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What continents are washed by the Atlantic Ocean? Which countries are washed by the Atlantic Ocean?

June 25, 2016

The Atlantic Ocean is the second largest. It is present in all hemispheres of the Earth. From the article you will learn which continents are washed by the Atlantic Ocean and how it affects them.

Characteristics of the Atlantic Ocean

The ocean covers an area of ​​91.66 million square kilometers. km, making it the second largest after the Pacific. More than 16% of its total area falls on the straits, seas and bays. The salinity of the water is approximately 34-37 ppm. The deepest point is the Puerto Rico Trench, 8,742 meters deep. The average depth of the Atlantic Ocean is about 4 kilometers, and this is less than that of the Pacific and Indian.

The Atlantic is located in all 4 hemispheres and washes 5 continents. The Danish Strait and the Davis Strait to the north connect it to the Arctic Ocean. The Drake Passage in the south communicates it with the Pacific Ocean, and it is connected with the Indian Ocean by the water space between Antarctica and Africa.

Previously, the Atlantic Ocean was called the Western, Outer, North Sea, now the term "Atlantic" is often used to refer to it. On a European map, authored by the Dutchman Varenius, the modern name of the ocean appeared in 1650.

The origin of the name "Atlantic Ocean" is associated with the African Atlas Mountains. Scientists suggest that even among the ancient Greeks, this name literally meant "the sea beyond the Atlas Mountains." There are two more versions of the name - one connects it with the sunken Atlantis, the other - with the name of the titan Atlanta.

Atlantic exploration

People began to explore the described expanses of water earlier than other oceans, through the waters of the Mediterranean Sea. Even before our era, ancient peoples founded cities and states on the shores of the Mediterranean. Watching the ebb and flow, flora and fauna, they were the first explorers of these waters.

Of course, in ancient times, people did not know exactly which continents were washed by the Atlantic Ocean. Their geographical knowledge differed markedly from modern ones. Nevertheless, Pytheas made voyages across the North Atlantic as early as the 4th century BC. And in the 10th century AD, Eric the Red, originally from Normandy, undertook the first voyage across the Atlantic Ocean, arriving on the shores of the island of Newfoundland.

During the era of the great geographical discoveries, a large number of trips were made along the waters of the Atlantic. At the same time, the first descriptions of depths, soil, tropical hurricanes were made, the Northern Trade Wind, Brazilian, Guiana currents and the Gulf Stream were discovered. This era gave impetus to the study of the depths of the sea, as well as the territories that washes the Atlantic Ocean. In our time, much is already known about him, but research continues to this day.

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Which continents are washed by the Atlantic Ocean?

All the oceans on our planet make up a continuous World Ocean. There are no clear boundaries between them, and all divisions, in fact, are conditional. After all, the Atlantic did not exist 200 million years ago, and all the earth's continents were one piece of land.

Approximately 180 million years ago, the process of splitting the common continent into separate territories began. In the northern part of the Atlantic, patches of land were increasingly moving away from each other. Approximately 140 million years ago, the plates began to move in the South Atlantic. Gradually, Greenland separated from Europe, and the Mid-Labrador Range began to die off.

So, which continents is washed by the Atlantic Ocean? In the course of large-scale global processes, the waters of this ocean stretched for almost 16 thousand kilometers from north to south. The ocean is now washing:

• North and South America;
• Eurasia;
• Africa;
• Antarctica.

Only Australia is not on the list. In the north it is located between the coasts of Greenland and Iceland, in the south - near Antarctica. Africa and Europe are on the east side of the ocean, the Americas are on the west.

Coastline

We have already learned which coasts the Atlantic Ocean washes. Now we can talk about their features. The ocean stretched over two earthly hemispheres, so its entire territory is conditionally divided into northern and southern. The boundary for them is the equator.

The North Atlantic is characterized by a strong indentation of the coastline. There are many inland seas in this part. So, in the northeast is the Norwegian Sea, occupying the territory between Norway and Iceland.

