What is an ocean?

An ocean is a major body of salt water.

The ocean has 2 main characteristics

1. Large body of salt water

2. Covers 3/4 of the earth’s surface

An ocean is not actually a landform but it is made up of 5 bodies of water that cover 71% of the Earth. The water is also made out of saline (salt).   The ocean does, however, contain many different types of landforms such as an ocean trench, abyss, guyot and mid ocean ranges.

There use to be only 4 oceans but the Southern or Antarctic  Ocean near Antarctica was big enough and different enough to be considered an ocean.  The water is very cold in this area.  All the water is below 60 degrees.

All 5 of the oceans are considered famous oceans.  It will all depend on what part of the world you live on to consider what ocean is famous to you.  The least famous is the Southern or Antarctic Ocean as it was named as an ocean in 2000 by the scientific community.

How were the Oceans Created?

The Oceans were created billions of years ago after the Earth was formed and started to cool.  The gases mixed just right to form water and a lot of it.  The ocean helped develop the first micro life on Earth.

Approximately 70% of the Earth's surface is covered by ocean, a continuous body of water that is customarily divided into several principal oceans and smaller seas.

Scientists estimate that 230,000 marine life forms of all types are currently known, but the total could be up to 10 times that number.

The major oceanic divisions are defined in part by the continents, various archipelagos, and other criteria. These divisions are (in descending order of size):

Pacific Ocean, which separates Asia and Australia from the Americas.

Atlantic Ocean, which separates the Americas from Eurasia and Africa.

Indian Ocean, which washes upon southern Asia and separates Africa and Australia.

Antarctic Ocean, sometimes considered an extension of Pacific, Atlantic and Indian Oceans, which covers the waters that surround Antarctica.

Arctic Ocean, sometimes considered a sea of the Atlantic, which covers much of the Arctic and washes upon northern North America and Eurasia.

Examples of Ocean Landforms:

Atlantic, Pacific, Arctic, Southern and Indian Oceans

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