Atlantic Ocean Facts
In this article, we will be exploring the interesting facts about Atlantic Ocean. So let's dive into the ocean and collect lots of interesting and incredible information about the Atlantic ocean.
1➤ What is the meaning of Atlantic?
The word Atlantic originates from the Greek word ‘Atlantikos’ which means ‘Sea of Atlas’. or “The Island of Atlas”. Atlas was the Greek God of navigation and astronomy, and it is from his name that “Atlantis,” and finally the word “Atlantic” developed.
2➤ Where is the Atlantic Ocean located?
The Atlantic Ocean is stretched between the Americas to the West of the Atlantic Ocean basin and the Europe continents and Africa to the East.
This ocean is divided into the North Atlantic Ocean and the South Atlantic Ocean by equator. It separates North America and South America from Europe and Africa.
3➤ Map of Atlantic Ocean
4➤ What is the size of the Atlantic Ocean?
The Atlantic Ocean is the world’s second largest ocean after Pacific Ocean and it covers about 25% of the earth’s surface with an area of about 106,460,000 square kilometers.
5➤ What is the depth of the Atlantic Ocean?
The average depth of the Atlantic ocean is 3,646 metres (11,962 ft). The maximum depth of the Atlantic ocean is 8,376 meters(27,480 ft) . This maximum depth point is in Milwaukee Deep near Puerto Rico trench.
The Puerto Rico Trench is located on the boundary between the Atlantic Ocean. and Caribbean Sea.
6➤ How warm is the Atlantic ocean?
Temperatures vary across the Atlantic Ocean and depend on the location of the equator. The part of the Atlantic Ocean that is near the Equator, the water is warm there.
Due to this reason, In coastal regions near the equator, the water is up to 28degCelsius, while in the polar region, the temperature of water measured was -2degC.
7➤ Which ocean is saltiest?
Of all the five oceans, the Atlantic Ocean is the most saltiest. This is important to understand that on average, there is a distinct decrease of salinity near the equator and at both poles, although the reason behind this decrease of salinity at both poles is different.
The tropics receive the most rain near the equator on a consistent basis. Therefore , the fresh water falling into the ocean helps to decrease the salinity of the surface water in that region.
As one moves toward the poles, the region of rain decreases and with less rain and more sunshine, evaporation increases. As a result of evaporation, fresh water in the form of vapour, moves from ocean to the atmosphere causing higher salinity. But near the pole, fresh water resulting from melting ice again decreases the surface salinity [ref].
8➤ Where did the RMS Titanic sink?
RMS Titanic stands for Royal Mail Ship Titanic.
RMS Titanic was a British passenger liner operated by the White Star Line that sank in the North Atlantic Ocean in the early morning hours of 15 April 1912, after striking an iceberg during her maiden voyage to New York City from Southampton.
Of the estimated more than 1,500 died, making the sinking one of modern history’s deadliest peacetime commercial marine disasters.
Do you know that the wreck of Titanic was discovered on September 1,1985. It was located in the Atlantic Ocean some 13,000 feet(4,000 metres) underwater.
9➤ Waterways in the Atlantic Ocean
There are two known waterways in the Atlantic Ocean
- The Straits of Gibraltar between Spain and Morocco
- The Bosporus in Turkey
10➤ What are the major sea ports in Atlantic Ocean?
| Atlantic Ocean : Major Seaports | |||
| Alexandria (Egypt) | Algiers (Algeria) | Antwerp (Belgium) | Barcelona (Spain) |
| Buenos Aires (Argentina) | Casablanca (Morocco) | Colon (Panama) | Copenhagen (Denmark) |
| Dakar (Senegal) | Gdansk (Poland) | Hamburg (Germany) | Helsinki (Finland) |
| Las Palmas (Canary Islands, Spain) | Le Havre (France) | Lisbon (Portugal) | London (UK) |
| Marseille (France) | Montevideo (Uruguay) | Montreal (Canada) | Naples (Italy) |
| New Orleans (US) | New York (US) | Oran (Algeria) | Oslo (Norway) |
| Peiraiefs or Piraeus (Greece) | Rio de Janeiro (Brazil) | Rotterdam (Netherlands) | Saint Petersburg (Russia) |
| Stockholm (Sweden) | |||
11➤ What is Bermuda Triangle?
➤ Where is the Bermuda Triangle?
The Bermuda Triangle is an area of the Atlantic Ocean where ships and airplanes are said to disappear. As we know that in the triangle there are three points and for the Bermuda Triangle these three points are identified as Bermuda, Florida, and Puerto Rico.
There are many stories about The Bermuda Triangle and it has long been believed to be the site where a number of plane and boat incidents have occurred mysteriously . But many investigations indicate equipment problems, bad weather, and human error as most likely reasons.
Even after the area’s scary reputation, disasters are not very common there. Planes and boats travel safely through the Bermuda Triangle every day.
➤ How deep is the Bermuda Triangle?
The Sargasso Sea which is located in the Atlantic Ocean, is famous for its floating seaweed. Also is the only sea which is situated completely within the Atlantic Ocean and does not have any shore.
The Atlantic Ocean is connected to the Pacific Ocean by way of the manmade Panama Canal and Its actual entrance is located in the Caribbean Sea.