The area of seas and oceans on earth is. Chemical composition of water
One of my favorite cartoons is Finding Nemo. How I worried about these little fish who went on a journey. Then I asked my mother: “Do such fish live in our village, in the pond?” Mommy then replied that they live in the oceans. And then a new barrage of questions hit her about how many oceans there are on the planet and who lives in them. The conversation lasted several hours, and I would like to retell part of it here.
How many oceans are there on Earth?
There are four oceans on our planet:
All of them, combined together, are called the World Ocean.
The most beautiful place in the ocean
That same amazing place from the cartoon, where clown fish and many equally amazing creatures live, is the Great Barrier Reef.
It is located off the coast of Australia and is the largest coral reef in the world.
The fish depicted in the cartoon actually live there. Nemo and Marvin are clown fish.
Dory is a fish with the slightly scary name “blue tang”.
Nemo's mentor in the aquarium is a horned enclave.
You can see the underwater world of the Great Barrier Reef with your own eyes - excursions are sent to some of its areas. The divers actually go down into the ocean, just like in the cartoon. But they are strictly forbidden to touch the reef and its inhabitants.
Deep ocean dwellers
Remember the scene where Dory was attracted to the light that was growing from some big scary fish?
Such a fish actually exists. It's called an angler fish. Female anglerfish have a special “fishing rod” with a small glow at the end.
At great depths, where this miracle of nature lives, it is very dark. Curious fish swim to the light to find out what's there. And they instantly fall into the predatory toothy mouth.
Another strange animal of the ocean depths is the blob fish. Very reminiscent of the faces of students before the session. “Why do I need all this?” this strange fish seems to be telling us. She really has a reason to be sad, because in Asian countries she is considered a delicacy.
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I've always had some confusion with the number of oceans. In the children's encyclopedia given by my parents, it was written in black and white that there were four of them. However, when I opened the English textbook, where the article about the oceans was given, the number five appeared.
As a result, when in a school geography test I came across the question: “How many oceans are there on our planet?”, I thought for a long time which answer was the correct one. Let's figure it out together.
Oceans - how many are there?
Currently, the official number of oceans is four. We list them in ascending order (the area in brackets is indicated in millions of square kilometers):
Where has another ocean gone?
He never disappeared. It’s just that at a certain moment another ocean was actually singled out - the Southern Ocean, which “bite off” part of the area of the Pacific, Indian and Atlantic oceans. The reason for the division was that the warm waters of these three oceans were separated from the cold ones due to the flow of the Western winds. These cold waters were considered, until a certain time, to be the Southern Ocean. In those days, the physical map of the world looked simplified like this.
But over time, scientists decided that there were still four oceans. This is how they continue to count at the moment.
Now I would like to talk about one of the most common questions about the oceans, which haunted me as a child.
Why is there salty water in the oceans and seas?
The first assumption in this regard is this: the cause of everything is the rivers. They contain a small amount of salts, which the river carries into the seas and oceans. And since these substances do not evaporate, they gradually accumulate, making ocean waters increasingly salty.
The second assumption is related to the fact that there are a huge number of volcanoes in the oceans. In ancient times, a huge number of eruptions occurred, during which the air was enriched with acids.
These acids returned to the oceans and entered into a chemical reaction, from which salts were obtained.
Which of the two theories is correct has not yet been established. I am inclined to believe that both reasons influenced the salinity of the oceans.
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It is believed that there are only four oceans in the world:
1) Great (quiet) - the largest in scale 178.7 million km2, and depth 11034 m, in the whole world. 2) Atlantic - ranks second in size 91.6 million km2, named after the mythical island of Atlantis .3) Indian - has a scale of 76.2 million km2, occupies 20% of the water part of the earth; 4) Northern Arctic - the smallest, its volume is 20.327 million km2, and its depth is 5527 m. But there is another interesting fact - in In 2000, scientists in the field of hydrography decided to identify another ocean, which is located between the Pacific, Atlantic and Indian and called it the Southern Ocean (or Antarctic), its area is about 14.75 million km2.
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For me, the ocean, in addition to its splendor, is a place that hides many secrets. Indeed, despite all the technical achievements of mankind, the ocean remains less than 10% explored.
