next layer of water (subsurface) is more salty - about 34.3%, it is formed by the waters of the upper and intermediate layers of water. The intermediate layer extends to a depth of 800 meters and is characterized by temperatures above zero degrees and high salinity, which here is 37%. The deep water layer is even deeper. Its temperature is minus 0.9 degrees Celsius and its salinity is almost 35%. At the very bottom of the ocean there is a sedentary bottom layer; this layer does not take part in the circulation of the waters of the Arctic Ocean.

The Arctic Ocean has a harsh climate due to its geographical location and scarcity solar heat. The ocean itself has a significant impact on the climate of the Arctic and its hydrodynamics. Ocean waters are protected by ice cover from solar radiation and harmful effects of the atmosphere. The North Atlantic Current is a powerful factor that determines the circulation regime of ocean waters located in the surface layer.

The Arctic Ocean does not have a very diverse flora and fauna, this is due to its harsh habitat conditions. But some forms of the fauna of its seas have interesting features, such as longevity or gigantism. For example, among its inhabitants you can see the largest mussels or largest jellyfish- Arctic cyanides. These fantastic jellyfish have a dome with a diameter of 2.5 meters and tentacles 35 meters long.

Sailors, travelers and scientists have been trying to conquer and explore the Arctic Ocean for many years. But the Arctic, with its harsh climate, does not reveal all its secrets to humanity, and still not all the secrets of the Arctic Ocean are known to people.

The smallest ocean on Earth

Arctic Ocean

The Arctic Ocean is rightfully recognized as the smallest ocean. It is located between Eurasia and North America. Its area is 14.75 million km2, and this is only one tenth of the largest ocean - the Pacific, or a little more than 4% of the total area of ​​the World Ocean. But, despite this, the Arctic Ocean is rich in islands and, in terms of their number, ranks second after the Pacific Ocean.

By the way, here, in the waters of the smallest ocean, is the largest island on earth - Greenland and the second largest archipelago - the Canadian Arctic Archipelago.

History of the discovery of the Arctic Ocean

For the first time, the Arctic Ocean was highlighted as an independent one on a German map of the mid-17th century. There it was called the Hyperborean Ocean, which means “Ocean in the extreme north.” At that time, various foreign sources used the names: “ Northern Ocean", "Scythian Ocean", "Tatar Ocean", "Arctic Sea". On Russian maps of the 17th-18th centuries there were names: “Arctic Sea”, “Sea Ocean”, “Arctic Sea Ocean”, “Arctic Ocean” and “Northern Ocean”.

The real name - the Arctic Ocean - was given to it in the 20s of the 19th century by the Russian navigator Admiral F.P. Litke.

The Arctic Ocean, as its name suggests, is the northernmost, coldest and least studied of all the oceans. Almost its entire water area is covered with ice for most of the year. Therefore, it is unattractive not only for sailors and fishermen, but even for sea ​​creatures and plants. However, in nature there are lovers of cold climates. Here, in more or less open parts of the ocean, you can find seals, polar bears, whales and several species of fish.

Animals of the Arctic Ocean

In general, the fauna of the northern seas has some peculiarities. For example, gigantism. The largest mussels live in the Arctic Ocean, there is the most big jellyfish Cyania (about 2 meters in diameter with a tentacle length of 20 meters), the largest Ophiura (or Snaketail) named "Gorgon's head". In the Kara Sea there is a giant single coral and a sea spider (its leg span reaches 30 cm).

Another feature of living organisms in the Arctic Ocean is longevity. For example, mussels in the Barents Sea live up to 25 years (and in the Black Sea - only 6), cod lives here up to 20 years, and halibut - 30-40 years. But there is no magic in this, the whole secret is that in cold Arctic waters the development of life processes proceeds much more slowly.

The Pacific Ocean is the largest and deepest ocean on Earth

Kristina Yashina, Samogo.Net

Our planet is unique among others in that it has huge reserves of water, and in the most suitable form for life - liquid. Just recently I was stuck in a traffic jam and secretly heard on the radio that the Arctic Ocean is the shallowest ocean. Curiosity overcame me, and I wanted to know why it was recognized as the shallowest.

