Funny Weird Amazing Facts!!

The tongue is the only muscle in the human body that is not attached at both ends. The tongue consists of a group of muscles and most of its surface is covered with taste buds. The tongue is sometimes called the ‘strongest muscle' in the body but this does not refer to its actual strength. It refers to the strength and power of words.

The human face has ten different groups of muscles. It takes seventeen muscles to smile and forty-three to frown, but there is disagreement over the total number of muscles in the human face.

A sneeze can be super fast. Human sneezes have been measured at speeds of more than 160km per hour. A sneeze, or ostentation, is a compulsive expulsion of air from the lungs.

Most of the human brain is made up of water. Approximately 85% of the human brain is made up of water. It contains 100 billion neurons, each of which is connected to 10,000 other neurons. Not even the most powerful of PC's has as many connections as this ‘human computer' has.

The brain uses one quarter of all the oxygen in the body.

Unborn babies have fingerprints.
An unborn human baby develops fingerprints at just three months. In 1906 the New York City Police Department first introduced the fingerprinting of criminals.

There is a one millimeter muscle in the ear.
The body's smallest muscle is just one millimetre long and is inside the middle ear. Its purpose is to support one of the tiny bones inside the ear, called the stirrup.

There are 29 human blood groups.
The rarest blood group of all is A-H which is a Bombay type blood sub-group. It is confines to just a handful of families and has been found in Japan where extensive studies have been carried out.

This strongest muscle in the human body is the masseter. It is situated at the back of the jaw. It is the muscle that allows the chewing of food.

The hardest part of the human body is the enamel that covers the teeth. An adult human has thirty-two teeth and a child has twenty-eight.

It is the tentacles that make the Jellyfish so dangerous, for on them are stinging cells called nematocysts. When the umbrella-like jellyfish moves through the water, its tentacles drift along behind it. Jellyfish do not attack their prey rapidly like sharks and other fish. They might slowly propel themselves along, but usually they lie in wait for sea creatures to come to them. Whatever living thing they touch, they sting.

All of the 200 varieties of jellyfish have stinging ability, which they use to paralyze the prey that comes within touch of their tentacles. The poison from the nematocysts of the jellyfish varies with the species. Some stings are very harmful to humans, while others will merely cause skin irritation.

Jellyfish are among the most dangerous creatures of the ocean. It is hard to realize this from their looks, for they appear to be nothing more than near-transparent blobs with long, dangling tentacles.

The deadliest jellyfish, the sea wasp, has a poison which can kill a person in 20 minutes by paralyzing the heart!

Jellyfish have survived a long time in their watery habitats. Sea Jellies have lived on earth for millions of years. They can be found in all the oceans of the would. There are even some jellies that live in fresh water lakes and rivers.

Jellyfish look pretty weird because they come in strange shapes and colors. They are shaped like a bell or an inverted bowl from 3 millimeters to 2 meters in diameter. The bells of Jellyfish contain small sense organs that respond to light and gravity.

Their jelly like bodies may be nearly clear, or a color such as pale blue, orange, brown, white or pink. Although Jellyfish are often glassy or pale bluish in color, they can also be yellow, deep blue, bright purple, pale lilac, bright orange, deep red. Some Jellyfish, when they are disturbed at night, give off a cold bright light called luminescence.

Jellyfish may be tiny or quite large. Many of the most common kinds are saucer size. One specie in the cold arctic sea is huge; it's body can be more than 7 feet wide, and it's tentacles can be up to 120 feet long.

Did you ever wonder how Jellyfish reproduce with that squishy like body? Well now you're going to find out. Individual Jellyfish are either male or female. The eggs and sperm develop in special areas called Gonads inside the body wall. The gonads are frequently very colorful and add greatly to the beauty of the living Jellyfish. When all of the eggs and sperm are fully developed, they are released into the stomach and then through the mouth into the sea. Some of the eggs stick to the frilly mouth lips which surround the mouth of the Jellyfish. There they are fertilized by the sperm and continue to develop. As in all many-celled animals, the microscopic fertilized eggs begin a series of cell divisions which finally result in an embryo. However, the embryo does not develop directly into a baby jellyfish, but becomes a tiny, flattened creature called a Planula.

The Planula, which is covered with rapidly beating hairlike cilia, is able to swim and may be carried a considerable distance by ocean currents during it's short swimming period, lasting from a few hours to several days. The tiny Planula then makes its way toward the sea bottom where it actively looks for a suitable place to attach itself. At this point, a remarkable series of events take place.

The planula attaches to a rock, shell, pier pilling, or some hard underwater object and immediately begins to grow into a Polyp. The Polyp may continue to live for several years. During this time, it captures small shrimp-like organisms and other tiny marine animals for food. Furthermore, each Polyp produced from a Planula is able to reproduce new Polyps by a process called budding. In budding, completely new Polyps develop from the body wall of the original creature, much like a branch growing from the side of a tree. These become detached as separate small Polyps. This is a type of asexual reproduction, since one Polyp gives rise to several "daughter" polyps without eggs and sperm coming together. This happens usually in the spring. Each Polyp begins a different sort of asexual reproduction. At this time a series of grooves appear in the body of the Polyp, which become deeper and deeper as time goes on. Finally, the grooves become so deep, that they cut all the way though the Polyp body. In this way, a pile of disc-shaped structures resembling a stack of coins or tin saucers is formed. As a matter of fact, each of those coins is an individual baby Jellyfish of the Medusa type. It can now break off from the stack and swim away to begin it's own life as a floating Medusa.

Jellyfish eat small animals such as shrimp and plankton. Some of the animals Jellyfish eat are microscopic, too small to be seen by the human eye. They also eat other Jellyfish of other species. They catch their prey by using nematocysts, small stinging organs present in the tentacles and oral arms. Some kinds of stings are like miniature harpoons with barbs on the end that inject poison to paralyze their prey. Some Jellyfish have sticky harpoons and others wrap their harpoons around their prey to trap it. They usually wait for small animals to swim or drift into their tentacles.

Jellyfish have no intestines, liver or pancreas which are so important in the digestion of food in most animals. Jellyfish don't produce bulky waste products, and those which they do produce are passed out through their large mouth. in fact, floating animals like the Jellyfish cannot afford to carry heavy items of food in their stomach while digestion takes place, because this would increase their weight, making it more difficult to stay afloat. Therefore, the Jellyfish digest their food and get rid of the waste matter very rapidly.

Jellyfish usually drift, but occasionally you will see them swimming. Jellyfish swim by rhythmic pulsations of the umbrella or bell. The movement is very like an umbrella being open and shut slowly. It is coordinated by a very simple nervous system and by sense organs around the edge that are sensitive to light and gravity and chemicals in the water.

