Show the name of the seas on the map of the oceans. Map of the seas of the Mediterranean Sea: islands, countries, seas, water

The most important part of the hydrosphere on our planet is the World Ocean, the boundless waters of which occupy a vast territory - 361 million square meters. km. On the physical map of the World Ocean, it is clearly seen that the planet's water space consists of oceans, seas, bays and straits. They are limited very conditionally, since between them there is a continuous exchange of water.

Map of the waters of the oceans

The world ocean is the water shell of the globe, the most important part of the hydrosphere. Depending on the structure of the seabed, continental outlines and characteristics of water bodies, the World Ocean is divided into oceans, seas, bays and straits.

Rice. 1. Physical map of the World Ocean.

The most impressive part of it is the oceans, which are limited by the coastlines of the continents. There are 4 oceans on our planet:

Quiet;
Atlantic;
Indian;
Arctic.

The largest of them is the Pacific Ocean, whose area is 1/3 of the total surface of the globe.

The waters of the southern and northern oceanic areas differ significantly from each other in terms of natural properties. For this reason, oceanologists have recently singled out the Antarctic water masses as a separate Southern Ocean.

The volume of water and features of the bottom topography

The world map shows that the area of the World Ocean is impressive, and 2.5 more than the land area. Its depths reach an average of 4 km, which is several times higher than the average land height (slightly less than 1 km). With such ratios, it is not surprising that the continents, despite their size, are, in fact, only large islands in a huge water basin.

Under the water column in some places on the ocean floor, there are underwater waterfalls, as well as rivers, which are formed by mixing hydrogen sulfide and methane with water.

Rice. 2. Relief of the seabed.

The bottom of the World Ocean can be conditionally divided into several platforms, which differ in relief. A small area of the ocean floor is occupied by the shelf and the continental slope, while the main space is occupied by a bed with depressions of 4-6 km.

The deepest point of the World Ocean is the famous Mariana Trench, which is 11 km deep. This is the deepest fault in the earth's crust, in which impenetrable darkness and incredibly high pressure reign. Unfortunately, it is not possible to thoroughly explore it even with the help of the latest deep-sea equipment.

Rice. 3. Mariana Trench.

In those places where many years ago the lithospheric plates parted, there are mid-ocean ridges. They form a single system of mountain ranges 60 thousand km long, which smoothly pass from one ocean to another.

What have we learned?

On the map of the World Ocean, you can determine the location of the oceans, bays and seas that form a single water system of the Earth. However, its description is rather superficial, since the ocean is still a little-studied object that holds many secrets and mysteries.

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Physical map of the world allows you to see the relief of the earth's surface and the location of the main continents. A physical map gives a general idea of the location of the seas, oceans, complex terrain and elevation changes in various parts of the planet. On the physical map of the world, you can clearly see the mountains, plains and systems of ridges and highlands. Physical maps of the world are widely used in schools in the study of geography, as it is the basis for understanding the main natural features of various parts of the world.

Physical map of the world in Russian - relief

PHYSICAL WORLD MAP displays the surface of the Earth. The space of the earth's surface contains all the natural resources and wealth of mankind. The configuration of the earth's surface predetermines the entire course of human history. Change the boundaries of the continents, stretch the direction of the main mountain ranges in a different way, change the direction of the rivers, remove this or that strait or bay, and the whole history of mankind will become different.

“What is the surface of the Earth? The concept of surface has the same meaning as the concept of geographic shell and the concept of biosphere proposed by geochemists... The earth's surface is voluminous - three-dimensional, and taking the geographical shell of an unambiguous biosphere, we emphasize the paramount importance of living matter for geography. The geographic envelope ends where the living matter ends.

Physical map of the hemispheres of the Earth in Russian

Physical map of the world in English from National Geographic

Physical map of the world in Russian

Good physical map of the world in English

Physical map of the world in Ukrainian

Physical map of the Earth in English

Detailed physical map of the Earth with major currents

Physical world map with state borders - Wikiwand Physical world map with state borders

Map of the geological regions of the earth - Geological map of the world "s regions

Physical map of the world with the ice and clouds - A physical map of the world with the ice and clouds

Physical map of the Earth - Physical map of the Earth

Physical map of the world - A physical map of the world

The great importance of the structure of the continents for the fate of mankind is indisputable. The gulf between the eastern and western hemispheres disappeared only 500 years ago with the travels of the Spaniards and the Portuguese to America. Prior to this, ties between the peoples of both hemispheres existed mainly only in the northern part of the Pacific Ocean.