Cause of shallow waters of the Arctic Ocean

All oceans, except the Arctic Ocean, have an average depth of 4 km. This depth can be achieved by diving into the bed of the Indian, Pacific or Atlantic Ocean.

The problem of the Arctic is precisely that the above-mentioned bed is practically absent from it.

The ocean relief looks like this:

• shelf;
• continental slope;
• bed.

Due to the fact that the area of ​​the Arctic Ocean is 11 times smaller than that of the Pacific Ocean, the ocean relief is represented only by the shelf, and the average depth of the Arctic Ocean is only 1225 meters.

What makes the Pacific Ocean the deepest?

If you think that the whole point is its huge area, which is equal to 162 million km², then you are mistaken.

Yes, the Pacific could fit 10 Russian Federations, but this ocean owes its depth to the tectonic structures on which it is located.

The first European to walk on the waters of this ocean was Magellan. His ships were never hit by the elements, and he awarded this ocean the name Pacific. In fact, it is as restless as the others, and the many junctions of lithospheric plates make it also the deepest.

There are 22 deep-sea trenches in the World Ocean, and only 5 of them are located outside the Pacific Ocean.

The Mariana Trench is located in its waters; its depth is only six meters short of reaching 11 km.

Amazingly, at the very bottom of the Challenger Deep, researchers managed to find life that was previously considered impossible at such a depth.

1. Seas of the Arctic Ocean.

2. Seas of the Pacific Ocean.

3. Seas of the Atlantic Ocean

4. Caspian Sea-lake.

Seas of the Arctic Ocean

The seas of the Arctic Ocean include: the Barents Sea, the White Sea, the Kara Sea, the Laptev Sea, the East Siberian Sea and the Chukchi Sea.

All these seas wash the territory of Russia from the north. All seas, except the White Sea, are marginal, and the White Sea is internal. The seas are separated from each other by archipelagos of islands - natural boundaries, and where there is no clear boundary between the seas, it is drawn conditionally. All seas are shelf seas and therefore shallow, only the northern waters of the Laptev Sea extend to the edge of the Nansen Basin (depth 3385 m). Thus, the Laptev Sea is the deepest of the northern seas. The second deepest of the northern seas is the Barents Sea, and the shallowest is the East Siberian Sea, the average depth of all seas is 185 m.

The seas are open, and there is a free exchange of water between them and the ocean. From the Atlantic, warm and salty waters flow into the Barents Sea in two powerful streams: the Spitsbergen and North Cape currents. In the east, the Arctic Ocean basin is connected to the Pacific Ocean by the narrow Bering Strait (its width is 86 km, depth 42 m), so water exchange with the Pacific Ocean is noticeably difficult.

The seas of the Arctic Ocean are characterized by large runoff from the mainland; about 70% of the runoff of the Russian territory belongs to the basin of this ocean. The influx of river water reduces the salinity of the seas to 32‰. Near the mouths of large rivers, salinity drops to 5‰, and only in the north-west of the Barents Sea does it approach 35‰.

The climate of the seas is harsh, which is primarily due to their geographical location in high latitudes. All seas, except the White Sea, lie in the Arctic. This fact causes them to become very cold in winter, during the polar night. In the eastern part, the Arctic pressure maximum is formed, which maintains frosty, partly cloudy weather in winter. The Icelandic and Aleutian lows have a certain influence on the climate of the northern seas. For western regions The Arctic in winter is characterized by cyclonic activity, which is especially pronounced in the Barents Sea: frosts soften, the weather is cloudy, windy, with snowfalls, and fog is possible. Above central seas and the eastern anticyclone dominates, therefore the average January temperatures change as follows (in the direction from west to east): over the Barents Sea in January the temperature is -5o -15oC, and in the Laptev Sea and the East Siberian Sea the average January temperature is about -30oC. Over the Chukchi Sea it is a little warmer - about -25°C, this is influenced by the Aleutian minimum. Near North Pole in January the temperature is around -40°C. Summer is characterized by continuous solar radiation during the long polar day.