Number of oceans on the planet
In addition to the four oceans known to mankind for a long time (Pacific, Arctic, Indian, Atlantic), more recently another one was put on the world map - the Southern. However, at different stages of history, opinions about the division of the World Ocean varied greatly. Some adhered to the established opinion about four oceans, while others, having drawn conditional boundaries, decided to “complete” the fifth. However, at the beginning of this century, the International Geographical Organization adopted a document dividing the water surface into five parts. However, this document does not have legal force and therefore the correct answer is four oceans.
Mysterious Atlantic
- Sable Island;
- Bermuda Triangle;
- Atlantic Cemetery.
Sable Island. This place has long been notorious among sailors and is known as the “Wandering Island”, in the vicinity of which there are hundreds of shipwrecks. The shallows that surround the island are constantly moving as a result of the collision of two powerful currents (the warm Gulf Stream and the cold Labrador Stream). Since the end of the 16th century alone, according to available records, 495 shipwrecks have been recorded. The theory that the island, which moves an average of 175 meters per year, is nothing more than a living organism based on silicon is completely crazy.
Bermuda Triangle. There are many speculations trying to explain its mystery. Some believe that "little green men", black holes and temporary anomalies are the culprits, but there are other, more reasonable assumptions. The most realistic hypothesis is that gas bubbles, rising from the bottom of the ocean, cause a decrease in the density of water and air, as a result of which ships and planes “fall” to the bottom.
Cemetery of the Atlantic. The place is located south of Sable Island, in a place where all the same currents collide: the warm Gulf Stream and the cold Labrador Stream, which causes multiple whirlpools and sedimentation of shoals. This place is a kind of trap that over the course of several centuries has become the “homeland” of more than 1,500 shipwrecks.
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As paradoxical as it may sound, most of our planet called Earth is occupied by rivers and reservoirs. I turned to scientific calculations and found out that this is about 70% of the entire earth's surface. And most of this area is occupied by the World Ocean.
Parts of the World Ocean
Most researchers distinguish four oceans:
- Quiet.
- Indian.
- Atlantic.
- Arctic.
Also, some scientists focus on Southern Ocean. Scientists distinguish the area of the southern parts of the Pacific, Atlantic and Indian oceans.
The importance of the oceans in human life
Even in ancient times, the largest cities were built at the intersection of sea routes. Thanks to the oceans, people made the first trips around the world, discovered uncharted islands and even continents. At a certain time, more precisely in the 15th century, sea travel was an integral part of the life of human civilization. This time is called the golden age of navigation.
Sea trade
Have you ever wondered which type of transport created by man is the most popular? I will answer this question - these are sea vessels. Due to the fact that all the oceans are connected to each other, it is possible to travel from continent to continent using the shortest routes. Huge sea tankers carrying multi-ton cargo, oddly enough, are the cheapest type of cargo transportation.
State of the oceans today
Unfortunately, humanity has not learned to appreciate what it has. Forests are being cut down, rare species are being exterminated, and the oceans are being polluted.
Plastic items are easy to manufacture and easy to use, but what happens to them after use? A significant portion of plastic waste ends up in the ocean. They are distributed unevenly. Currents and wind carry them throughout the ocean and gradually they surround entire continents.
It seems to me that it is our duty to help nature, if only for the sake of our own comfort. It's not that difficult to think about the fate of a discarded item. Separate waste collection significantly reduces the burden on nature. We have learned to keep our body and home clean, and the next step should be to keep the planet clean. Helpful0 Not very useful
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I think everyone knows that the surface area of water on Earth is many times greater than the area of dry surface. Most of the water surface is occupied by four oceans. Which ones you can read further. Oceans of the planet. There are several oceans：
- Quiet
- Arctic
- Indian
- Atlantic
But scientists have put forward the existence of a fifth ocean - the Southern Ocean, since special currents and other conditions arise there that are not typical for other oceans.
The Pacific Ocean is the largest
Undoubtedly, it is the largest ocean, whose area is 170 million square kilometers. The huge size is not the only advantage: its depth reaches about 11 million kilometers. At different depth levels live a variety of interesting animals that have adapted to the local conditions, which is why the Pacific Ocean is home to a wide variety of creatures. One such amazing creature is the frilled shark, also called the frilled shark. It looks like an eel or a large snake.
Ocean covered with ice
It has its own characteristics that are distinctive from others. The ocean water is so cold that the fauna and flora of the ocean are poor. Only here lives the northern polar bear, an animal whose silver-white fur is beautiful and valuable. Despite the small number of animal inhabitants, the ocean is a food source for numerous birds: penguins, seagulls and many others.
