Oceans have allowed people to travel the world by ship for hundreds of years. Oceans divide continents while simultaneously providing numerous connections between them. The Atlantic Ocean is one ocean worth mentioning.
There is a sizable body of water called the Atlantic Ocean. In essence, it is a saltwater body of water. The second-largest ocean in the world is that one. Almost 20% of the earth’s surface is covered by it. The length and S-shaped shape of the Atlantic Ocean.
Moreover, it is the world’s second-youngest ocean. You will be in awe of the breathtaking beaches and trenches along the American Atlantic coast! Do you wish to get fascinating information about the Atlantic Ocean? If so, keep reading!
Interesting Atlantic Ocean Facts
The Atlantic Ocean Got Its Name from Greek Mythology
Greek mythology is where the name of the Atlantic Ocean originated. Its full name is “Sea of Atlas.” This name was first recorded in 450 BC in The Histories of Herodotus.
The Atlantic Ocean Is Located Between the Americas, Europe, and Africa
The West of North America and South America is where the Atlantic Ocean is located. In the east, it is similarly situated between Europe and Africa.
The Atlantic joins the Arctic Ocean and the Southern Ocean in the north. The North Atlantic and South Atlantic are the two basins of this ocean.
The Atlantic Ocean Is Located at 14.5994° S and 28.6731° W.
The Atlantic Ocean, positioned at approximately 14.5994° S latitude and 28.6731° W longitude, is one of the world’s largest and most significant bodies of water.
This vast ocean spans from the Arctic in the north to the Southern Ocean in the south, and from the Americas in the west to Europe and Africa in the east.
The Overall Surface Area of The Atlantic Ocean is About 106.5 Million Km2
The Atlantic Ocean has a surface area of 106.5 million Km2. Around 20% of the earth’s surface is covered by it! Incredible.
The Atlantic Ocean Has a Maximum Length of 111,866 Miles
The Atlantic Ocean, with its impressive maximum length of 111,866 miles, stretches across a vast expanse of our planet. This immense body of water connects numerous continents and serves as a major highway for global trade and travel.
The Maximum Width of The Atlantic Ocean Is About 4,830 Kilometers
The Atlantic Ocean’s width varies in several ways. Brazilian and Liberian borders are separated by about 2,848 kilometers. North Africa and the United States are separated by about 4,830 kilometers.
The Typical Depth of The Atlantic Ocean Is Around 3,646 Meters
The Atlantic Ocean is 11,962 feet deep on average.
Maximum Depth The Atlantic Ocean’s maximum depth is approximately 27,493 feet.
Coastal Length of Atlantic Ocean
The Atlantic Ocean’s shoreline spans 111,866 km.
All Other Oceans Are Connected to The Atlantic Ocean
The Atlantic Ocean connects all other oceans. The Arctic Ocean was connected to the north by the Atlantic. It shares a southern border with the Antarctic Ocean.
Moreover, it has a southeasterly connection to the Indian Ocean. On its southwest side, it has a connection to the Pacific Ocean.
The Largest Drainage Area Belongs to The Atlantic Ocean
The Atlantic Ocean is nourished by some of the biggest rivers on earth. Many rivers enter the Baltic and Mediterranean oceans, including the Amazon, Mississippi, Niger, and Congo. Eventually, these seas will empty into the Atlantic Ocean.
The Titanic’s Last Resting Site Is in The Atlantic Ocean
On April 14, 1912, a sizable North Atlantic Iceberg struck the RMS Titanic. A ship ran into an iceberg.
This wrecked six watertight compartments and some of the starboard. In a few hours, the ship sank into the Ocean. This shipwreck claimed the lives of almost 1,500 individuals.
The First Successful Transatlantic Flight Crossed the Atlantic Ocean
In May 1919, three US Navy flying boats departed from the waters of New York City. These flying boats had a purpose when they set out. They wanted to be able to fly over the Atlantic.
No other aircraft had ever done something like this. This objective led to the Atlantic becoming the first ocean that a plane successfully crossed. Only one of the three flying boats made it to its destination.
The Atlantic Ocean Contains the Bermuda Triangle
We have all read enigmatic and frightful tales about the Bermuda Triangle. This enigmatic location is in the Atlantic Ocean, encircled by Miami, Bermuda, and Puerto Rico.
The Bermuda Triangle has been the subject of numerous stories. 20 aircraft and almost 50 ships have vanished in this region. Yet, one of the busiest shipping routes in the world is still the Bermuda Triangle.
The Atlantic Ocean Has Existed for About 150 Million Years
A hundred million years ago, the planet was just one enormous landmass. The name of this continent was Pangea.