Cyclonic activity weakens somewhat in summer, but air temperatures remain quite low, because... The bulk of solar radiation is spent on melting ice. Average July temperatures vary from 0°C on the northern edge of the seas to +5°C on the coast of the continent, and only over the White Sea in summer the temperature reaches +10°C.

In winter, all seas, with the exception of the western edge of the Barents Sea, freeze. Most of the ocean is covered with ice all year round; this ice remains for several years and is called pack ice. Ice is in constant motion. Despite its considerable thickness (up to 3 m or more), the ice is subject to fractures, and cracks and even polynyas form between the ice floes. The surface of the pack ice is relatively flat, but in some places hummocks up to 5-10 m high can appear. In addition to ice, icebergs that have broken off from the cover glaciers that are present on the Arctic islands can be found in the seas. In summer, the ice area decreases, but even in August, drifting ice floes can be seen in the seas off the coast. The ice regime changes annually; now, with climate warming, there is an improvement in ice conditions (for sea vessels). The water temperature remains low all year round: in summer +1o +5o (in the White Sea up to +10o), in winter -1-2oC (and only in the western part of the Barents Sea about +4oC).

The bioproductivity of the northern seas is low, the flora and fauna of these seas are relatively poor, and the depletion of flora and fauna occurs in the direction from west to east, due to the severity of the climate. Thus, the ichthyofauna of the Barents Sea includes 114 species of fish, and 37 species live in the Laptev Sea. The Barents Sea is inhabited by: cod, haddock, halibut, sea ​​bass, herring, etc. The eastern seas are dominated by salmon (nelma, pink salmon, chum salmon, salmon), whitefish (omul, vendace) and smelt.

Pacific Seas

The seas of the Pacific Ocean include: the Bering Sea, the Sea of ​​Okhotsk, and the Sea of ​​Japan. They wash the eastern shores of Russia. The seas are separated from the Pacific Ocean by ridges of islands: the Aleutian, Kuril and Japanese, behind which there are deep-sea trenches (the maximum depth at the Kuril-Kamchatka trench is 9717 m). The seas are located in the subduction zone of two lithospheric plates: the Eurasian and the Pacific. The seas are also located in the zone of transition of the continental crust to the oceanic crust; the shelf is small, so the seas of the Pacific Ocean are significantly deep. The deepest (4150 m) and largest in size is the Bering Sea. On average, the depth of all three seas is 1350 m, which is significant deeper than the seas Arctic Ocean. The seas stretch for almost 5,000 km from north to south, while they have free water exchange with the Pacific Ocean. A distinctive feature of these seas is the relatively small influx of river water into them. Less than 20% of the water flow from the territory of Russia belongs to the Pacific Ocean basin.

The climate of the seas is largely determined by the monsoon circulation, which smoothes out the climatic differences of the seas, especially in winter. The average air temperature in January varies from -15-20°C near the coast and to -5°C near the island arcs. The most severe winter in the water area Sea of ​​Okhotsk(500 km from Oymyakon). In summer, the climatic differences between the seas are more noticeable. In the Bering Sea the average temperature in summer is +7 +10°C, and in the Sea of ​​Japan the temperature reaches +20°C. summer season above Sea of ​​Japan Typhoons often sweep through. In winter, ice forms in the seas: the Sea of ​​Okhotsk freezes completely, and the Bering and Japanese Seas freeze only near the coasts. In winter, the water temperature ranges from +2оС to -2оС, and in summer the water temperature varies from +5оС in the north to +17оС in the south. Water salinity varies from 30‰ in the Sea of ​​Okhotsk to 33‰ in the Bering and Sea of ​​Japan.