Did you know that Jellyfish kill more people than a great White Shark and they can sting? Most Jellyfish use their tentacles to sting there prey, but usually it is too weak to hurt people. If you get stung in the neck, the place where you got stung will swell up and you will suffocate. The Box Jellyfish is one of the most deadly Jellyfish. In Australia, they kill up to 65 people a year. When a Jellyfish stings a person, they can die in less than three minutes.

Jellyfish don't have many enemies, but there are some animals like a Banner fish that isn't bothered by their tentacles. The Arrow Crab will gobble up the Jellyfish in one bite. Other animals like turtles will eat them. Certain fish and snails nibble on their tentacles.

You would be surprised how differently jellyfish breath than Man or other fish. Jellyfish have no lungs or no gills or any special breathing organs. The walls of the body and tentacles are so thin that the oxygen molecules are able to pass directly from the water into the internal organs and the carbon dioxide molecules pass out of the body in the same wag. Thus, one might say that a Jellyfish breathes with it's entire body.

Did you ever wonder if jellyfish feel, hear, smell, or taste? If your answer is yes, read this and find out. Unlike more complex animals, the senses of jellyfish are limited. Sea jellies have touch receptors on their tentacles and around their mouths to help capture food. These touch receptors may also detect vibrations in the water caused by the movement of a fish, crab, or other animal swimming by. Sea jellies do not have a nose or tongue. They have special cells that smell and taste scattered all over their bodies. Sea jellies do not have eyes like human eyes, but many have light-sensitive organs around the margins of their bodies. In most cases, these organs do not detect shapes or movement, but allow the jelly to tell light from dark. Jellies can tell up from down by sensing the sunlight at the surface of the ocean.

Did you know there are people who study Jellyfish, but Jellyfish are not an endangered species. For many years, Jelly researchers were more interested in finding ways to get rid of these fascinating animals than they were in understanding them. Today, scientists appreciate the amazing things these simple creatures can do and are beginning to recognize the important role they play in the chain of life in the ocean.

What kinds of research do jelly scientists do? Some are continuing to search for an effective anti-venom that will save victims of Sea Wasp stings. Others are studying the chemicals in Medusa and other Jellies for possible use in treating cancer and other diseases. One of the bioluminescent chemicals found in a Medusa jelly from the Pacific Northwest has already been found to be useful in certain types of Medical research. This substance allows doctors to trace the movement of specific chemicals through the body.

The Box Jellyfish (also known as a Sea Wasp) is a very dangerous creature to inhabit Australian waters. The Jellyfish has extreme toxins present on its tentacles, which when in contact with a human, can stop cardio-respiratory functions in as little as three minutes.

This jellyfish is responsible for more deaths in Australian than Snakes, Sharks and Salt Water Crocodiles.

The creature has a square body and inhabits the north east areas of Australia. The tentacles may reach up to 80 cms in length. It is found along the coast of the Great Barrier Reef.

This deadly species of jellyfish is related to another deadly jellyfish, the irukandji jellyfish.

The Ancient Egyptians used red paint to put a thin line around and on the lips.

The Ancient Egyptians used henna to dye hair, paint nails, hands, and the soles of their feet.

Beauty and fashion were very important to the Ancient Egyptians.

The Ancient Egyptians used scented oils to protect their skin from the sun and also as a perfume.

The Skin

Is the body’s largest organ
Makes up about 16% of our total body weight

Every 24 hours, the surface of the skin sheds a layer of dead cells, constantly renewing about every 28 days

Dead skin cells make up about 90% of household dust

An average of 40 kilos of skin is shed during a lifetime

Varies in thickness from 1mm on eyelids to 3mms on palms and soles

Functions of the skin:

Acts as a protective barrier from the external environment – guarding against bacterial invasion, dehydration and ultra-violet light (UVL)

Resilience to injury - resumes its previous shape withstanding considerable trauma w/out permanent damage

Purifies our system by eliminating waste fluid.

Regulates body temperature by fine tuning heat insulation – like a thermostat.

Provides a waterproof barrier to prevent excess loss of body fluids, and penetration of external substances.

The use of make-up has been around for more than a thousand or so years. Artifacts have shown ancient civilizations used make-up for religious ceremonies and for everyday occasions. Since we know that people have worn it for years then why are there so many questions about it.

People still question whether or not make-up is healthy for you, can it cause cancer, or if it is made out of harmful chemicals. The answer to all three of these questions is no, by the way. So, we’re going to lay it all out on the table for you. The people at Makeuptip.com have put together a quick Fact and Fiction list for you of the most common concerns and questions they get from their clients.

Fiction: Cosmetics are not regulated.

Fact: The individual ingredients must be safe, and labeling must be truthful and not misleading. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration have legal authority over cosmetics similar to its authority over other FDA-regulated products, such as foods, non-prescription drugs and non-prescription medical devices. For instance, the FDA can take immediate action to stop the sale of any cosmetic product that does not meet its standards.

Fiction: Cosmetics contain dangerous, toxic ingredients.

Fact: FDA regulations require all ingredients used in cosmetics be validated for safety. If it isn't done, the product's label will read: "WARNING: The safety of this product has not been determined." In the U.S. , cosmetic manufacturers are required by law to establish the safety of both finished products and its ingredients.

Fiction: No independent body evaluates the safety of cosmetic ingredients.

Fact: The cosmetic industry supports an independent panel of world-class medical and scientific experts. They are called the Cosmetic Ingredient Review Expert Panel (CIR). This scientific body examines all available data and assesses the safety of all cosmetic ingredients. CIR publishes its findings in the peer-reviewed International Journal of Toxicology and has restricted or banned the use of hundreds of chemical ingredients due to concerns over safety.

Fiction: Cosmetic and personal care products often contain substances known to or suspected of causing cancer and reproductive problems.

Fact: No credible research has ever shown that any cosmetic or personal care products cause cancer or reproductive toxicity. Chemicals found to be human carcinogens are not used in cosmetics. In fact, almost no reports of injury involving cosmetics have ever been reported.

Fiction: Cosmetic companies can use any ingredient they want in their products.

Fact: By law, every cosmetic on the shelf must be safe. In the U.S. , cosmetics are regulated under the Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act, which is enforced by the FDA and has the legal authority to regulate the safety of cosmetic products. It rarely needs to use this authority, since cosmetics are made of safe ingredients and because, when necessary, the cosmetics industry has acted voluntarily to withdraw ingredients that have been scientifically shown to be dangerous.

Fiction: Skin-care products are all hype; soap and water works just as well.

