Most of the water on Earth, and this is almost 96%, is unsuitable for use, since it contains salt. Such water is part of the oceans, seas and lakes. Scientific language is called the oceans. By the area on the planet, it occupies three quarters of the entire surface, which is why our Earth is called the Blue Planet. In our article, you will learn about the existence of four oceans. We will tell you about them only all the most interesting and useful.
A few words about the oceans
As you know from the course of elementary school, there are four oceans on our planet. The Pacific Ocean also has another name. He is called the Great, and also our planet is washed by three more oceans: Atlantic, Arctic, Indian.
Thus, the oceans are a collection of bodies of water just named. The area of this geographical object is more than 350 million km 2 ! Even on the scale of our planet, this is a huge space.
Parts of the world are separated precisely by the oceans. Each of them has its own properties and characteristics, as well as its unique underwater flora and fauna, which vary depending on the climatic zone in which they are located. Also, the four oceans, which will be discussed below, have their own temperature regime, course, and topography. If you look at the ocean map, we will see that they are interconnected. And remember, no ocean can be surrounded by land from 4 cardinal points.
Who is exploring the oceans?
We are used to drawing information about nature from geography textbooks. But deeper and broader study of these geographical objects is a separate science called oceanology. It is she who studies the formation of the oceans, as well as various biological processes that occur under the waters of these "giants". In addition, science explores the interaction of the oceans with other parts of the biosphere.
What is all this for?
Specialists studying oceanic geographic features have set several goals. First, they found out why the ocean is salty. Secondly, they increase efficiency, and also ensure the safety of not only underwater, but also surface navigation. Thirdly, oceanologists optimize the use of minerals from the bottom of water bodies. Fourth, they strive to maintain biological balance in the ocean environment. Fifth, these scientists are improving weather forecasting techniques.
Geographic Names
Every ocean is given a name for a reason. Each name contains either historical background or the nature and characteristics of a particular territory. We suggest you find out which oceans exist. And also why they received such names. Consider this list from the simplest reservoir.
Name - Indian Ocean
Everything is clear with its name. India is an ancient country. Its boundless shores are washed by waters named after this state.
Name - Arctic Ocean
One of the reasons that prompted to give such a name to a geographical object was the presence of a huge number of ice floes that float in its open spaces and, of course, its geographical location. However, oceanologists also call it Arctic (translated from the ancient Greek language, “arktikos” means “northern”). The borders of the Arctic Ocean pass through many states.
Name - Pacific
The waters of this giant were explored by the Spanish navigator Fernan Magellan. The nature of this geographical object is far from calm, but rather stormy, accompanied by tornadoes and storms. However, the Spaniard Magellan was very lucky! He plowed the Pacific Ocean for a whole year, and the front of the anticyclone with good weather constantly accompanied him. Fernand Magellan watched the calm, which prompted him to think that this ocean is actually calm and quiet.
Many years later, when the truth became apparent, it did not occur to anyone to rename this geographical object. In 1756, the explorer and traveler Bayush decided to call this reservoir Great, because it is the largest ocean in area. Today, these two names are still relevant.
Name - Atlantic Ocean
An ancient Greek geographer and historian named Strabo became famous for his descriptions of this ocean. At one time he called him Western. A little later, scientists gave him the name Hesperides. These facts are confirmed by documents dated 90 years before our time.
After several centuries, namely in the 9th century of our era, Arab geographers gave it the name Sea of Darkness. They called it another no less “beautiful” name, like the Sea of Darkness. This geographical object received such a terrible name because of sand and dust clouds that sweep over its surface from the winds from the African continent.
The first time its modern name was recorded in the annals of 1507, when Christopher Columbus approached the shores of America. But it was entrenched in geographical science only in 1650 in the writings of the scientist Bernhard Waren.
What oceans exist?
The answer to this question seems simple. However, disputes and discussions have not subsided in the scientific circles of oceanologists for many years. The usual list of oceans looks like this:
- Arctic
- Atlantic
- Indian
- Quiet
However, oceanologists put forward the theory of the existence of the fifth ocean called the South. And they believe that the waters of the Southern Ocean are a combination of the southern sides of the Pacific, Indian and Atlantic oceans that surround Antarctica. As evidence, they cite the argument that he has a peculiar system of currents, which differs from the vast expanses of water. But, nevertheless, not all scientists agree with this decision. Thus, the problem of division of the oceans is still relevant. The nature and properties of existing oceans are different, as they depend on many factors. We invite you to find out what oceans exist on our globe.