Third largest ocean
The Indian Ocean is characterized by high salinity of water, so the flora is sparse. But the ocean is home to a wide variety of whales. One of which is the blue whale, whose size is impressive and terrifying at the same time.
Although the blue whale is a protected animal, it is endangered: today there are about 10 thousand individuals in the world. The reason for such a small number of whales is humans. People exterminated this mammal because of its useful qualities: subcutaneous fat, mustaches (fashionable corsets for girls were made from them) and others. Man pollutes the water of the ocean - the home of the whale.
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What does the ocean mean to me? The fact that these are boundless expanses of water that amaze with their volumes and living world. Of course, they can be dangerous and insidious, but at the same time, they are of great benefit to the earth’s atmosphere (after all, the hydrosphere and the atmosphere are closely related). So, I would like to talk about the number of oceans in the world and their characteristics.
The largest of the largest water giants
Of course, first of all, we are talking about the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans. It cannot be said that they are similar to each other; each is amazing and unique in its own way. Quiet, as everyone knows from school, is the largest of all (178 million km²). And besides this, its main feature is the Mariana Trench (or trench). In my opinion, this is the most unexplored object on Earth. If you just think about the facts about its depth of 11 kilometers, then your eyes will glaze over. Next is the Atlantic Ocean, which is famous for its extremely cold currents. Its area is far from the Quiet, only 91 million square kilometers, although the greatest depth is very impressive - more than eight and a half kilometers.
The rest of the earth's oceans and their number
I will continue with the Indian Ocean, for which we can highlight the main aspects:
- an area of just over 76 million square kilometers;
- the depth indicator is slightly behind the Atlantic (7.7 km);
- The volume of water is 282 million km³.
It is special in its environmental problems, which arise from the economic activities of mankind.
The smallest of all the above and with the smallest depth is the Arctic Ocean. More than 14.5 million km² is the area, and the deepest point is 5.5 kilometers under water. It’s not for nothing that you can see the word “Northern” in the name; in addition to its location, it also characterizes the climate in which the ocean is located. It is very harsh and cold, and breaking through the icy deserts can be extremely difficult even for the most modern technology. Summarizing all the information, it is not difficult to calculate that there are only four oceans on our planet. Sometimes a fifth is identified - Southern, but this is not yet recognized by all scientists.
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The ocean fascinates me. I even dream of one day taking a transatlantic cruise and sailing... to Antarctica. Yes, I'm a little (or even a lot, haha) dreamer.
But usually I only see the ocean in nature films. But even so he makes an impression. He is alive! The movement of the waves is breathing, the sound of water is a song, and the depths are a mystery. He seems frightening, but at the same time strong, powerful, amazing, magnificent!
Earth and its oceans
How many oceans are there on Earth? First of all, on Earth there is a huge mass of water called World Ocean. It is so huge that it takes 71% area of our planet. That is why From space the Earth looks blue.
The World Ocean itself is one, but is conventionally divided into four others:
- Quiet;
- Atlantic;
- Indian;
- Arctic.
Sometimes a fifth is identified - South ocean, which washes the shores of Antarctica.
But why was the World Ocean suddenly divided into parts?
The oceans were conditionally separated from each other for a reason. Each of them has its own characteristics:
- relief;
- physical properties of water (for example, temperature);
- chemical properties of water.
A different conditions in turn favor different living organisms.
The oceans are truly amazing. I would like to tell a lot more about them, but a whole series of very weighty books could be written about the oceans and their inhabitants.
Instructions
All the water on the planet is called the World Ocean, which, in turn, is divided into four other oceans: the Pacific, Arctic, Atlantic and Indian. The very first open ocean was the Indian Ocean. Currently, it is rightfully considered the warmest body of water on the planet. It is curious that in summer the waters near its coasts warm up to 35°C. The area of this ocean is 73 million square kilometers. In terms of its size, it is in third place, behind the Pacific and Atlantic oceans.
The water area of this reservoir is distinguished by a rich variety of animal and plant organisms. Scientists consider this ocean to be special: the fact is that its waters can change their flow in the opposite direction. This happens twice a year. The Indian Ocean borders the coasts of India, Australia, East Africa and Antarctica.
