Description of the Pacific Ocean step by step. Largest seas
From the northeast, the border of the Russian Federation is washed by the waters of both its seas - and the Japanese. These three seas make up the group of Russian Far Eastern seas. The Far Eastern seas are the deepest and largest seas of our country. The territory occupied by them is almost twice the area on which they are located, and. The volume of water in the Far Eastern seas exceeds seven times the volume of the above seas.
The seas of the Pacific Ocean extend from northeast to southwest for 5000 km. Beringovo, Okhotsk and, on the one hand, are limited by the land of the largest continent (). And on the other, eastern side, their borders run along the Aleutian, and located in the waters of the Pacific Ocean - the largest ocean on Earth.
The basins of the Far Eastern seas occupy the territory located between the underwater parts of the continent and the island arcs that limit the eastern border of the seas. Thus, the basin is a continental slope with a steep side on the opposite side. The basins of these seas are characterized by enormous depths; the bottom surface is flat in some areas and wavy in others. At the bottom there are large uplifts, similar to mountain ranges and isolated hills. The Seas of Japan and Okhotsk are characterized by small shelf development. In these seas, vast spaces have significant depths.
Sea of Okhotsk in winter
These seas are characterized by a monsoon climate, which is noticeable in changes depending on the time of year and affects the characteristics. Due to the fact that the seas occupy vast territories, located from north to south, the climate of individual areas of the seas also depends on. Especially the monsoon ones are most clearly visible. In the north and south of the Sea of Okhotsk, these features are less noticeable. The climate of the northern part of the Bering Sea is close to, and the southern part of the Sea of Japan tends to be maritime.
There are climatic differences between the eastern and western regions of the Far Eastern seas. The western part has a somewhat cold climate, which is due to the influence of the Pacific Ocean. The eastern regions are characterized by a relatively warm climate, which is influenced by the mainland.
In these seas there is little continental water. It has virtually no effect, since the size of these seas is very large. Only in the coastal zone, where there are large mouths, is fresh water noticeable in the upper layer of the sea in spring and summer. For the Far Eastern seas, water exchange with the Pacific Ocean and neighboring basins is significant. Beringovo and are connected to the ocean by large straits (more than 1000 - 2000 m). The Sea of Japan communicates with the Pacific Ocean only through several small straits (up to 150 m). Thus, the exchange of waters near the Bering and Okhotsk seas occurs to great depths. And the waters of the Sea of Japan exchange only the upper layers of water with the ocean. The nature of water exchange affects the appearance of the sea and the specifics of its waters.
In all three Far Eastern seas, periods are clearly observed, which are caused by the influence of the tidal Pacific Ocean. Fluctuations in water levels during high tide are determined by the characteristics of the coastline and coastal waters. In the Penzhina Bay of the Sea of Okhotsk, the highest tides occur in. The tide in the Sea of Japan and Bering Sea is less than in the Sea of Okhotsk.
Japanese Sea
The waters of the Far Eastern seas are covered with ice every year. The characteristics of the ice cover depend on latitude and various local factors. The western regions of the Sea of Okhotsk have the most durable ice cover. The lows in this area are due to the influence of the mainland. Even in the northern Bering Sea, which is at higher latitudes, the water temperature is not as low as in the Sea of Okhotsk. In all Far Eastern seas, ice is annual and of local origin (ice forms and melts in sea waters).
The waters of the Bering and Okhotsk seas communicate perfectly with the waters of the Pacific Ocean. Thus, the chemical composition of sea waters is in many ways similar to ocean waters. This is most clearly manifested in the distribution of oxygen across the levels of the water column. The waters of the Sea of Japan, which are very isolated from the ocean, have a water composition different from the oceanic one. At great depths of this sea, waters containing large amounts of oxygen are observed. A similar phenomenon is not observed in the Pacific waters bordering.