The Atlantic Ocean did not exist at all during this time! One hundred eighty million years ago, the Pangea started to disintegrate.
At this time, the western and eastern hemispheres’ landmasses floated apart, forming the Atlantic Ocean basin. Water slowly began to fill this basin.
Large Islands Like Greenland Dot the Atlantic Ocean
Some of the largest islands in the world are found in the Atlantic Ocean. Greenland is the largest of these islands. Other sizable islands in this ocean include Ireland, Cuba, and Great Britain.
The Atlantic Ocean Has Fewer Islands Compared to The Pacific
The number of islands in the Atlantic Ocean is lower, even though some of them are the largest. The largest number of islands are found in the Pacific Ocean. In total, there are over 25,000 islands there.
The Atlantic Ocean Contains a Region Known as “Iceberg Alley.
“Iceberg Alley” is a region of the northwestern Atlantic Ocean, known for its large number of icebergs.
These icebergs, which separate from the Arctic Glacier and float into the North Atlantic Ocean, threaten the ships that navigate this ocean area.
Precious Minerals Can Be Found in The Atlantic Ocean
You did really hear correctly! Many priceless minerals and stones can be found in the Atlantic Ocean, and diamonds and other precious stones can be found all along the South African coast.
A diamond mining business extracted more than 1.378 million carats of diamonds in 2017. Sediments are drawn up from the ocean floor every day, using crawler ships.
The Marine Life in The Atlantic Ocean Is Abundant
Marine life is abundant and robust in the Atlantic Ocean. Unfortunately, many species are already in danger of extinction.
Sea Lions, humpback whales, green sea turtles, dolphins, auks, and other animals are a few of these. These species are vanishing due to hunting, sea mining, and industrial pollution.
The Atlantic Ocean Is Rich in Natural Resources
The Atlantic Ocean has abundant natural resources, including gravel, aragonite sands, and oil. Fish, placer deposits, polymetallic nodules, and valuable stones are also present.
Nevertheless, the economic activity focused on these resources is expanding, severely harming the ocean’s diverse marine habitat.
The Highest Tides in The World Occur in The Atlantic Ocean
Compared to other oceans in the globe, the Atlantic Ocean experiences the highest tides. The Bay of Fundy has the widest variation of tides.
This location is off the shore of Nova Scotia. The sea rises to 52 feet here, and the global average tide height is 3 feet 3 inches.
The Second-Largest Barrier Reef Is Located in The Atlantic Ocean
The second-largest barrier reef is thought to be the Cancun Reef. The Atlantic Ocean is where this reef is situated. Off the Mexican coast sits this barrier reef.
The Atlantic Ocean’s Basin Enlarges Each Year Due to Seafloor Spreading
This statistic about the Atlantic Ocean is really intriguing. Every year, the Atlantic Ocean’s basin widens by around 4 inches (10 centimeters). The range of widening is about 1 inch.
The Busiest Sea Routes Are Around the Atlantic Ocean
The trade ties between the US, Canada, Brazil, and Argentina are to blame for this. These nations regularly and in substantial quantities import and export materials, and because of this, the Atlantic Ocean is crucial for trade.
The Mid-Atlantic Ridge, Beneath the Atlantic Ocean.
A mountain range known as the mid-Atlantic ridge can be found beneath the Atlantic Ocean. It is a portion of the world’s largest mountain range, rising between 6,000 and 13,000 feet above sea level and having a 10,000-mile range.
The Atlantic Ocean Is the Saltiest of The World’s Major Oceans
The Atlantic Ocean is the saltiest ocean on the planet. The Antarctic ice sheet and world mountain ranges contribute to its high salinity levels.
A Major Role in The Development of Intercontinental Communication
The Atlantic Ocean was a significant player in the history of transatlantic communications. The first telegraph cables were buried in the Atlantic Ocean’s sea bed in 1866.
This facilitated communication between Europe and North America. The telegraph was the fastest form of communication at the time.
We still don’t know many interesting things about the Atlantic Ocean. We continue to learn more about this ocean from scientists as they examine it.
The ocean is a magnificent and expansive place. Many aquatic animals live there. Yet mining, pollution, and overfishing are destroying our oceans, diminishing their beauty.
The Atlantic Ocean greatly facilitated intercontinental communication:
The Atlantic Ocean was important in the development of transatlantic communications. The first telegraph cables were installed on the ocean floor of the Atlantic in 1866.
As a result, communication between Europe and North America was facilitated. The fastest form of communication at the time was the telegraph.
In this article, we learned various interesting facts about the Atlantic Ocean. To learn more, visit this website.
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