The North Sea is located off the coast of Denmark and Great Britain. In the east, it passes into the Baltic, which has the Gulf of Finland and the Gulf of Bothnia. Much to the south, the system of inland seas begins - the Mediterranean communicates with the ocean through the Strait of Gibraltar, followed by the Black and Azov.

In the southwest of the North Atlantic, the Strait of Florida connects the ocean with the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean Sea. On the coast of North America are the bays of Barnegat, Long Island, Delaware, Pamlico.

The shores washed by the southern Atlantic waters are much less indented. There are no inland seas in this part. Off the African continent, the Gulf of Guinea, which juts out into the land, is the largest bay in the South Atlantic. There are few of them off the coast of South America. The southern part of this continent is considerably dissected; in the region of Tierra del Fuego there are many small islands.

Influence of Atlantic waters

It is possible to list which countries the Atlantic Ocean washes for a very long time. Not counting the waters of all its seas, the waters of the Atlantic are washed by about 50 states. All of them experience a powerful oceanic influence. An important climate-forming factor for coastal areas are the currents and zoning of the Atlantic Ocean. In the northern part, the water temperature is noticeably colder (by about 5 degrees).

Warm ocean currents warm the coastal climate, making it mild and humid. They also contribute to high rainfall. The largest and most powerful current in the Atlantic is the warm Gulf Stream. This current affects the climate of North America and Western Europe. Thanks to him, for example, the winter temperature of Reykjavik is higher than the temperature in New York.

Warm currents of the Atlantic Ocean:

• Brazilian;
• Guiana;
• Gulf Stream;
• Norwegian.

The cold currents of the Atlantic contribute to a colder and drier climate along the coasts. So, the Labrador current forms a harsh climate on the island of Labrador, and the Benguela and Canary currents make the climate of the West African coast dry. The collision of the Gulf Stream with the Labrador Current provides prolonged fogs on the shores of Newfoundland.

Cold currents of the Atlantic Ocean:

• Greenlandic;
• Labrador;
• Canarian;
• Benguela.

Conclusion

Now we know which continents the Atlantic Ocean washes and what effect it has on them. Stretching from north to south, this expanse of water has long been of great importance to people. The waters of the Atlantic connect the five continents together and significantly affect their weather conditions.

The Atlantic Ocean is the second largest (91.56 million km2) after the Pacific Ocean. It washes all the continents of the planet with the exception of Australia and extends from north to south from the coast of Greenland to Antarctica for almost 16 thousand km. The greatest depth was recorded near the islands of Haiti and Puerto Rico - 8742 m.

A distinctive feature of the Atlantic Ocean is a strong indentation of the coastline, a relatively small number of islands, a complex bottom topography, and the largest area of ​​river basins flowing into this ocean or its marginal seas. The coastline is especially indented in the northern part of the Atlantic Ocean. Vast bays (Biscay, Mexican - approx. from the site) cut deeply into the continents, and large peninsulas (Scandinavian, Iberian, Labrador - approx.. Many individual islands and archipelagos are located close to the continents, and inland and marginal seas in the Atlantic 13.

The Mid-Atlantic Ridge stretches along the bottom of the Atlantic Ocean from north to south. Broken by transverse faults, it rises above the ocean floor to a height of 2 km. In the central part of the ridge there is a rift valley. Some of its peaks rise above the water, forming islands, the largest of which is Iceland. Earthquakes occur in the region of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, volcanoes erupt, basalt lava flows into the gorge of the rift valley - a new oceanic-type earth's crust is born. On both sides of the ridge there are basins with a relatively flat relief. The depression of the Atlantic Ocean is bordered by a shelf of different widths, which is cut through by deep gorges - underwater canyons.

It is believed that the Atlantic Ocean is the youngest. It was formed when the single mainland of Pangea split. Large land masses began to move away from each other, and the deep depression formed between them filled the waters of the oceans.

