[allinvain]

The ocean is a massive body of saline water that covers approximately 72% of the Earth's surface. According to NOAA, there is only one Global Ocean. However, this ocean has been divided into distinct named geographic regions by countries and oceanographers. Today, most nations including the United States recognizes five ocean basins, namely Arctic, Atlantic, Indian, Pacific, and Southern. Together, they hold around 97% of the water found on Earth and significantly influence global weather patterns and food supply chains. The ocean houses a plethora of marine organisms ranging from marine microbes to the world's largest animal, the blue whale. However, although the ocean plays a major role in sustaining life on Earth, we have explored or mapped only about 20% of the ocean. The rest remains a mystery.

[pr0wler]

The islands of Seychelles in the warm, tropical waters of the Indian Ocean. Image credit: GagliardiPhotography/Shutterstock.com more

[hromisko]

Southern Ocean and Antarctic islands near the Antarctic Peninsula in winter. Image credit: Tarpan/Shutterstock.com

[kelvie]

Without this water, Earth would not have the diversity of life forms, the continents we live on (it takes water to create most continental rocks), or the atmosphere that protects us. If Earth’s surface were entirely smooth, with no mountains or basins, water would cover the entire planet. more

[nimnul]

Historically, there are four named oceans: the Atlantic, Pacific, Indian, and Arctic. However, most countries – including the United States – now recognize the Southern (Antarctic) as the fifth ocean. The Pacific, Atlantic, and Indian are the most commonly known.

[FreedomFirst]

Over millions of years, ocean basins open and close, continents move and change shape, and mountains are pushed up and eroded away. Such dynamic processes continually reshape the surface of the Earth. The movement of rigid plates on the Earth’s surface, known as plate tectonics, is the cause of these changes.

[xloem]

The five ocean basins from largest to smallest are: the Pacific, Atlantic, Indian, Southern, and Arctic.

[matonis]

Naruto Strait located between Naruto and Awaji Island in Tokushima and Hyogo, Japan respectively is known for a tidal whirlpool which has been named Naruto Whirlpool. The strait is 0.81 miles wide and connects the Inland Sea to the Pacific Ocean. The tide causes a large amount of water to move in and out of the Inland Sea twice in a day. The tide, with a range of up to 5.6 feet, causes a difference in water level of approximately 4 feet between the Inland Sea and the Pacific Ocean. Because the Naruto Strait is narrow, water rushes into it through the Naruto Channel at about 8 mph four times in a day and at 12 mph during spring tide, creating vortices of up to 66 feet in diameter. The current at the Naruto Strait is Japan’s fastest and 4th fastest in the world. Naruto Bridge offers the perfect spot for observing the whirlpools. more

[T_X]

A whirlpool is a swirling water that is formed when two opposing currents meet. A whirlpool can either be very powerful and strong or not very powerful and small. Powerful ones are often referred to as maelstroms and are mainly common in seas and oceans. Smaller whirlpools are common at the base of waterfalls and can also be observed in man-made structures such as dams and weirs. In oceans, they are mainly caused by tides and are capable of submerging large ships. Whirlpool that has a downdraft is referred to as Vortex in proper terms. Below are some of the largest and notable whirlpools in the world.

[morgans]

The Gulf of Corryvreckan is a strait located between Jura and Scarba islands, Scotland. The underwater topography of the area and the strong Atlantic current conspire to create a strong tidal race. As the tides enter the strait it speeds up and meet a variety of seabed features such as deep holes and rising pinnacles. The features come together to form the Corryvreckan whirlpool, the third-largest in the world. The whirlpool is located on the northern part of the gulf and surrounds the pyramid-shaped pinnacle. The Corryvreckan Whirlpool is believed to be unnavigable by many although the Royal Navy has not classified it as so. However, the nearby Little Corryvreckan has been officially classified as unnavigable because of its violence. The divers who explore the area consider it as one of the most dangerous dives in Britain.

