Modern inhabitants of the planet from the school bench know which ocean is the largest. But when the ships of Fernand Magellan, passing the most dangerous strait, reached the vast expanses of water on November 28, 1520, they still did not know that they open the largest ocean in the world, and the journey from Tierra del Fuego to the Philippine Islands will take 3 months and 20 days at the first round-the-world expedition .
In the photo: Fernand Magellan - the great navigator who made the first trip around the world.
After walking through it, Magellan will call him "Silent." Under this name, the largest ocean and entered the world of geographical science. In the article, we consider the indicators of the Pacific Ocean and some interesting facts about the largest body of water on the planet.
Physicotechnical Specifications
Let's start with the physical indicators. The length of the ocean from north to south is 15.8 thousand kilometers, but from east to west a little more, 19.5 thousand. Moreover, its area is equal, if we take into account all the seas - 178.7 million km².
The ocean is so huge that if you look at the Earth from some sides, then only one ocean will be visible on it, and there will be almost no noticeable land areas.
Moreover, it is the deepest ocean, the largest depth in the Mariana Trench reaches 10,994 meters, although the average depths do not exceed 4 thousand meters. But the largest hollow is not the only one, in the Pacific Ocean there are hollows of Tonga and Kermadek, as well as the Philippine Trench, the depths of which are no less impressive.
All these indicators prove that the Pacific Ocean is the largest.
Climate
Ironically, but with that name, this is the most turbulent and turbulent ocean on the planet. The tsunamis forming in its waters reach speeds of 750 kilometers per hour.
Temperature differences lead to the emergence of the strongest typhoons, sweeping from west to east at great speed. But the largest wave was observed in the south of the ocean, and reached 30 meters in height.
The expanses of the Pacific Ocean are located in all climatic zones of the Earth, and maybe these zones covered the largest body of water. The diversity of the ocean climate has made this part of the planet a real tourist paradise.
Fauna
Naturally, such a huge area caused the diversity of the animal world. More than 100 thousand species of animals live in its waters, and some of them are quite exotic and rare. For example, only in the waters of this ocean can be found sea beavers.
If we talk about fish, then there are about 3,800 species, and their diversity is simply amazing.
Exploring the deepest depths of the oceans, oceanologists and ichthyologists, precisely at great depths of the Pacific Ocean, have discovered unique and never-seen species of deep-sea fish and animals.
Flora
The flora is unique and amazing. Its numbers and diversity are affected by climatic zones. For example, in the cold waters of the Barents Sea there are only 50 species of marine plants, but the tropical and subtropical climatic zones are richest.
It is in warm waters that a wide variety of coral reefs and mangroves. Rare species of algae are found in the coastal zones of the tropical islands and the coast of Australia, and the total biomass of the ocean is 50% of all the oceans of the earth.
Seas
32 seas were harmoniously blended into the vast expanses of the giant. The northernmost sea stretches off the coast of Kamchatka and Alaska, named after the Russian explorer Vitus Bering, but the southernmost off the coast of Australia and New Zealand is called Tasmanovo.
Pictured: Aki Sea
Of all the seas, the largest is the Philippine Sea, and the smallest Aki Sea within the ocean, located in the water body of Japan.
Of interesting facts, we note that scientists cannot attribute the Sava Sea to any ocean at all, and this is a disputed territory between the Pacific and Indian oceans. But the Java Sea is considered the youngest on the planet.
Currents and tracks
For many years, scientists have been exploring the currents of the ocean, but the case has helped to make significant progress. In 1992, a ship leaving Hong Kong brought toys to the United States. He crashed, and among the toys were yellow rubber ducks, which then, after long days of sailing, sailed to different shores, including Alaska, Hawaii, and the islands of Japan.
The Pacific plays an important role in the transport system of the world. The most important transport routes connecting the continents and countries of the planet Earth ran along its surface and in the airspace.
Pacific Records
In addition to the largest area and deep water, the Pacific Ocean leads in other indicators.
- On the expanses of the ocean is the largest number of islands. To date, scientists and travelers have counted more than 25 thousand.
- This is the warmest ocean, since its widest part lies within the equator.
- Paleontologists and oceanologists, studying the stages of the formation of the earth's surface, found out that this is also the most ancient ocean.
- Although Magellan called it “Silent”, the highest waves are formed in it. That's why surfers all over the world love him so much.
- In addition to large waves, the Pacific can boast the largest tides, during which the water off the coast of South Korea sometimes rises to 9 meters.
- And another record is that the Pacific Ocean contains more than half of all the water on planet Earth.
As you can see, the largest ocean on Earth is not only the record holder in many respects, but also the most amazing and mysterious. So, by right, the Pacific Ocean, based on all of the above, can be called "the most-most."