Seven Seas

Europeans started exploring the world by sailing to faraway places; the years 1450 to 1650 are called the Age of Discovery.

During this time the Seven Seas were the Atlantic, Arctic, Indian, and Pacific Oceans plus the Mediterranean Sea, the Caribbean Sea, and the Gulf of Mexico. Notice how bodies of water near North America made it onto the list of Seven Seas after explorers sailed there. 

A modern definition of the Seven Seas includes only oceans: North and South Pacific, North and South Atlantic, Indian, Arctic, Antarctic Ocean.

The Pacific Ocean is the largest of the oceans covering about 30% of the earth.

The equator divides the Pacific into the North Pacific and South Pacific. The South Pacific is home to Australia and many other islands.

The Pacific Ocean contains the Mariana Trench, the deepest spot in the world

The Atlantic Ocean is the second largest ocean, covering about 22% of the earth’s surface. It is the saltiest ocean.

Like the Pacific Ocean, the equator divides the Atlantic into North and South pieces.

Next in size is the Indian Ocean which covers about 20% of the earth’s surface. In 2000 the International Hydrographic Organization created the Southern Ocean, also called the Antarctic Ocean, from the southern part of the Indian Ocean.

The Arctic Ocean surrounds the North Pole; it is the smallest and shallowest ocean in the world.