Fact: The science behind skin-care products has grown in leaps and bounds over the past twenty years. There is good scientific evidence behind the use of such ingredients as antioxidant vitamins, green tea polyphenols, retinoids, alpha- and beta-hydroxy acids and essential oils in skin-care products to minimize wrinkles, fade dark spots, and strengthen collagen.

For more tips on makeup such as this, be sure to visit the experts at MakeUpTip.com at www.makeuptip.com. When they’re done, your face will look like you just left an expensive salon. They offer tips on how to achieve a velvety, natural finish and keep your makeup lasting longer such as eye makeup tips. Visit them and find out how to look like million dollars on a real woman’s budget.

In 50 years one tree recycles more than $37,000 worth of water, provides $31,000 worth of erosion control, $62,000 worth of air pollution control, and produces $37,000 worth of oxygen.
Two mature trees provide enough oxygen for a family of four.

Trees help reduce the "greenhouse effect" by absorbing CO2. One acre of trees removes 2.6 tons of CO2 per year.

Forest planting is one of the most cost-effective ways of reducing CO2. To remove 1 pound of CO2, planting tree costs less than 1 cent, developing more energy efficient appliances costs about 2 1/2 cents, and developing more fuel-efficient cars costs about 10 cents.

By cooling the air and ground around them, the shade from trees helps cool the Earth's temperature.

Trees are good noise barriers, making a city and neighborhood quieter.

Trees help prevent city flooding by catching raindrops and offsetting runoff caused by buildings and parking lots.

Hospital patients heal faster, require shorter stays and less painkillers if room windows face trees.

A tree-line buffer between fields and streams helps remove farming pollutants before they reach the water.

Well placed trees help cut energy costs and consumption by decreasing air conditioning costs 10-50% & reducing heating costs as much as 4-22%.

Trees are the longest living and largest living organisms on Earth.

People who plant trees become healthier, better looking, richer, and have more friends (well maybe that's stretching it a bit) - plant a tree and find out!

In deserts, leaves absorb moisture from the dew and frost of the cool nights and release it to cool the air during the warm days.

Trees enhance the aesthetics of our environment. Their grandeur, tenacity, and beauty are probably the most enjoyable aspect of trees.

Tree bark and fruit have many medicinal properties, which are still being discovered. *In 50 years one tree recycles more than $37,000 worth of water, provides $31,000 worth of erosion control, $62,000 worth of air pollution control, & produces $37,000 worth of oxygen.

Two mature trees provide enough oxygen for a family of four.

Birds and animals use trees for their homes and shelter and as a source of food.

One person causes about 10 tons of carbon dioxide to be emitted a year. One tree removes about 1 ton of CO2 per year. Planting 30 trees per person will remove each that person's carbon debt for the year.

Trees increase property values by 5 to 20% due to their landscaping value.

Ocean Facts
Did you know...?

Sharks attack some 50-75 people each year worldwide, with perhaps 8-12 fatalities, according to data compiled in the International Shark Attack File (ISAF). Although shark attacks get a lot of attention, this is far less than the number of people killed each year by elephants, bees, crocodiles, lightning or many other natural dangers. On the other side of the ledger, we kill somewhere between 20-100 million sharks every year through fishing activities.
Of the 350 or so shark species, about 80% grow to less than 1.6 m and are unable to hurt people or rarely encounter people. Only 32 species have been documented in attacks on humans, and an additional 36 species are considered potentially dangerous.

Almost any shark 1.8 m or longer is a potential danger, but three species have been identified repeatedly in attacks: the Great white, Tiger, and Bull sharks. All three are found worldwide, reach large sizes and eat large prey such as marine mammals or sea turtles. More attacks on swimmers, free divers, scuba divers, surfers and boats have been reported for the great white shark than for any other species. However, some 80% of all shark attacks probably occur in the tropics and subtropics, where other shark species dominate and Great white sharks are relatively rare.

An estimated 80% of all life on earth is found under the ocean surface and the oceans contain 99% of the living space on the planet. Less than 10% of that space has been explored by humans. 85% of the area and 90% of the volume constitute the dark, cold environment we call the deep sea. The average depth of the ocean is 3,795 m. The average height of the land is 840 m.

The oceans cover 71% of the Earth's surface and contain 97% of the Earth's water. Less than 1% is fresh water, and 2-3% is contained in glaciers and ice caps.

90% of all volcanic activity occurs in the oceans.

The speed of sound in water is 1,435 m/sec - nearly five times faster than the speed of sound in air.

The highest tides in the world are at the Bay of Fundy, which separates New Brunswick from Nova Scotia. At some times of the year the difference between high and low tide is 16.3 m, taller than a three-story building.

Earth's longest mountain range is the Mid-Ocean Ridge more than 50,000 km in length, which winds around the globe from the Arctic Ocean to the Atlantic, skirting Africa, Asia and Australia, and crossing the Pacific to the west coast of North America. It is four times longer than the Andes, Rockies, and Himalayas combined.

The pressure at the deepest point in the ocean is more than 11,318 tons/sq m, or the equivalent of one person trying to support 50 jumbo jets.

The top ten feet of the ocean hold as much heat as the entire atmosphere.

The lowest known point on Earth, called the Challenger Deep, is 11,034 m deep, in the Marianas Trench in the western Pacific. To get an idea of how deep that is, if you could take Mt. Everest and place it at the bottom of the trench there would still be over a mile of ocean above it. The Dead Sea is the Earth's lowest land point with an elevation of 396 m below sea level.

Undersea earthquakes, volcanoes and landslides can cause tsunamis (Japanese word meaning "harbor wave"), or seismic sea waves. The largest recorded tsunami measured 60 m above sea level caused by an 8.9 magnitude earthquake in the gulf of Alaska in 1899 traveling at hundreds of km/hr.

The average depth of the Atlantic Ocean, with its adjacent seas, is 3,332 m; without them it is 3,926 m. The greatest depth, 8,381 m, is in the Puerto Rico Trench.

The Pacific Ocean, the world's largest water body, occupies a third of the Earth's surface. The Pacific contains about 25,000 islands (more than the total number in the rest of the world's oceans combined), almost all of which are found south of the equator. The Pacific covers an area of 179.7 million sq km.

The Kuroshio Current, off the shores of Japan, is the largest current. It can travel between 40-121 km/day at 1.6-4.8 kph, and extends some 1,006 m deep. The Gulf Stream is close to this current's speed. The Gulf Stream is a well known current of warm water in the Atlantic Ocean. At a speed of 97 km/day, the Gulf Stream moves a 100 times as much water as all the rivers on earth and flows at a rate 300 times faster than the Amazon, which is the world's largest river.

A given area in an ocean upwelling zone or deep estuary is as productive as the same area in rain forests, most crops and intensive agriculture. They all produce between 150-500 grams of Carbon per square meter per year.