The seas of the Pacific Ocean are characterized by tidal currents; in Penzhinskaya Bay the highest tidal waves are observed off the coast of Russia - up to 13 m; near the Kuril Islands the height of tidal waves is up to 5 m.

The organic world of the seas is quite rich; plankton and seaweed grow abundantly in shallow waters. The ichthyofauna is represented by arctic and boreal fish species, and in the Sea of ​​Japan also by subtropical fish species. Total in the seas Far East There are about 800 species of fish, of which more than 600 are in the Sea of ​​Japan. Commercial significance have salmon (chum salmon, pink salmon, coho salmon, chinook salmon, etc.), iwasi herring, also Pacific herring, and bottom fish - flounder, halibut, cod, as well as pollock and sea bass; in more southern parts– mackerel, conger eels, tuna and sharks. In addition, the Pacific seas are rich in crabs, sea ​​urchins, lives on the islands fur seal, sea otter

Seas of the Atlantic Ocean

Seas of the Atlantic Ocean: Baltic Sea, Black Sea, Azov Sea.

These seas are inland, they wash small areas of the country. The connection between these seas and the ocean is rather weak, and therefore their hydrological regime is unique.

The Baltic Sea (Varyazhskoye) is the westernmost of the seas of Russia. It is connected to the ocean through the shallow Denmark Strait and the shallow North Sea. The Baltic Sea itself is also shallow, it was formed in Quaternary times and was covered continental ice to the dregs. The sea is shallow, the maximum depth of the Baltic Sea is 470 m (south of Stockholm), in the Gulf of Finland the depth does not exceed 50 m.

The climate of the Baltic Sea is formed under the influence of westerly transport air masses from the Atlantic. Cyclones often pass through the sea; annual precipitation exceeds 800 mm. Temperatures in summer over the Baltic are + 16-18°C, water temperature + 15-17°C. In winter, thaws dominate the sea; the average temperature in January is around 0°C, but with the invasion of Arctic air masses, the temperature can drop to -30°C. Only the Gulf of Finland freezes in winter, but in some harsh winters The entire sea may freeze.

About 250 rivers flow into the Baltic Sea, but 20% of the river flow is brought by the Neva River. The salinity of water in the Baltic Sea does not exceed 14‰ (the average oceanic 35‰), off the coast of Russia (in the Gulf of Finland) the salinity is 2-3‰.

The Baltic fauna is not rich. Of commercial importance are: sprat, herring, eel, smelt, cod, whitefish, and lamprey. In addition, the sea is home to a seal, the number of which is Lately is decreasing due to sea water pollution.

The Black Sea is the warmest of the Russian seas. In area it is almost equal to the Baltic Sea, but greatly exceeds it - due to its great depth - in volume: the maximum depth of the Black Sea is 2210 m. The connection between the Black Sea and the Atlantic is carried out through the system inland seas and straits.

The climate of the Black Sea is close to the Mediterranean (warm, wet winters and relatively dry, hot summers). In winter, northeast winds dominate over the sea. When cyclones pass, stormy winds often occur; The average air temperature in winter ranges from 0°C off the coast of Russia to +5°C on the southern coast of the sea. Prevail in summer northwest winds, average air temperature +22-25оС. Many rivers flow into the sea, the Danube giving the largest flow. The salinity of the Black Sea waters is 18-22‰, but near the mouths of large rivers the salinity decreases to 5-10‰.

Life lives only in the upper layers of the sea, because... Below 180 m, poisonous hydrogen sulfide is dissolved in water. The Black Sea is home to 166 species of fish: Mediterranean species– mackerel, horse mackerel, sprat, anchovy, tuna, mullet, etc.; freshwater species- pike perch, bream, ram. Pontic relics have been preserved here: beluga, stellate sturgeon, sturgeon, herring. Dolphins and seals live in the Black Sea among mammals.