Pacific or Great Ocean
In the water area of this giant lies a huge number of transport routes that connect Asia not only to North, but also to South America. It is noteworthy that the bowels of this ocean floor contain almost half of the world's oil and natural gas reserves. They are actively mined in the offshore areas of America, China and Australia.
You have not guessed what is the largest ocean in area? Of course, we will talk about the Pacific Ocean. Its pool has occupied almost half of the area of the world's marine expanses. It is equal to 178 million km 2 . It included 30 seas: Japan, Okhotsk, Philippine, Yellow, Yavan, Coral, Bering and others. But they occupied only 18% of the total area of the Great Ocean. It is worth noting that this geographical feature is also a leader in the number of islands. Their number is approximately 10 thousand. Kalimantan and New Guinea are considered to be the largest islands of this ocean. Did you know where the Pacific and Atlantic oceans meet? This border runs along the southwestern coast of Alaska. Seamlessly moves to the next object of our article.
Atlantic ocean or sea of darkness
This reservoir is considered the second largest on our planet, which the ocean map shows us. Its water area is 94 km 2 . It consists of 13 seas that have a coastline. It is noteworthy that in the center of the Sea of Darkness (Atlantic Ocean) there is the Sargasso - fourteenth sea, which, unlike others, has no coasts. Ocean currents make up its border. It is the Sargasso Sea that is the largest in the world.
Only the Atlantic Ocean has a large influx of freshwater. It is provided by large African, American and European rivers. As for the islands, the Atlantic Ocean is the antipode of the Pacific. There are very few of them in its water area. However, it is in its waters that Greenland is located, considered the largest island on our planet. But some oceanologists believe that Greenland belongs to the Arctic Ocean. What oceans still exist on Earth? We continue to study this issue and move on to the next giant of salt water.
Indian Ocean
Interesting information about this pond will surprise readers even more. The Indian Ocean is the very first large geographical object that has become known not only to mariners, but also to researchers. In his bowels he hid a huge coral reef complex. It is his waters that keep one of the secrets of mysterious phenomena on our planet. Oceanologists still can not figure out why on its surface from time to time circles of the correct form appear, which glow. A group of researchers put forward the version that this glow is caused by rising from the depths of plankton. However, why they form an ideal spherical shape remains a mystery.
The Indian Ocean on the map is next to the island of Madagascar. Not far from this place, there is a unique phenomenon in nature, such as an underwater waterfall.
We present to your attention several scientific facts about the Indian giant. Firstly, its area is almost 80 km 2 . Secondly, it washes four continents. Thirdly, it included only 7 seas. Fourth, for the first time, an explorer named Vasco da Gama swam across the Indian Ocean.
Now you know where the Indian Ocean is on the map. And we are moving on. And we turn to the study of the coldest reservoir on the planet.
Arctic Ocean
As mentioned above, this geographical feature is considered not only the coldest, but also the smallest among the oceans. The area of its water area is 13 thousand km 2 . Its bowels are also distinguished by shallow water. Only 1,125 meters of the average depth of the ocean. It included only 10 seas, which is 3 more than in the Indian. However, in terms of the number of islands, the “northern king” took second place. Its central part is all covered with a layer of ice. And only in its southern regions there are not only ice floes, but also icebergs. On its expanses, ice islands sometimes float, the thickness of which reaches 35 meters.
It was in the waters of the Arctic Ocean that the most famous shipwreck occurred. The Titanic sank here. It is noteworthy that the climate of this ocean is very harsh. However, this does not prevent walruses, seals, whales, gulls, jellyfish and plankton from living here.
Now you know what oceans exist.
About the depths
We met four salt ponds and their features. However, we have not yet talked about the depths of the oceans. Which one is the deepest? Let's deal with this problem together.
The physical map of the ocean floor and oceans shows that the relief at the bottom of these geographical features is as diverse as that of the continents. Under the thickness of salt water hides hills, depressions, indentations that resemble mountains. It is believed that the average depth of these reservoirs is approximately 4 km. The deepest places of the oceans are troughs. The Pacific is considered the record holder. It is in its depths that the Mariana Trench or depression is hidden, the depth of which is almost 12 km!
Finally
Our article has come to an end. You must admit that the oceans are a wonderful and unique phenomenon on Earth. We told you about the most amazing ocean on the planet. Now you know where the Pacific and Atlantic oceans meet, as they say, and where the deepest basin is located. But did you know who the most poisonous sea creature is? This is a blue-bellied octopus. This dangerous marine life lives in the Indian Ocean. However, we have not yet remembered the Bermuda Triangle. This is the most mysterious place on the planet, a place which was found in the Atlantic Ocean.
So, we told you what oceans exist on the blue planet.
Protect fresh water, because the oceans have not saved anyone from deadly thirst.