The deep penetration of the northern continents into the Arctic for a long time made the routes around their northern shores inaccessible. The close convergence of the three main oceans in the area of the three Mediterranean seas created the possibility of their connection with each other naturally (Strait of Malacca) or artificially (Suez Canal, Panama Canal). Mountain chains and location predetermined the movement of peoples. Vast plains led to the unification of people under one state will, strongly dissected spaces contributed to the maintenance of state fragmentation.

The dismemberment of America by rivers, lakes and mountains led to the formation of Indian peoples, who, due to their isolation, could not resist the Europeans. Seas, continents, mountain ranges and rivers form natural boundaries between countries and peoples (F. Fatzel, 1909).

The surface of the Earth has an extremely uneven relief. Deep depressions are filled with water, the rest of the planet is represented by land. All this together - oceans and continents. They differ from each other in size, climate, shape, geographical location.

Interaction of oceans and continents

Despite the fact that the world's water and land have a number of distinctive properties, they are inextricably linked with each other. The map of continents and oceans is evidence of this (see below). Water continuously affects the processes taking place on land. In turn, the continents form the features of the oceans. In addition, interaction occurs in both the animal world and the plant world.

The geography of the continents and oceans demonstrates clear boundaries between water and land areas. Continents are placed on the surface of the planet unevenly. Most of them are located in. That is why the South is called hydrological in science. Continents and are also divided into two groups relative to the equator. Those that stand above the line belong to the northern half, the rest to the southern.

Each continent borders on the world's waters. So what oceans wash the continents? The Atlantic and Indian border on four continents, the Arctic - on three, the Pacific - on all except Africa. In total, there are 6 continents and 4 oceans on the planet. The boundaries between them are uneven, embossed.

Pacific Ocean

It has the largest water area among other pools. A map of the continents and oceans shows that it washes all continents except Africa. It includes dozens of large seas, the total area of which is about 180 million square meters. km. Through it connects with the Arctic Ocean. It shares a pool with the other two.

The maximum depth of the water area is the Mariana Trench - more than 11 km. The total volume of the basin is 724 million cubic meters. km. The seas occupy only 8% of the area of the Pacific Ocean. The study of the water area began in the 15th century by Chinese geographers.

Atlantic Ocean

It ranks second in size in the world basin. As is customary, each comes from an ancient term or deity. Atlantic is named after the famous Greek titan Atlas. The water area extends from Antarctica to subarctic latitudes. It borders on all other oceans, even the Pacific (through Cape Horn). One of the largest straits is the Hudson. They connect the Atlantic basin with the Arctic.

The seas make up about 16% of the total ocean area. The basin area is just over 91.5 million square meters. km. Most of the Atlantic seas are inland, and only a small part of them are coastal (up to 1%).

Arctic Ocean

It has the smallest water area on the planet. It is located entirely in the Northern Hemisphere. Occupied territory - 14.75 million square meters. km. At the same time, the volume of the basin is about 18.1 million cubic meters. km of water. The deepest point is considered to be the depression of the Greenland Sea - 5527 m.

The relief of the bottom of the water area is represented by the margins of the continents and a large shelf. The Arctic Ocean is conditionally divided into the Arctic, Canadian and European basins. A distinctive feature of the water area is a thick ice cover, which can persist all 12 months of the year, constantly drifting. Due to the harsh cold climate, the ocean is not as rich in fauna and flora as the rest. Nevertheless, important trade shipping routes pass through it.

Indian Ocean

It occupies one fifth of the world's water surface. It is noteworthy that each name of the oceans has either a geographical or theological background. The only difference is the Indian Basin. Its name has more of a historical background. The ocean was named after the first Asian country that became known to the Old World - in honor of India.

The water area covers an area of 76.17 million square meters. km. Its volume is about 282.6 million cubic km. It washes 4 continents and borders the Atlantic and Pacific oceans. It has the widest basin in the world's water spaces - more than 10 thousand kilometers.

