The vast and diverse ocean is a truly incredible place, covering an astounding 71% of the Earth’s surface. From the beautiful coral reefs to the mysterious phenomena of the Bermuda Triangle, the ocean can be a never-ending source of wonder for kids of all ages. This collection of thirty fun, kid-friendly ocean facts make for great discussion starters or classroom trivia questions and is sure to spark curiosity and inspire a lifelong love of the sea.
1. There is really just one big and connected ocean.
The amazing ocean is really just one big body of water divided into five parts: the Pacific Ocean, the Atlantic Ocean, the Indian Ocean, the Arctic Ocean, and the Southern (Antarctic) Ocean. There’s no actual physical separation between the different regions.
Learn More: Modest Fish
2. The Pacific Ocean was considered to be “peaceful”.
Ferdinand Magellan, a Portuguese explorer, named the Pacific Ocean pacific or ‘peaceful’ because of the calmness he observed in the water while sailing. While most explorers would agree it’s not the most treacherous ocean, read along to discover why it’s not necessarily so calm.
Learn More: Easy Geography For Kids
3. The Pacific Ocean contains one-half of the world’s ocean water.
The Pacific Ocean is the largest ocean in the world, containing approximately 50.1% of the Earth’s ocean water. That equals about 187 quintillion gallons of water!
Learn More: Facts Just For Kids
4. The Pacific Ocean borders fifty-five countries.
Being the largest ocean, it may not be surprising to learn that the Pacific Ocean borders so many different countries. Some of those countries include the U.S., Chile, Japan, and Australia.
Learn More: Cool Kid Facts
5. The Atlantic Ocean is about 1/2 the size of the Pacific.
The Atlantic Ocean is the second largest ocean, measuring in at about 106,460,000 square kilometers. This is about one-fifth of the Earth’s surface and one-half of the Pacific Ocean.
Learn More: National Ocean Service
6. The Atlantic Ocean is the first ocean to be crossed by both a ship and an aircraft.
The first ship crossed the Atlantic back in the 1850s. Almost a century later, in 1927, Charles Lindberg flew across the Atlantic. One year later, Amelia Earhart was the first female to fly solo across the Atlantic.
Learn More: Facts Just For Kids
7. The Atlantic Ocean has the highest tides.
The world’s highest tides are located on the East coast of Canada, in the Bay of Fundy. The tide reaches up to fifty-two feet, in contrast to typical tides which only measure a few inches.
Learn More: Cool Kid Facts
8. The Titanic sank in the Atlantic Ocean.
Perhaps the most famous ship in the world, the Titanic was making its way from England to America when it hit an iceberg and sank in the deep waters of the Atlantic Ocean, causing the death of over 1500 passengers.
Learn More: History
9. The Indian Ocean is the warmest ocean.
While the warm temperature may be ideal for swimming, it also makes it difficult for phytoplankton to survive and causes the water to evaporate faster than other ocean bodies.
Learn More: World Atlas
10. Phytoplankton and algae produce lots of oxygen!
If you’re like most people, you probably thought that most of the Earth’s oxygen came from plants and trees. But you’d be wrong! Scientists estimate that more than one-half of the Earth’s oxygen is produced by the plethora of phytoplankton and algae in our oceans.
Learn More: National Ocean Service
11. The Indian Ocean is considered to be one of the most dangerous for sailing.
The Indian Ocean can have very strong winds and extreme weather conditions due to its warmer temperatures. This fact alone makes it the most deadly ocean, followed by the Atlantic.
Learn More: Marine Insight
12. The Southern Ocean was not declared an ocean until very recently.
It wasn’t until the year 2000 that this region of water around Antarctica was declared an ocean. While it was recognized by scientists, there was never agreement internationally. Now, most countries recognize the Southern Ocean.
Learn More: The Washington Post
13. The Southern Ocean is geologically the youngest ocean.
Not only is this ocean the most recently recognized, but it’s also the most recently formed, taking its current form about thirty million years ago when Antarctica and South America drifted apart.
Learn More: Just Fun Facts
14. The world’s biggest ocean current flows across the Southern Ocean.
The Antarctic Circumpolar Current is the world’s biggest ocean current, circling around the Antarctic land in a clockwise direction. It’s a rapid and strong flow of Antarctic waters.
Learn More: Just Fun Facts
15. The Arctic Ocean is the smallest ocean.
These cool waters make up the Arctic Ocean, the smallest and shallowest ocean in the world. It’s located at the North Pole and is covered in ice year-round – perhaps not the most ideal place for a swim.
Learn More: Did You Know?
16. The deepest point of the ocean is almost 40,000 feet!
This point is called the Challenger Deep and is estimated to be 39,994 feet deep (much deeper than the average 12,100 feet ocean depth). It was first discovered in the Mariana Trench of the Pacific Ocean, in 1875, aboard the HMS Challenger expedition.
