- The Pacific Ocean – This is the largest of the world’s five oceans. Within the Pacific Ocean is the Mariana Trench, the deepest point of the seafloor on earth. It is surrounded by what is known as the “Pacific Ring of Fire,” a zone of violent volcanic and earthquake activity.
- The Atlantic Ocean – The second largest ocean is the Atlantic! It is home to icebergs and hurricanes that occur from May to December. It is also the first ocean to be successfully crossed by ships and airplanes. The Atlantic Ocean is home to the infamous Bermuda Triangle, a place where many ships and planes have crashed or even disappeared.
- The Indian Ocean – Named after the country of India, the Indian Ocean is the warmest ocean in the world. Due to its extreme heat and low amount of oxygen, there is a limited amount of marine life. Scientists have discovered a “lost continent” and its remains are said to be in this ocean. Each year, the Indian Ocean grows by 20% due to the melting of the polar ice caps. It is also home to 40% of the world’s oil supply.
- The Arctic Ocean – This is the smallest ocean and it is also the most shallow. Since the Arctic Ocean is very cold, a large part of the ocean is usually covered by a layer of sea ice on the surface that gets thicker during the winter months. From October to June, it becomes nearly impossible for ships to pass due to thick layers of ice. In a few decades, the ice in the Arctic Ocean will disappear due to global warming.
- The Southern Ocean – The Southern OCean was declared an ocean in the year 2000. Before then, it was thought to be extensions of the surrounding oceans. The ocean is very cold and has icebergs of all sizes as well very strong winds making it difficult for ships to pass all year round.
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