Eurasian continent

It is the largest continent on the planet. Eurasia is located predominantly in the Northern Hemisphere. In terms of territory, the continent occupies almost half of the world's land. Its area is about 53.6 million square meters. km. The islands occupy only 5% of Eurasia - less than 3 million square meters. km.

All oceans and continents are interconnected. As for the Eurasian continent, it is washed by all 4 oceans. The border line is strongly indented, deep-water. The mainland is composed of 2 parts of the world: Asia and Europe. The border between them runs along the Ural Mountains, the Manych, Ural, Kuma, Black, Caspian, Marmara, Mediterranean seas and a number of straits.

South America

Oceans and continents in this part of the planet are located mainly in the Western Hemisphere. The continent is washed by the Atlantic and Pacific basins. It borders North America through the Caribbean Sea and the Isthmus of Panama.

The mainland includes dozens of medium and small islands. Most of the inland water basin is represented by such rivers as the Orinoco, Amazon and Parana. Together they make up an area of 7 million square meters. km. The total area of South America is about 17.8 million square meters. km. There are few lakes on the continent, most of them are located near the Andes mountains, for example, Lake Titicaca.

It is worth noting that on the territory of the mainland there is the highest waterfall in the world - Angel.

North America

It is located in It is washed by all oceans except Indian. The coastal area includes the seas (Bering, Labrador, Caribbean, Beaufort, Greenland, Baffin) and St. Lawrence, Hudson, Mexican). North America shares a common border with South America along the Panama Canal.

The most significant island systems are the Canadian and Alexandrian archipelagos, Greenland and Vancouver. The continent covers an area of more than 24 million square meters. km, excluding islands - about 20 million square meters. km.

African mainland

In terms of territorial area, it ranks second after Eurasia, with which it borders in the northeast. It is washed only by the Indian and Atlantic oceans. The largest coastal sea is the Mediterranean. It is noteworthy that Africa is both a continent and part of the world.

In this region of the planet, oceans and continents cross several climatic zones and the equator at once. In turn, Africa stretches from the northern to the southern subtropical belt. That is why the level of precipitation is extremely low here. Hence there are problems with fresh water and irrigation.

Mainland Antarctica

It is the coldest and most lifeless continent. It is located at the South Pole of the Earth. Antarctica, like Africa, is a continent and part of the world. All adjacent islands belong to the territorial possessions.

Antarctica is considered the highest continent in the world. Its average height fluctuates around 2040 meters. Most of the land is occupied by glaciers. There is no population on the mainland, only a few dozen stations with scientists. There are about 150 subglacial lakes within the continent.

Australian mainland

The continent is located in the Southern Hemisphere. The entire territory that it occupies belongs to the state of Australia. It is washed by such seas of the Pacific and Indian Oceans as the Coral, Timor, Arafura and others. The largest adjacent islands are Tasmania and New Guinea.

The continent is part of the part of the world referred to as Australia and Oceania. Its area is about 7.7 million square meters. km.

Australia has 4 time zones. In the northeast of the mainland, the coast is represented by the world's largest coral reef.

More than 70% of the Earth's surface is covered with water. This water is mainly enclosed in, as well as in many other reservoirs.

The sea is defined as a large object filled with and sometimes associated with . However, the sea does not have to be tied to the ocean, as there are inland or closed seas in the world, such as the Caspian Sea.

Since sea waters make up a significant part of it, it can be useful to know where the largest seas of our planet are located. This article provides a list, maps, photos and descriptions of the ten largest seas of the Earth, in descending order.

Sargasso Sea

Sargasso Sea on the map

According to some sources, the Sargasso Sea is considered the largest in the world. But unlike other seas, it does not wash land and does not have permanent borders and area (which varies from 4.0 to 8.5 million km²), so calling it the largest is rather controversial. The Sargasso Sea is located in the Atlantic Ocean and is limited by ocean currents: in the west by the Gulf Stream, in the north by the North Atlantic Current, in the east by the Canary Current, and in the south by the North Equatorial Current.

The Sargasso Sea was first mentioned by Christopher Columbus, who crossed it on his original voyage in 1492.