Human economic activity in the Far Eastern seas is determined by their geographical location and natural features. In the Far Eastern seas, marine life is well developed. A large amount of fish (sardines, mackerel, saury and other species) and other marine products (mussels, scallops, squid and seaweed) are caught in the waters. Also, maritime traffic is widely used in these seas, which helps improve trade relations.
The environmental condition of the Far Eastern seas is negatively affected by the activities of enterprises and factories in the pulp and paper and electric power industries, processes of naphtha and gas extraction, housing and communal services, the development of shipbuilding and ship repair work, and the functioning of the merchant and naval fleets. Contaminated wastewater is discharged into the waters of the seas located near the Primorsky and Khabarovsk territories, Sakhalin, Magadan and regions. As a result, in the Far Eastern waters located near the coast, there is a high content of petroleum products, heavy metal salts, and toxic chemicals. In the Sea of Okhotsk, the most polluted area is the waters of Terpeniya Bay. The most severe ecological situation is observed in the waters along the coast and in the area of the Golden Horn Bay.
The average depth is 3988 m. The deepest point of the ocean (it is also the deepest point in the world) is located in the Mariana Trench and is called the Challenger Deep (11,022 m).
. Average temperature: 19-37°C. The widest part of the Pacific Ocean is located at equatorial-tropical latitudes, so surface water temperatures are significantly higher than in other oceans.
. Dimensions: area - 179.7 million sq. km, volume - 710.36 million sq. km.
To imagine how big the Pacific Ocean is, there are enough numbers: it occupies a third of our planet and makes up almost half of the World Ocean.
Salinity - 35-36 ‰.
Pacific Currents
Alaskan— washes the western coast of North America and reaches the Bering Sea. It spreads to great depths, right down to the bottom. Current speed: 0.2-0.5 m/s. Water temperature: 7-15°C.
East Australian- the largest off the Australian coast. It starts at the equator (Coral Sea) and runs along the east coast of Australia. Average speed is 2-3 knots (up to 7). Temperature - 25°C.
Kuroshio(or Japanese) - washes the southern and eastern shores of Japan, carrying the warm waters of the South China Sea to the northern latitudes. It has three branches: East Korean, Tsushima and Soya. Speed: 6 km/h, temperature 18-28°C.
North Pacific- continuation of the Kuroshio current. It crosses the ocean from west to east, and near the coast of North America it branches into the Alaskan (goes to the north) and California (to the south). Near the coast of Mexico, it turns and crosses the ocean in the opposite direction (North Trade Wind Current) - all the way to Kuroshio.
South Passatnoe- flows in the southern tropical latitudes, stretches from east to west: from the coast of South America (Galapagos Islands) to the coast of Australia and New Guinea. Temperature - 32°C. Gives rise to the Australian Current.
Equatorial countercurrent (or inter-trade current)- stretches from west to east between the North Passat and South Passat currents.
Cromwell's current- a subsurface countercurrent that passes under the South Passat. Speed 70-150 cm/sec.
Cold:
Californian- the western branch of the North Pacific Current, flows along the western coasts of the United States and Mexico. Speed - 1-2 km/h, temperature 15-26°C.
Antarctic Circumpolar (or Western Winds Current)— circles the entire globe between 40° and 50° S. latitude. Speed 0.4-0.9 km/h, temperature 12-15 °C. This current is often called the "Roaring Forties", as powerful storms rage here. The Peruvian Current branches off from it in the Pacific Ocean.
Peruvian Current (or Humboldt Current)- flows from south to north from the coast of Antarctica along the western coast of Chile and Peru. Speed 0.9 km/h, temperature 15-20 °C.
Underwater world of the Pacific Ocean
The flora and fauna of the underwater world in the Pacific Ocean is the richest and most diverse. Almost 50% of all living organisms in the World Ocean live here. The most densely populated area is considered to be the area near the Great Baller Reef.
All ocean wildlife is located according to climatic zones - in the north and south it is scarcer than in the tropics, but the total number of each species of animal or plant is greater here.