The sea level has risen with an average of 10-25 cm over the past 100 years and scientists expect this rate to increase. Sea levels will continue rising even if the climate has stabilized, because the ocean reacts slowly to changes. 10,000 years ago the ocean level was about 110 m lower than it is now. If all the world's ice melted, the oceans would rise 66 m.

The density of sea water becomes more dense as it becomes colder, right down to its freezing point of -1.9°C unlike fresh water which is most dense at 4°C, well above its freezing point of 0°C. The average temperature of all ocean water is about 3.5°C.

Antarctica has as much ice as the Atlantic Ocean has water.

The Arctic produces 10,000-50,000 icebergs annually. The amount produced in the Antarctic regions is inestimable. Icebergs normally have a four-year life-span; they begin entering shipping lanes after about three years.

Air pollution is responsible for 33% of the toxic contaminants that end up in oceans and coastal waters. About 44% of the toxic contaminants come from runoff via rivers and streams.

Each year, three times as much rubbish is dumped into the world's oceans as the weight of fish caught.

Oil is one of the ocean's greatest resources. Nearly one-third of the world's oil comes from offshore fields in our oceans. Areas most popular for oil drilling are the Arabian Gulf, the North Sea and the Gulf of Mexico.

Refined oil is also responsible for polluting the ocean. More oil reaches the oceans each year as a result of leaking automobiles and other non-point sources than the oil spilled in Prince William Sound by the Exxon Valdez.

The record for the deepest free dive is held by Jacques Mayol. He dove to an astounding depth of 86 m without any breathing equipment.

A mouthful of seawater may contain millions of bacterial cells, hundreds of thousands of phytoplankton and tens of thousands of zooplankton.

The Great Barrier Reef, measuring 2,300 km in length covering an area more extensive than Britain, is the largest living structure on Earth and can be seen from space. Its reefs are made up of 400 species of coral, supporting well over 2,000 different fish, 4,000 species of mollusc and countless other invertebrates. It should really be named 'Great Barrier of Reefs', as it is not one long solid structure but made up of nearly 3,000 individual reefs and 1,000 islands. Other huge barrier reefs include the barrier reefs of New Caledonia, the Mesoamerican (Belize) barrier reef, and the large barrier reefs of Fiji. The largest coral atoll complexes occur in the Maldive-Lakshadweep ecoregion of the central Indian Ocean and in Micronesia.

Fish supply the greatest percentage of the world's protein consumed by humans and most of the world's major fisheries are being fished at levels above their maximum sustainable yield; some regions are severely overfished.

More than 90% of the trade between countries is carried by ships and about half the communications between nations use underwater cables.

The swordfish and marlin are the fastest fish in the ocean reaching speeds up to 121 kph in quick bursts; the Bluefin Tuna (Thunnus thynnus) may reach sustained speeds up to 90 kph.

The Blue whale is the largest animal on our planet ever (exceeding the size of the greatest known dinosaurs) and has a heart is the size of a Volkswagen.

The Oarfish (Regalecus glesne), is the longest bony fish in the world. It has a snakelike body sporting a magnificent red fin along its 15.25 m length, a horselike face and blue gills, and accounts for many sea-serpent sightings.

Many fish can change sex during the course of their lives. Others, especially rare deep-sea fish, have both male and female sex organs.

One study of a deep-sea community revealed 898 species from more than 100 families and a dozen phyla in an area about half the size of a tennis court. More than half of these were new to science.

Life began in the seas 3.1 billion to 3.4 billion years ago. Land dwellers appeared 400 million years ago, relatively recently in geologic time.

Because the architecture and chemistry of coral is so similar to human bone, coral has been used to replace bone grafts in helping human bone to heal quickly and cleanly.

"OCEAN PLANET" OCEANOGRAPHIC FACTS

Ninety percent of all volcanic activity occurs in the oceans. In 1993, scientists located the largest known concentration of active volcanoes on the sea floor in the South Pacific. This area, the size of New York state, hosts 1,133 volcanic cones and sea mounts. Two or three could erupt at any moment.

The highest tides in the world are at the Bay of Fundy, which separates New Brunswick from Nova Scotia. At some times of the year the difference between high and low tide is 53 feet 6 inches, the equivalent of a three-story building.

The oceans cover 71 percent of the Earth's surface and contain 97 percent of the Earth's water. Less than 1 percent is fresh water, and 2-3 percent is contained in glaciers and ice caps.

Earth's longest mountain range is the Mid-Ocean Ridge, which winds around the globe from the Arctic Ocean to the Atlantic, skirting Africa, Asia and Australia, and crossing the Pacific to the west coast of North America. It is four times longer than the Andes, Rockies, and Himalayas combined.

Canada has the longest coastline of any country, at 56,453 miles or around 15 percent of the world's 372,384 miles of coastlines.

A slow cascade of water beneath the Denmark Strait sinks 2.2 miles, more than 3.5 times farther than Venezuela's Angel Falls, the tallest waterfall on land.

El Niño, a periodic shift of warm waters from the western to eastern Pacific Ocean, has dramatic effects on climate worldwide. In 1982-1983, the most severe El Niño of the century created droughts, crop failures, fires, torrential rains, floods, landslides--total damages were estimated at more than $8 billion.

At the deepest point in the ocean the pressure is more than 8 tons per square inch, or the equivalent of one person trying to support 50 jumbo jets.

At 39 degrees Fahrenheit, the temperature of almost all of the deep ocean is only a few degrees above freezing.

If mined, all the gold suspended in the world's seawater would give each person on Earth 9 pounds.

In 1958, the United States Coast Guard icebreaker East Wind measured the world's tallest known iceberg off western Greenland. At 550 feet it was only 5 feet 6 inches shorter than the Washington Monument in Washington, D.C.

Although Mount Everest, at 29,028 feet, is often called the tallest mountain on Earth, Mauna Kea, an inactive volcano on the island of Hawaii, is actually taller. Only 13,796 feet of Mauna Kea stands above sea level, yet it is 33,465 feet tall if measured from the ocean floor to its summit.

If the ocean's total salt content were dried, it would cover the continents to a depth of 5 feet.

Undersea earthquakes and other disturbances cause tsunamis, or great waves. The largest recorded tsunami measured 210 feet above sea level when it reached Siberia's Kamchatka Peninsula in 1737.

The Antarctic Ice Sheet is almost twice the size of the United States.

Ocean Facts

ZONES OF THE OCEAN

THE EUPHOTIC ZONE    500 FEET

Flying Fish

The euphotic zone is where sunlight is able to penetrate. This is the well lit zone.The euphotic zone is filled with many different plants and animals.