The Sea of ​​Azov is the smallest sea in Russia and the shallowest in the world: its average depth is 7 m, and its greatest depth is 13 m. This sea is a shelf sea, it is connected to the Black Sea by the Kerch Strait. Due to its small size and deeply inland position, the sea has the features continental climate, not sea. The average air temperature in January is about -3°C, but with stormy winds from the north-east, the temperature can drop to -25°C, although very rarely. In summer, the air over the Sea of ​​Azov warms up to +25°C.

Two rivers flow into the Sea of ​​Azov large rivers: Don and Kuban, which bring over 90% of the annual river flow. In addition to these rivers, about 20 other small rivers flow into it. Water salinity is about 13‰; By August the water in the sea warms up to +25°C, and near the coast up to +30°C. In winter, most of the sea freezes; ice formation begins in December, in the Taganrog Bay. The sea is freed from ice only in April.

Organic world Sea of ​​Azov is diverse: it is home to about 80 species of fish, mainly Mediterranean and freshwater species - sprat, anchovy, pike perch, bream, sturgeon, etc.

Caspian sea-lake

The Caspian Sea belongs to the internal closed basin; it is a relict lake, but in the Neogene it was connected with the World Ocean. The Caspian Lake is the most big lake on Earth, according to the hydrological regime and large sizes it is very similar to the sea.

The Caspian basin consists of three parts: northern – shelf, with depths up to 50 m; medium - with depths of 200-800 m; the southern one is deep-sea, with a maximum depth of 1025 m. The length of the Caspian Sea from north to south is 1200 km, from west to east – about 300 km.

The climate of the Caspian Sea varies from temperate in the north to subtropical in the south. In winter, the sea is under the influence of the Asian High, and north-easterly winds blow over it. The average air temperature ranges from -8°C in the north to +10°C in the south. Shallow Northern part From January to March it is covered with ice.

In summer, clear, hot weather prevails over the Caspian Sea, the average summer air temperature is +25-28°C. The annual precipitation over the Northern Caspian Sea is about 300 mm, and in the southwest it falls up to 1500 mm.

More than 130 rivers flow into the sea, but 80% of the river flow comes from the Volga River. Water salinity ranges from 0.5‰ in the north to 13‰ in the southeast.

The organic world of the Caspian Sea is not rich, but endemic; it is home to: herring, gobies, sturgeon (beluga, stellate sturgeon, sterlet, sturgeon), carp, bream, pike perch, roach and other fish species, as well as seal.

From space, the Earth has been described as "blue marble." Do you know why? Because most of our planet is covered by the World Ocean. In fact, almost three-quarters (71%, or 362 million km²) of the Earth is ocean. Therefore, healthy oceans are vital to our planet.

The ocean is unevenly distributed between the Northern and Southern Hemispheres. contains about 39% of the landmass, and in the Southern Hemisphere the lands occupy approximately 19%.

When did the ocean appear?

Of course, the ocean arose long before the advent of humanity, so no one knows exactly how it happened, but it is believed that it was formed due to water vapor present on Earth. As the Earth cooled, this water vapor eventually evaporated, formed clouds, and fell as rain. Over time, rain flooded the lowlands, creating the first oceans. As water flowed from land, it picked up minerals, including salts, which formed salt water.

Meaning of the ocean

The ocean is extremely important to humanity and the entire Earth, but some things are more obvious than others:

• Provides food.
• Provides oxygen through tiny organisms called phytoplankton. These organisms produce approximately 50-85% of the oxygen we breathe and also store excess carbon.
• Regulates the climate.
• It is a source of important products we use in cooking, including thickeners and stabilizers.
• Provides opportunities for recreation.
• Contains such as natural gas and oil.
• Provides a path for international trade. More than 98% foreign trade The USA happens across the ocean.

How many oceans are there on planet Earth?

