Which one is bigger - the Pacific or the Atlantic Ocean? In what natural basin could all the continents on the planet fit? Covering about 178 million km 2 and containing more than half of all free water on the planet, the Pacific Ocean is the most voluminous.
Big and ancient
The Pacific Ocean is considered the oldest existing oceanic basin. Its ancient rocks are approximately 200 million years old. The basin is also called the "ring of fire" because of the intense earthquakes and volcanic activity recorded near the areas where tectonic plates move. Answering the question of which is more - the Pacific or the Atlantic Ocean, it is worth noting that both of them are leaders, although the waters of the Atlantic occupy an honorable, but second place. Then follow the Indian, South and, finally, the Arctic.
and great discoveries
In the olden days, before air travel became possible, the only way, other than overland, to get abroad and see new countries and continents was by sea.
Legendary explorers such as Christopher Columbus and Sir sailed the waves around the world on a ship, taking part in a variety of epic adventures and discovering new lands, cultures and more. Previously, no one could have guessed which one was more - the Pacific or the Atlantic Ocean, because all travels were made almost blindly. With the advent of geographic maps, things got easier.
Pacific Ocean and its islands
The largest ocean literally stretches from the Arctic in the north to Antarctica in the south and is bordered by almost all continents. Some of the most beautiful tropical islands are found in its basin, from Hawaiian in the north to Tahiti in the south. The names of the most magical places fall off the tongue: Bora Bora, Rarotonga and Maui.
There are actually about 10,000 islands in the Pacific Ocean. The largest of these is Melanesia, which includes New Guinea (the second largest island in the world), romantic Fiji and the Solomon Islands. To the north of the equator are Kiribati, Guam and the vast expanses of Polynesia. It includes Hawaii in the north, New Zealand in the south, Easter Islands in the east, and Tonga in the west.
And yet: is the Pacific Ocean the largest or the Atlantic Ocean?
Atlantic Ocean and its islands
The mighty Atlantic Ocean is bordered by Greenland, Europe, Africa, North and South America. The Canary Islands are located off the coast of Africa. The Atlantic also washes Iceland, Ireland and Robben in South Martha's Vineyard and Nantucket in the United States and the East Caribbean. Which one is bigger - the Pacific or the Atlantic Ocean?
The waters of the Atlantic cover about 20% of the total surface of the planet, covering 91.66 million km 2. Hence it is clear that the Pacific Ocean is large in area, and almost 2 times.
The most deep
It is no longer a secret which ocean is more Pacific or Atlantic. The equator conventionally divides the Pacific Ocean into northern and southern parts. In addition, the largest natural pool is also the deepest. On average, the depth reaches 3.9 kilometers. The Atlantic Ocean in this regard is inferior by as much as 20%. What is the deepest ocean? The answer is the same - Quiet.
The Mariana Trench in the northwest is the deepest point in the world. Its depth is over 11 kilometers.
Is the water warm in the Pacific Ocean?
The water temperature in the Pacific Ocean varies by location. In some areas near the equator, it reaches 30 degrees Celsius, while near the poles, this figure drops to 18-20 degrees.
What is the largest ocean after the Pacific?
When it comes to size, the Atlantic Ocean is ranked # 2 as it covers one-fifth of the Earth's total surface area. This is about 102 million km 2. This massive water giant covers about 20% of the entire earth's surface and about 25% of the world's oceans. It was named after the myths of ancient Greek mythology, where the Atlantic was referred to as the "sea of the Atlas".
The third is the Atlantic Ocean in terms of its depth, which averages about 3.6 km. The lowest point is the Puerto Rico Trench (8.742 km). In second place is the Indian Ocean with an average depth of 3.7 km. Its deepest point is located at and goes down 7.7 km. The Arctic Ocean is in fourth position. Its depth is on average 1 km, and the lowest point is located in the Greenland Sea - 5.5 km.
So, we answered the question of which ocean is larger - the Pacific or the Atlantic, as well as which one is deeper. An interesting fact is also associated with the name of the very ocean itself on the planet. Quiet, it was named by the famous navigator and explorer Ferdinand Magellan in 1520. During his journey, the huge reservoir seemed to him calm and peaceful. However, it was just a lucky coincidence of circumstances and weather conditions.
The seabed is strewn with thousands of underwater volcanoes
In reality, the Pacific Ocean is not all that peaceful. Modern researchers have been able to confirm the existence of the world's largest volcano, which is similar in size to the British Isles. It is located in the Pacific Ocean, 1,500 km east of Japan. The massive volcano is also quite unique due to its low and wide shape. Its flatness is due to the fact that its lava has flowed over great distances compared to most other volcanoes on the planet.
Called Tamu, this massif covers about 193 thousand km 2, which is much more than the Hawaiian Mauna Loa - the largest active volcano on Earth, which covers about 3 square kilometers. km. The best analogue is the extinct volcano Olympus Mons on the planet Mars, which is about 25 percent larger in volume than the ocean on planet Earth.
