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An introduction to the massive bodies of salt water that cover most of the Earth.
Did you know that if you looked at Earth from a spaceship, it would look like a giant blue marble? That is because most of our planet is covered in deep, mysterious water!
An ocean is a huge body of salt water that covers most of the Earth's surface. In fact, about of our planet is covered by these massive waters! Unlike the water we drink from a tap or find in most lakes, ocean water is salt water. This means it has lots of salt dissolved in it, just like if you stirred a spoonful of salt into a glass of water. Because there is so much salt, humans cannot drink it, but it is the perfect home for millions of sea creatures like fish, sharks, and giant whales.
Quick Check
What is the main difference between the water in an ocean and the water in a typical backyard pond?
Answer
Ocean water is salt water, while most ponds have fresh water.
Even though all the oceans are connected, geographers give them five different names to help us find our way around the map. The five oceans are: the Pacific, the Atlantic, the Indian, the Southern, and the Arctic. The Pacific Ocean is the biggest and deepest of them all—it is even larger than all the land on Earth put together! The Atlantic Ocean is the one that sits between the Americas and Europe/Africa. It is the second-largest ocean and is very busy with ships traveling back and forth.
Imagine you have five balls of different sizes. 1. The Pacific is like a giant beach ball (the biggest). 2. The Atlantic is like a soccer ball. 3. The Indian is like a kickball. 4. The Southern is like a dodgeball. 5. The Arctic is like a small tennis ball (the smallest).
Quick Check
Which ocean is the largest and deepest on Earth?
Answer
The Pacific Ocean.
The other three oceans have very special features. The Indian Ocean is the warmest ocean in the world and is located near India and Australia. Down at the very bottom of the world, surrounding Antarctica, is the Southern Ocean. It is very cold and icy! At the very top of the world is the Arctic Ocean. It is the smallest and shallowest ocean, and it is often covered in floating ice. Polar bears love to hunt on the ice of the Arctic Ocean!
If you were a traveler going from the North Pole to the South Pole: 1. You would start in the freezing Arctic Ocean. 2. You would cross the large Atlantic or Pacific. 3. You might pass the warm Indian Ocean near the middle of the Earth. 4. Finally, you would reach the icy Southern Ocean at the bottom.
How many major oceans are there on Earth?
Which ocean is the smallest and found at the very top of the world?
Ocean water is fresh water that is safe for humans to drink.
Review Tomorrow
Tomorrow morning, try to name all five oceans out loud without looking at this page!
Practice Activity
Find a world map or a globe and point to each of the five oceans. Can you find the one closest to where you live?