[subash]

Moskstraumen is one of the strongest whirlpools in the world. It is also a system tidal eddies that form on the Norwegian Sea, between the Lofoten Point of Moskenes and Vaeroy on Mosken Island. The whirlpool is formed when the strong tidal current flow between the islands and the Atlantic Ocean and the deep Vestfjorden. The largest whirlpool has a diameter of 130 to 160 feet and induces a surface water ripple of up to 3 feet. Moskstraumen result from several factors such as tides, strong winds, the position of the Lofotodden, and the topography of the underwater. Although most whirlpools occur in confined straits and rivers, Moskstraumen is an exception. It occurs in open seas. Tides on Lofoten rise twice a day and are the major contributors to the whirlpool. They combine with the Norwegian Sea current and storm-induced flow, resulting in a significant stream. The flow occurs at a depth of about 1,600 feet and meets a ridge of about 66 feet deep at Mosken and Vaeroy islands, leading to an upward movement and eddies around the region.

[rdmiller3]

The smallest of all the oceans, the Arctic Ocean is completely surrounded by land, mainly Eurasia and North America, with the ocean centered approximately on the North Pole. Endangered marine species living in the Arctic Ocean include manatees, seals, sea lions, turtles and whales. here

[Aaron]

A recent study has also found that the Mediterranean is feeling the effects of global warming, having become both warmer and saltier in recent decades.

[ninaheadley]

28,400,000 square miles (73,555,662 square kilometers) [links]

[dacoinminster]

Also located in the South China Sea are more than 100 identified islands and reefs, most of which are located within the Spratly Islands and are valuable because they are home to rich fishing grounds as well as gas and oil deposits. These islands are claimed by China, Taiwan, Vietnam, Malaysia and the Philippines. more

[HZPyR8eVk]

Located in the northern area of the Atlantic Ocean is the Bermuda Triangle, with its three points touching upon Miami, Bermuda and Puerto Rico. Also known as "the Devil's Triangle," the Bermuda Triangle is believed to be responsible for the mysterious disappearance of more than 50 ships and 20 airplanes over the past century, according to the U.S. Navy.

[kobutoenen5]

This is the Second largest Ocean covered area of 106 million square kilometers and it embraced 20% of the Earth’s Surface and 26% of earth’s water surface. Commonly Atlantic Ocean subdivided into the North and South Atlantic Ocean. The total Water Volume of the Ocean is around 354 million Cubic Kilometers and the Average depth of the Atlantic Ocean is around 3,339 meters. here

[magxakic12]

The Pacific Ocean is the largest division of the Oceanic World (Subdivides into the North and South Pacific Ocean), the Pacific embraced over one-third of the Earth’s Surface, covered about 165 million square kilometers, the volume of the Pacific Ocean is around 622 million cubic kilometers, The deepest point on Earth the Mariana Trench is on Pacific and the Average Depth is 4,028 to 4,188 meters.

[eyu100]

The Southern Ocean or Antarctic Ocean is the Fourth Largest Ocean in the World with Covered Earths Water Surface area of 18.8 million square kilometers. About 2.6 million of the Area is covered with the Ice in Antarctica. The Ocean has Average depth about 4,000 to 5,000 meters and Deepest Point in South Sandwich Trench at depth of 7,236 meters. [links]

[jchysk]

The Oceans is the interlinked system of the Earth’s Oceanic Water. Water Covers about 71% of the Earth’s Surface and has Storage Capacity of 1.332 Billion Cubic Kilometers. The Oceans Divided into various oceanographic features, the divisions are Atlantic Ocean, Arctic Ocean, Indian Ocean, Pacific Ocean and Southern Ocean. There are many divisions in the Ocean such as Gulf, Sea and Bay, Among the Oceans Pacific Ocean is the Largest by surface area, and it covers about 165 million square kilometers, 46% of the Earth’s water Surface. The 5 Largest Oceans on the Earth is mentioned based on the Water Surface area of the World. more

[thufir]

As the Third largest Ocean on the Earth, it covered nearly 73 million square kilometers of Earth’s water Surface (Including Red Sea and Persian Gulf) and the oceans total estimated water volume is about 292 million Cubic Kilometers. The Average depth of the ocean is 3,890 meters, and the deepest point of the Indian Ocean is Diamantina Trench at the depth of 8,047 meters.