04.03.2016
The Atlantic Ocean is the second largest ocean on the planet. It accounts for 16% of the surface and 25% of the volume of all ocean waters. The average depth is 3736 m, and the maximum low point bottom - Puerto Rico Trench (8742 m). The process of divergence of tectonic plates, as a result of which the ocean was formed, continues to this day. The shores diverge into opposite sides at a rate of about 2 cm per year. This information is publicly known. In addition to the well-known ones, we have made a selection of the most interesting facts about the Atlantic Ocean, which many may not have even heard of.
- The ocean got its name from the ancient Greek hero of myths - the Titan Atlas, who “held the vault of heaven on his shoulders at the extreme western point Mediterranean Sea».
- In ancient times, the rocks on the shores of the Strait of Gibraltar, the route leading to the Atlantic Ocean from the inner Mediterranean Sea, were called the pillars of Hercules. People believed that these pillars were at the end of the world, and Hercules erected them in memory of his exploits.
- The first European to cross the ocean from east to west is considered to be the Viking Leif Eriksson, who reached the shores of Vinland (North America) in the 10th century.
- The ocean stretches from north to south so that its area contains zones of all climate zones of the planet.
- Ice cover in the ocean waters forms in the Greenland Sea, Baffin Sea and near Antarctica. Icebergs float into the Atlantic: from the north - from the Greenland shelf and from the south - from the Wedell Sea. The famous Titanic stumbled upon one of these icebergs in 1912.
- The Bermuda Triangle is an area in the Atlantic Ocean where many ships and aircraft disappear. Navigating the area is challenging due to the abundance of shoals, storms and cyclones, which may account for the disappearances and shipwrecks.
- The island of Newfoundland experiences the world's highest number of foggy days per year - about 120. The reason for this is the collision of the warm Gulf Stream with the cold Labrador Current.
- The Falkland Islands are a disputed territory between Great Britain and Argentina in the South Atlantic. They were once British territory, but the British abandoned it in 1774, leaving, however, a sign indicating their rights. During their absence, the Argentines “annexed” the islands to one of their provinces. The conflict lasted two centuries - from 1811 to 2013, when a referendum was held and Britain's right to govern the territory was secured.
- The Caribbean is a hotspot for powerful hurricanes that wreak havoc on the coasts of North America. Hurricane season (a storm becomes a hurricane if it reaches 70 mph) begins on June 1 each year in the region and is considered moderate in intensity if there are 11 "named" storms recorded. Given name a storm occurs if the accompanying wind “accelerates” to 62 km/h.
- Whaling was actively carried out in the Atlantic for several centuries, so that by the end of the 19th century, after the improvement of hunting techniques, whales were almost completely exterminated. There is currently a moratorium on their fishing. And the largest catch is considered to be a whale 33 m long and weighing 177 tons, caught in 1926.
- The volcanic island of Tristan da Cunha is the most secluded landmass on the planet. The nearest settlement (St. Helena Island) is more than 2000 km from here. Almost 300 people live on an area of about 100 km².
- Atlantis is a semi-mythical land that supposedly existed in the ocean, but was subsequently flooded. The ancient Greek philosopher Plato wrote about it in his treatises, determining the existence of Atlantis in the 10th millennium BC, that is, at the end of the Ice Age. Hypotheses about the existence of this island or continent are also put forward by modern scientists.
The Atlantic Ocean has been known to European sailors since ancient times, and since the beginning of the era of the Great Geographical discoveries the intensity of traffic of various vessels along it has increased significantly. Sea transportation of valuable cargo from America to Europe and back contributed to the flourishing of piracy, which in the modern world exists only off the coast of Africa.
The area of the Atlantic Ocean with seas is 91.7 million km 2, which is about a quarter of the water area of the World Ocean. It has a peculiar configuration. It expands in the northern and southern parts, narrows in the equatorial part to 2830 km and has a length from north to south of about 16,000 km. It contains about 322.7 million km 3 of water, which corresponds to 24% of the volume of water in the World Ocean. About 1/3 of its area is occupied by the mid-ocean ridge. The average ocean depth is 3597 m, the maximum is 8742 m.
In the east, the ocean boundary runs from the Statland Peninsula (62°10¢N 5°10¢E) along the coast of Europe and Africa to Cape Agulhas and further along the 20°E meridian. before crossing with Antarctica, in the south - along the coast of Antarctica, in the west - along the Drake Passage from Cape Sternek on the Antarctic Peninsula to Cape Horn in the Tierra del Fuego archipelago, along the coast of South and North America to the southern entrance cape of the Hudson Strait, in the north By conditional line– southern entrance cape of the Hudson Strait, Cape Ulsingham (Baffin Island), Cape Burnil (Greenland Island), Cape Gerpir (Iceland Island), Fugle Island (Faroe Archipelago), Muckle Flagg Island (Shetland Islands), Statland Peninsula (62° 10¢N 5°10¢E).
In the Atlantic Ocean coastline Europe and North America are characterized by significant ruggedness; the outlines of the coasts of Africa and South America are relatively simple. The ocean has several Mediterranean seas (Baltic, Mediterranean, Black, Marmara, Azov) and 3 large bays (Mexican, Biscay, Guinea).
The main groups of islands of the Atlantic Ocean of continental origin: Great Britain, Ireland, Newfoundland, Greater and Lesser Antilles, Canaries, Cape Verde, Falklands. A small area is occupied by volcanic islands (Iceland, Azores, Tristan da Cunha, St. Helena, etc.) and coral islands (Bahamas, etc.).
Peculiarities geographical location The Atlantic Ocean predetermined its significant role in people's lives. This is one of the most developed oceans. It has been studied by man since ancient times. Many theoretical and applied problems oceanology were solved on the basis of research carried out for the first time in the Atlantic Ocean.