Map of all the oceans and continents of the Earth

The main part of the hydrosphere of our planet is considered to be the World Ocean, which connects all the oceans. There are currents, winds, tides and waves that constantly circulate around this ocean. But to simplify, the world's oceans were divided into parts. Below are the names of the oceans with brief description and characteristics, from largest to smallest:

• Pacific Ocean: is the largest ocean and is considered the largest geographical object on our planet. It washes the western coast of America and the eastern coast of Asia and Australia. The ocean extends from the Arctic Ocean (in the north) to the Southern Ocean surrounding Antarctica (in the south).
• Atlantic Ocean: is smaller than the Pacific Ocean. It is shallower than the previous one and is limited by America in the west, Europe and Africa in the east, the Arctic Ocean in the north, and connects with Southern Ocean on South.
• Indian Ocean: is the third largest ocean. It is bounded by Africa in the west, Asia in the north and Australia in the east, and is connected to the Southern Ocean in the south.
• Southern or Antarctic Ocean: was designated as a separate ocean by the International Hydrographic Organization in 2000. This ocean includes the waters of the Atlantic, Pacific and Indian Oceans, and it surrounds Antarctica. In the north it does not have clear outlines of islands and continents.
• Arctic Ocean: this is the smallest ocean. It washes the northern coasts of Eurasia and North America.

What does sea water consist of?

The salinity (salt content) of water varies in different parts of the ocean, but averages around 3.5%. To recreate sea water at home, you need a teaspoon table salt dilute in a glass of water.

However, the salt in seawater is different from table salt. Our table salt is made up of the elements sodium and chlorine, and salt in seawater contains more than 100 elements, including magnesium, potassium and calcium.

Ocean water temperatures can vary greatly and range from -2 to +30°C.

Ocean zones

As you study marine life and habitats, you will learn that different marine organisms can live in different areas, but the two main ones are:

• Pelagic zone (pelagil), considered the "open ocean".
• The benthic zone (benthal), which is the ocean floor.

The ocean is also divided into zones based on how much sunlight each receives. There is a plant that receives enough light to ensure the process of photosynthesis. In the dysphotic zone there is only a small amount of light, and in the aphotic zone there is no sunlight at all.

Some animals, such as whales, sea ​​turtles and fish, can occupy several zones throughout their lives or in different seasons. Other animals, such as barnacles, are able to remain in one area for almost their entire lives.

Ocean habitats

Ocean habitats range from warm, shallow, light-filled waters to deep, dark, cold areas. The main habitats are:

• Littoral zone (littoral): This is a coastal area that is flooded with water during high tides and dried out during low tides. Marine life here faces serious challenges, so living organisms must adapt to changes in temperature, salinity and moisture.
• : another habitat for organisms along the coast. These areas are covered with salt-tolerant mangroves and provide important habitat for several marine species.
• Sea herbs: This flowering plants, which grow in marine, completely saline environments. These unusual marine plants have roots with which they attach themselves to the bottom and often form “meadows”. The seagrass ecosystem is capable of supporting hundreds of species of organisms, including fish, shellfish, worms and many others. Grassy meadows store more than 10% of total number carbon contained in the oceans, also produce oxygen and protect coastal areas from erosion.
• : coral reefs are often called the "forest of the sea" due to their high biodiversity. Most coral reefs are found in warm tropical and subtropical areas, although deep-sea corals exist in some cold habitats. One of the most famous coral reefs is.
• Deep sea: Although these cold, deep and dark areas of the ocean may seem inhospitable, scientists have proven that they support a wide range of marine life. These are also important areas for scientific research, since about 80% of the ocean is more than 1000 meters deep.
• Hydrothermal Vents: They provide a unique, mineral-rich habitat that is home to hundreds of species, including organisms called (which carry out the process of chemosynthesis) and other animals such as clams, clams, mussels, crabs and shrimp.
• Kelp forests: they are found in cold, fertile and relatively shallow waters. These underwater forests include an abundance of brown algae. Giant plants provide food and shelter for a huge number of marine species.
• Polar Regions: located near the polar circles of the Earth, north of the Arctic and south of the Antarctic. These areas are cold, windy and have wide variations daylight during a year. Although these areas are apparently uninhabitable for humans, they are characterized by rich marine life, and many migratory animals travel to these areas to feed on krill and other prey. Polar regions are also home to iconic animals such as polar bears (in the Arctic) and penguins (in Antarctica). The polar regions are coming under increasing scrutiny due to concerns about temperature rises likely to be most noticeable and significant in these areas.