Due to its great length from north to south, the Atlantic Ocean lies in all climatic zones of the Earth. In the equatorial regions, constant trade winds dominate over it, and in temperate latitudes - westerly winds of temperate latitudes. In the Atlantic, two rings of ocean currents develop on both sides of the equator. In the Northern Hemisphere, the Northern Equatorial, Gulf Stream, North Atlantic and Canary form a vicious circle and move clockwise. In the Southern Hemisphere - the Southern Trade Wind, Brazilian, Western winds and Benguela form the movement of waters counterclockwise - note .. Due to the meridional extent of the ocean, currents directed from north to south are more powerful here than latitudinal water flows; they violate the zonality in the distribution of temperature and salinity of oceanic waters more strongly than in other regions of the ocean. The average water temperature in the Atlantic is + 16 ° C, and the average salinity is 37.5%.

The Atlantic Ocean is famous for icebergs breaking off from the ice sheet of Antarctica and the Greenland ice sheet. Icebergs drift towards the equator and gradually melt, the remains of these ice mountains are sometimes found even at 30-40 latitudes (near Bermuda and the Azores).

The Atlantic Ocean is the most studied and developed of all oceans. In ancient times, it was called differently: the Western Ocean, the Sea of ​​Darkness, the Sea beyond the Pillars of Heracles, etc. The current name, which first appeared on maps in 1507, was given to the ocean by the name of the titan Atlanta (according to Greek mythology, holding the firmament on his shoulders).

Almost all the coasts of the continents that are washed by the Atlantic Ocean (with the exception of Antarctica - note .. There are many large cities with a booming industry. Numerous rivers flowing into the Atlantic carry tons of pollutants into the ocean.

New Earth's crust is being born in the rift valley of the mid-ocean ridge in the Atlantic Ocean, while the African and American lithospheric plates are slowly moving apart

Part of the World Ocean, bounded by Europe and Africa from the east and North and South America from the west. The name comes from the name of the titan Atlas (Atlanta) in Greek mythology.

It is inferior in size only to the Quiet; its area is approximately 91.56 million km2. It is distinguished from other oceans by the strong indentation of the coastline, which forms numerous seas and bays, especially in the northern part. In addition, the total area of ​​river basins flowing into this ocean or its marginal seas is much larger than that of rivers flowing into any other ocean. Another difference Atlantic Ocean is a relatively small number of islands and a complex bottom topography, which, thanks to underwater ridges and uplifts, forms many separate basins.

States of the coast of the Atlantic Ocean-49 countries:

Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Bahamas, Barbados, Benin, Brazil, United Kingdom, Venezuela, Gabon, Haiti, Guyana, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Grenada, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ireland, Iceland , Spain, Cape Verde, Cameroon, Canada, Ivory Coast, Cuba, Liberia, Mauritania, Morocco, Namibia, Nigeria, Norway, Portugal, Republic of the Congo, Sao Tome and Principe, Senegal, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint -Lucia, Suriname, USA, Sierra Leone, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Uruguay, France, Equatorial Guinea, South Africa.

NORTHERN ATLANTIC OCEAN

It is divided into northern and southern parts, the border between which is conditionally drawn along the equator. From an oceanographic point of view, however, the equatorial countercurrent, located at 5–8° N latitude, should be attributed to the southern part of the ocean. The northern boundary is usually drawn along the Arctic Circle. In some places this boundary is marked by underwater ridges.

Borders and coastline

in the northern hemisphere has a heavily indented coastline. Its narrow northern part is connected to the Arctic Ocean by three narrow straits. In the northeast, the Davis Strait, 360 km wide, connects it with the Baffin Sea, belonging to the Arctic Ocean. In the central part, between Greenland and Iceland, there is the Danish Strait, with a width of only 287 km at its narrowest point. Finally, in the northeast, between Iceland and Norway, is the Norwegian Sea, approx. 1220 km. East of Atlantic Ocean two water areas deeply protruding into the land are separated. The more northern of them begins with the North Sea, which to the east passes into the Baltic Sea with the Gulf of Bothnia and the Gulf of Finland. To the south there is a system of inland seas - the Mediterranean and the Black - with a total length of approx. 4000 km.

