Ocean Facts
Our knowledge and understanding of the planet’s oceans have increased considerably, though so much remains a mystery as deep in fascination as the ocean itself. Here are some of the most awe-inspiring ocean facts around!
1) Nearly 95% of all life on the planet is found in the ocean.
2) Shallow water corals create unique “sunscreen” proteins that protect the algae living inside them from too much sunlight.
3) There is so much gold in the ocean that each person would receive nine pounds if it were equally distributed.
4) The tallest waterfall on the planet is in the ocean! With a drop of 11,500 feet, the Denmark Strait Cataract is almost three times taller than the tallest waterfall on land, Angel Falls (3,200). As cold water from the east meets the warmer water from the west, it flows underneath the warm water.
5) The longest mountain range on Earth is underwater. It’s called the Mid-Oceanic Ridge and measures 40,390 miles long.
6) The deepest point on the planet is the Mariana Trench at a depth of 35,802 feet. The water pressure is so intense at that depth (eight tons per square inch) that it would immediately crush you like an ant.
7) The Antarctic Ice Sheet is 5.4 million squares in size making it just about the area of the continental United States and Mexico combined!
8) Half of the United States is under the ocean since the border extends 200 nautical miles beyond the shore.
9) The Great Barrier Reef in Australia is the largest living organism on the planet. It’s 133,000 square miles and can be seen from outer space!
10) If all the glaciers and Arctic ice sheets melted at the same time the ocean would rise about 262 feet which is about 26 stories or nearly the height of the Statue of Liberty.
These incredible facts truly put things in perspective and show how immensely important it is that we all act as good stewards of the magnificent oceans.
“There's nothing wrong with enjoying looking at the surface of the ocean itself, except that when you finally see what goes on underwater, you realize that you've been missing the whole point of the ocean. Staying on the surface all the time is like going to the circus and staring at the outside of the tent.”
— Dave Barry