Oceans in order of increasing area. Indian Ocean - people and history

On our planet there are several huge oceans that can accommodate entire continents in their waters. A The largest ocean in the world is the Pacific Ocean, the area of ​​which, together with the seas, is 178.6 million km²(and without them - 165.2 million km²).

This gigantic body of water can contain all of Earth's continents and most of the other three largest oceans. It occupies 50% of the world's oceans and stretches from the Bering Strait in the north to Antarctica in the south, bordering North and South America in the east, and Asia and Australia in the west. Numerous seas are an additional part of the Pacific Ocean. These include the Bering Sea, the Sea of ​​Japan and the Coral Sea.

However, the Pacific Ocean is shrinking by 1 km every year. This is due to the influence of tectonic plates in the area. But what is bad for the Pacific is good for the Atlantic, which is growing every year. This is the largest ocean on Earth after the Pacific.

The Pacific Ocean also holds the title of “deepest ocean.” , Mount Everest, would have disappeared if it had fallen into the Philippine Trench, which is 10,540 meters deep. And this is not yet the deepest Pacific Trench; the depth of the Mariana Trench is 10,994 meters. For comparison: the average depth in the Pacific Ocean is 3984 meters.

How the Pacific Ocean got its name

On September 20, 1519, Portuguese navigator Ferdinand Magellan set sail from Spain in an attempt to find a western sea route to the spice-rich islands of Indonesia. Under his command were five ships and 270 sailors.

At the end of March 1520, the expedition organized wintering in the Argentine Bay of San Julian. On the night of 2 April, the Spanish captains mutinied against their Portuguese captain, attempting to force him to turn back to Spain. But Magellan suppressed the rebellion, ordering the death of one of the captains and leaving another ashore when his ship left the bay in August.

On October 21, he finally discovered the strait he was looking for. The Strait of Magellan, as is now known, separates Tierra del Fuego from continental South America. It took 38 days to cross the long-awaited strait, and when the ocean was seen on the horizon, Magellan wept with joy. For many years he remained the only captain who did not lose a single ship during the passage through the Strait of Magellan.

His fleet completed the western crossing of the Pacific Ocean in 99 days, and during this time the waters were so calm that the largest ocean in the world was named "Pacific", from the Latin word "pacificus", meaning "calm". And Magellan himself was the first European to travel from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean.

Flora and fauna of the Pacific Ocean

While the coastal Pacific ecosystem can be divided into several subtypes—mangrove forests, rocky shores, and sandy shores—it has similar plant and animal life.

• Crabs, sea anemones, green algae and other living organisms are drawn to the relatively light and warm waters of this zone. Marine mammals such as dolphins and whales are also often found relatively close to shore.
• There are many corals growing close to the coastline, but the reefs they form are considered their own unique type of ecosystem. Coral reefs are living organisms that are made up of thousands of tiny marine invertebrates (coral polyps).
• Coral reefs provide shelter to countless animals and plants, including coral trout, coralline algae, sea bass, sponges, whales, sea snakes and shellfish.

And the flora and fauna in the open ocean, also called the pelagic zone, is as diverse as any ecosystem on Earth. Seaweed and plankton thrive near surface waters, and in turn become a food resource for baleen whales, tuna, sharks and other fish. Very little sunlight penetrates to a depth of 200 meters, but this depth is where jellyfish, snipe and snakes live. Some - such as squids, scotoplanes and hellvampires - live in the Pacific depths below 1000 meters.

The North Pacific Ocean is dominated by bottom-dwelling fish species such as hake and pollock.

In the warm tropical zone, approximately between the North and South Equatorial Currents, the number of marine animals increases sharply.

A diversity of oceanic animal life predominates in the western Pacific Ocean, where warm monsoon climates and unusual landforms have facilitated the evolution of unique marine forms. The Western Pacific also contains the most spectacular and extensive coral reefs of any ocean.

In total, the Pacific Ocean is home to about 2,000 species of fish in particular and approximately 100 thousand living organisms in total.

Useful resources of the Pacific Ocean

Salt (sodium chloride) is the most important mineral obtained directly from seawater. Mexico is the leading country in the Pacific region in extracting salt from the sea, mainly by solar evaporation.

Another important chemical element is bromine, which, like salt, is extracted from seawater. It is used in the food, pharmaceutical and photo industries.

Another mineral essential to humans, magnesium, is extracted through an electrolytic process and then used in industrial metal alloys.

Sand and gravel dredged from the seabed are also important. One of their main producers is Japan.

Marine sulfide ores containing iron, copper, cobalt, zinc and traces of other metal elements are deposited in large quantities by deep-sea hydrothermal vents off the Galapagos Islands, in the Strait of Juan de Fuca and in the Manus Island basin off New Guinea.

However, the main wealth of the Pacific Ocean is its oil and gas deposits. It is the most valuable and in demand fuel in the modern world economy.