Examples of the animals are Flying Fishes, Moray Eels, Cleaner Wrasse, Sea Cucumber and Anemone, Pearlfish, Doctor’s Mortar, Sea Pens, Sawfish, Pacific Angel Shark, Orange Sea Cucumber, Manta Ray, Remora, Anchovies, Banded Sea Snake and Ocean Sunfish.

THE MESOPELAGIC ZONE 500 TO 3,000 FEET


This zone is also known as the middle ocean zone. It is too dark for plants to grow. Sharks and other streamlined fish are able to swim to these depths to hunt.

Animals in this zone survive by eating each other and scavenging dead animals.The animals are the Hammerhead Shark, Giant Squid, Gulper Eel, Crustacean, Luminous Prawn, Lantern Fish,        Headlamp Fish and Sea Spider.

    The Gulper Eel

THE BATHYPELAGIC ZONE   3,300 TO 10,000 FEET



Sperm Whale

This zone is known as the deep ocean sea. This area is pitch black. Food is scarce in these depths. The fish of this zone have weak, soft bodies.The animals are the Hatchetfish, Deep-sea Anglerfish, Oarfish, Squid, Viperfish and Sperm Whales.

THE ABYSSAL ZONE 10,000 TO 36,000 FEET



The Tube Worm

The animals are the Anglerfish, Deep-sea Jellyfish, Venus’s Flower Baskets, Brittle Stars, Rat Tails, Deep-sea Shrimp, Deep-sea Anglers, Abyssal Sea Cucumbers, Stalked Crinoids, Brotulids, Tripod Fish, Lampshells, Tube Worms,   Deep-sea Swimming Sea Cucumber, Sea Snails, Abyssal Octopus, Deep-sea Eel, and Gulper Eel.

THE OCEANS

There are four oceans. They are the Pacific Ocean, the Atlantic Ocean, the Indian Ocean, and the Arctic Ocean. Oceans comprise 75% of the Earth.

The Pacific Ocean is the largest and deepest ocean in the world.

It covers 63, 800,000 square miles (165, 200, 000 square kilometers).

The Pacific Ocean is so big it could fit all of the Earth’s continents.

Near the Equator the Pacific Ocean stretches 11,000 miles, almost half way around the world.

The deepest known spot in the ocean is the Mariana Trench, southwest of Guam, it is 36, 198 feet below the surface (11,033 meters).
T
he word pacific means peaceful. However, the Pacific Ocean is far from peaceful. Thousands of volcanoes rise up from the Pacific Ocean.

The Atlantic Ocean is the second largest body of water.

The Atlantic Ocean covers about 31, 530,00 square miles (81, 662, 000 square kilometers).

Its average depth is about 14,000 feet (4,270 meters).

The deepest part of the Atlantic Ocean is the Puerto

Rico Trench 28, 374 feet (8,648 meters).

The Indian Ocean is smaller than the Atlantic.

The Indian Ocean covers about 28,356,000 square miles (73,441,700 square kilometers.

The deepest spot is 25,344 feet (7,725 meters) is south of Java.

The Arctic Ocean lies at the top of the world.

The Arctic covers about 3,662,000 square miles (9,485,100 square kilometers).

Its greatest depth is 17,880 feet (5,450 meters).
Seawater Composition

Seawater contains an average of 3.5% salt
Contains magnesium, sulfur, and calcium.

Seawater contains all of the elements from the Earth’s crust.

Salts in seawater help swimmers float.

Life in the Ocean

All life in the ocean is divided into three main groups. They are plankton, nekton, and benthos.
Plankton are all of the creatures in the sea that drift and float and rely on the tides to move them from place to place.

Plankton are all microscopic. They are either phytoplankton (microscopic plants) or zooplankton (jellyfish, copepods, arrowworms).
Many animals rely on plankton for their existence.
Nekton are all of the animals in the ocean that are able to swim on their own, without the help of the tides.

This includes over 20,000 fish in the sea. These animals range in size from sharks which 50 feet in length to fish which are less than an inch long.
Most nekton have streamlined bodies to help them swim more effeciently.

Some nekton can travel at remarkable speeds. The sailfish can swim up to 30 miles an hour.
Many nektonic animals are able to swim vast distances. For example, the eel can travel thousands of miles.
Benthos are animals which live at the bottom of the sea.

Examples of benthotic animals are sea snails, clams, sponges, sea lilies, and starfish.
Continental Shelf

Places in the oceans where the land slopes to about 600 feet. This underwater land is called a continental shelf.

The continental shelf extends hundreds of miles in certain places.

The shelf is covered by continental deposit, which has been carried by rivers into the ocean.

The continental shelf slopes down to the continental edge. This is where the continental slope begins.
The continental slope extends to the abyss, or the bottom of the ocean.

There are mountains which rise from the ocean floor, and many are volcanoes.
There is a mountain range that extends 10,000 miles along the Atlantic Ocean. It is called the Mid-Atlantic Range.

The Tides

Tides are caused by the gravitational pull of the moon.
During full or new moons, the earth, the sun, and the moon are in a straight line, at this time the sun and the moon combine the gravitational pull.

This results in the incoming tides at their highest and the outgoing tides at their lowest. This is called a spring tide.
When the moon phases into quarters, the sun and the moon are at right angles to one another, and this results in a neap tide. The neap tides are neither high nor low.

Definitions

Longitude – Goes north to south.

Latitude – Goes east to west.

Gulf – An inlet of an ocean or other large body of water, usually larger than a bay.

Ocean – The largest body of salt water on earth.

Sea – A large body of salt water that is smaller than an ocean. Seas are partly surrounded by land.

Bay – An inlet of an ocean or other body of water.

Strait – A narrow strip of water that connects two larger bodies of water.

The Atlantic touches South America, North America, Africa, and Europe.

The Pacific Ocean touches South America, North America, Asia, and Australia.

The Indian Ocean –10° 00° S latitude and 80° 00° E longitude—it touches Asia, Australia, Antarctica, and Africa.

The Arctic Ocean 75° 00° N latitude and 00° 00° longitude. It touches North America and Asia.

Bodies of Water in North America

The Gulf of Alaska 59° 00° N latitude and 145° 00° W longitude. It touches Alaska and some of Canada.

The Gulf of Mexico 25° 00° N latitude and 90° 00° W longitude. It touches Mexico, Texas, Louisiana,

Mississippi, Alabama, and Florida.
Baffin Bay 74° 00° N latitude and 68° 00° W longitude. It touches Greenland and Canada.

Chesapeake Bay 38° 35° N latitude and 76° 25° W longitude. It touches Maryland, Virginia, and Pennsylvania.

Bering Strait touches Alaska and Asia. The Mackenzie Bay touches Canada and Alaska.

Davis Strait 66° 30° N latitude and 58° 00° W longitude. It touches Greenland and Canada.