The Atlantic Ocean was discovered next. After Christopher Columbus tried to find a way to India, all of humanity learned about a new large body of water. They named it in honor of Atlas, the Greek titan, who, according to ancient Greek mythology, was endowed with courage and an iron disposition. It should be noted that this ocean lives up to its name, since it behaves completely unpredictably at different times of the year. The area of the Atlantic Ocean is 82 million square kilometers. Its maximum depth is considered to be a depression reaching 9218 meters! It is curious that a long and large underwater ridge stretches across the entire middle of this reservoir. The waters of the Atlantic Ocean play a large role in shaping the weather in Europe.
Next in line was the Pacific Ocean. In fact, it received its name from the will of personal emotions. During his trip around the world along this body of water, the navigator Magellan was lucky with the weather - there was complete calm and calm. This is precisely what served as the impetus for this name. However, the Pacific Ocean is not nearly as quiet as it seemed to Magellan! Often near the Japanese islands and off the western coast of North America, and the reason for this is the Pacific Ocean, raging due to high seismic activity. This body of water is rightfully considered the largest in the world. Its area is 166 million square kilometers, and its water area covers almost half of the globe! The waters of this ocean wash territories from East Asia to America, including the coast of Africa.
The Arctic Ocean is considered the smallest in area, as well as the coldest and calmest ocean. The flora and fauna of this reservoir is a very rare phenomenon, since not every organism can exist in such harsh conditions. This body of water is located on the coast of Canada and Siberia. A distinctive feature of this ocean is that most of its water area is covered with glaciers, which does not allow to fully explore this body of water. Its greatest depth is a depression 5000 meters high. Closer to Russian territory in the Arctic Ocean there is a continental shelf that determines the depth of the coastal seas: the Chukchi, Kara, Barents, East Siberian and Laptev Seas.
Our Earth appears to be a blue planet from space. This is because ¾ of the surface of the globe is occupied by the World Ocean. He is united, although greatly divided.
The surface area of the entire World Ocean is 361 million square meters. km.
Oceans of our planet
The ocean is the water shell of the earth, the most important component of the hydrosphere. Continents divide the World Ocean into parts.
Currently, it is customary to distinguish five oceans:
. - the largest and oldest on our planet. Its surface area is 178.6 million square meters. km. It occupies 1/3 of the Earth and makes up almost half of the World Ocean. To imagine this magnitude, it is enough to say that the Pacific Ocean can easily accommodate all the continents and islands combined. This is probably why it is often called the Great Ocean.
The Pacific Ocean owes its name to F. Magellan, who crossed the ocean under favorable conditions during his trip around the world.
The ocean has an oval shape, its widest part is located near the equator.
The southern part of the ocean is an area of calm, light winds and a stable atmosphere. To the west of the Tuamotu Islands, the picture changes dramatically - here is an area of storms and squalls that turn into fierce hurricanes.
In the tropical region, the waters of the Pacific Ocean are clean, transparent and have a deep blue color. A favorable climate developed near the equator. The air temperature here is +25ºC and practically does not change throughout the year. Winds are moderate and often calm.
The northern part of the ocean is similar to the southern part, as if in a mirror image: in the west there is unstable weather with frequent storms and typhoons, in the east there is peace and quiet.
The Pacific Ocean is the richest in the number of animal and plant species. Its waters are home to over 100 thousand species of animals. Almost half of the world's fish catch is caught here. The most important sea routes are laid through this ocean, connecting 4 continents at once.
. occupies an area of 92 million square meters. km. This ocean, like a huge strait, connects the two poles of our planet. The Mid-Atlantic Ridge, famous for the instability of the earth's crust, runs through the center of the ocean. Individual peaks of this ridge rise above the water and form islands, the largest of which is Iceland.
The southern part of the ocean is influenced by trade winds. There are no cyclones here, so the water here is calm, clean and clear. Closer to the equator, the Atlantic changes completely. The waters here are muddy, especially along the coast. This is explained by the fact that large rivers flow into the ocean in this part.
The northern tropical zone of the Atlantic is famous for its hurricanes. Two major currents meet here - the warm Gulf Stream and the cold Labrador Stream.
The northern latitudes of the Atlantic are the most picturesque area with huge icebergs and powerful ice tongues protruding from the waters. This area of the ocean is dangerous for shipping.
. (76 million sq. km) is an area of ancient civilizations. Navigation began to develop here much earlier than in other oceans. The average depth of the ocean is 3700 meters. The coastline is slightly indented, with the exception of the northern part, where most of the seas and bays are located.
The waters of the Indian Ocean are saltier than others because there are far fewer rivers flowing into it. But thanks to this, they are famous for their amazing transparency and rich azure and blue color.