• The main areas of oil and gas production in the southwest Pacific are in the South China Sea, near Vietnam, the Chinese island of Hainan and on the continental shelf northwest of Palawan island in the Philippines.
• In the northwest Pacific Ocean, the main areas of oil and gas production are in the northwest of Kyushu Island in Japan, in the southern Yellow Sea and in the Bohai Basin, as well as near Sakhalin Island.
• Oil and gas wells have been drilled in the Bering Sea in the north and off the coast of Southern California in the eastern Pacific Ocean.
• In the South Pacific, hydrocarbon production and exploration occurs in northwestern and northern Australia and in the Gippsland Basin in southeastern Australia.

Tourism in the Pacific

When travelers think of visiting the islands, their imagination conjures images of blue waters, sandy beaches and majestic palm trees. But the Pacific Ocean is the largest ocean in the world, with many islands, including.

And so that you don’t have to choose long and painfully between the good and the best, we will tell you which islands you should pay attention to first.

• Palau, Micronesia.
  A tiny island surrounded by turquoise waters. Its main tourist feature is diving. If you plan to dive in Palau, you will be able to see shipwrecks and fascinating and diverse ocean life.
• Tahiti, French Polynesia.
  This is a mecca for surfers. They flock to Tahiti year after year for the amazing waves and weather conditions. The preferred months for surfing are from May to August. And if you visit the island in July, you'll be treated to the Heiva Festival, which showcases Tahitian crafts and folk dances.
• Bora Bora, French Polynesia.
  This is one of the most popular islands among tourists in the South Pacific. Home to many upscale resorts and hotels, the most popular type of accommodation in Bora Bora is overwater bungalows. An ideal place for a honeymoon.
• Lord Howe in the Tasman Sea.
  It has hardly been touched by human hands, since the island is home to rare (and legally protected) plants and animals. This is an excellent destination for eco-tourists who want to avoid crowded areas and are ready for peaceful bird watching, snorkeling and fishing.
• Tanna, Vanuatu.
  This island is home to the most accessible active volcano in the world, Yasur. It is also the main local attraction. But besides the volcano, the island land boasts hot springs, tropical forests and coffee plantations, as well as secluded beaches and a calm, measured life that is worth living for city dwellers accustomed to the bustle of big cities.
• Solomon islands.
  A great place for history buffs, as the region was the scene of fighting during World War II during the Japanese occupation. Nowadays, the Solomon Islands are a great destination for canoe trips, scuba diving, dolphin diving and selfies with orchids in bloom.

Garbage Island of the Pacific

In the center of the North Pacific Ocean lies a huge “garbage island” (also known as the Great Pacific Garbage Patch), mostly made up of plastic waste. It is twice the size of Texas, which covers 695,662 km².

The garbage island was formed due to ocean currents, which are also called the subtropical gyre. Such currents move clockwise and carry all the debris and waste on their way to the site in the middle of the North Pacific Ocean.

But while humans can successfully avoid the Pacific Garbage Patch, marine animals are unable to do so and become victims of the plastic dump. After all, the makeshift island contains not only plastic, but also toxic substances and fishing nets in which whales and dolphins die. And marine organisms absorb plastic particles, confusing them with plankton, thereby incorporating plastic waste into the food chain. Scientific research by the American Scripps Institute of Oceanography has shown that the remains of 5 to 10% of Pacific fish contain small pieces of plastic.

The sad thing is that the accumulated waste and debris is difficult to clean from the surface of the largest ocean on Earth. According to some researchers working on the Trash Island topic, the cleanup operation is so expensive that it could bankrupt several countries at once.

The Pacific Ocean is one of the most important components of life on Earth. It provides people with food, valuable resources, important trade routes, jobs, and many other benefits. And a complete study of all the riches and mysteries of this largest of all oceans on the planet will take many more decades.

And here’s what the list of the world’s oceans looks like if you arrange them from the smallest ocean to the largest (after the Pacific, of course):

• Arctic Ocean, with an area of ​​14.75 million km².
• Southern Ocean (unofficially) - 20.327 million km².
• Indian Ocean - 76.17 million km².
• Atlantic Ocean - 91.66 million km².

The clear answer to the question about the largest ocean is the World Ocean. But if we consider the existence of four oceans into which the main part of the hydrosphere is divided, then the second correct and more specific answer will be the Pacific Ocean.

The World Ocean accounts for up to 70 percent of the entire area of ​​the globe, 95.2 percent of the hydrosphere, the total area of ​​its water resources exceeds 361 million km 2 with a water volume of 1340.74 million km 3. Its origin and history are largely the subject of study of the science of oceanology. In ancient times, scientists assumed the existence of the Panthalassa Ocean, which became the progenitor of the World Ocean as a result of irreversible tectonic processes.

Pacific Ocean occupies a third of the planet Earth, its area is 179.7 million km 2. The volume of water reserves of this ocean exceeds 710 million km 3.