Hudson Bay 59° 00° N latitude 86° 00° W longitude. It borders Canada and the US.
The Gulf of California 28° 00° N latitude and 112° 00° W longitude. It touches Mexico.

Bodies of Water in South America

Caribbean Sea
Strait of Magellan
Gulf of Panama
Bodies of Water in Europe

The Bay of Biscay 45° 00° N latitude and 05° 00° W longitude-- is in Europe. It borders Spain and France.

The Mediterranean Sea 40° 00° N latitude and 10° 00° longitude. It borders Africa and Europe.

The Adriatic Sea 42° 52° N latitude and 15° 40° E longitude. It touches Italy and the Balkan Peninsula.

The Baltic Sea 56° 30° N latitude and 19° 00° E longitude. It touches Denmark, Sweden, Finland, Poland, and Germany, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, and parts of the Russia.

The Barents Sea 70° 00° N latitude and 45° 00° E longitude. It touches North of Norway and Russia.

The Black Sea 42° 30° N latitude and 35° 00° E longitude. It borders Bulgaria, Romania, Ukraine, Russia, Moldova, Georgia, and Turkey.

The Norwegian Sea 70° 00° N latitude and 00°00º longitude. It touches Norway.

The Gulf of Bothnia 62° 00° N latitude and 20° 00° E longitude. It touches Finland and Sweden.

The White Sea 65° 30° N latitude and 38° 00° E longitude. It touches Russia.

The Gulf of Finland 60° 00° N latitude and 27° 00° E longitude. It touches Finland, Estonia and Russia.

The Irish Sea 53° 40° N latitude and 04° 30° W longitude. It touches Ireland and the United Kingdom.

Bodies of Water in Africa

The Mediterranean Sea 40° 00° N latitude and 10° 00° longitude. It borders Africa and Europe.

The Gulf of Guinea 03° 00° N latitude and 04° 00° E longitude. It touches Gabon, South Africa, Angola, Namibia, Zaire, Congo, Cameron and Nigeria.

The Gulf of Aden touches Somalia and Yemen.

The Red Sea touches Egypt, Sudan, and Ethiopia.
Bodies of Water in Asia

The Caspian Sea 42° 00° N latitude and 50° 00° S longitude. It touches Iran, Asia, and Europe.

The Bay of Bengal 18° 00° N latitude and 90° 00° E longitude. It touches India and Burma. Ceylon is an island nation in the Bay of Bengal.

The Arabian Sea touches India and the Arabian Peninsula..

The Gulf of Thailand 10° 00° N latitude and 102° 30° E longitude. It touches Thailand, Burma, and Cambodia.

The Sea of Okhotsk 55° 00° N laitiude and 150° 00° E longitude. It touches Russia and Japan.

The Yellow Sea 37° 00° N latitude and 123° 00° E longitude. It touches the Chinese Mainland and the Korean Peninsula.

The South China Sea 15° 00° N latitude and 115° 00° E longitude. It touches Vietnam and Philippines.

East China Sea 30° 00° N latitude and 125° 00° E longitude. It touches China.

The Laptev Sea 76° 00° N latitude 126° 00° E longitude. It touches Russia.

The Kara Sea 72° 00° N latitude and 62° 00° E longitude. It touches Russia.

The Sea of Japan 40° 00° N latitude and 135° 00° E longitude. It touches Japan, China and some parts of Russia.

The Java Sea 05° 00° S latitude and 110° 00° E longitude.
Bodies of Water in Australia

The Coral Sea 14° 00° S latitude and 156° 00° E longitude. It borders Australia, the Solomon Islands, and Vanuatu.

The Tasman Sea 35° 00° S latitude and 160° 00° E longitude. It borders Australia, Tasmania, and New Zealand.

The Arafura Sea 09° 00° S latitude and 134° 00° E longitude.

The Torres Strait 10° 25° S longitude 142° 12° E longitude.

The Cook Strait 41° 15° S latitude and 174° 30° E longitude.

The Timor Sea 11° 00° S latitude and 125° 00° E longitude.

Bodies of Water in the Middle East

The Red Sea 20° 00° N latitude and 39° 00° E longitude. It touches Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, and Ethiopia.

The Persian Gulf 26° 30° N latitude and 52° 45° E longitude. It touches Iran, Iraq, and Saudi Arabia.

The Arabian Sea touches India and the Arabian Peninsula.

The Gulf of Oman 24° 30° N latitude 58° 45° E longitude. It touches Oman.

The Sea of Marmara 40° 42° N latitude and 28° 12° E longitude. It touches Turkey.

Interesting Ocean Facts


Area: about 140 million square miles (362 million sq km), or nearly 71% of the Earth's surface.

Average Depth: 12,200 feet (3,720 m).

Deepest point: 36,198 feet (11,033 m) in the Mariana Trench in the western Pacific.

Mountains: The ocean ridges form a great mountain range, almost 40,000 miles (64,000 km) long, that weaves its way through all the major oceans. It is the largest single feature on Earth.

Highest Mountain: Mauna Kea, Hawaii, rises 33,474 feet (10,203 m) from its base on the ocean floor; only 13,680 feet (4,170 m) are above sea level.

The oceans occupy nearly 71% of our planet's surface

More than 97% of all our planet's water is contained in the ocean

The top ten feet of the ocean hold as much heat as our entire atmosphere

The average depth of the ocean is more than 2.5 miles

The oceans provide 99 percent of the Earth's living space- the largest space in our universe known to be inhabited by living organisms

More than 90% of this habitat exists in the deep sea known as the abyss

Less than 10% of this living space has been explored by humans

Mount Everest (the highest point on the Earth's surface 5.49 miles) is more than 1 mile shorter than the Challenger Deep (the deepest point in the ocean at 6.86 miles)

The longest continuous mountain chain known to exist in the Universe resides in the ocean at more than 40,000 miles long

The Monterey Bay Submarine Canyon is deeper and larger in volume than the Grand Canyon

The Antarctic ice sheet that forms and melts over the ocean each year is nearly twice the size of the United States

The average temperature of the oceans is 2ºC, about 39ºF

Water pressure at the deepest point in the ocean is more than 8 tons per square inch, the equivalent of one person trying to hold 50 jumbo jets.