Geological structure and bottom topography. Underwater continental margins occupy about 32% of the Atlantic Ocean. The most significant shelf areas are observed off the coasts of Europe and North America. Off the coast of South America, the shelf is less developed and expands only in the Patagonia region. The African shelf is very narrow with depths from 110 to 190 m, in the south it is complicated by terraces. In high latitudes on the shelf, glacial landforms are widespread, caused by the influence of modern and Quaternary continental glaciations. In other latitudes, the shelf surface is damaged by accumulative-abrasion processes. In almost all shelf areas of the Atlantic there are relict flooded river valleys. Of the modern landforms, the most widely represented are sand ridges formed by tidal currents. They are typical of the North Sea shelf, English Channel, North and South America. In equatorial-tropical latitudes, especially in the Caribbean Sea, off the Bahamas and the coast of South America, coral structures are common.
The slopes of the underwater continental margins in the Atlantic Ocean are mainly expressed by steep ledges, often with a stepped profile. They are everywhere dissected by submarine canyons and sometimes complicated by marginal plateaus. The continental foot in most areas is represented by an inclined accumulative plain lying at depths of 3000-4000 m. individual regions Large fans of turbidity currents are observed, among which the fans of the submarine canyons of the Hudson, Amazon, Niger and Congo stand out.
Transition zone in the Atlantic Ocean is represented by three regions: the Caribbean, Mediterranean and South Sandwich or Scotia Sea.
The Caribbean region includes the sea of the same name and the deep-water part of the Gulf of Mexico. There are numerous island arcs of complex configurations of different ages and two deep-sea trenches (Cayman and Puerto Rico). The bottom topography is very complex. Island arcs and submarine ridges divide the basin Caribbean Sea into several basins with depths of about 5000 m.
The transitional region of the Scotia Sea is a section of the underwater continental margins fragmented by tectonic movements. The youngest element of the region is the island arc of the South Sandwich Islands. It is complicated by volcanoes and bordered on the east by the deep-sea trench of the same name.
The Mediterranean region is characterized by a predominance earth's crust continental type. The subcontinental crust is found in separate sections only in the deepest basins. The Ionian Islands, Crete, Kasos, Karpathos and Rhodes form an island arc, followed from the south by the Hellenic Trench. The Mediterranean transition region is seismic. Preserved here active volcanoes, including such as Etna, Stromboli, Santorini.
Mid-Atlantic Ridge begins off the coast of Iceland called Reykjanes. In plan it has an S-shape and consists of a northern and southern parts. The length of the ridge from north to south is about 17,000 km, the width reaches several hundred kilometers. The Mid-Atlantic Ridge is characterized by significant seismicity and intense volcanic activity. Most earthquake sources are confined to transverse faults. The axial structure of the Reykjanes ridge is formed by a basalt ridge with weakly pronounced rift valleys. At latitude 52-53° N. w. it is crossed by the Gibbs and Reykjanes transverse faults. From here begins the North Atlantic Ridge with a well-defined rift zone and numerous transverse faults. In the equatorial region, the ridge is broken by a particularly large number of faults and has a sublatitudinal strike. The South Atlantic Ridge also has a well-defined rift zone, but is less dissected by transverse faults and more monolithic than the North Atlantic Ridge. The volcanic plateau of the Ascension, the islands of Tristan da Cunha, Gough, and Bouvet are confined to it. At Bouvet Island the ridge turns east, passes into the African-Antarctic and meets the ridges of the Indian Ocean.
The Mid-Atlantic Ridge divides ocean bed into two almost equal parts. They, in turn, are intersected by transverse uplifts: the Newfoundland Ridge, the Cearra, Rio Grande, Cape Verde, Guinea, and Whale Ridges. There are 2,500 individual seamounts in the Atlantic Ocean, about 600 of which are located within the ocean floor. Large group seamounts are confined to the Bermuda Plateau. Guyots and volcanic rocks are widely represented in the Azores area. mountain ranges. Mountain structures and uplifts divide the ocean bed into deep-sea basins: Labrador, North American, Newfoundland, Brazilian, Iberian, Western European, Canary, Angolan, Cape. The topography of the basin bottoms is characterized by flat abyssal plains. In areas of basins adjacent to mid-ocean ridges, abyssal hills are typical. In the north of the Atlantic Ocean, as well as in tropical and subtropical latitudes, there are many banks 50-60 m deep. Over a larger area of the ocean floor, the thickness of the sedimentary layer exceeds 1 km. The oldest deposits are Jurassic.
Bottom sediments and minerals. Among the deep-sea sediments of the Atlantic Ocean, foraminiferal sediments predominate, occupying 65% of the ocean floor area. Thanks to the warming effect of the North Atlantic Current, their range extends far to the north. Deep-sea red clay occupies about 26% of the ocean floor and occurs in the deepest parts of basins. Pteropod deposits are more common in the Atlantic Ocean than in other oceans. Radiolarian muds are found only in the Angola Basin. In the south of the Atlantic, siliceous diatomaceous oozes are widely represented, with a silica content of up to 72%. In some areas of equatorial-tropical latitudes, coral muds are observed. In shallow areas, as well as in the Guinea and Argentine basins, terrigenous deposits are well represented. Pyroclastic deposits are common on the Icelandic shelf and the Azores plateau.
The sediments and bedrock of the Atlantic Ocean contain a wide range of minerals. There are deposits of gold and diamonds in the coastal waters of South-West Africa. Found off the coast of Brazil huge deposits monazite sands. Large deposits Ilmenite and rutile are observed off the coast of Florida, iron ore - off Newfoundland and Normandy, cassiterite - off the coast of England. Iron-manganese nodules are scattered on the ocean floor. In the Gulf of Mexico, Biscay and Guinea, North Sea, Maracaibo Lagoon, area Falkland Islands and in a number of other places oil and gas fields are being developed.