The area of ​​the Pacific Ocean is 30 million km 2 larger than the entire landmass of the Earth. In addition to its huge area, the ocean also has the greatest depth, which in the Mariana Trench is 10,994 meters, with an average ocean depth of 3,984 meters.

The Pacific Ocean accounts for approximately 49.5 percent of the surface of the world's oceans and more than 53 percent of its volume. The ocean includes 31 seas and large bays, the total area of ​​which exceeds 31.64 million km 2.

The main problem of the Pacific Ocean is the severe littering by humans, who have made the ocean waters not only a landfill for hazardous nuclear waste, but also simply a dumping ground for household waste. It is now not uncommon to discover drifting garbage patches or islands with an area of ​​up to 15 million km 2 with waste volumes reaching one hundred million tons.

Atlantic Ocean It ranks second in area in the world, significantly inferior in size to the Pacific Ocean. The area of ​​this water body is 91.6 million km 2 with a total water volume of 329 million km 3. The average depth of the Atlantic Ocean is 3736 meters, with a maximum of 8742 meters.

The seas, straits and bays account for approximately 16 percent of the total area of ​​​​this ocean, the total amount is 25, not counting some bays as an integral part of the seas. Their total area is 14.69 million km 2.

The main environmental disaster of the Atlantic Ocean is the consequences of oil and gas production; huge oil spills are rapidly destroying the ecosystem, threatening to develop into a global environmental crisis by 2030, which will affect the entire oceans.

On Indian Ocean accounting for up to 20 percent of the planet's total water resources. With a volume of more than 282 million km 3, the ocean has an area exceeding 76.1 million km 2. The maximum width of the Indian Ocean, according to rough estimates, is 10 thousand kilometers. The maximum depth in the Sunda Trench reaches 7729 meters, and the average ocean depth does not exceed 3711 meters. The ocean contains 12 large seas and bays, the area of ​​which is 11.68 million km 2.

Located entirely in the northern hemisphere Arctic Ocean has an area exceeding 14.7 million km 2 with a total volume of ocean water resources of more than 18 million km 3 . More than 45 percent of the ocean floor is occupied by the shelf, where up to 70 percent of the area is occupied by the underwater territory of the continents, which belongs to six world states.

In total, the Arctic Ocean includes 13 seas and large bays, with a total area of ​​10.28 million km 2. The maximum depth at a point located in the Greenland Sea is 5527 meters, the average depth across the ocean does not exceed 1225 meters.

Earth is the only habitable planet in the world. You can find out what the World Ocean is called, how it is located on Earth, and how it is divided into separate bodies of water by reading this article.

Continents divide the entire hydrosphere located on the surface of the earth into bodies of water that have a separate circulation system. At the same time, scientists have found that under the water column there are not only seamounts, but also rivers and their waterfalls. The ocean is not a separate part, it is directly connected with the bowels of the Earth, its bark and everything.

It is thanks to these accumulations of liquid in nature that such a phenomenon as the cycle is possible. There is a special science called oceanology, which studies the fauna and flora of the underwater depths. In terms of its geology, the bottom of the reservoir near the continents is similar to the structure of the land.

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World hydrosphere and its research

What is the World Ocean called? This term was first proposed to be used by the scientist B. Varen. All bodies of water and their components together make up ocean area- most of the hydrosphere. It contains 94.1% of the entire area of ​​the hydrosphere, which is not interrupted, but is not continuous - it is limited by continents with islands and peninsulas.

Important! The world's waters have different salinity in different parts.

Area of ​​the World Ocean- 361,900,000 km². History identifies the main stage in hydrosphere research as the “Age of Geographical Discovery,” when continents, seas and islands were discovered. The voyages of the following navigators turned out to be the most important for the study of the hydrosphere:

• Ferdinand Magellan;
• James Cook;
• Christopher Columbus;
• Vasco de Gamma.

The area of ​​the World Ocean began to be intensively studied only in the 2nd part of the 20th century already using modern technologies (echolocation, diving in bathyscaphes, studies of geophysics and geology of the seabed). There were various study methods:

• using research vessels;
• conducting major scientific experiments;
• using deep-sea manned vehicles.

And the first scientific research in the 20th century began on December 22, 1872 on the Challenger corvette, and it was this that brought results that radically changed people's understanding of the structure, flora and fauna of the underwater world.

Only in the 1920s did echo sounders begin to be used, which made it possible to determine the depth in a few seconds and have a general idea of ​​​​the nature of the bottom.

Using these instruments it was possible to determine the profile of the bed, and the Gloria system could even scan the bottom in entire 60 m stripes, but given the area of ​​​​the oceans, this would take too much time.

The most major discoveries become:

• In 1950 – 1960 discovered rocks of the earth's crust that are hidden under the water column and were able to determine their age, which seriously influenced the idea of ​​the age of the planet itself. Studying the bottom also made it possible to learn about the constant movement of lithospheric plates.
• Underwater drilling in the 1980s made it possible to thoroughly study the bottom at depths of up to 8300 m.
• studies by seismologists have provided data on suspected oil deposits and rock structure.