The Pacific Ocean produces more than half of the world's seafood catch. Of the commercial species, the most popular are salmon (95% of the world catch), mackerel, anchovies, sardines, horse mackerel, and halibut. There is limited whale fishing: baleen whales and sperm whales.
The numbers eloquently testify to the richness of the underwater world:
- more than 850 species of algae;
- more than 100 thousand species of animals (of which over 3800 species of fish);
- about 200 species of animals living at a depth of more than 7 thousand km;
- more than 6 thousand species of mollusks.
The Pacific Ocean is home to the largest number of endemics (animals that are found only here): dugongs, fur seals, sea otters, sea lions, sea cucumbers, polychaetes, leopard sharks.
The nature of the Pacific Ocean has only been studied about 10 percent. Every year scientists discover more and more new species of animals and plants. For example, in 2005 alone, more than 2,500 new species of mollusks and more than 100 species of crustaceans were discovered.
Pacific exploration
According to scientific research, the Pacific Ocean is the oldest on the planet. Its formation began in the Cretaceous period of the Mesozoic, that is, more than 140 million years ago. The exploration of the ocean began long before the advent of writing. People who lived on the shores of the greatest water area have been using the gifts of the ocean for thousands of years ago. Thus, Thor Heyerdahl's expedition on the Kon-Tiki balsa raft confirmed the scientist's theory that the islands of Polynesia could have been populated by people from South America who were able to cross the Pacific Ocean on the same rafts.
For Europeans, the history of ocean exploration is officially dated from September 15, 1513. On this day, traveler Vasco Nunez de Balboa first saw the expanse of water stretching to the horizon, and dubbed it the South Sea.
According to legend, the ocean received its name from F. Magellan himself. During his trip around the world, the great Portuguese for the first time circled South America and ended up in the ocean. Having sailed along it for more than 17 thousand kilometers and without experiencing a single storm during all this time, Magellan christened the ocean the Pacific. It was only later research that proved him wrong. The Pacific Ocean is actually one of the most turbulent oceans. It is here that the largest tsunamis occur, and typhoons, hurricanes and storms occur here more often than in other oceans.
From then on, active exploration of the largest ocean on the planet began. We list only the most significant discoveries:
1589 - A. Ortelius publishes the world's first detailed map of the ocean.
1642-1644 - the ocean conquers A. Tasman and opens a new continent - Australia.
1769-1779 - three voyages around the world by D. Cook and exploration of the southern part of the ocean.
1785 - voyage of J. La Perouse, exploration of the southern and northern parts of the ocean. The mysterious disappearance of the expedition in 1788 still haunts the minds of researchers.
1787-1794 - the journey of A. Malaspina, who compiled a detailed map of the west coast of America.
1725-1741 - two Kamchatka expeditions led by V.I. Bering and A. Chirikov, study of the northern and northwestern parts of the ocean.
1819-1821 - trip around the world by F. Bellingshausen and M. Lazarev, discovery of Antarctica and islands in the southern part of the ocean.
1872-1876 - the world's first scientific expedition to study the Pacific Ocean was organized on the corvette Challenger (England). Maps of depths and bottom relief were compiled, and a collection of ocean flora and fauna was collected.
1949-1979 - 65 scientific voyages of the ship "Vityaz" under the flag of the USSR Academy of Sciences (measuring the depth of the Mariana Trench and detailed maps of the underwater relief).
1960 - first dive to the bottom of the Mariana Trench.
1973 - creation of the Pacific Oceanological Institute (Vladivostok)
Since the 90s of the twentieth century, a comprehensive study of the Pacific Ocean has begun, which combines and systematizes all the data obtained. Currently, the priority areas are geophysics, geochemistry, geology and commercial use of the ocean floor.
Since the discovery of the Challenger Deep in 1875, only three people have descended to the very bottom of the Mariana Trench. The last dive took place on March 12, 2012. And the brave diver was none other than the famous film director James Cameron.
Many representatives of the fauna of the Pacific Ocean are characterized by gigantism: giant mussels and oysters, the tridacna clam (300 kg).