Climate The Atlantic Ocean is largely determined by the peculiarities of its geographical location, its unique configuration, and the conditions of atmospheric circulation.
Annual quantity total solar radiation varies from 3000-3200 MJ/m2 in subarctic and Antarctic latitudes to 7500-8000 MJ/m2 in equatorial-tropics. The value of the annual radiation balance ranges from 1500-2000 to 5000-5500 MJ/m2. Negative in January radiation balance observed north of 40° N. sh.; in July – south of 50° S. w. The balance reaches its maximum monthly value (up to 500 MJ/m2) in the tropical region, in January in the southern hemisphere, and in July in the northern hemisphere.
Pressure field above Atlantic Ocean represented by several centers of atmospheric action. The Icelandic low is located in the temperate latitudes of the northern hemisphere, which is more active in winter period. In the circumpolar region of the southern hemisphere, the Antarctic belt is distinguished low pressure. In addition, the formation of high latitude climates Pacific Ocean The Greenland High and the Antarctic High Pressure Area have a significant influence. In the subtropical latitudes of both hemispheres above the ocean there are centers of two constant pressure maxima: the North Atlantic (Azores) and the South Atlantic. Along the equator there is an equatorial depression.
The location and interaction of the main pressure centers determines the system of prevailing winds in the Atlantic Ocean. In high latitudes off the coast of Antarctica, easterly winds are observed. In temperate latitudes, westerly winds predominate, especially in the southern hemisphere, where they are most constant. These winds cause significant recurrence of storms throughout the year in the southern hemisphere and in winter in the northern hemisphere. The interaction of subtropical highs and equatorial depressions determines the formation of trade winds in tropical latitudes. The frequency of trade winds is about 80%, but they rarely reach storm speed. In the tropical part of the northern hemisphere in the Caribbean Sea, the Lesser Antilles, the Gulf of Mexico and the Cape Verde Islands, tropical cyclones are observed, with hurricane-force winds and heavy downpours. On average, there are 9 hurricanes per year, most of which occur between August and October.
Seasonal changes are clearly visible in the Atlantic Ocean air temperature. The warmest months are August in the northern and February in the southern hemispheres, the coldest are February and August, respectively. In winter, in each hemisphere, the air temperature in equatorial latitudes drops to +25 °C, in tropical latitudes - to +20 °C and in temperate latitudes - to 0 - - 6 °C. The annual amplitude of air temperature at the equator is no more than 3 °C, in subtropical regions up to 5 °C, in temperate regions up to 10 °C. Only in the extreme northwest and south of the ocean, where in to the greatest extent influenced by adjacent continents, average temperature The air in the coldest month drops to -25 °C, and the annual temperature range reaches 25 °C. In the Atlantic Ocean, noticeable anomalies in the sublatitudinal distribution of air temperature are observed off the western and eastern coasts of the continents, due to the influence of ocean currents.
Differences in atmospheric circulation conditions over the Atlantic Ocean affect cloudiness and precipitation patterns in its waters. Maximum cloudiness over the ocean (up to 7-9 points) is observed in high and moderate latitudes. In the equator area it is 5-b points. And in subtropical and tropical latitudes it decreases to 4 points. The amount of precipitation in polar latitudes is 300 mm in the north of the ocean and 100 mm in the south, in temperate latitudes it rises to 1000 mm, in subtropical and tropical latitudes it varies from 100 mm in the east to 1000 mm in the west and in equatorial latitudes it reaches 2000-3000 mm.
A characteristic phenomenon for temperate latitudes of the Atlantic Ocean are dense fogs, formed by the interaction of warm air masses with the cold surface of the water. They are most often observed in the area of the island of Newfoundland and off the southwestern coast of Africa. In tropical zones, fogs are rare and are most likely to occur near the Cape Verde Islands, where dust blown from the Sahara serves as condensation nuclei for atmospheric water vapor.
Hydrological regime. Surface currents in the Atlantic Ocean are represented by two extensive anticyclonic gyres with centers around 30° north and south latitude.
The northern subtropical gyre is formed by the North Trade Wind, Antilles, Florida, Gulf Stream, North Atlantic and Canary Currents, the southern - by the South Trade Wind, Brazilian, West Winds and Benguela. Between these gyres there is the Equatorial Countercurrent (at 5-10°N), which in the east turns into the Guinea Current. Under the South Trade Wind Current there is a subsurface Lomonosov countercurrent. It crosses the ocean from west to east at a depth of 300-500 m, reaches the Gulf of Guinea and fades away to the south of it. Under the Gulf Stream at a depth of 900-3500 m, at a speed of up to 20 km/h, a powerful subsurface Western Boundary bottom countercurrent passes, the formation of which is associated with the bottom runoff of cold waters from high latitudes. In the northwest of the Atlantic Ocean there is a cyclonic gyre consisting of the North Atlantic, Irminger, East Greenland, West Greenland and Labrador Currents. In the eastern part of the Atlantic Ocean, the deep Lusitanian Current, formed by the bottom runoff of Mediterranean waters through the Strait of Gibraltar, is well expressed.
Excitement in the Atlantic Ocean depends on the direction, duration and speed of the prevailing winds. The area of greatest wave activity is located north of 40° N. w. and south of 40° S. w. The height of waves during long and very windy periods sometimes reaches 22-26 m. Waves with a height of 10-15 m are observed relatively often. Every year, during the passage of tropical cyclones, waves with a height of 14-16 m are formed. In the northern part of the Atlantic in the region of the Antilles, Azores, and Canaries islands and off the coast of Portugal, storm surges with a height of 2-4 m are quite often observed.