Thanks to research and scientific experiments, not only all the data that is known today was collected, but life at depth was also discovered. There are special scientific organizations who are still studying today.

These include various research institutes and bases, and they are characterized by territorial distribution, for example, the waters of Antarctica or the Arctic are studied by different organizations. Despite a long history of research, scientists say they currently know only 194,400 of the 2.2 million species of marine life.

Division of the hydrosphere

You can often find questions on the Internet: “ How many oceans are there on Earth 4 or more? It is generally accepted that there are only four of them, although for a long time scientists doubted whether there were 4 or 5. To accurately answer the question posed above, you should find out the history of the identification of the largest bodies of water:

1. XVIII-XIX centuries scientists identified two main, and some three, water areas;
2. 1782-1848 geographer Adriano Balbi designated 4;
3. 1937-1953 – designated 5 world water bodies, including the waters of the South, as a separate part from other seas, due to certain specific features of the waters close to Antarctica;
4. 1953-2000 scientists abandoned the definition of the Southern Waters and returned to previous statements;
5. In 2000, 5 separate water areas were finally identified, one of which is South. This position was adopted by the International Organization of Hydrographers.

Characteristics

All divisions happen based on differences in climatic conditions, hydrophysical characteristics and salt composition of water. Each body of water has its own area, specificity and characteristics. Their names come from certain geographical features.

Quiet

Quiet is sometimes called Great because of its large size, because this is the largest ocean on Earth and the deepest. It is located between Eurasia, Australia, North and South America, and Antarctica.

Thus, it washes all existing Earths except Africa. As mentioned above, the entire hydrosphere of the Earth is connected, so it is not surprising that the water area is connected with other waters through straits.

The volume of the Pacific Ocean is 710.36 million km³, which is 53% of the total volume of world waters. Its average depth is 4280 m, and its maximum is 10994 m. The deepest place is the Mariana Trench, which was properly explored only in last 10 years.

But they never reached the bottom, because the equipment does not allow this yet. Recent studies have confirmed that even at such depths, in conditions of terrible underwater pressure and complete darkness, life still exists. The shores are unevenly populated. The most developed and largest industrial areas:

• Los Angeles and San Francisco;
• Japanese and South Korean shores;
• Australian coast.

Atlantic

Atlantic Ocean area- 91.66 million km², which makes it the largest after the Pacific, and allows it to wash the shores of Europe, both Americas and Africa. It is named after the titan named Atlas from Greek mythology. It communicates with the waters of the Indian Ocean and others, thanks to straits, and touching directly at the capes. A characteristic feature of the reservoir is a warm current and called Gulf Stream. It is thanks to him that coastal countries have a mild climate (Great Britain, France).

Despite the fact that the area of ​​the Atlantic Ocean is smaller than the Pacific Ocean, it is not inferior in the number of species of flora and fauna.

The reservoir makes up 16% of the entire hydrosphere of the Earth. The volume of its waters is 329.7 million km3, and the average depth is 3736 m, with a maximum depth of 8742 m in the Puerto Rico Trench. On its shores, the most active industrial areas are the European and American shores, as well as the South African countries. This pond is incredible important for global shipping, after all, it is through its waters that the main trade routes connecting Europe and America lie.

Indian

Indian is third largest on the surface of the Earth is a separate body of water, which received its name from the state of India, which occupies most of its coastline.

It was very famous and rich in those days when the water area was actively studied. The reservoir is located between three continents: Eurasian, Australian and African.

As for other oceans, their borders with the waters of the Atlantic are laid along the meridians, and the border with the South cannot be clearly established, since it is blurred and arbitrary. Numbers for characteristics:

1. It occupies 20% of the entire surface of the planet;
2. Area - 76.17 million km², and volume - 282.65 million km³;
3. Maximum width - about 10 thousand km;
4. The average depth is 3711 m, and the maximum is 7209 m.

Attention! The Indian waters are distinguished by high temperatures compared to other seas and water areas. Thanks to this, it is extremely rich in flora and fauna, and its warmth is due to its location in the Southern Hemisphere.

The sea routes between the four main trading platforms of the world pass through the waters.

Arctic

The Arctic Ocean is located in the north of the planet and washes only two continents: Eurasia and North America. This is the smallest ocean in area (14.75 million km²) and the coldest.

Its name was formed based on its main characteristics: its location in the North, and most of the waters are covered with drifting ice.

This water area is the least studied, since it was allocated as an independent body of water only in 1650. But at the same time, trade routes between Russia, China and America run through its waters.

Southern

The South was officially recognized only in 2000, and includes part of the waters of all the water areas listed above, except the Arctic. It surrounds Antarctica and does not have an exact northern border, so it is not possible to indicate its location. Because of these disputes about its official recognition and lack of precise boundaries, there is still no data on its average depth and other important characteristics of an individual reservoir.

