Oceans of the World

Oceans are huge bodies of salt water that cover most of the Earth. There are five oceans. They are the Pacific, Atlantic, Indian, Southern, and Arctic Oceans. Together they hold about 97 percent of all the water on Earth.

The Five Oceans

The Pacific Ocean is the largest and deepest ocean. The Atlantic Ocean is the second largest. The Indian Ocean is warm and lies mostly south of Asia. The Southern Ocean surrounds Antarctica. The Arctic Ocean is the smallest and coldest ocean, found near the North Pole.

Why Oceans Matter

Oceans control our weather and climate. They absorb heat from the sun and move warm water around the globe. Oceans are home to millions of kinds of living things. People also depend on oceans for food, transportation, and fun activities like swimming and surfing.

Fun Facts

• The Pacific Ocean is bigger than all the land on Earth put together.
• The deepest spot in the ocean is the Mariana Trench, about 36,000 feet deep.
• Scientists have explored less than 20 percent of the ocean floor.

Did You Know?

All five oceans are connected, so a drop of water could travel from one ocean to all the others!