ARCTIC OCEAN: 10 FACTS ABOUT THE WORLD'S SMALLEST OCEAN 

Did you know that the Arctic Ocean is the smallest of the world's five ocean basins and that its region covers parts of eight countries?

The Arctic Ocean is the smallest and shallowest of the world's five major oceans spanning an area of approximately 14,060,000 km² (5,430,000 sq mi) and is known as one of the coldest of oceans. The International Hydrographic Organization (IHO) recognizes it as an ocean, although some oceanographers call it the Arctic Mediterranean Sea. It has been also been described as an estuary of the Atlantic Ocean and is also seen as the northernmost part of the all-encompassing World Ocean.

Here are some facts about the Arctic Ocean you need to know:

FACT 1: With an area of approximately six million square miles, the Arctic Ocean is about 1.5 times as big as the United States.

FACT 2: It is bordered by Greenland, Canada, Norway, Alaska, and Russia. The average depth of the Arctic Ocean is 3,953 feet and it is 18,264 feet at its deepest point.

FACT 3: The Arctic Ocean is almost completely covered with ice for the majority of the year and its average temperature seldom rises above freezing. However, this ocean is anything but barren.

FACT 4: The Arctic Ocean took shape approximately 65 million years ago during the Cenozoic Era due to the spreading and gradual expansion of the seafloor and the opening of the Arctic Ocean Basin. The region was once a chunk of land called the Arctic Continent that broke into pieces and formed the Arctic Ocean.

FACT 5: The Arctic Ocean is named after the Arctic region, which is the land surrounding the North Pole. The Arctic is derived from the Greek word ‘arktikos’, which means ‘near the bear’ or ‘northern’.

FACT 6: The Arctic region has a fragile ecosystem impacted by global warming. The Arctic has walruses and four species of whales, including the grey whale, beluga, bowhead whale and narwhal. Also, six species of seals, including the ribbon seal, ringed seal, harp seal, hooded seal and bearded seal, are found in the waters of the Arctic. The Arctic also has sponges and sea anemones which feed the bottom-dwelling fish. Additionally, the explorers have discovered more fish species here than anywhere else.

FACT 7: The Arctic has many natural resources, including minerals, that can be highly profitable to humankind. It is said to have vast reserves of natural gas and oil, iron ore, nickel, copper, zinc phosphates, precious metals, gemstones and diamonds. While these are abundant, there is a need for expanding operations to increase production.

FACT 8: The Arctic Ocean is mostly covered with ice. It does not have many ports because of the harsh weather conditions. The ports transport essential items to sparsely populated communities, handling research and extracting resources. Some major ports of the Arctic include the Murmansk port of Russia and the Kirkines port, a major port which connects Norway, Finland and Russia.

FACT 9: The Arctic region covers parts of eight countries: Canada, Greenland, Iceland, Norway, Sweden, Finland, Russia, and the United States. These countries promote collaboration, coordination, and interaction via an intergovernmental forum called the Arctic Council.

FACT 10: Glacier ice is found in the Arctic region. It is the largest reservoir of fresh water on the planet, storing an estimated 75 percent of the world’s supply. Alaska alone is estimated to have more than 100,000 glaciers. A glacier can range in length from the equivalent of a football field to more than 100 miles.

Sources:

https://oceanservice.noaa.gov/facts/smallestocean.html

https://www.marineinsight.com/know-more/10-arctic-ocean-facts-you-might-not-know/

https://www.worldwildlife.org/stories/how-big-is-the-arctic-ocean-and-eight-other-arctic-facts

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