How many oceans are there on Earth, names, characteristics

Continents and oceans of the Earth

Conclusion

Thanks to scientific research, today all 5 bodies of water, which make up most of the Earth’s hydrosphere, are known and examined (albeit not completely). It is worth remembering that they all communicate with each other and are an important factor in the lives of many animals, therefore their pollution will lead to an environmental disaster.

Almost 95% of all water on Earth is salty and unfit for consumption. Seas, oceans and salt lakes are made of it. Collectively, all this is called the World Ocean. Its area is three quarters of the entire area of ​​the planet.

The World Ocean - what is it?

The names of the oceans have been familiar to us since elementary school. These are the Pacific, otherwise called the Great, Atlantic, Indian and Arctic. All of them together are called the World Ocean. Its area is more than 350 million km2. This is a huge territory even on a planetary scale.

The continents divide the World Ocean into four oceans known to us. Each of them has its own characteristics, its own unique underwater world, varying depending on the climate zone, current temperature and bottom topography. A map of the oceans shows that they are all connected to each other. None of them are surrounded by land on all sides.

The science that studies the oceans is oceanology

How do we know that seas and oceans exist? Geography is a school subject that first introduces us to these concepts. But a special science—oceanology—is engaged in a more in-depth study of the oceans. She considers water expanses as an integral natural object, studies the biological processes occurring inside it, and its connection with other constituent elements of the biosphere.

This science studies the ocean depths to achieve the following goals:

• increasing the efficiency and ensuring the safety of underwater and surface navigation;
• optimization of the use of mineral resources of the ocean floor;
• maintaining the biological balance of the oceanic environment;
• improvement of meteorological forecasts.

How did the modern names of the oceans come about?

Every geographical feature is given a name for a reason. Any name has certain historical background or is associated with the characteristic features of a particular territory. Let's find out when and how the names of the oceans came about and who came up with them.

• Atlantic Ocean. The works of the ancient Greek historian and geographer Strabo described this ocean, calling it Western. Later, some scientists called it the Hesperides Sea. This is confirmed by a document dated 90 BC. Already in the ninth century AD, Arab geographers announced the name “Sea of ​​Darkness”, or “Sea of ​​Darkness”. It received such a strange name because of the clouds of sand and dust that were raised above it by the winds constantly blowing from the African continent. The modern name was first used in 1507, after Columbus reached the shores of America. Officially, this name was established in geography in 1650 in the scientific works of Bernhard Waren.
• The Pacific Ocean was named so by a Spanish navigator. Despite the fact that it is quite stormy and there are often storms and tornadoes, during Magellan’s expedition, which lasted a year, the weather was constantly good and calm, and this was a reason to think that the ocean was really quiet and calm. When the truth was revealed, no one began to rename the Pacific Ocean. In 1756, the researcher Bayush proposed calling it the Great, since it is the largest ocean of all. To this day, both of these names are used.
• The reason for giving the name was the many ice floes drifting in its waters, and, of course, the geographical location. Its second name - Arctic - comes from the Greek word “arktikos”, which means “northern”.
• With the name of the Indian Ocean, everything is extremely simple. India is one of the first countries known to the Ancient World. The waters that wash its shores were named after her.

Four Oceans

How many oceans are there on the planet? This question seems to be the simplest, but for many years it has been causing discussions and debates among oceanologists. The standard list of oceans looks like this:

2. Indian.

3. Atlantic.

4. Arctic.

But since ancient times, there has been another opinion, according to which there is a fifth ocean - the Antarctic, or Southern. Arguing this decision, oceanologists cite as evidence the fact that the waters washing the shores of Antarctica are very unique and the system of currents in this ocean differs from the rest of the water expanses. Not everyone agrees with this decision, so the problem of dividing the World Ocean remains relevant.

The characteristics of the oceans vary depending on many factors, although they may all appear to be the same. Let's get to know each of them and find out the most important information about all of them.

Pacific Ocean

It is also called Great because it has the largest area among all. The Pacific Ocean basin occupies slightly less than half the area of ​​all the world's waters and is equal to 179.7 million km².

It includes 30 seas: Japan, Tasman, Java, South China, Okhotsk, Philippines, New Guinea, Savu Sea, Halmahera Sea, Koro Sea, Mindanao Sea, Yellow Sea, Visayan Sea, Aki Sea, Solomonovo, Bali Sea, Samair Sea, Coral, Banda, Sulu, Sulawesi, Fiji, Maluku, Comotes, Seram Sea, Flores Sea, Sibuyan Sea, East China Sea, Bering Sea, Amudesen Sea. All of them occupy 18% of the total area of ​​the Pacific Ocean.

It is also a leader in the number of islands. There are about 10 thousand of them. The largest islands in the Pacific Ocean are New Guinea and Kalimantan.