Across most of the Pacific tides semi-daily allowance. In the open ocean, the tide height usually does not exceed 1 m (St. Helena Island - 0.8 m, Ascension Island - 0.6 m). Off the coast of Europe in Bristol Bay, tides reach 15 m, in the Gulf of Saint-Malo - 9-12 m. They reach their greatest value in the Bay of Fundy, where the highest tide in the world is recorded - 18 m, with a tidal current speed of up to 5.5 m/ With.
Average annual surface water temperature The Atlantic Ocean is 16.9 °C. Its annual amplitude in equatorial-tropical latitudes is no more than 1-3 °C, subtropical and temperate latitudes - 5-8 °C, polar latitudes - about 4 °C in the north and up to 1 °C in the south. In general, the temperature of Atlantic surface waters decreases from the equator to high latitudes. In winter, in February in the Northern Hemisphere and in August in the Southern: it varies from +28 °C at the equator to +6 °C at 60° N. and -1°С at 60° south. latitude, in summer, in August in the Northern Hemisphere and in February in the Southern Hemisphere: from +26 °C at the equator to +10 °C at 60° N latitude. and about 0 °C at 60° S. w. Ocean currents cause significant anomalies in surface water temperature. The northern waters of the ocean, due to the significant influx of warm waters from low latitudes, are significantly warmer than its southern part. In some areas off the coasts of the continents, differences in water temperature between the western and eastern sectors of the ocean are observed. So, at 20° N. w. the presence of warm currents maintains the water temperature in the west of the ocean at 27 °C, while in the east it is only 19 °C. Where cold and warm currents meet, significant horizontal temperature gradients in the surface layer are observed. At the junction of the East Greenland and Irminger currents, a temperature difference of 7 °C within a radius of 20-30 km is a common occurrence.
The Atlantic Ocean is the saltiest of all oceans. Average salinity its water content is 35.4 ‰. The highest water salinity, up to 37.9 ‰, is observed in tropical latitudes in the eastern Atlantic, where there is little precipitation and maximum evaporation. In the equatorial zone, salinity drops to 34-35 ‰, in high latitudes it drops to 31-32 ‰. The zonal distribution of salinity is often disrupted as a result of the movement of water by currents and the influx of fresh water from land.
Ice formation in the northern part of the Atlantic Ocean occurs mainly in the inland seas of temperate latitudes (Baltic, North, Azov) and the Gulf of St. Lawrence. Carried out to the open ocean a large number of floating ice and icebergs from the Arctic Ocean. Floating ice in the northern hemisphere reaches 40°C even in July. w. In the southern Atlantic, ice and icebergs form in Antarctic waters. The main source of icebergs is the Filchner Ice Shelf in the Weddell Sea. South of 55° S. w. floating ice is present throughout the year.
Water clarity in the Atlantic Ocean varies widely. It decreases from the equator to the poles and from the coasts to the central part of the ocean, where the water is usually uniform and transparent. The maximum water transparency in the Weddell Sea is 70 m, Sargasso – 67 m, Mediterranean – 50, Black – 25 m, Northern and Baltic 18-13 m.
Superficial water masses in the Atlantic Ocean have a thickness of 100 m in Southern Hemisphere up to 300 m in equatorial-tropical latitudes. They are distinguished by significant seasonal variability of properties, vertical uniformity of temperature, salinity and density. Subsurface waters fill depths of approximately 700 m and differ from surface waters in increased salinity and density.
Intermediate water masses in the northwestern part of the ocean are formed as a result of the subsidence of cold waters coming from high latitudes. A special aqueous intermediate mass is formed by salty waters from the Mediterranean Sea. In the Southern Hemisphere, intermediate water is formed by the subsidence of cooled Antarctic waters and is characterized by low temperature and low salinity. It moves north, first at a depth of 100-200 m, and gradually sinks north of 20°C. w. at a depth of 1000 m it mixes with northern intermediate water.
The deep water masses of the Atlantic Ocean consist of two layers of different genesis. The upper horizon is formed due to the subsidence of warm and salty Mediterranean waters. In the northern part of the ocean it is located at depths of 1000-1250 m, in the Southern Hemisphere it drops to 2500-2750 m and pinches out around 45° S. w. The lower layer of deep water is formed mainly as a result of the immersion of cold waters of the East Greenland Current from depths of 2500-3000 m in the northern hemisphere to 3500-4000 m at 50° S. sh., where it begins to be displaced by bottom Antarctic waters.
Bottom water masses are formed mainly on the Antarctic shelf and gradually spread along the ocean floor. North of 40°N. The presence of bottom water coming from the Arctic Ocean is noted. They are characterized by uniform salinity (34.6-34.7 ‰) and low temperature (1-2 °C).
Organic world. The Atlantic Ocean is inhabited by a variety of plant and animal species. The phytobenthos of temperate and polar latitudes of the Atlantic is characterized by brown and red algae. In the equatorial-tropical zone, phytobenthos is represented by numerous green algae (caulerpa, valonia, etc.), lithothamnia predominates among red ones, and sargassum predominates among brown ones. In the littoral zone of the European coast, the seagrass zoster is widely represented.
There are 245 species of phytoplankton in the Atlantic Ocean. They are represented by approximately equal numbers of species of peridinians, coccolithophores and diatoms. The latter have a clearly defined zonal distribution and live mainly in temperate latitudes. The fauna of the Atlantic has fewer species than in the Pacific Ocean. But some families of fish (cod, herring, etc.) and mammals (seals, etc.) are represented much richer in the Atlantic Ocean. The total number of species of whales and pinnipeds is about 100, fish more than 15,000. Albatrosses and petrels are common among birds. The distribution of animal organisms has a well-defined zonal character, with not only the number of species changing zonally, but also the total biomass.