The northern part of the ocean is a monsoon region; typhoons often form in autumn and spring. Closer to the south, the water temperature is lower, due to the influence of Antarctica.
. (15 million sq. km) is located in the Arctic and occupies vast areas around the North Pole. Maximum depth - 5527m.
The central part of the bottom is a continuous intersection of mountain ranges, between which there is a huge basin. The coastline is heavily dissected by seas and bays, and in terms of the number of islands and archipelagos, the Arctic Ocean ranks second after such a giant as the Pacific Ocean.
The most characteristic part of this ocean is the presence of ice. The Arctic Ocean remains the most poorly studied to date, since research is hampered by the fact that most of the ocean is hidden under ice cover.
. . The waters washing Antarctica combine signs. Allowing them to be separated into a separate ocean. But there is still debate about what should be considered boundaries. If the borders from the south are marked by the mainland, then the northern borders are most often drawn at 40-50º south latitude. Within these limits, the ocean area is 86 million square meters. km.
The bottom topography is indented by underwater canyons, ridges and basins. The fauna of the Southern Ocean is rich, with the largest number of endemic animals and plants.
Characteristics of the oceans
The world's oceans are several billion years old. Its prototype is the ancient ocean Panthalassa, which existed when all the continents were still a single whole. Until recently, it was assumed that the ocean floors were level. But it turned out that the bottom, like the land, has a complex topography, with its own mountains and plains.
Properties of the world's oceans
Russian scientist A. Voyekov called the World Ocean a “huge heating battery” of our planet. The fact is that the average water temperature in the oceans is +17ºC, and the average air temperature is +14ºC. Water takes much longer to heat up, but it also consumes heat more slowly than air, while having high heat capacity.
But not all water in the oceans has the same temperature. Under the sun, only surface waters heat up, and with depth the temperature drops. It is known that at the bottom of the oceans the average temperature is only +3ºC. And it remains this way due to the high density of water.
It should be remembered that the water in the oceans is salty, which is why it freezes not at 0ºC, but at -2ºC.
The degree of salinity of waters varies depending on latitude: in temperate latitudes the waters are less salty than, for example, in the tropics. In the north, the waters are also less saline due to the melting of glaciers, which greatly desalinize the water.
Ocean waters also vary in transparency. At the equator the water is clearer. As you move away from the equator, water becomes more quickly saturated with oxygen, which means more microorganisms appear. But near the poles, due to low temperatures, the waters become clearer again. Thus, the waters of the Weddell Sea near Antarctica are considered the most transparent. Second place belongs to the waters of the Sargasso Sea.
The difference between the ocean and the sea
The main difference between the sea and the ocean is its size. Oceans are much larger, and seas are often only part of the oceans. Seas also differ from the ocean to which they belong by a unique hydrological regime (water temperature, salinity, transparency, distinctive composition of flora and fauna).
Ocean climate
Pacific climate Infinitely diverse, the ocean is located in almost all climatic zones: from equatorial to subarctic in the north and Antarctic in the south. There are 5 warm currents and 4 cold currents circulating in the Pacific Ocean.
The greatest amount of precipitation falls in the equatorial belt. The amount of precipitation exceeds the share of water evaporation, so the water in the Pacific Ocean is less salty than in others.
Atlantic Ocean Climate determined by its large extent from north to south. The equator zone is the narrowest part of the ocean, so the water temperature here is lower than in the Pacific or Indian.
The Atlantic is conventionally divided into northern and southern, drawing the border along the equator, with the southern part being much colder due to its proximity to Antarctica. Many areas of this ocean are characterized by dense fogs and powerful cyclones. They are strongest near the southern tip of North America and in the Caribbean Sea.
For formation Indian Ocean climate The proximity of two continents - Eurasia and Antarctica - has a huge impact. Eurasia actively participates in the annual change of seasons, bringing dry air in winter and filling the atmosphere with excess moisture in summer.
The proximity of Antarctica causes a decrease in water temperature in the southern part of the ocean. Frequent hurricanes and storms occur north and south of the equator.
Formation climate of the Arctic Ocean determined by its geographical location. Arctic air masses dominate here. Average air temperature: from -20 ºC to -40 ºC, even in summer the temperature rarely rises above 0ºC. But the ocean waters are warmer due to constant contact with the Pacific and Atlantic oceans. Therefore, the Arctic Ocean warms a significant part of the land.
