Ocean facts

Breathtaking views and vast, seemingly endless spans of water, make up the oceans of our planet earth. Throughout history, many men believed that the oceans of our planet literally ran off the edge of our world. Today, we know this is not true, but what do know now is no less astonishing.

Arctic Ocean – Average depth of 5000 feet, but is 17,880 feet deep at it’s deepest. Covers an area of 5,440,000 square miles.

Atlantic Ocean – Average depth 14,000 feet, but is 28,374 feet at it’s deepest. Covers an area of 31,831,000 square miles. Home to the Puerto Rico Trench, and home to a volcanic mountain range, the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, that runs the entire length of the ocean.

Pacific Ocean – Average depth of 14,000 feet, but is 36,198 feet at it’s deepest. The largest ocean of the four, it covers an area of nearly 64,000,000 square miles. Home to the Mariana Trench.

Coverage of the Earth’s Surface

Add all of the area coverage above together, and you will realize that the oceans cover over seventy-five percent of the earth’s surface!

Topography

If you were to look at a topography map of the world’s oceans, you would understand the differences of each oceans average depth and their deepest points of depth. As varied as the dry land of our planet earth is, so are the ocean lands beneath it. Whole mountain ranges, canyons, and other earth shaping features such as volcanoes, exist beneath their depths. Guyots are flat-topped, undersea mountains. It is believed they once had typical peaks like other mountains, but they were leveled off by waves. At one point in time, none of this was even believable. The ocean floor was thought to be relatively flat, downward sloping from one side, then gradually sloping back up as it reached another shore.

Freshwater or Saltwater

Are any of the oceans filled with fresh water? Not a chance! All four of the oceans, which, by the way, are interconnected, are on average, 3.5 percent salt.

Tides, Currents and Waves

Tides are the rise of fall of the ocean’s water. Caused by the gravitational pull of the moon ‘and’ the sun. Depending on the time of month, and whether the moon is ‘new’ or ‘full’, also has an effect on the height of the tide.

Currents are in effect, the ocean in a constant motion. Winds provide the ‘fuel’ that keeps the currents constantly moving.

Wind is the main factor behind most waves, with volcanic eruptions and earthquakes causing some waves. Though factors such as a boat passing through the water can also bring about a wave. When a wave hits the shoreline, it is then called a ‘surf’.

Life

Home to an array of life like no other surface of the earth, within depths of unbelievable reaches, combined with frigid temperatures, and tremendous water pressure, life still exists. With sunlight having no chance of reaching even a depth of about 650 feet, it is easy to see that most of the world’s oceans exist in a land of darkness. For that reason alone, those creatures that do live in these extraordinary environments have adapted in numerous ways, with some even having the capabilities to ‘light’ themselves up. This is referred to as ‘Bioluminescence’, the ability to generate light.

Other, more commonly thought of ocean life includes; Sharks, Whales, Turtles, Eels, Seahorses, Dolphins, Squid and Octopus, Tuna, Shrimp, and Halibut. Less commonly known inhabitants include; Sea Cucumbers and Tulip Sponges, Dragonfish, Viperfish, and Rattaails. Just looking through a tiny sampling of the life that exists in our oceans, helps us to better understand why our ancestors believed there to be ‘Sea Monsters’!

Which brings us to the question…Are monsters in our Oceans? Yes! Just take a look at the Giant Sea Squid. With sizes of 55 feet long, and the arms reaching 35 feet long themselves. This qualifies as a ‘Monster’ from the deep. Another, much smaller inhabitant, the Dragonfish, sports a set of long, sharp, curved teeth that puts it right up there with any classification that includes ‘monsters’!

Many myths and legends of sea creatures are based on fact. Mermaid stories were traced to sailors viewing sea lions sunning themselves amid the rocks of unreachable shorelines. Viewed from a distance, the sea lions would only be glimpsed from a distance as they slid back into the ocean waters.

What is the largest inhabitant of the oceans? Not a fish! The ‘Blue Whale’ reaching lengths of 100 feet, is the largest creature that has ever lived. A mammal, it is even bigger than the dinosaurs that once walked the earth. While whales live in the oceans, they breathe air. Some whales can submerge themselves for over an hour, diving to thousand’s of feet beneath the surface, but ultimately, they must surface to breathe.

While man has walked on the moon, he has yet to fully explore this planet of water right here on earth.

Those that are in a quest to do this are called ‘Oceanographers’… those that study ‘Oceanography’. The Oceans of our earth are home to secrets yet untold. Plant life and animals, fish, and much, much more have yet to be discovered.