In subantarctic and temperate latitudes, biomass reaches a maximum, but the number of species is significantly less than in the equatorial-tropical zone. Antarctic waters are poor in species and biomass. The fauna of the subantarctic and temperate zones of the southern Atlantic Ocean is dominated by: copepods and pteropods among zooplankton, whales and pinnipeds among mammals, and nototenids among fish. In temperate latitudes Northern Hemisphere Foraminifera and copepods are most characteristic of zooplankton. From commercial fish highest value have herring, cod, haddock, halibut, sea bass.
In the equatorial-tropical zone, zooplankton consists of numerous species of foraminifera and pterapods, several species of radiolarians, copepods, mollusk larvae and fish. These latitudes are characterized by sharks, flying fish, sea turtles, jellyfish, squid, octopuses, and corals. Commercial fish are represented by mackerel, tuna, sardines, and anchovies.
The deep-sea fauna of the Atlantic Ocean is represented by crustaceans, echinoderms, specific genera and families of fish, sponges, and hydroids. The ultraabyssal is home to endemic species of polychaetes, isopods and holothurians.
The Atlantic Ocean is divided into four biogeographic regions: Arctic, North Atlantic, Tropic-Atlantic and Antarctic. Typical fish for the Arctic region are haddock, cod, herring, saury, sea bass, halibut; North Atlantic - cod, haddock, pollock, various flounders, in more southern areas - wrasse, mullet, mullet; Tropico-Atlantic - sharks, flying fish, tuna, etc.; Antarctic - nototenaceae.
In the Atlantic Ocean the following are distinguished: physical-geographical zones and regions. Northern subpolar belt: Labrador Basin, Denmark Strait and waters of Southeast Greenland, Davis Strait; northern temperate zone: area of the American shelf, Gulf of St. Lawrence, English Channel and Pas de Calais, Irish Sea, Celtic Sea, North Sea, Danish (Baltic) Straits, Baltic Sea; northern subtropical zone: Gulf Stream, Gibraltar region, Mediterranean Sea, Black Sea straits and Sea of Marmara, Black Sea, Sea of Azov; northern tropical zone: West African region, American Mediterranean Sea with sub-regions: Caribbean Sea, Gulf of Mexico, Bahamas sub-region; equatorial belt: Gulf of Guinea, Western Shelf; southern tropical zone: Congo region; southern subtropical zone: La Plata region, South West Africa region; southern temperate zone: Patagonian region; southern subpolar belt: Scotia Sea; south polar zone: Weddell Sea.
ATLANTIC OCEAN, part of the World Ocean, bounded by Europe and Africa from the east and North and South America from the west. Its name supposedly comes from the Atlas Mountains in northern Africa or from the mythical lost continent of Atlantis.
The Atlantic Ocean is second in size only to the Pacific; its area is approximately 91.56 million km2. It is distinguished from other oceans by its highly rugged coastline, forming numerous seas and bays, especially in the northern part. In addition, the total area of river basins flowing into this ocean or its marginal seas, significantly more than that of rivers flowing into any other ocean. Another difference of the Atlantic Ocean is the relatively small number of islands and the complex bottom topography, which, thanks to underwater ridges and rises, forms many separate basins.
NORTH ATLANTIC OCEAN
Borders and coastline.
The Atlantic Ocean is divided into northern and southern parts, the border between which is conventionally drawn along the equator. From an oceanographic point of view, however, the southern part of the ocean should include the equatorial countercurrent, located at 5-8° N latitude. Northern border usually carried out in the Arctic Circle. In some places this boundary is marked by underwater ridges.
In the Northern Hemisphere, the Atlantic Ocean has a highly indented coastline. Its relatively narrow northern part is connected to the Arctic Ocean by three narrow straits. In the northeast, the Davis Strait is 360 km wide (at the latitude of the Northern Arctic Circle) connects it to the Baffin Sea, which belongs to the Arctic Ocean. In the central part, between Greenland and Iceland, there is the Denmark Strait, at its narrowest point only 287 km wide. Finally, in the northeast, between Iceland and Norway, there is the Norwegian Sea, approx. 1220 km. In the east, two water areas protruding deeply into the land are separated from the Atlantic Ocean. The more northern of them begins with the North Sea, which to the east passes into the Baltic Sea with the Gulf of Bothnia and the Gulf of Finland. To the south there is a system of inland seas - the Mediterranean and the Black - with a total length of approx. 4000 km. In the Strait of Gibraltar, which connects the ocean with the Mediterranean Sea, there are two oppositely directed currents, one below the other. The current moving from the Mediterranean Sea to the Atlantic Ocean occupies a lower position, since Mediterranean waters, due to more intense evaporation from the surface, are characterized by greater salinity and, consequently, greater density.
In the tropical zone in the southwest of the North Atlantic are the Caribbean Sea and the Gulf of Mexico, connected to the ocean by the Strait of Florida. The coast of North America is indented by small bays (Pamlico, Barnegat, Chesapeake, Delaware and Long Island Sound); to the northwest are the Bays of Fundy and St. Lawrence, the Strait of Belle Isle, Hudson Strait and Hudson Bay.
Islands.
The largest islands are concentrated in the northern part of the ocean; these are the British Isles, Iceland, Newfoundland, Cuba, Haiti (Hispaniola) and Puerto Rico. On the eastern edge of the Atlantic Ocean there are several groups of small islands - the Azores, Canary Islands, and Cape Verde. Similar groups exist in the western part of the ocean. Examples include the Bahamas, Florida Keys and Lesser Antilles. The Greater and Lesser Antilles archipelagos form an island arc surrounding the eastern Caribbean Sea. In the Pacific Ocean, such island arcs are characteristic of areas of crustal deformation. Deep-sea trenches are located along the convex side of the arc.