The subsoil of the seabed contains more than a third of the world's reserves of natural gas and oil, active production of which occurs mainly in the shelf areas of China, the United States of America and Australia.

Many transport routes pass through the Pacific Ocean, connecting Asian countries with South and North America.

Atlantic Ocean

It is the second largest in the world, and this is clearly demonstrated by the map of the oceans. Its area is 93,360 thousand km 2. The Atlantic Ocean basin contains 13 seas. They all have a coastline.

An interesting fact is that in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean there is the fourteenth sea - Sargasovo, called the sea without shores. Its boundaries are ocean currents. It is considered the largest sea in the world by area.

Another feature of this ocean is the maximum influx of fresh water, which is provided by the large rivers of North and South America, Africa and Europe.

In terms of the number of islands, this ocean is the complete opposite of the Pacific. There are very few of them here. But it is in the Atlantic Ocean that the largest island on the planet, Greenland, and the most remote island, Bouvet, are located. Although sometimes Greenland is classified as an island of the Arctic Ocean.

Indian Ocean

Interesting facts about the third largest ocean by area will make us even more surprised. The Indian Ocean was the first known and explored. He is the guardian of the largest coral reef complex.

The waters of this ocean hold a secret that has not yet been properly explored. The fact is that luminous circles of regular shape periodically appear on the surface. According to one version, this is the glow of plankton rising from the depths, but their ideal spherical shape still remains a mystery.

Not far from the island of Madagascar you can observe a one-of-a-kind natural phenomenon - an underwater waterfall.

Now some facts about the Indian Ocean. Its area is 79,917 thousand km 2. The average depth is 3711 m. It washes 4 continents and includes 7 seas. Vasco da Gama is the first explorer to sail across the Indian Ocean.

Interesting facts and characteristics of the Arctic Ocean

It is the smallest and coldest of all the oceans. Area - 13,100 thousand km 2. It is also the shallowest, the average depth of the Arctic Ocean is only 1225 m. It consists of 10 seas. In terms of the number of islands, this ocean ranks second after the Pacific.

The central part of the ocean is covered with ice. Floating ice floes and icebergs are observed in the southern regions. Sometimes you can find intact ice sheets 30-35 m thick. It was here that the infamous Titanic crashed after colliding with one of them.

Despite the harsh climate, the Arctic Ocean is home to many species of animals: walruses, seals, whales, seagulls, jellyfish and plankton.

Depth of the oceans

We already know the names of the oceans and their features. But which ocean is the deepest? Let's look into this issue.

A contour map of the oceans and ocean floor shows that the bottom topography is as diverse as the topography of the continents. Under the thickness of sea water there are hidden depressions, depressions and elevations like mountains.

The average depth of all four oceans combined is 3700 m. The deepest is the Pacific Ocean, the average depth of which is 3980 m, followed by the Atlantic - 3600 m, followed by the Indian - 3710 m. The latest in this list, as already mentioned, is is the Arctic Ocean, the average depth of which is only 1225 m.

Salt is the main feature of ocean waters

Everyone knows the difference between sea and ocean water and fresh river water. Now we will be interested in such a characteristic of the oceans as the amount of salt. If you think that the water is equally salty everywhere, you are very mistaken. The concentration of salt in ocean waters can vary significantly even within a few kilometers.

The average salinity of ocean waters is 35 ‰. If we consider this indicator separately for each ocean, then the Arctic is the least saline of all: 32 ‰. Pacific Ocean - 34.5 ‰. The salt content in the water here is low due to the large amount of precipitation, especially in the equatorial zone. Indian Ocean - 34.8 ‰. Atlantic - 35.4 ‰. It is important to note that bottom waters have a lower salt concentration than surface waters.

The saltiest seas in the World Ocean are the Red Sea (41 ‰), the Mediterranean Sea and the Persian Gulf (up to 39 ‰).

World Ocean Records

• The deepest place in the World Ocean is its depth of 11,035 m from the surface water level.
• If we consider the depth of the seas, the Philippine Sea is considered the deepest. Its depth reaches 10,540 m. The second place in this indicator is the Coral Sea with a maximum depth of 9,140 m.
• The largest ocean is the Pacific. Its area is larger than the area of ​​the entire earth's land.
• The saltiest sea is the Red Sea. It is located in the Indian Ocean. Salt water supports all objects that fall into it well, and in order to drown in this sea, you need to try very hard.
• The most mysterious place is located in the Atlantic Ocean, and its name is the Bermuda Triangle. There are many legends and mysteries associated with it.
• The most poisonous sea creature is the blue-ringed octopus. It lives in the Indian Ocean.
• The largest collection of corals in the world, the Great Barrier Reef, is located in the Pacific Ocean.

However, just recently...