There are over 25 thousand islands in the Pacific Ocean, more than in all other oceans combined. Here is also the oldest island on the planet - Kauai, whose age is estimated at 6 million years.
More than 80% of tsunamis are “born” in the Pacific Ocean. The reason for this is the large number of underwater volcanoes.
The Pacific Ocean is full of secrets. There are many mystical places here: the Devil's Sea (near Japan), where ships and planes disappear; the bloodthirsty island of Palmyra, where everyone who remains there perishes; Easter Island with its mysterious idols; Truk Lagoon, where the largest military equipment cemetery is located. And in 2011, a sign island was discovered near Australia - Sandy Island. It appears and disappears, as evidenced by numerous expeditions and Google satellite photos.
The so-called Garbage Continent was discovered in the north of the ocean. This is a large garbage heap containing over 100 million tons of plastic waste.
Sea of Aki- open sea connecting the east and west of the Sea of Japan. It is small in size - only 35*45 km. In Japan, this sea is called "Aki Nada" (in honor of the historical province of Aki), and its eastern part has its own name - Itsuki.
The Aki Sea is located in the monsoon zone in temperate latitudes - a rare phenomenon that has endowed the sea with an unusual climate: there is more precipitation in summer than in winter. The Aki Sea is considered a seismically dangerous zone. During the monsoon period, powerful typhoons arise here, and waves grow up to 12 meters. But the Japanese really value the Aki Sea for its rich underwater world and abundance of fish. The sea is especially famous for mackerel and sea crucian fish.
Sea Bali
Sea Bali. The Bali Sea stretches between the islands of Bali, Lombok, Subawa, Java and Madura. Its area is 40 thousand km. The subequatorial zone provides a mild and humid climate. Storms are rare here and the water temperature rarely drops below 28°C. This is why divers love the Bali Sea so much. The underwater world is almost in no way inferior in beauty to the Indian Ocean. The sea contains such unusual fish as barracudas, crocodiles, angelfish, hammerhead sharks and giant turtles. But swimming here is not very convenient, since the coral thickets begin almost at the edge of the sea.
- one of the deepest in the world (average depth - 2744 m), located within the Malay Archipelago. Great depth, low tides (up to 2 m) and warm water (average temperature 26-28°C) have made the Banda Sea one of the favorite meeting places for divers.
The underwater world here is extremely diverse. One of the most interesting species of fish is the talking umbrine fish. They make a sound similar to grunting, and it is very loud. Local fishermen simply listen to the water and easily determine where fish gather. And the umbrine’s catch, pulled out onto the deck, puts on a deafening concert.
The sea received its name in honor of the Banda archipelago. These islands, until the middle of the 19th century, were the only place in the world where nutmeg was grown - a valuable spice that Arab merchants sold at exorbitant prices. And the location of the islands was kept in the strictest confidence.
- the largest (area 2304 sq. km) and deepest sea in Russia. Its average depth is 1640m, the greatest is 4151m. This sea is also the northernmost; ice forms here already in September, and disappears only by the end of June. In winter, more than half of the sea is covered with ice, and in the Gulf of Lawrence, for example, the ice crust lasts for years.
The Bering Sea is often called the "sea of plenty" because... it is one of the richest ecoregions in the world. Over 450 species of fish, about 50 species of seabirds and more than 20 species of marine animals live here.
- an inland sea located between the islands of the Philippine archipelago. Transparent waters, snow-white beaches, cozy coves and excellent weather conditions have made the sea a popular tourist destination. The sea is shallow (average depth is only 80 m), but very warm, as it is located near the equator. The underwater world of the sea is, first of all, coral thickets that attract numerous species of fish and shellfish. Pearls are mined in shallow waters.
(Seto-Nankai Sea) is located between the Japanese islands and through the Shimonoseki Strait is connected to the Sea of Japan, which washes these islands. The sea is shallow - the average depth is 22 meters. But in this water area there are over 1000 islands. The largest islands are connected by bridges.