The sea reaches a depth of 1500-7000 m and is characterized by weak currents, low precipitation, high evaporation, light winds and warm salt water. These factors form a biological desert largely devoid of plankton, a staple food. The Sargasso Sea is distinguished from other parts of the Atlantic Ocean by its characteristic brown Sargassum algae. In addition, the water in the sea is transparent and visibility is maintained even at a depth of about 60 m.

Sargassum algae in the Sargasso Sea

This sea is home to an amazing variety of marine species. Turtles use algae to hide and feed their young. The Sargasso Sea also provides shrimp, crabs, fish and other marine species that are specially adapted to these floating algae. The sea is a spawning ground for endangered eels, as well as Atlantic white marlin, Atlantic herring shark and dolphins. migrate annually across the Sargasso Sea.

Philippine Sea

Philippine Sea on the map

The Philippine Sea is a marginal sea located northeast of the Philippine Archipelago and in the western part of the North Pacific Ocean. It washes the Philippines and Taiwan in the west, Japan in the north, the Mariana Islands in the east, and the Palau archipelago in the south. The surface area is about 5.7 million km². The sea has a complex and varied underwater relief. The bottom was formed in the process of geological faults. A feature of the Philippine Sea is the presence, among which are the Philippine Trench and the Mariana Trench, which contains the deepest point on the planet. Numerous seamounts are located in the waters of the sea, and some of them are of volcanic origin.

Islands of the Palau archipelago in the Philippine Sea

Ferdinand Magellan was the first European to travel the Philippine Sea. This happened in 1521.

There is an exotic one in the Philippine Sea. In the waters of the sea there are about five hundred species of hard and soft corals, and 20% of well-known species. Here you can observe sea turtles, sharks, moray eels, and sea snakes, as well as numerous species of fish, including tuna. In addition, the Philippine Sea serves as a spawning ground for Japanese eel, tuna, and various species.

coral sea

Coral Sea on the map

The Coral Sea is a marginal sea located in the southwestern Pacific Ocean. In the east it washes the coast of Australia and New Guinea, in the west - New Caledonia, and in the south - the Solomon Islands. This sea has a length of about 2250 km from north to south and covers an area of 4.8 million km². In the south, the Coral Sea merges with the Tasman Sea, in the north with the Solomon Sea and in the east with the Pacific Ocean; it is connected to the Arafura Sea to the west through the Torres Strait.

The sea was named after its many coral formations, which formed 1900 km along the northeast coast of Australia. The sea has and is prone to typhoons, especially from January to April.

Bird's eye view of the Coral Sea reefs

The sea is home to many living organisms including anemones, worms, gastropods, lobsters, crayfish, shrimp and crabs. Red algae color many coral reefs purple-red, and green algae Halimeda, found throughout the Coral Sea.

In the northern part there are coastal plants, consisting of only 30-40 species, and. About 400 species of coral species live in the reefs, and there are also more than 1,500 species of fish. Five hundred species of seaweed precipitate corals, creating mini-ecosystems on their surface, comparable to a cover. The coral sea has also become home to a large number of fish species, and.

Arabian Sea

Arabian Sea on the map

The Arabian Sea is a marginal sea located in the northwestern part of the Indian Ocean. Its total area is about 3.86 million km². This sea is part of the main sea route between and India. It is bounded to the west by the Somali and Arabian Peninsulas, to the north by Iran and Pakistan, to the east by India, and to the south by the rest of the Indian Ocean. In the north, the Gulf of Oman connects the sea to the Persian Gulf through the Strait of Hormuz. In the west, the Gulf of Aden connects it to the Red Sea through the Bab el-Mandeb. The Arabian Sea has an average depth of 2734 m, with a maximum depth of 5803 m.

Island in the Arabian Sea

The sea is dominated by a monsoonal climate. During the rainy season, which occurs from April to November, the salinity of the water is less than 35‰, and during the dry season (November to March) it is more than 36‰.

Vast deposits of oil and natural gas have been discovered in the Arabian Sea.

A large number of organisms live in the sea, but this is a periodic phenomenon in the Arabian Sea. This phenomenon is explained by the subsurface layer of water of tropical origin, which is poorly enriched in oxygen, but rich in phosphates. Under certain conditions, this layer comes to the surface, which leads to the death of fish due to lack of oxygen.