Bottom relief.
The Atlantic Ocean basin is bordered by a shelf, the width of which varies. The shelf is cut through by deep gorges - the so-called. underwater canyons. Their origin is still controversial. One theory is that the canyons were cut by rivers when sea levels were lower than they are today. Another theory connects their formation with the activity of turbidity currents. It has been suggested that turbidity currents are the main agent responsible for the deposition of sediment on the ocean floor and that they are the ones that cut submarine canyons.
The bottom of the North Atlantic Ocean has a complex, rugged topography formed by a combination of underwater ridges, hills, basins and gorges. Most of the ocean floor, from depths of about 60 m to several kilometers, is covered with thin, muddy sediments that are dark blue or bluish-green in color. A relatively small area is occupied by rocky outcrops and areas of gravel, pebble and sandy deposits, as well as deep-sea red clays.
Telephone and telegraph cables were laid on the shelf in the North Atlantic Ocean to connect North America with Northwestern Europe. Here, the area of the North Atlantic shelf is home to industrial fishing areas that are among the most productive in the world.
In the central part of the Atlantic Ocean, almost repeating the contours of the coastlines, there is a huge underwater mountain range approx. 16 thousand km, known as the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. This ridge divides the ocean into two approximately equal parts. Most of the peaks of this underwater ridge do not reach the ocean surface and are located at a depth of at least 1.5 km. Some of the highest peaks rise above ocean level and form the islands - the Azores in North Atlantic and Tristan da Cunha - in the South. In the south, the ridge skirts the coast of Africa and continues further north into the Indian Ocean.
A rift zone stretches along the axis of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge.
Currents.
Surface currents in the North Atlantic Ocean move clockwise. The main elements of this big system are facing north warm current The Gulf Stream, as well as the North Atlantic, Canary and Northern Trade Wind (Equatorial) Currents. The Gulf Stream follows from the Strait of Florida and Cuba in a northerly direction along the coast of the United States and approximately 40° N latitude. deviates to the northeast, changing its name to the North Atlantic Current. This current is divided into two branches, one of which follows northeast along the coast of Norway and further into the Arctic Ocean. It is thanks to it that the climate of Norway and all of northwestern Europe is much warmer than would be expected at latitudes corresponding to the area extending from Nova Scotia to southern Greenland. The second branch turns south and further southwest along the coast of Africa, forming a cold Canary Current. This current moves southwest and joins the North Trade Wind Current, which heads west towards the West Indies, where it merges with the Gulf Stream. To the north of the North Trade Wind Current there is an area of stagnant waters, teeming with algae, known as the Sargasso Sea. The cold Labrador Current runs along the North Atlantic coast of North America from north to south, coming from Baffin Bay and the Labrador Sea and cooling the shores of New England.
SOUTH ATLANTIC OCEAN
Borders and coastline.
Some experts refer to the Atlantic Ocean in the south all the water space up to the Antarctic ice sheet; others take it for southern border Atlantic imaginary line connecting Cape Horn in South America to the Cape Good Hope in Africa. The coastline in the southern part of the Atlantic Ocean is much less indented than in the northern part; there are also no inland seas through which the influence of the ocean could penetrate deep into the continents of Africa and South America. The only large bay on the African coast is the Gulf of Guinea. On the coast of South America, large bays are also few in number. The southernmost tip of this continent is Tierra del Fuego- has an indented coastline, bordered by numerous small islands.
Islands. 
There are no large islands in the southern part of the Atlantic Ocean, but there are isolated isolated islands, such as Fernando de Noronha, Ascension, Sao Paulo, St. Helena, the Tristan da Cunha archipelago, and in the extreme south - Bouvet, South Georgia , South Sandwich, South Orkney, Falkland Islands.
Bottom relief.
In addition to the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, there are two main submarine mountain ranges in the South Atlantic. The whale ridge extends from the southwestern tip of Angola to the island. Tristan da Cunha, where it joins the Mid-Atlantic. The Rio de Janeiro Ridge stretches from the Tristan da Cunha Islands to the city of Rio de Janeiro and consists of groups of individual underwater hills.
Currents.
The major current systems in the South Atlantic Ocean move counterclockwise. The South Trade Wind Current is directed to the west. At the protrusion of the eastern coast of Brazil, it divides into two branches: the northern one carries water along northern shore South America to the Caribbean, and the southern one, the warm Brazil Current, moves south along the coast of Brazil and joins the West Wind Current, or Antarctic Current, which heads east and then northeast. Part of this cold current separates and carries its waters north along the African coast, forming the cold Benguela Current; the latter eventually joins the Southern Trade wind current. The warm Guinea Current moves south along the coast of Northwest Africa into the Gulf of Guinea.
Atlantic ocean map
Ocean area – 91.6 million sq. km;
Maximum depth – Puerto Rico Trench, 8742 m;
Number of seas – 16;
The largest seas are the Sargasso Sea, the Caribbean Sea, the Mediterranean Sea;
The largest gulf is the Gulf of Mexico;
The most large islands– Great Britain, Iceland, Ireland;
The strongest currents:
- warm - Gulf Stream, Brazilian, North Passat, South Passat;
- cold - Bengal, Labrador, Canary, Western Winds.
The Atlantic Ocean occupies the entire space from subarctic latitudes to Antarctica. In the southwest it borders on the Pacific Ocean, in the southeast on the Indian Ocean and in the north on the Arctic Ocean. In the northern hemisphere, the coastline of the continents that are washed by the waters of the Arctic Ocean is greatly indented. There are many inland seas, especially in the east.