In the tropical zone in the southwest of the North Atlantic are the Caribbean Sea and the Gulf of Mexico, connected to the ocean by the Strait of Florida. The coast of North America is indented by small bays (Pamlico, Barnegat, Chesapeake, Delaware and Long Island Sound); to the northwest are the Bays of Fundy and St. Lawrence, Belle Isle, Hudson Strait, and Hudson Bay.

CURRENTS

Surface currents in the northern part Atlantic Ocean moving clockwise. The main elements of this large system are the warm current of the Gulf Stream directed to the north, as well as the North Atlantic, Canary and Northern Equatorial (Equatorial) currents. The Gulf Stream follows from the Strait of Florida and the island of Cuba in a northerly direction along the coast of the United States and at about 40 ° N. latitude. deviates to the northeast, changing its name to the North Atlantic Current. This current divides into two branches, one of which follows the northeast along the coast of Norway and further into the Arctic Ocean. The second branch turns south and further southwest along the coast of Africa, forming the cold Canary Current. This current moves to the southwest and joins the North Equatorial Current, which heads west towards the West Indies, where it merges with the Gulf Stream. To the north of the North Equatorial Current is an area of ​​stagnant water, abundant in algae and known as the Sargasso Sea. Along the North Atlantic coast of North America, the cold Labrador Current passes from north to south, following from the Baffin Bay and the Labrador Sea and cooling the coast of New England.

ISLANDS of the Atlantic Ocean

The largest islands are concentrated in the northern part of the ocean; these are the British Isles, Iceland, Newfoundland, Cuba, Haiti (Hispaniola) and Puerto Rico. On the eastern edge Atlantic Ocean there are several groups of small islands - Azores, Canaries, Cape Verde. There are similar groups in the western part of the ocean. Examples include the Bahamas, Florida Keys and Lesser Antilles. The archipelagos of the Greater and Lesser Antilles form an island arc surrounding the eastern part of the Caribbean Sea. In the Pacific Ocean, such island arcs are characteristic of regions of crustal deformations. Deep-water trenches are located along the convex side of the arc.

In West Africa, there is a small country called the Gambia. Fanciful baobabs, luxurious parks, crocodiles and hippos, the exciting ocean, passionate dances to the drums "bantaro", national clothes - all these are the components of the exotic beauty of the Gambia.

The Gambia shares a border with Senegal. From the western side it is washed by the Atlantic Ocean. The unique location of the country, stretching on the Atlantic coast of tropical Africa, attracts a large number of tourists from all over the world to the country. The majestic ocean, African nature have turned the Gambia into a significant center of world international tourism.

The magnificent beaches of the Atlantic coast, the uniqueness of the avifauna, the originality of the culture of local peoples, excursions on boats along the Gambia River, which take exotic hunters deep into the African country, are very popular with tourists. Friendly people, dancing by the fire, gentle sun, cheerful monkeys walking in protected parks - all this is all bright and hospitable Gambia.

Sacred Sites of the Gambia

One of the main attractions of the Gambia is the Sacred Crocodile Lake, located near the city of Bakau. Couples without children tend to come to this lake. It is famous for its medicinal properties. Local residents living on its shores (people from the Bojangi tribe) are sure that after bathing in a healing lake, women who want to have children will definitely find such an opportunity. The adoption of the water procedure takes place under the supervision of a local shaman. The healer helps only those couples who are faithful to each other. Neither the sorceress nor the representatives of the Bojangi tribe take money, fearing that the effect of health bathing will decrease. The women who take the procedure leave gifts for the shaman: pieces of fabric, chocolates and other small presents.