South China Sea

South China Sea on the map

The South China Sea is a marginal sea in the western Pacific Ocean, it washes the mainland of the Southeast. The sea is bounded in the northeast by the Taiwan Strait; in the east - the islands of Taiwan and the Philippines; in the southeast and south - Kalimantan, the Gulf of Thailand and Malaysia; and in the west and north - Asia. The South China Sea covers an area of about 3.69 million km², with an average depth of 1212 m and a maximum depth of 5016 m.

The climate in the sea is tropical and is largely shaped by the monsoons. The monsoons control the currents as well as the exchange of water between the South China Sea and adjacent bodies of water.

Landscape of the South China Sea

Large deposits of oil and natural gas have been discovered in the South China Sea. This sea provides some of the world's most important shipping lanes. As a rule, oil and minerals are concentrated in the north, while marine food and manufactured goods are concentrated in the south. Some areas in the central South China Sea are still poorly understood.

The shallow water marine life and flora of the Caribbean are concentrated around submerged fringed coral reefs that support a variety of fish and other marine life.

Tourism is an important part of the Caribbean economy, serving primarily the United States and Canada in the north, and Brazil and Argentina in the south. With a typically sunny climate and recreational resources, the Caribbean has become one of the world's major winter resorts.

Mediterranean Sea

Mediterranean Sea on the map

The Mediterranean Sea is an intercontinental sea that stretches from the Atlantic Ocean in the west to Asia in the east, and separates Europe from. This sea has an area of 2.5 million km² and a coastline of about 46 thousand km, and is considered the largest inland sea on Earth. The Mediterranean Sea has an average depth of 1,500 m, and the deepest point recorded is 5,267 m, in the Ionian Sea. The Mediterranean Basin contains some of the most fertile, beautiful and therefore most desirable land on the planet. Typical is characterized by hot, humid and dry summers and mild, rainy winters. is one of the most populated and developed regions in the world. However, it is also one of the least protected regions in the world.

Great view of the Mediterranean Sea

This sea contains significant reserves of oil and natural gas. While Mediterranean oil and natural gas production is only a small part of the world's production, a significant part of the world's total oil refining takes place in the Mediterranean region. In addition, petroleum products are produced for domestic consumption and export.

The Mediterranean is stable due to the strong closed nature of the currents, which favorably affects even the smallest macroscopic organisms. The stable Mediterranean Sea and water temperatures provide a breeding ground for life at depth that allows organisms to thrive while maintaining a balanced aquatic ecosystem. The Mediterranean Sea has a rich variety of marine biota. Almost one third (about 12 thousand) species are endemic.

Commercial fishing is of great economic importance for the region. There is a strong demand for fish and seafood, and the total catch for consumption in Mediterranean countries - both inside and outside the region - is a significant proportion of the world catch.

tasman sea

Tasman Sea on the map

the Tasman Sea is a marginal sea located in the southwestern Pacific Ocean, between the southeastern coast of Australia and Tasmania in the west, and New Zealand in the east; it merges with the Coral Sea in the north, and covers an area of about 2.3 million km². The maximum depth exceeding 5200 m was recorded in the East Australian Basin.

The sea was named after the Dutch navigator Abel Tasman, who sailed across it in 1642.

Paradise Island in the Caribbean

The South Equatorial Current and prevailing winds feed the East Australian Current, which is dominant along the coast of Australia. From July to December, its effect is minimal, and colder waters from the south can penetrate far north. Lord Howe Island, located on this parallel, is the most southerly development of the modern coral reef. To the east, the water circulation is controlled by the current from the western Pacific from January to June and by colder subantarctic water moving north through the Cook Strait from July to December. These different currents tend to make the climate temperate in the south of the Tasman Sea and subtropical in the north.

The sea is traversed by shipping lanes between New Zealand and southeast Australia and Tasmania, and its economic resources include fishing and oil fields in the Gippsland Basin in eastern Bass Strait.

About 90% of the marine life of the Tasman Sea is found nowhere else, as it is the meeting point of three ocean currents. It serves as a habitat for a huge number of species; from microscopic life forms to a giant squid capable of forming rings the size of car tires.