Facts about the oceans

Scientists have studied the surfaces of the Moon, Mars and Venus better than the ocean floor of the Earth. However, the reason for this is not at all indifference to oceanography. It is actually more difficult to study the surface of the ocean floor, measuring gravitational anomalies and using sonar at close ranges, than the surface of a nearby moon or planet, which can be done using a satellite.

Needless to say, Earth's ocean is unexplored. This complicates the work of scientists and, in turn, does not allow the inhabitants of our planet to fully understand how powerful and important this resource is. People need to understand their impact on the ocean and the ocean's impact on them—humanity needs ocean literacy.

• The Earth has seven continents and five oceans, united into one World Ocean.
• The ocean is a very complex object: it hides mountain ranges with big amount volcanoes than on land.
• Used by humanity fresh water directly depends on the sea, through .
• Throughout geological time, the ocean dominates the land. Most rocks found on land were deposited underwater when sea levels were higher than they are today. Limestone and siliceous shale are biological products that formed from the bodies of microscopic marine life.
• The ocean forms the coast of continents and islands. This happens not only during hurricanes but also with constant erosion, as well as with the help of waves and tides.
• The ocean dominates the world's climate, driving three global cycles: water, carbon and energy. Rain appears from the evaporated sea ​​water, carrying not only water, but also solar energy, which led him out of the sea. Ocean plants produce most of the world's oxygen, and currents carry heat from the tropics to the poles.
• Life in the oceans has allowed the atmosphere to receive oxygen since the Proterozoic eon, billions of years ago. The first life arose in the ocean and thanks to it the Earth retained its precious supply of hydrogen, locked in the form of water, and not lost in outer space how it would be otherwise.
• The diversity of habitats in the ocean is much greater than on land. Likewise, there are larger groups of living organisms in the ocean than on land.
• Most of the ocean is desert, with estuaries and reefs supporting the world's largest number of living organisms.
• The ocean and people are inextricably linked. He provides us Natural resources, and at the same time can be extremely dangerous. From it we extract food, medicine and minerals; trade also depends on sea routes. Most of the population lives near the ocean, and this is the main recreational attraction. Conversely, storms, tsunamis and changes in water levels threaten residents of coastal areas. But, in turn, humanity has a negative impact on the ocean, as we continuously use it, change it, pollute it, etc. These are issues that concern all countries and all inhabitants of our planet.
• Only between 0.05% and 15% of our ocean has been studied in detail. Since the ocean makes up approximately 71% of the Earth's surface, this means that most of our planet is still unknown. As our dependence on the ocean continues to grow, marine science will have everything higher value to maintain the health and value of the ocean, not just to satisfy our curiosity and needs.

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The Pacific Ocean is the largest on Earth

Pacific Ocean- the largest ocean in terms of area and depth on Earth, it occupies 49.5% of the surface of the World Ocean and holds 53% of the volume of its water. Located between the continents of Eurasia and Australia in the west, North and South America in the east, Antarctica in the south.

The Pacific Ocean extends approximately 15.8 thousand km from north to south and 19.5 thousand km from east to west. The area with seas is 179.7 million km², the average depth is 3984 m, the volume of water is 723.7 million km³. The greatest depth of the Pacific Ocean (and the entire World Ocean) is 10,994 m (in the Mariana Trench).

November 28, 1520 for the first time in open ocean Ferdinand Magellan came out. He crossed the ocean from Tierra del Fuego to the Philippine Islands in 3 months and 20 days. All this time the weather was calm, and Magellan called the ocean Quiet.