Strong winds are rare, but fog is common in summer. Precipitation falls mainly in the form of snow.
It is influenced by the proximity of Antarctica, the presence of ice and the absence of warm currents. The Antarctic climate prevails here with low temperatures, cloudy weather and gentle winds. Snow falls throughout the year. A distinctive feature of the Southern Ocean climate is high cyclone activity.
The influence of the ocean on the Earth's climate
The ocean has a tremendous influence on climate formation. It accumulates huge reserves of heat. Thanks to the oceans, the climate on our planet becomes softer and warmer, since the temperature of the waters in the oceans does not change as sharply and quickly as the air temperature over land.
The oceans promote better circulation of air masses. And such an important natural phenomenon as the water cycle provides the land with a sufficient amount of moisture.
How many oceans are there on Earth? I think even fifth-graders will immediately answer: four - and list: Atlantic, Indian, Pacific and Arctic. All?
But it turns out that the four oceans are already outdated information. Today scientists are adding a fifth to them - the Southern, or Antarctic, Ocean.
Check out this wonderful and good article:
However, the number of oceans and especially their boundaries are still a matter of debate. In 1845, the London Geographical Society decided to count five oceans on Earth: Atlantic, Arctic, Indian, Quiet, Northern And Southern, or Antarctic. This division was confirmed by the International Hydrographic Office. But even later, for a long time, some scientists continued to believe that there are only four “real” oceans on Earth: Atlantic, Pacific, Indian and Northern, or Arctic Ocean. (In 1935, the Soviet government approved the traditional Russian name for the Arctic Ocean - .)
So how many oceans are there really on our planet? The answer may be unexpected: on Earth there is a single World Ocean, which people, for their convenience (primarily navigation), have divided into parts. Who will confidently draw the line where the waves of one ocean end and the waves of another begin?..
We found out what oceans are. What do we call seas and how many of them are there on Earth?? After all, the first acquaintances with the water element began on the shores of the seas.
Experts call seas “parts of the World Ocean that are separated from the open ocean by mountains or simply land.” At the same time, marine regions, as a rule, differ from the oceans in meteorological conditions, that is, weather, and even climate. Oceanologists distinguish between internal seas, closed by land, and external seas, as parts of the open ocean. There are seas without shores at all, just stretches of ocean. For example, the waters between the islands.
How many seas are there on Earth? Ancient geographers believed that there were only seven seas-oceans in the world. Today, the International Hydrographic Office lists 54 seas on Earth. But this figure is not very accurate, because some seas not only do not have shores, but are also located inside other water basins, and their names remained either due to historical habit or for the convenience of navigation.
Ancient civilizations developed along the banks of rivers, and rivers (I mean large water streams) flow into seas and oceans. So from the very beginning people had to become familiar with the water element. Moreover, every great civilization of the past had its own sea. The Chinese have their own (later it turned out that this is part of). The ancient Egyptians, Greeks, and Romans had their own - the Mediterranean Sea. The Indians and Arabs have the shores of the Indian Ocean, the waters of which each people called in their own way. There were other centers of civilizations and other main seas in the world.
In ancient times, people did not know much about the world around them and therefore they attributed special mystical meanings to many unknown things. So, back in those days, when even great thinkers did not know and there were no geographical maps of the world, it was believed that there were seven seas on Earth. The number seven, according to the ancestors, was sacred. The ancient Egyptians had 7 planets in the sky. 7 days of the week, 7 years - cycle of calendar years. Among the Greeks, the number 7 was dedicated to Apollo: on the seventh day before the new moon, a sacrifice was made to him.
According to the Bible, the world was created by God in 7 days. Pharaoh dreamed of 7 fat and 7 skinny cows. Seven is found as the number of evil (7 devils). In the Middle Ages, many nations knew the story of the seven wise men.
In the ancient world, there were considered seven wonders of the world: the Egyptian pyramids, the hanging gardens of the Babylonian queen Semiramis, the lighthouse in Atexandria (III century BC), the Colossus of Rhodes, the statue of Olympian Zeus created by the great sculptor Phidias, the Ephesian temple of the goddess Artemis and the mausoleum at Hapicarnassus.
How could one manage without the sacred number in geography: were there seven hills, seven lakes, seven islands and seven seas?
We won't list everything. As a European resident (and I live in the city of St. Petersburg), I will only tell you about the main historical sea of European civilization -.
Our planet Earth is 70% water. Most of the water resources are 4 oceans. We will describe the existing oceans, their location, underwater inhabitants and interesting information.