... in 2000, the International Hydrographic Organization combined the southern Atlantic, Indian and Pacific oceans, creating a fifth addition to the list - the Southern Ocean. And this is not a volitional decision: this region has a special structure of currents, its own rules of weather formation, etc. The arguments in favor of such a decision are as follows: in the southern part of the Atlantic, Indian and Pacific oceans, the boundaries between them are very arbitrary, while at the same time the waters adjacent to Antarctica, have their own specifics, and are also united by the Antarctic Circumpolar Current.

The largest of the oceans is the Pacific. Its area is 178.7 million km2. .

The Atlantic Ocean extends over 91.6 million km 2.

The area of ​​the Indian Ocean is 76.2 million km2.

The area of ​​the Antarctic (Southern) Ocean is 20.327 million km 2.

The Arctic Ocean covers an area of ​​approximately 14.75 million km2.

Pacific Ocean, the largest on Earth. It was named so by the famous navigator Magellan. This traveler was the first European to successfully cross the ocean. But Magellan was just very lucky. There are very often terrible storms here.

The Pacific Ocean is twice the size of the Atlantic. It occupies 165 million square meters. km, which is almost half the area of ​​the entire World Ocean. It contains more than half of all the water on our planet. In one place, this ocean extends 17 thousand km in width, stretching almost half the globe. Despite its name, this huge ocean is not only blue, beautiful and serene. Strong storms or underwater earthquakes make him furious. In fact, the Pacific Ocean is home to large zones of seismic activity.

Photographs of the Earth from space show the true size of the Pacific Ocean. This is the largest ocean in the world, covering one third of the planet's surface. Its waters stretch from East Asia and Africa to the Americas. At its shallowest points, the depth of the Pacific Ocean averages 120 meters. These waters wash the so-called continental shelves, which are submerged parts of continental platforms, starting from the coastline and gradually going under water. Overall, the depth of the Pacific Ocean averages 4,000 meters. The depressions in the west connect into the deepest and darkest place in the world - the Mariana Trench - 11,022 m. It was previously believed that there was no life at such depths. But scientists found living organisms there too!

The Pacific Plate, a huge area of ​​the Earth's crust, contains ridges of high seamounts. In the Pacific Ocean there are many islands of volcanic origin, for example Hawaii, the largest island of the Hawaiian Islands archipelago. Hawaii is home to the highest peak in the world, Mauna Kea. It is an extinct volcano 10,000 meters high from its base on the seabed. In contrast to volcanic islands, there are low-lying islands formed by coral deposits that have been deposited over thousands of years on the tops of underwater volcanoes. This vast ocean is home to a wide variety of underwater species - from the world's largest fish (whale shark) to flying fish, squid and sea lions. The warm, shallow waters of coral reefs are home to thousands of species of brightly colored fish and algae. All kinds of fish, marine mammals, mollusks, crustaceans and other creatures swim in the cool, deep waters.

Pacific Ocean - people and history

Sea voyages across the Pacific Ocean have been undertaken since ancient times. About 40,000 years ago, Aboriginal people crossed by canoe from New Guinea to Australia. Centuries later between the 16th century BC. e. and X century AD e. Polynesian tribes settled the Pacific islands, venturing across vast distances of water. This is considered one of the greatest achievements in the history of navigation. Using special canoes with a double bottom and sails woven from leaves, Polynesian sailors ultimately covered almost 20 million square meters. km of ocean space. In the western Pacific, around the 12th century, the Chinese made great advances in the art of sea navigation. They were the first to use large ships with multiple underwater masts, steering, and compasses.

Europeans began exploring the Pacific Ocean in the 17th century, when the Dutch captain Abel Janszoon Tasman sailed around Australia and New Zealand in his ship. Captain James Cook is considered one of the most famous explorers of the Pacific Ocean. Between 1768 and 1779 he mapped New Zealand, the east coast of Australia and many of the Pacific islands. In 1947, the Norwegian explorer Thor Heyerdahl sailed on his raft “Kon-Tiki” from the coast of Peru to the Tuamotu archipelago, part of French Polynesia. His expedition provided evidence that the ancient indigenous inhabitants of South America could cross vast sea distances on rafts.

In the twentieth century, exploration of the Pacific Ocean continued. The depth of the Mariana Trench was established, and unknown species of marine animals and plants were discovered. The development of the tourism industry, environmental pollution and beach development threaten the natural balance of the Pacific Ocean. Governments of individual countries and groups of environmentalists are trying to minimize the harm caused by our civilization to the aquatic environment.

Indian Ocean

Indian Ocean is the third largest on Earth and covers 73 million square meters. km. This is the warmest ocean, the waters of which are rich in various flora and fauna. The deepest place in the Indian Ocean is a trench located south of the island of Java. Its depth is 7450 m. Interestingly, currents in the Indian Ocean change their direction to the opposite direction twice a year. In winter, when the monsoons prevail, the current goes to the shores of Africa, and in the summer - to the shores of India.