The second largest ocean on Earth after the Pacific Ocean, occupying 25% of the surface of the World Ocean, with a total area of ​​91.66 million km² and a volume of water of 329.66 million km³. The ocean is located between Greenland and Iceland in the north, Europe and Africa in the east, North and South America in the west, and Antarctica in the south. Greatest depth - 8742 m (deep-sea trench - Puerto Rico)

The name of the ocean first appears in the 5th century BC. e. in the works of the ancient Greek historian Herodotus, who wrote that “the sea with the pillars of Hercules is called Atlantis.” The name comes from the famous Ancient Greece the myth of Atlas, the Titan holding the firmament on his shoulders at the extreme western point of the Mediterranean. The Roman scientist Pliny the Elder in the 1st century used modern name Okeanus Atlanticus - "Atlantic Ocean".

The third largest ocean on Earth, covering about 20% of its water surface. Its area is 76.17 million km², volume - 282.65 million km³. The deepest point of the ocean is in the Sunda Trench (7729 m).

In the north, the Indian Ocean washes Asia, in the west - Africa, in the east - Australia; in the south it borders on Antarctica. The border with the Atlantic Ocean runs along the 20° meridian of eastern longitude; from Quiet - along 146°55’ meridian of eastern longitude. Northernmost point Indian Ocean is located at approximately 30° northern latitude in the Persian Gulf. The Indian Ocean is approximately 10,000 km wide between the southern points of Australia and Africa.

The ancient Greeks called the western part of the ocean known to them with the adjacent seas and bays the Erythraean Sea (Red). Gradually, this name began to be attributed only to the nearest sea, and the ocean was named after India, the country most famous at that time for its wealth on the ocean shores. So Alexander the Great in the 4th century BC. e. calls it Indicon pelagos - “Indian Sea”. Since the 16th century, the name Oceanus Indicus - Indian Ocean, introduced by the Roman scientist Pliny the Elder back in the 1st century, has been established.

The smallest ocean on Earth, located entirely in the northern hemisphere, between Eurasia and North America.

The ocean area is 14.75 million km² (5.5% of the area of ​​the World Ocean), the volume of water is 18.07 million km³. The average depth is 1225 m, the greatest depth is 5527 m in the Greenland Sea. Most The relief of the bottom of the Arctic Ocean is occupied by the shelf (more than 45% of the ocean floor) and the underwater margins of the continents (up to 70% of the bottom area). The ocean is usually divided into three vast water areas: the Arctic Basin, the North European Basin and the Canadian Basin. Thanks to the polar geographical location Ice cover in the central part of the ocean persists throughout the year, although it is in a mobile state.

The ocean was identified as an independent ocean by the geographer Varenius in 1650 under the name Hyperborean Ocean - “Ocean in the extreme north.” Foreign sources of that time also used the names: Oceanus Septentrionalis - “Northern Ocean” (Latin Septentrio - north), Oceanus Scythicus - “Scythian Ocean” (Latin Scythae - Scythians), Oceanes Tartaricus - “Tartar Ocean”, Μare Glaciale - “Arctic Sea” (lat. Glacies - ice). On Russian maps of the 17th - 18th centuries the names are used: Sea Ocean, Sea Ocean Arctic, Arctic Sea, Northern Ocean, Northern or Arctic Sea, Arctic Ocean, Northern Polar Sea, and the Russian navigator Admiral F. P. Litke in the 20s of the XIX century centuries called it the Arctic Ocean. In other countries the English name is widely used. Arctic Ocean - "Arctic Ocean", which was given to the ocean by the London Geographical Society in 1845.

By decree of the USSR Central Executive Committee of June 27, 1935, the name Arctic Ocean was adopted as corresponding to the form already used in Russia since the beginning of the 19th century, and close to earlier Russian names.

The conventional name for the waters of the three oceans (Pacific, Atlantic and Indian) surrounding Antarctica and sometimes unofficially identified as the “fifth ocean”, which, however, does not have a clearly delineated northern border by islands and continents. The conditional area is 20.327 million km² (if we take the northern boundary of the ocean to be 60 degrees south latitude). Greatest depth (South Sandwich Trench) - 8428 m.