Since ancient times, this sea has served as the most important transport artery. In the Middle Ages, power at sea was seized by pirates, who had a huge fleet and completely controlled maritime trade in this region. The most influential pirates were from the Murakami family clan, who received the status of samurai for their activities.
The unique natural conditions were the reason why the Inland Sea of Japan became the world's first marine reserve (since 1934).
Located between the coast of China and the Japanese islands. Its area is 836 thousand sq. km, the average depth is 309 m, the greatest is 2718 m. This sea is very dangerous for sailors, since there are still huge unexplored areas of the water area, and navigation equipment is installed only near the most important ports. The uneven topography of the seabed is the result of numerous earthquakes, as a result of which powerful tsunamis are formed.
It washes the eastern coast of China and Korea. Area - 416 thousand sq. km, average depth - 40 m. It was called yellow because of the color of the water. The fact is that several of the largest Chinese rivers flow into this sea, which form sediments of sand and silt. And in the spring, dust storms often rage over the sea, which can be so strong that ships have to be stopped.
The first European to visit the Yellow Sea was Marco Polo, although the ancient peoples of China and Korea traveled along this sea and conducted active maritime trade from time immemorial.
One of the most amazing natural phenomena occurs in the southwestern part of the sea. Here, between the Korean islands of Jindo and Modo, during low tides the sea parts, exposing the bottom. The “sea road” opens for almost an hour, along which you can walk from one island to another without getting your feet wet. This happens 1-3 times a year. People call this phenomenon the “miracle of Moses.”
- an inland sea located between the islands of the Philippine archipelago. It got its name in honor of the group of Camotes Islands, which rise almost in the very center of the water area.
Camotes is located in the tropical zone, so there is calm in May, and typhoons dominate here from June to October.
Near the island of Cebu in the Camotes Sea there is one of the most unusual places on our planet - Magnoles Bay. Huge reserves of beryllium were discovered at the bottom of the bay. Dissolving in sea water, beryllium makes the water taste sweet. That's why Camotes is popularly called the "sweet sea."
It is located between Australia and the islands of New Guinea and New Caledonia. Total area - 4791 sq. km, average depth - 2194 m (maximum - 9140 m).
The sea received its name in honor of corals, whose thickets form huge reefs and islands. This is where the longest coral reef in the world is located - the Great Barrier Reef. The entire water area has belonged to Australia since 1964.
There is also a tragic page in the history of the sea. In May 1942, one of the largest naval battles of World War II took place in the Coral Sea between the fleets of Japan and the Allies (Great Britain, the USA and Australia). This was the world's first battle of aircraft carriers, and the ships themselves did not fire a single shot, and the battle was fought entirely in the air.
A report on the Pacific Ocean for a geography lesson can be supplemented with interesting facts. Reports on the Pacific Ocean contain a lot of educational information.
Report on the topic “Pacific Ocean”
The Pacific Ocean received its name thanks to, which in 1521 crossed the Pacific Ocean from the western coast of South America to the coast of South Asia, and never encountered a storm, which is why he called the ocean “Pacific”.
The Pacific Ocean is called the Great Ocean for its size, as it is the largest body of water on Earth.
- This the deepest and the warmest in the surface layer of the ocean.
- The highest wind waves and the most destructive tropical hurricanes form here.
- He takes first place in number of islands. The islands of the central part of the ocean are united under the general name Oceania.
- It occupies almost half the area of the entire World Ocean and washes the shores of five continents of the Earth.
Geographical location of the Pacific Ocean
The Pacific Ocean covers more 30% of the Earth's surface and surpasses all continents in area. From north to south it stretches for 16,000 km, and from west to east – more than 19,000 km.
In the east, the boundaries of the ocean are the shores of South and North America, the Drake Passage, in the west - the shores of Asia, the Strait of Malacca, the islands of Sumatra, Java, the Lesser Sundas, New Guinea, the Torres Strait, the island of Tasmania, in the south the border runs conventionally along the Antarctic convergence line.