The Atlantic Ocean is considered a relatively young ocean. The Mid-Atlantic Ridge, which stretches almost strictly along the meridian, divides the ocean floor into two approximately equal parts. In the north, individual peaks of the ridge rise above the water in the form of volcanic islands, the largest of which is Iceland.
The shelf part of the Atlantic Ocean is not large - 7%. The greatest width of the shelf, 200 – 400 km, is in the area of the North and Baltic seas.
The Atlantic Ocean is in all climatic zones, but most of it is in tropical and temperate latitudes. The climatic conditions here are determined by trade winds and westerly winds. The winds reach their greatest strength in the temperate latitudes of the southern Atlantic Ocean. In the region of the island of Iceland there is a center for the generation of cyclones, which significantly affect the nature of the entire Northern Hemisphere.
Average surface water temperatures in the Atlantic Ocean are significantly lower than in the Pacific. This is due to the influence of cold waters and ice that come from the Arctic Ocean and Antarctica. In high latitudes there are many icebergs and drifting ice floes. In the north, icebergs slide from Greenland, and in the south from Antarctica. Nowadays, the movement of icebergs is monitored from space by artificial satellites of the earth.
Currents in the Atlantic Ocean have a meridional direction and are characterized by strong activity in the movement of water masses from one latitude to another.
The organic world of the Atlantic Ocean is poorer in species composition than that of the Pacific. This is explained by geological youth and cooler climatic conditions. But despite this, the reserves of fish and other marine animals and plants in the ocean are quite significant. The organic world is richer in temperate latitudes. More favorable conditions for many species of fish have developed in the northern and northwestern parts of the ocean, where there are fewer flows of warm and cold currents. Here the following products are of industrial importance: cod, herring, sea bass, mackerel, capelin.
The natural complexes of individual seas and the inflow of the Atlantic Ocean stand out as unique. This is especially true for inland seas: the Mediterranean, Black, Northern and Baltic. In the northern subtropical zone The Sargasso Sea is located, unique in its nature. The giant sargassum algae that the sea is rich in made it famous.
The Atlantic Ocean is crossed by important sea routes, which connect the New World with the countries of Europe and Africa. The Atlantic coast and islands are home to world-famous recreation and tourism areas.
The Atlantic Ocean has been explored since ancient times. Since the 15th century, the Atlantic Ocean has become the main waterway of mankind and does not lose its importance today. The first period of ocean exploration lasted until the middle XVIII century. It was characterized by studying the distribution ocean waters and the establishment of ocean boundaries. A comprehensive study of the nature of the Atlantic began with late XIX centuries.
The nature of the ocean is now being studied by more than 40 scientific ships from around the world. Oceanologists carefully study the interaction of the ocean and the atmosphere, observe the Gulf Stream and other currents, and the movement of icebergs. The Atlantic Ocean is no longer able to independently restore its biological resources. Preserving its nature today is an international matter.
Choose one of the unique places of the Atlantic Ocean and take an exciting journey together with Google maps.
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South America is the fourth largest continent on Earth. Its length from north to south is more than 7,000 km, from west to east - about 5,000, and the total area reaches 17.8 km². Most of the continent is in the Southern Hemisphere. The total number of inhabitants is more than 385 million people: according to this indicator, South America ranks fourth among the continents. But if we put aside the dry facts, one thing can be said: this the whole world, unknown, bright, alluring and frightening at the same time. Each country on this continent deserves the closest study, the most curious tourists and the most enthusiastic reviews.
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How to get there
The cost of air travel to South American countries varies significantly on regular days and during sales periods. If a regular ticket can cost on average 1700-2000 USD, then sale and promotional tickets can be purchased with a discount of up to 50%. The most profitable option for Russians is to purchase a ticket to Venezuela (the cheapest can be purchased for 500-810 USD on days of maximum discounts). Or fly to relatively large Caribbean countries, such as Cuba and the Dominican Republic, from where you can travel to the mainland by domestic airlines.
If you have time and money, you can arrange an unforgettable ocean trip: a boat trip to Buenos Aires will cost 1500-2000 EUR. Such a voyage will take much more time than a flight, because most often it is not just a voyage across the Atlantic Ocean, but a full-fledged cruise calling at ports in Europe and Central America.
Transport in South America
Air travel within the continent is quite expensive, but cruise travel by sea is widespread (the cost depends on the class of the liner). Railways are used primarily for freight transportation - there are very few passenger trains, but bus service is very common. Traveling by bus, of course, is less comfortable, but very economical (prices vary depending on the country and destinations - tourist or domestic). In addition, car rentals are very cheap here.
Weather
Different parts of South America have different climates. In the north there is the equatorial zone with the highest temperatures in January, in the south there is the frosty polar zone. This is where you can celebrate the New Year in a bikini under the scorching sun, and then go to a more familiar climate zone at a ski resort in the Andean highlands. In the south of the continent, plump king penguins are walking around with might and main - Antarctica is close!
Hotels
If you find yourself in South America for the first time and are accustomed to international class of service, choose large hotel chains (preferably international). Their rooms cost from 50-90 USD per night. Students and exotic lovers often stay in small hotels or private apartments - the cost can start from 15-20 USD per day. Appearance and accommodation amenities will depend on the country, proximity to popular resorts and personal luck. Prices on the page are for October 2018.
Iguazu Falls
South American countries
Venezuela- a state in the north of South America, washed by the Caribbean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean. The capital is the city of Caracas. Here there are conditions for a beach holiday - luxurious beaches of the Caribbean coast, a fashionable secluded holiday on Margarita Island, and for active: national park Avila near Caracas, the Amazonian jungle, the highest waterfall on the planet - Angel, the world's longest cable car with a length of 12.6 km and the highest mountain peak in the country - Pico Bolivar (4981 m).