The Gulf Stream off the Atlantic seaboard of the United States flows at a rate nearly 300 times faster than the typical flow of the Amazon river, the world's largest river

The worlds oceans contain nearly 20 million tons of gold

The color blue is least absorbed by seawater; the same shade of blue is most absorbed by microscopic plants, called phytoplankton, drifting in seawater

A new form of life, based on chemical energy rather than light energy, resides in deep-sea hydrothermal vents along mid-ocean ridges

A swallow of seawater may contain millions of bacterial cells, hundreds of thousands of phytoplankton and tens of thousands of zooplankton

The blue whale, the largest animal on our planet ever (exceeding the size of the greatest dinosaurs) still lives in the ocean; it's heart is the size of a Volkswagen

The gray whale migrates more than 10,000 miles each year, the longest migration of any mammal

The Great Barrier Reef, measuring 1,243 miles, is the largest living structure on Earth. It can be seen from the Moon.

More than 90 percent of the trade between countries is carried by ships and about half the communications between nations use underwater cables

More oil reaches the oceans each year as a result of leaking automobiles and other non-point sources than was spilled in Prince William Sound by the Exxon Valdez

Fish supply the greatest percentage of the world's protein consumed by humans

Most of the world's major fisheries are being fished at levels above their maximum sustainable yield; some regions are severely overfished

The Grand Banks, the pride of New England fishing for centuries, are closed due to overfishing

Eighty per cent of all pollution in seas and oceans comes from land-based activities.
Three-quarters of the world's mega-cities are by the sea.

By 2010, 80 per cent of people will live within 60 miles of the coast.

Death and disease caused by polluted coastal waters costs the global economy US$12.8 billion a year. The annual economic impact of hepatitis from tainted seafood alone is US$7.2 billion.

Plastic waste kills up to 1 million sea birds, 100,000 sea mammals and countless fish each year. Plastic remains in our ecosystem for years harming thousands of sea creatures everyday.

Over the past decade, an average of 600,000 barrels of oil a year has been accidentally spilled from ships, the equivalent of 12 disasters the size of the sinking of the oil tanker Prestige in 2002.

Tropical coral reefs border the shores of 109 countries, the majority of which are among the world's least developed. Significant reef degradation has occurred in 93 countries.

Although coral reefs comprise less than 0.5 per cent of the ocean floor, it is estimated that more than 90 per cent of marine species are directly or indirectly dependent on them.

There are about 4,000 coral reef fish species worldwide, accounting for approximately a quarter of all marine fish species.

Nearly 60 per cent of the world's remaining reefs are at significant risk of being lost in the next three decades.

The major causes of coral reef decline are coastal development, sedimentation, destructive fishing practices, pollution, tourism and global warming.
Less than one half a per cent of marine habitats are protected -- compared with 11.5 per cent of global land area.

The High Seas -- areas of the ocean beyond national jurisdiction -- cover almost 50 per cent of the Earth's surface. They are the least protected part of the world.

Although there are some treaties that protect ocean-going species such as whales, as well as some fisheries agreements, there are no protected areas in the High Seas.

Studies show that protecting critical marine habitats --such as warm-and cold-water coral reefs, seagrass beds and mangroves -- can dramatically increase fish size and quantity.

More than 3.5 billion people depend on the ocean for their primary source of food. In 20 years, this number could double to 7 billion.

Populations of commercially attractive large fish, such as tuna, cod, swordfish and marlin have declined by as much as 90 per cent in the past century.

Each year, illegal longline fishing, which involves lines up to 80 miles long, with thousands of baited hooks, kills over 300,000 seabirds, including 100,000 albatrosses.

As many as 100 million sharks are killed each year for their meat and fins, which are used for shark fin soup.

Hunters typically catch the sharks, de-fin them while alive and throw them back into the ocean where they either drown or bleed to death.

Global by-catch -- unintended destruction caused by the use of non-selective fishing gear, such as trawl nets, longlines and gillnets -- amounts to 20 million tons a year.

The annual global by-catch mortality of small whales, dolphins and porpoises alone is estimated to be more than 300,000 individuals.

Fishing for wild shrimp represents 2 per cent of global seafood but one-third of total by-catch. The ratio of by-catch from shrimp fishing ranges from 5:1 in temperate zones to 10:1 and more in the tropics.

Coastlines

The total length of the world's coastlines is about 315,000 miles, enough to circle the Equator 12 times.

As coastal zones become more and more crowded, the quality of coastal water will suffer, the wildlife will be displaced, and the shorelines will erode. 60% of the Pacific and 35% of the Atlantic Coast shoreline are eroding at a rate of a meter every year.

More than half the world’s population live within a 100 km or 60 miles distance from the coast. This is more than 2.7 billion people. Rapid urbanization will lead to more coastal mega-cities containing 10 million or more people. By the end of the millennium 13 out of 15 of the world’s largest cities will be located on or near the coast. Growing population in coastal areas leads to more marine pollution and distribution of coastal habitats. Some 6,5 million tons (6,500,000,000 kilo) of litter finds its way into the sea each year.
(Close to one-half of all Americans live in coastal counties).

Fisheries

The sea provides the biggest source of wild or domestic protein in the world. Each year some 70 to 75 million tons of fish are caught in the ocean. Of this amount around 29 million tons is for human consumption. The global fish production exceeds that of cattle, sheep, poultry or eggs. Fish can be produced in two ways: by capture and by aqua culture. The total production has grown 34% over the last decade.

The largest numbers of fish are located in the Southern Hemisphere due to the fact that these waters are not largely exploited by man.

Fifteen out of seventeen of the world's largest fisheries are so heavily exploited that the reproduction can't keep up. With the result that many fish populations are decreasing rapidly.

Species of fish endangered by overfishing are: tuna, salmon, haddock, halibut, and cod.

In the 19th century, codfish weighing up to 200 pounds used to be caught. Nowadays, a 40 pound cod is considered a giant. Reason: overfishing.

Rising Sea Level

The sea level has risen with an average of 4-10 inches (10 to 25 cm) over the past 100 years and scientists expect this rate to increase. Sea levels will continue rising even if the climate has stabilized, because the ocean reacts slowly to changes.

10,000 years ago the ocean level was about 330 ft (110 mtr) lower than it is now.

If all the world's ice melted, the oceans would rise 200 ft (66 mtr).

Volcanic Activity   

90% of all volcanic activity on Earth occurs in the ocean. The largest known concentration of active volcanoes (approximately 1,133) on the sea floor is located in the South Pacific

Density   

The density of ocean water varies. It becomes more dense as it becomes colder, right down to its freezing point of -1.9 degrees C. (This is unlike fresh water, which is most dense at 4 degrees C, well above its freezing point.)

Water temperature   

Under the enormous pressures of the deep ocean, sea water can reach very high temperatures without boiling. A water temperature of 400 degrees C has been measured at one hydrothermal vent.

The average temperature of all ocean water is about 3.5° C.

Almost all of the deep ocean temperatures are only a little warmer than freezing (39°F).

Ice

Antarctica has as much ice as the Atlantic Ocean has water.

10% of the earth's surface is covered with ice.