Average depth of the Pacific Ocean 3976 m, maximum 11,034 m (Mariana Trench).
Volcanoes are common at the bottom of the Pacific Ocean. When underwater volcanoes erupt, islands are sometimes formed, many of which are short-lived and washed away by water.
The underwater relief of the vast ocean is diverse. At the bottom of the Pacific Ocean there are vast basins, individual mountains, hills, and in the southern part two rises that form the mid-ocean ridge.
Pacific climate
The ocean climate is varied and varies from equatorial to subarctic in the north and Antarctic in the south.
The widest part is located in hot zones. Therefore, the average temperature in the surface layer is 2 degrees. higher than in the Atlantic and Indian oceans.
Average ocean salinity – 34.5 ppm- this is lower than in other oceans, since more fresh water enters it with precipitation and rivers than evaporates.
The stretch of the ocean from the northern to the southern polar latitudes determines the climatic diversity in its spaces:
— The western part of the ocean is characterized by monsoons
— Moderate latitudes are characterized by winds that are relatively unstable in direction and a fairly frequent recurrence of storm winds with a speed of more than 16 m/sec, and their maximum speed at times reaches 45 m/sec
— In tropical latitudes - trade winds
In the tropics, typhoons often form (from the Chinese “tai feng” - big wind) - a tropical cyclone, within which hurricane-force winds blow at speeds of up to 100 km/h.
Organic World of the Pacific
The organic world of the Pacific Ocean is rich and diverse. It is the richest in the number of species of living organisms. Overall, the ocean is home to about 100 thousand species of animals. Plant plankton alone numbers about 1,300 species. It accounts for half of the total mass of living organisms in the World Ocean.
Brown algae is abundant in the cold and temperate waters of the Pacific Ocean. In the Southern Hemisphere, at these latitudes, a giant of the world of algae grows, 200 m long.
Coral reefs are one of the wonders of the tropical seas. Coral structures of various colors and shapes create a magical world underwater. Among the purple, green, orange, yellow branches of coral buildings, light silhouettes of fish flash; shellfish, starfish and algae live here.
Coral reefs are created by living organisms - coral polyps, living in colonies. A branched coral colony has been growing for many years, the growth rate is 10-20 cm per year.
For the development of corals, sea water with a salinity of 27-40‰ and a temperature of at least +20 ºС is required. Corals live only in the upper 50-meter layer of clean, transparent water.
In the southern tropical zone off the coast of Australia, a unique natural complex of the Great Barrier Reef has formed. This is the largest “mountain range” on Earth created by organisms.
In size it is comparable to the Ural Range.
The Pacific Ocean in people's lives
About half of the world's population lives along the shores of the Pacific Ocean. The lives of many of them are inextricably linked with the ocean and depend on it.
The longest sea routes run through this ocean, connecting port cities of different continents. However, human economic activities have led to a serious problem of pollution of the Great Ocean. Entire islands of garbage have accumulated in its waters.
The message about the Pacific Ocean can be used by students in grades 5-7. If you are a 2-3 grade student, it is better to shorten the report by selecting the main facts.
Many seas wash the shores of one or more countries. Some of these seas are huge, while others are very small... Only inland seas are not part of the ocean.
After the Earth formed from a clump of gas and dust 4.5 billion years ago, the temperature on the planet dropped and the vapor contained in the atmosphere condensed (turned into liquid when cooled), settling on the surface in the form of rain. From this water the world ocean was formed, which was subsequently divided by continents into four oceans. These oceans include numerous coastal seas, often connected to each other.
Largest seas of the Pacific Ocean
Philippine Sea
Area: 5.7 million km2, located between Taiwan in the north, the Mariana Islands in the east, the Caroline Islands in the southeast and the Philippines in the west.
coral sea
Area: 4 million km2, limited to the west by Australia, Papua New Guinea to the north, Vanuatu to the east and New Caledonia
South China Sea
Area: 3.5 million km2, located between the Philippines in the east, Malaysia in the south, Vietnam in the west and China in the north
Tasman Sea
Area: 3.3 million km 2, washes Australia in the west and New Zealand in the east and separates the Pacific and Indian oceans.