Learn More: Easy Science For Kids
17. 95% of the deep sea is still uncharted territory.
We have explored so little of the deep sea because of the harsh conditions of these dark waters. The cold waters range in temperature from 0 to 3°C (32 to 37.4°F) with extremely high pressure. The photo above captures the first human expedition to the deep sea.
Learn More: Interesting Engineering
18. The longest mountain range is underwater.
Above water, the longest mountain range is the Andes of South America, spanning 8,900 km. The mid-oceanic ridge, displayed in red in the picture above, easily tops this length, reaching nearly 65,000 km!
Learn More: NOAA Ocean Exploration
19. There are over 10,000 volcanoes located in the Pacific Ocean.
Perhaps the Pacific Ocean isn’t as “peaceful” as Ferdinand Magellan once imagined. This ocean contains well over 10,000 volcanoes, which is many more than has been reported on land.
Learn more: Science Struck
20. The Pacific Ocean contains the “Ring of Fire”.
The Pacific Ocean is home to the Pacific Ring of Fire – a fiery region brimming with volcanic and earthquake activity. There are reportedly over 450 volcanoes in this ring that account for 75% of the world’s volcanic emissions and eruptions.
Learn More: How Stuff Works
21. Ocean water is salty.
Do you know the magical white grains that make your french fries taste so much better? That’s sodium chloride and there’s a lot of it in ocean water, unlike the water found in freshwater lakes.
Learn More: YouTube
22. The Dead Sea is almost nine times as salty as the ocean.
You won’t find any fish swimming in the Dead Sea because it’s so salty that barely any life can survive in it. Yet tourists love floating in this body of water, located between Israel and Jordan.
Learn More: European Space Agency
23. The ocean absorbs one-third of the carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.
Ocean acidification increases with the absorption of carbon dioxide, which can be harmful to marine life, particularly animals with shells and coral.
Learn More: National Geographic
24. The ocean is home to the world’s largest animal!
What amazing animal could measure more than double the size of a school bus? A blue whale of course! Interestingly, the females of the species are larger than the males, growing up to a whopping 110 feet.
Learn More: Modest Fish
25. Sperm whales sleep upright in the ocean.
Another awesome inhabitant of the big blue ocean is the sperm whale. These large animals nap in a vertical position which can make for an interesting sight. They nap like this in bouts of only 10-15 minutes.
Learn More: Nspirement
26. Coral reefs are the “rainforests of the sea”.
Coral reefs are formed over millions of years in the shallow waters of tropical climates. Formed from the skeletons of dead marine life, they’re home to almost a quarter of all ocean species!
Learn More: Mongabay
27. Coral reefs help to purify ocean water.
These beautiful ecosystems help to keep the ocean water clean by feeding on dirt and pollutants, which is why you’ll find them living in pristine waters.
Learn More: UN Environment Programme
28. The Great Barrier Reef covers an area of 350,000 square kilometers.
The Great Barrier Reef is roughly the same size as Germany. This is the world’s largest coral reef and it’s inhabited by an abundance of amazing creatures. You can find this beautiful ecosystem in the Pacific Ocean, off the coast of Australia.
Learn More: Britannica
29. The Great Pacific Garbage Patch is an accumulation of harmful plastics.
Did you know that there’s a litter pile in the Pacific Ocean called the Great Pacific Garbage Patch, bigger than the size of South Africa? All of this accumulated plastic can have harmful effects on the plants and animals of the ecosystem.
Learn More: YouTube
30. Numerous ships and planes have mysteriously disappeared in the Bermuda Triangle.
While some say the Bermuda Triangle is only a legend, there’ve been several cases where ships and planes have mysteriously vanished from the area. Another strange fact is that compasses are reported to malfunction in the region, creating chaos for sailors.
Learn More: Easy Geography For Kids
31. The most remote point in the ocean is called Point Nemo.
Point Nemo is the place in the ocean that is furthest from any land. It’s located in the South Pacific Ocean and the nearest humans are often astronauts in the International Space Station!
Learn More: All Thats Interesting
32. The ocean contains gold.
There is gold in the ocean, but it’s not easy to get. It’s estimated that there’s around 20 million tons of gold dispersed throughout the ocean’s water.
Learn More: Facebook
33. There’s an underwater “waterfall” in the Indian Ocean.
The underwater waterfall is just off the coast of Mauritius. It’s actually an optical illusion created by silt and sand deposits that flow through the area and into the abyss below.
Learn More: Twitter
34. The ocean has waves moving deep below its surface.
These are known as internal waves. While the surface waves that we see are generally created by wind and tides, internal waves are caused by the ocean layers of different densities sliding on each other.
Learn More: Lumen Learning
35. The Great Barrier Reef can be seen from space.
The Great Barrier Reef is not only the largest living structure on Earth but also the only one visible from space. This vast ecosystem stretches over 2,300 kilometers along the northeast coast of Australia.