Bering Sea

Bering Sea on the map

The Bering Sea is a marginal sea of the Pacific Ocean. Covering an area of more than 2 million km², the sea borders in the west on the Kamchatka Peninsula and the Russian Far East; in the south - with the Aleutian Islands; in the east - with Alaska.

The sea ends in the Bering Strait, located south of the Arctic Circle. This strait is a narrow sea passage between the easternmost point of the Asian continent (Russia) and the westernmost point (Alaska).

The sea (and the strait) are named after the Danish-born Russian sailor Vitus Bering, who first saw the land of Alaska while exploring the area with a Kamchatka expedition in the mid-18th century.

Stormy Bering Sea

Although the Bering Sea is located at the same latitude as Great Britain, its climate is much more severe. The southern and western parts are characterized by cool, rainy summers with frequent fogs and comparatively warm snowy winters. Winters are extreme in the northern and eastern parts, with temperatures ranging from -35° to -45° C and strong winds. Summers in the north and east are cool, with comparatively low precipitation. January and February are the coldest months, July and August are the warmest. Severe storms, caused by centers of low atmospheric pressure, sometimes penetrate the southern part of the sea.

It is believed that oil and gas fields exist under the shelf of the Bering Sea, and along the edge - Kamchatka. However, the amount of potential reserves is unknown.

There are more than 300 species of fish in the Bering Sea, including 50 species that are deep-sea. The most important among them are salmon, herring, cod, flounder, halibut and pollock. Fur seals and sea otters are found on the islands. Walruses, seals and sea lions live in the northern regions. Several species of whales, especially gray whales, migrate to the Bering Sea to feed during the summer. Intensive fishing has drastically reduced some of the most valuable fish species and this has resulted in greater exploitation of other species.

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World Ocean- the main part of the hydrosphere, a continuous, but not continuous, water shell of the Earth, surrounding the continents and islands and characterized by a common salt composition. The world ocean is a heat regulator. The world ocean has the richest food, mineral and energy resources. Although the World Ocean is a single whole, for the convenience of research, its individual parts have been given different names: the Pacific, Atlantic, Indian, Arctic Oceans and the South.

Ocean and atmosphere. The oceans, the average depth of which is approx. 4 km, contains 1350 million km3 of water. The atmosphere, enveloping the entire Earth in a layer several hundred kilometers thick, with a much larger base than the World Ocean, can be considered as a "shell". Both the ocean and the atmosphere are the fluids in which life exists; their properties determine the habitat of organisms. The ocean determines the main properties of the atmosphere and is a source of energy for many processes occurring in the atmosphere. The circulation of water in the ocean is affected by winds, the rotation of the Earth, and land barriers.

Ocean and climate. It is well known that the temperature regime and other climatic characteristics of the area at any latitude can change significantly in the direction from the ocean coast to the interior of the mainland. Compared to land, the ocean heats up more slowly in summer and cools more slowly in winter, smoothing out temperature fluctuations on adjacent land.

Composition of sea water. The ocean water is salty. The salty taste is given by the 3.5% dissolved minerals contained in it - mainly sodium and chlorine compounds - the main ingredients of table salt. Magnesium is next in number, followed by sulfur; all common metals are also present. Of the non-metallic components, calcium and silicon are especially important, since they are involved in the structure of the skeletons and shells of many marine animals. Due to the fact that the water in the ocean is constantly mixed by waves and currents, its composition is almost the same in all oceans.

properties of sea water. The density of sea water (at a temperature of 20 ° C and salinity approx. 3.5%) is approximately 1.03, i.e. slightly higher than the density of fresh water (1.0). The density of water in the ocean varies with depth due to the pressure of the overlying layers, as well as depending on temperature and salinity. In the deepest parts of the ocean, the waters tend to be saltier and colder. The densest masses of water in the ocean can remain at depth and maintain a lower temperature for more than 1000 years.

Sea water is much less transparent to visible light than air, but more transparent than most other substances. The penetration of sunlight into the ocean to a depth of 700 m has been recorded. Radio waves penetrate the water column only to a shallow depth, but sound waves can propagate under water for thousands of kilometers. The speed of sound propagation in sea water fluctuates, averaging 1500 m per second.

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