Guyana- a state on the northeastern coast of South America. The capital is Georgetown. Almost 90% of the country is covered by humid jungle. It is precisely because of the unfavorable conditions for tourism in the traditional sense that Guyana is visited primarily by ecotourists. They are fond of the waterfalls of the Guiana Highlands, the Pacaraima mountains, National parks Kaieteur and Iwokrama, where visitors learn the wisdom of rafting, and also go hiking and horseback riding through the Rupununi savannahs.
Guiana(or French Guiana) is the largest overseas region of France, located in northeastern South America. A French visa is required to enter Guiana. The administrative center is the city of Cayenne. 96% of the country's territory is occupied by tropical forests - this region is one of the most forested and environmentally friendly in the world. Tourist centers and villages local residents concentrated in coastal strip, central regions practically deserted.
Colombia- a state in the north-west of South America, named after the great traveler. The capital is Bogota. Russians are allowed visa-free entry into Colombia for up to 90 days. The country is famous for its historical heritage, many museums and the amazing fusion of European culture brought by the Spanish conquistadors in the 15th century and the Indian culture still carefully preserved in some areas of the country. Colombia has stunning nature: national parks, the peaks of the Sierra Nevada, the Amazon River, palm valleys and coffee plantations.
Paraguay called the heart of America, since this country is landlocked. Its population has retained its originality: the Indian dialect Guarani is the official language here along with Spanish. The capital is Asuncion. “Guiana” is translated from Guaranese as “great river” - this refers to the Rio Paraguay (the third largest and longest river on the continent), dividing the country into the arid Gran Chaco plain and the humid areas between the Rio Paraguay and Rio Alta Parana. The country has been favored by ecotourists and connoisseurs of beautifully preserved architectural monuments period of the Jesuit state.
Peru- a state on the west coast of South America. The capital is Lima. Fans of antiquities know Peru as the site of the Inca settlement - the Inca state of Tawantinsuyu was largest empire pre-Columbian America and still remains a mystery to ethnographers and archaeologists. Here is the famous Machu Picchu, which has become one of the new wonders of the world, and landscapes with the mysterious Nazca Lines, the origin of which scientists still cannot explain. In total, Peru has more than 180 museums and many archaeological parks, lost in the valleys of the Andes.
Visa-free entry into Peru is open for Russian tourists for up to 90 days.
Suriname- a state in the northeast of South America. The capital is Paramaribo. People come here in search of ecotourism unusual places: tropical forests, Atabru, Kau, Uanotobo waterfalls, Galibi nature reserve, Sipaliwini area, occupying most territories, reservations of the Trio, Acurio and Huayana Indians.
Uruguay- a state in the southeast of South America. The capital is Montevideo. If you want to relax on the beach, visit Uruguay between January and April. Connoisseurs of colonial architecture will certainly enjoy the sights of Cologna and Montevideo. Every year, a month and a half before Easter, two days before Lent, Catholics in Uruguay host a colorful carnival.
Visa-free entry into Uruguay is open for Russian tourists for up to 90 days.
Chile- a state in the southwest of South America, occupying a long strip from the Pacific coast to the highlands of the Andes. The capital is Santiago. In Chile, balneological tourism is common (33 sanatoriums with water and mud therapy), beach holidays (Arica, Iquique, Valparaiso regions), as well as travel to the national parks of La Campana, Torres del Paine, to Lake San Rafael, to the towns of Altiplano and San Pedro and, of course, to the famous Easter Island. For ski lovers - 15 resorts with slopes from the most extreme to simple.
Ecuador is located in the north-west of the mainland and gets its name from the Spanish “equator”. The capital is Quito. Special attention famous not only for its fauna, but also for its fantastic beaches, the Galapagos Islands, Oriente National Park and a trip to the Amazon, the El Kayas region with 200 lakes and lagoons, a monument deserve ancient culture Ingapirca and museums of the colonial and pre-colonial eras in Quito.
A visa-free regime has been introduced for Russian tourists to visit Ecuador for up to 90 days.
In addition, South America includes the disputed island territories of South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands, as well as the Falkland Islands (Malvinas), which are still disputed by Great Britain and Argentina. Tourists arrive to the islands as part of cruise tours. The most common activities are mountaineering, hiking and kayaking. The Falkland Islands (Malvinas) are places almost forgotten by tourists. In terms of climate, their territory is close to Iceland: cold, strong winds, and not only seagulls, but also plump king penguins scurry along the coast.
Nature of South America
After the breakup of the Gondwana continent at the end of the Cretaceous period into Africa, Australia, Antarctica and South America, the latter remained an isolated continent. The Isthmus of Panama, which connects what is now North and South America, appeared about three million years ago, significantly influencing the flora and fauna of the continent.
Variety of landscapes and climatic zones amazes the tourist's imagination. The Andes, the world's longest mountain range, is also called the "ridge" of South America, stretching almost its entire length for 9 thousand km. The highest peaks - Aconcagua (6960 m) in Argentina and Ojos del Salado (6908 m) are covered with snow all year round. The movement of the earth's crust in this region, which continues to this day, causes earthquakes and eruptions of active volcanoes.
The famous Amazon flows here, the second largest river on the planet, always full of water thanks to its numerous tributaries. On its banks rise the endless Amazonian jungle, so dense that some parts of it remain unexplored to this day.
The Amazon jungle is called the “lungs of the planet.”
In contrast to the Amazon rainforest, the mainland has one of the driest places on the planet, the Atacama Desert in northern Chile. Argentina and Uruguay have hot and dusty pampa steppes.
There are vast lakes, high waterfalls, and rocky islands in South America. The continent is washed from the north warm waters Caribbean Sea, while its southernmost point - the island of Tierra del Fuego - is subject to frequent storms of the cold Atlantic Ocean.