Learn More: ESA
36. More people have been to the moon than to the deepest part of the ocean.
Only three people have visited the Mariana Trench, the deepest part of the ocean, while twelve people have walked on the moon.
Learn More: Edition CNN
37. Some fish communicate by making sounds.
Certain species of fish, such as groupers and cod, are known to make various sounds to communicate with each other. They can create grunts, chirps, and pops by grinding their teeth or moving their swim bladders.
Learn More: Eco Watch
38. The ocean provides a habitat for the world’s largest living structure – coral reefs.
Coral reefs, often called the cities of the sea, are home to a diverse range of species. These vibrant ecosystems are incredibly important for the health of the planet and the survival of many marine creatures.
Learn More: Education
39. There are rivers and lakes within the ocean.
In certain places, salt concentration is so high that it forms a brine that is much denser than regular sea water. It sinks to the bottom, creating a lake or river that flows within the ocean.
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40. Whales are crucial for a healthy ocean.
Whales play a significant role in maintaining the health of the ocean environment by enhancing the productivity of phytoplankton, which contributes to the carbon capture process.
Learn More: Whale Facts
41. The ocean’s colors can change.
The color of the ocean can change depending on its depth and the amount of algae and plant life. Lighter blue indicates shallower water or the presence of algae, while darker blue suggests deeper water.
Learn More: Greek Reporter
42. Ocean currents can be very powerful.
The Gulf Stream, a well-known current in the Atlantic Ocean, can flow at a speed of up to 5.6 miles per hour! These currents help distribute heat and nutrients around the globe.
Learn More: CES
43. Seaweed is a type of algae, not a plant.
Seaweeds, which are abundant in the oceans, are a type of algae and they play a crucial role in the ocean’s ecosystem. They provide food and shelter for many ocean creatures.
Learn More: eHow
44. Some ocean animals glow in the dark!
Creatures like the anglerfish and jellyfish can produce their own light, a phenomenon known as bioluminescence. This light helps them attract prey or scare away predators.
Learn More: Science
45. There are underwater hot springs called hydrothermal vents.
Hydrothermal vents are like underwater geysers, releasing mineral-rich water heated by the Earth’s magma. Despite the extreme conditions, many creatures thrive in these habitats.
Learn More: Education
46. Many medicines come from the ocean.
Marine plants and animals have unique chemical compounds not found on land. Scientists use these to develop new medicines, including treatments for cancer and other diseases.
Learn More: Ocean Explorer
47. The world’s largest living structure is in the ocean.
The Great Barrier Reef, visible even from space, is the largest living structure on Earth. It’s made up of thousands of individual coral reefs that together stretch over 1,400 miles.
Learn More: Ocean Service
48. The Antarctic Ocean is home to emperor penguins.
Emperor penguins are the tallest and heaviest of all living penguin species, and they are endemic to Antarctica. These penguins have adapted to living in one of the harshest environments on earth.
Learn More: WHOI
49. Oceans help regulate Earth’s climate.
Oceans act like a big heat storage tank and help regulate the earth’s temperature, absorbing, storing, and slowly releasing large amounts of heat. They also absorb large amounts of CO2, reducing the impact of global warming.
Learn More: Ocean Service
50. Oceans cover more than 70% of the Earth’s surface.
The Earth is often called the “Blue Planet” because oceans cover more than 70% of its surface.
Learn More: Oceans Connected
51. The average depth of the ocean is about 12,080 feet.
That’s about 25 times the height of the Statue of Liberty! And still, most of the ocean remains unexplored.
Learn More: Ocean Explorer
52. The ocean produces more oxygen than all the rainforests combined.
The tiny ocean plants, called phytoplankton, produce about half of the world’s oxygen. This is more than all the rainforests combined!
Learn More: Logically Facts
53. The pressure at the deepest point in the ocean is over 8 tons per square inch.
That’s about 1,000 times the standard atmospheric pressure at sea level! Despite these harsh conditions, several creatures, like the fangtooth fish and giant squid, live at these depths.
Learn More: Let’s Talk Geography
54. The Mariana Trench is deeper than Mount Everest is tall.
If you flipped Mount Everest upside down into the Mariana Trench, there would still be over a mile of ocean above the peak!
Learn More: Microbiome Journal
55. The Atlantic Ocean is widening.
The Atlantic Ocean is getting bigger! This is because the tectonic plates beneath the Atlantic are spreading apart.
Learn More: Business Insider
56. The Gulf Stream warms the climate of North Western Europe.
The Gulf Stream is a powerful ocean current that brings warm water from the Gulf of Mexico to the North Atlantic Ocean. This helps to warm the climates of countries in Northwestern Europe.
Learn More: American Scientist
57. Sea turtles return to the same beach to lay their eggs.
Sea turtles have a remarkable ability to return to the same beach where they were born to lay their eggs. They navigate using the Earth’s magnetic field.
Learn More: Turtle Conservation Society
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