1) Pacific Ocean
The Pacific Ocean is the most significant ocean in terms of area and depth. Its size is 169.2 million sq. km. Maximum depth – 11022 meters. Despite the name, he is considered the most violent, since... 80% of tsunamis originate here due to the many underwater volcanoes. The commercial importance of the ocean is significant - more than half of the world's fish catch is caught in the Pacific Ocean. In addition, 40% of oil and gas reserves are in the ocean. The Pacific Ocean contains over 950 varieties of algae, as well as over 120 thousand representatives of the animal world.
Interesting information:
- There are about 25 thousand in the Pacific Ocean. islands
- On one of the islands of the ocean they found very interesting objects of monetary settlement - stone rings more than two meters high and weighing 15 tons.
- This ocean has the highest waves, which is very popular among surfers
- Ocean water is capable of enveloping the entire surface of the Earth and the thickness of the water cover will exceed 2500 meters.
- The average speed of crushing waves during a tsunami is 750 km/h
- If all the water in the ocean suddenly evaporated, a layer of salt 65 meters thick would remain at the bottom.
2) Atlantic Ocean
The Atlantic Ocean is the next largest ocean on the planet. Its dimensions reach 91.6 million sq. km. The maximum depth reaches 8742 meters. All climate zones exist over the expanses of the Atlantic Ocean. The ocean provides two-fifths of the world's fish catch. Enriched in mineral resources - there is oil, gas, iron ore, barite, limestone. The inhabitants of the ocean are very diverse - whales, fur seals, seals, sea urchins, parrot fish, sharks, surgeon fish, etc. There are many dolphins living in the ocean.
Interesting information:
- The warm Gulf Stream flows through the Atlantic Ocean, giving a warm climate to European countries with access to the ocean.
- Among the inhabitants, a special place is occupied by delicacies: oysters, mussels, squid, cuttlefish, etc.
- In the ocean there is a sea without shore boundaries - Sargasso.
- In the Atlantic there is a mystery of humanity - the Bermuda Triangle. This is an area in the Bermuda region where a large number of aircraft and ships have gone missing.
- The ocean also became famous for the sinking of the ship, the Titanic. Research at the bottom continues to this day.
3) Indian Ocean
The Indian Ocean is the 3rd largest ocean on the planet. Its dimensions reach 73.55 million sq. km. Maximum depth 7725 meters. It is considered the warmest and youngest ocean. Very numerous Tuna and various types of sharks are undoubtedly considered inhabitants of the ocean. IN smaller quantity Several different species of sea turtles, sea snakes, whales, sperm whales, and dolphins are present. The flora is represented mainly by brown and green algae. Mineral resources include natural gas, oil, rutile, titanite, zirconium, and phosphorite. Pearls and mother-of-pearl are mined from the ocean. Fishing reaches five percent of the world catch.
Interesting information:
- In the Indian Ocean there are the most popular holiday islands such as Sri Lanka, Bali, Mauritius, and the Maldives.
- The ocean contains the second most salinity sea on Earth - the Red Sea. The sea has completely clear water, since no rivers flow into it.
- The largest sea corals are found at the bottom.
- The most dangerous poisoner lives here - blue-ringed octopus . Its size is barely the size of a golf ball, and the poison kills in less than two hours.
- One of the main mysteries of the ocean is the disappearance of people. Floating ships were repeatedly found without the slightest damage, but not a single person was present on it.
4) Arctic Ocean
The Arctic Ocean is the smallest ocean on Earth. Its dimensions are 14.75 million sq. km. Maximum depth 5527 meters. Ocean fauna is sparse due to the harsh climate. Among the fish, commercial fish such as herring, salmon, cod, and flounder predominate. Walruses and whales are found in large numbers.
Interesting Facts :
- The phenomenon of “dead water” - due to the occurrence of internal waves, the ship stops, despite the fact that all engines are functioning.
- The iceberg that destroyed the Titanic sailed from the Arctic Ocean.
- The largest species of seal lives in the Arctic, weighing approximately 200 kilograms.
- The most polluted ocean. There are a considerable number of bottles and bags at the bottom and on the surface.
- Based on the melting of ice throughout the year, the salinity of the ocean can vary.
In 2000 International hydrographic The organization decided to identify the 5th ocean washing Antarctica - the Southern Ocean. But already in 2010 it was decided to remove the 5th ocean and leave 4.