Representatives of the Bojangi tribe consider crocodiles to be sacred animals, and convince everyone that in recent years they have never harmed anyone.
By the way, statistics show that more than 80% of women, after taking the procedure, were able to experience the happiness of motherhood soon.

ethnic dances

Since ancient times, incendiary performances in ritual clothes with songs and dances have been held on the African continent. They are dedicated to various topics: successful hunting or historical events, natural phenomena and various holidays. Often the performance is just an improvisation of dancing to the beat of drums and rhythmic tunes. The types of drums popular in the Gambia are the shibaro and the bantaro.

Among the dance compositions, a colorful dance gumbe especially popular and loved by the local population. The music of the gumbe dance is so joyful and passionate that it creates the appropriate mood, and tourists, succumbing to emotions, often join the dancers themselves.

Gambia. reference Information

Form of government: Republic of the Gambia
Type of socio-economic development: agricultural country
Area of ​​the Gambia: 11.3 thousand km2
Population: about 1.7 million people, about 90% - Islam, 9% - Christianity
Official language: English
Head of State: President
Capital: Banjul
International Airport: Yundum
Administrative-territorial division: 7 districts
Monetary unit: Dalasi
The backbone of the Gambian economy: growing and exporting peanuts
Crops: legumes, sorghum, corn, bananas, oil palm, cotton, vegetables
Industry: businesses that serve the needs of the local population (clothing, beer, soft drinks), peanut butter businesses
Animal husbandry: developed, mainly cattle
Main river of the country: Gambia
Vegetation: mangrove forests, tall grass savannas, rainforests, coconut palms, baobabs
Climate: equatorial monsoon, average monthly temperatures - 25-270 C, precipitation from 750 to 1500 mm per year.
Fauna of the Gambia: hyenas, antelopes, jackals, wild boars, hippos, crocodiles, bird populations (over 400 types)
Types of Gambia visas: Gambian visas differ in types, depending on the purpose and duration of stay in the country: short-stay visa - type C, transit visa - type A and B, national visa - type D
Seaside resorts in the Gambia: Kololi, Fajara, Kotu Strand, Bakau.
The best hotels in Gambia: Ocean Bay, Fajara, Brufut, Kotu, Bakau, Serekunda, Bijilo

If the sky above your head seems too gloomy and inhospitable to you, come to the Gambia, to the warm ocean and the gentle sun. And if necessary, then for miraculous procedures to the Sacred Lake.

What continents and countries is washed by the Atlantic Ocean, you will learn from this article.

Atlantic Ocean is the second largest ocean on the planet. It is located in the north between Iceland and Greenland, in the east between Africa and Europe, in the west between South and North America, and Antarctica in the south. The area of ​​the Atlantic Ocean is 91.6 million km². About ¼ part falls on the inland seas. The average salinity of the water is 35 ‰. The coastline is heavily indented into regional water areas.

Note that the Atlantic Ocean did not appear on the planet immediately. Many million years ago, both Americas, Europe, Africa and Antarctica represented a single landmass. For the last 40 million years, a very important process has been taking place on Earth - the opening of the ocean basin. Then sushi was divided into modern continents. The opening of the ocean basin continues to this day.

What continents are washed by the Atlantic Ocean?

The Atlantic Ocean washes all continents except Australia. Namely:

• eastern coast of North America
• Eastern coast of South America
• western coast of africa
• western shores of Eurasia
• northwestern shores of Antarctica

Which countries are washed by the Atlantic Ocean?

The waters of the Atlantic Ocean are washed by 49 major countries. Here is a complete list in alphabetical order: Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Bahamas, Barbados, Benin, Brazil, United Kingdom, Venezuela, Gabon, Haiti, Guyana, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Grenada, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ireland, Iceland, Spain, Cape Verde, Cameroon, Canada, Ivory Coast, Cuba, Liberia, Mauritania, Morocco, Namibia, Nigeria, Norway, Portugal, Republic of the Congo, Sao Tome and Principe, Senegal , St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia, Suriname, USA, Sierra Leone, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Uruguay, France, Equatorial Guinea, South Africa.