Bering Sea
Area: 2.3 million km 2, located between Chukotka (Russia) in the west and Alaska (USA) in the east.
Japanese Sea
Area: 970,000 km2, located between the Russian Far East in the northwest, Korea in the west and Japan in the east.
Largest seas of the Atlantic Ocean
Sargasso Sea
Area: 4 million km 2, located between Florida (USA) in the west and the Northern Antilles in the south.
Composition of sea water
Sea water consists of approximately 96% water and 4% salt. Apart from the Dead Sea, the saltiest sea in the world is the Red Sea: it contains 44 grams of salt per liter of water (versus 35 grams on average for most seas). This high salt content is explained by the fact that water evaporates faster in this hot region.
Gulf of Guinea
Area: 1.5 million km 2, located at the latitude of the Ivory Coast, Ghana, Togo, Benin, Nigeria, Cameroon, Equatorial Guinea and Gabon.
Mediterranean Sea
Area: 2.5 million km 2, surrounded by Europe in the north, Western Asia in the east and North Africa in the south.
Antilles Sea
Area: 2.5 million km 2, located between the Antilles in the east, the coast of South America in the South and Central America in the West.
Gulf of Mexico
Area: 1.5 million km 2, it is adjacent to the southern coast of the United States from the north and Mexico from the west.
Baltic Sea
Area: 372,730 km 2, borders Russia and Finland in the north, Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania in the east, Poland and Germany in the south and Denmark and Sweden in the west.
North Sea
Area: 570,000 km 2, it is adjacent to Scandinavia in the east, Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium and France in the south and Great Britain in the west.
Largest seas of the Indian Ocean
Arabian Sea
Area: 3.5 million km 2, washes the Arabian Peninsula in the west, Pakistan in the north and India in the east.
Bay of Bengal
Area: 2.1 million km 2, located between the coasts of India in the west, Bangladesh in the north, Myanmar (Burma) in the northeast, the Andaman and Nicobar Islands in the southeast and Sri Lanka in the southwest.
Great Australian Bight (Australian Bight)
Area: 1.3 million km 2, stretches along the southern coast of Australia.
Arafura Sea
Area: 1 million km 2, located between Papua New Guinea in the northwest, Indonesia in the west and Australia in the south.
Mozambique Channel
Area: 1.4 million km 2, located near Africa, between the coasts of Mozambique in the west and Madagascar in the east.
The largest seas of the Arctic Ocean
Barencevo sea
Area: 1.4 million km 2, washes the shores of Norway in the west and Russia in the east.
Greenland Sea
Area: 1.2 million km 2, limited by Greenland in the west and the island of Spitsbergen (Norway) in the east.
East-Siberian Sea
Area: 900,000 km 2, washes the shores of Siberia.
The largest seas of Antarctica
Inland seas
Inland, or closed, seas are completely surrounded by land. The Black and Caspian seas are the largest of them.
Black Sea
Area: 461,000 km2. It is surrounded by Romania and Bulgaria in the west, Russia and Ukraine in the north, Georgia in the east and Turkey in the south. It communicates with the Mediterranean Sea through Marmara.
Bellingshausen Sea
Area: 1.2 million km 2, located near Antarctica.
Caspian Sea
Area: 376,000 km2, located between Azerbaijan in the west, Russia in the northwest, Kazakhstan in the north and east, Turkmenistan in the southeast and Iran in the south.
Ross Sea
Area: 960,000 km 2, located north of Antarctica.
Weddell Sea
Area: 1.9 million km 2, located between the South Orkney Islands (UK) and the South Shetland Islands (UK) in the north and Antarctica in the south.
The Dead Sea is so salty that there are no living organisms in it