The Indian Ocean stretches from the coast of East Africa to Indonesia and Australia and from the coast of India to Antarctica. This ocean includes the Arabian and Red Seas, as well as the Bays of Bengal and the Persian Gulf. The Suez Canal connects the northern part of the Red Sea with the Mediterranean.

At the bottom of the Indian Ocean there are huge sections of the earth's crust - the African Plate, the Antarctic Plate and the Indo-Australian Plate. Shifts in the earth's crust cause underwater earthquakes, which cause giant waves called tsunamis. As a result of earthquakes, new mountain ranges appear on the ocean floor. In some places, seamounts protrude above the surface of the water, forming most of the islands scattered in the Indian Ocean. There are deep depressions between the mountain ranges. For example, the depth of the Sunda Trench is approximately 7450 meters. The waters of the Indian Ocean are home to a variety of wildlife, including corals, sharks, whales, turtles and jellyfish. Powerful currents are huge streams of water moving through the warm blue expanses of the Indian Ocean. The Western Australian Current carries cold Antarctic waters north to the tropics.

The equatorial current, located below the equator, circulates warm water counterclockwise. Northern currents depend on the monsoon winds that cause heavy rainfall, which change their direction depending on the time of year.

Indian Ocean - people and history

Sailors and traders plied the waters of the Indian Ocean many centuries ago. Ships of the ancient Egyptians, Phoenicians, Persians and Indians passed along the main trade routes. In the early Middle Ages, settlers from India and Sri Lanka crossed into Southeast Asia. Since ancient times, wooden ships called dhows sailed the Arabian Sea, carrying exotic spices, African ivory and textiles.

In the 15th century, the great Chinese navigator Zhen Ho led a large expedition across the Indian Ocean to the shores of India, Sri Lanka, Persia, the Arabian Peninsula and Africa. In 1497, the Portuguese navigator Vasco da Gama became the first European whose ship sailed around the southern tip of Africa and reached the shores of India. English, French and Dutch traders followed, and the era of colonial conquest began. Over the centuries, new settlers, traders and pirates have landed on the islands in the Indian Ocean. Many species of island animals that lived nowhere else in the world became extinct. For example, the dodo, a goose-sized flightless pigeon native to Mauritius, was exterminated by the end of the 17th century. The giant tortoises on Rodrigues Island disappeared by the 19th century. Exploration of the Indian Ocean continued in the 19th and 20th centuries. Scientists have done a great job mapping the topography of the seabed. Currently, Earth satellites launched into orbit take pictures of the ocean, measure its depth and transmit information messages.

Atlantic Ocean

Atlantic Ocean is the second largest and covers an area of ​​82 million square meters. km. It is almost half the size of the Pacific Ocean, but its size is constantly increasing. From the island of Iceland to the south in the middle of the ocean a powerful underwater ridge stretches. Its peaks are the Azores and Ascension Island. The Mid-Atlantic Ridge, a large mountain range on the ocean floor, is becoming wider each year by about an inch. The deepest part of the Atlantic Ocean is a trench located north of the island of Puerto Rico. Its depth is 9218 meters. If 150 million years ago there was no Atlantic Ocean, then over the next 150 million years, scientists suggest, it will begin to occupy more than half of the globe. The Atlantic Ocean greatly influences the climate and weather in Europe.

The Atlantic Ocean began to form 150 million years ago, when shifts in the Earth's crust separated North and South America from Europe and Africa. This youngest of the oceans is named after the god Atlas, who was worshiped by the ancient Greeks.

Ancient peoples, such as the Phoenicians, began exploring the Atlantic Ocean around the 8th century BC. e. However, only in the 9th century AD. e. The Vikings managed to reach from the shores of Europe to Greenland and North America. The “golden age” of Atlantic exploration began with Christopher Columbus, an Italian navigator who served the Spanish monarchs. In 1492, his small squadron of three ships entered the Caribbean Gulf after a long storm. Columbus believed that he was sailing to the East Indies, but in fact he discovered the so-called New World - America. He was soon followed by other sailors from Portugal, Spain, France and England. The study of the Atlantic Ocean continues to this day. Currently, scientists use echolocation (sound waves) to map the topography of the seabed. Many countries fish in the Atlantic Ocean. People have fished these waters for thousands of years, but modern fishing by trawlers has led to a significant reduction in fishing schools. The seas surrounding the oceans are polluted with waste. The Atlantic Ocean continues to play a huge role in international trade. Many important trade sea routes pass through it.

Arctic Ocean

Arctic Ocean, which is located between Canada and Siberia, is the smallest and shallowest compared to the others. But it is also the most mysterious, since it is almost completely hidden under a huge layer of ice. The Arctic Ocean is divided into two basins by the Nansen Threshold. The Arctic basin is larger in area and contains the greatest ocean depth. It is equal to 5000 m and is located north of Franz Josef Land. In addition, here, off the Russian coast, there is an extensive continental shelf. For this reason, our Arctic seas, namely: Kara, Barents, Laptev, Chukotka, East Siberian, are shallow.