The Arctic Ocean is the smallest ocean, holding only one percent of the Earth's seawater. This is still more than 25 times as much water as all rivers and fresh water lakes.

The average thickness of the Arctic ice sheet is about 9 to 10 feet, although there are some areas as thick as 65 feet.

In the unlikely event that all the polar ice were to melt, the sea level all over the world would rise 500 to 600 feet. As a result, 85 to 90% of the Earth's surface would be covered with water as compared to the current 71%. The U.S. would be split by the Mississippi Sea, which would connect the Great Lakes with the Gulf of Mexico.

The Arctic produces 10,000 to 50,000 icebergs annually. The amount produced in the Antarctic regions is inestimable. Icebergs normally have a four-year life-span; they begin entering shipping lanes after about three years.

Carbon Dioxyde Absorbtion

Oceans absorb between 30% and 50% of the carbon dioxide produced by burning fossil fuel. Carbon dioxide is transported downwards by plankton. Any change in the temperature of the ocean water, influences the ability of plankton to take up carbon dioxide. This has consequences for the ecosystem, because plankton form the base of the food web.

Reefs   

Over 60% of the world's coral reefs are threatened as a result of pollution, sedimentation and bleaching due to rising water temperatures caused by global warming. Global Coral Monitoring Network (GCRMN) states that currently 27% of all coral reef worldwide has disappeared and around 2050 only 30% will be left.

Rubbish/Contamination

In one year, three times as much rubbish is dumped into the world's oceans as the weight of fish caught.

A single quart of motor oil can contaminate up to 2 million gallons of drinking water.


Gold   

If all the gold suspended in the world's seawater were mined, each person on Earth could have about 9 pounds of gold.

Oil   

Oil is one of the ocean's greatest resources. nearly one-third of the world's oil comes from offshore fields in our oceans. Areas most popular for oil drilling are the Arabian Gulf, the North Sea, and the Gulf of Mexico.
Oil was also borne from the sea. Millions of years ago, countless marine microscipic plants (phytoplankton) and animals (zooplankton) lived in the ancient seas as they do today. As they died, the skeletal remains of these tiny organisms settled to the sea floor, mixed with mud and silt, and over millions of years, formed organic-rich sedimentary layers. Other sediments continued to be deposited and further buried the oganic-rich sediment layer to depths of thousands of feet, compressing the layers into a rock that would become the source for oil. Over the years, as the depth of the burial increased, pressure increased, along with the temperature. Under such conditions, and over long periods of time, the original skeletal remains of phytoplankton and zooplankton changed, breaking down into simpler substances called hydrocarbons - compounds of hydrogen and carbon. This process still continues, although it will be millions of years before the next batch of oil is done cooking.

Salinity   

Some scientists estimate that the oceans contain as much as 50 quadrillion tons (50 million billion tons=50,000,000,000,000,000) of dissolved solids. If the salt in the ocean could be removed and spread evenly over the Earth’s land surface it would form a layer more than 500 feet (166 m) thick, about the height of a 40-story office building.

The ocean's principal dissolved solids are sodium salts (sodium chloride or common salt), calcium salts (calcium carbonate or lime, and calcium sulfate), potassium salts (potassium sulfate), and magnesium salts (magnesium chloride, magnesium sulfate, and magnesium bromide).

Atlantic sea water is heavier than Pacific sea water due to its higher salt content.

The freezing point of sea water depends on its salt content. Typical ocean water has about 35 grams of salt per liter and freezes at -19 degrees C.

Desalination

Arabian Gulf reverse osmosis plants treat 500,000,000 gallons of sea water to obtain 100,000,000 gallons of fresh water. Daily over 500,000,000 gallons of Seawater must be heated to extremely high temperatures.

Mixed with toxic chemicals the Seawater is injected under high pressure through a series of membrane filters.

Only 100,000,000 gallons of fresh water is generated.

The 5:1 ratio of this highly inefficient process means 400,000,000 gallons of untreated water are returned to the sea each day.

The higher temperature of the discharged water causes environmental problems.

Worse, the super heated brine discharge has significantly higher levels of total dissolved solids, and toxic chemicals are mixed in with it.

This pollution is usually discharged back into the sea.


The 10 Largest Territorial Powers (in million sq km's)
Country Land Area Sea Claims Total Area:

1. Australia 7,700,000 28,500,000 36,200,000

2. Russia 17,100,000 21,500,000 38,600,000

3. USA 9,400,000 20,000,000 29,400,000

4. Canada 9,900,000 12,400,000 22,300,000

5. China 9,600,000 11,400,000 21,000,000

6. Brazil 8,500,000 11,000,000 19,500,000

7. France 500,000 6,000,000 6,500,000

8. Indonesia 1,900,000 6,000,000 7,900,000

9. India 3,200,000 5,700,000 8,900,000

10. New Zealand 300,000 5,500,000 5,800,000

OCEAN GEOGRAPHY

There are 328,000,000 cubic miles of seawater on earth, covering approximately 71 percent of earth's surface.

By volume, the ocean makes up 99 percent of the planet's living space- the largest space in our universe known to be inhabited by living organisms.

About 97 percent of all water on earth is in our oceans, 2 percent is frozen in our ice caps and glaciers, less than 0.3 percent is carried in the atmosphere in the form of clouds, rain, and snow.

All of our inland seas, lakes and channels combined add up to only 0.02 percent of earth's water.

The Antarctic Ice Sheet is almost twice the size of the United States.

Earth's ocean is made up of more than 20 seas and four oceans: Atlantic, Indian, Arctic, and Pacific, the oldest and the largest.

The ocean accounts for 0.022 percent of the total weight of earth, weighing an estimated 1,450,000,000,000,000,000 short tons (1 short ton = 2,000lbs).

The average worldwide ocean depth is about 12,460 feet (3,798 meters), with the deepest point of 36,198 feet (11,033 meters) which is located in the Mariana Trench in the Pacific Ocean; the tallest mountain, Mount Everest, measures 29,022 feet (8,846 meters).

If Mount Everest were to be placed into the Mariana Trench it would be covered with sea water more than a mile (1.5 km ) deep.

Although Mount Everest is often called the tallest mountain on Earth, Mauna Kea, an inactive volcano on the island of Hawaii, is actually taller.

Only 13,796 feet of Mauna Kea stands above sea level, yet it is 33,465 feet tall if measured from the ocean floor to its summit

A slow cascade of water beneath the Denmark Strait sinks 2.2 miles; more than 3.5 times farther than Venezuela's Angel Falls, the tallest waterfall on land.

Earth's largest continuous mountain chain is the Mid-Ocean Ridge, stretching for 40,000 miles, rising above the surface of the water in a few places, such as Iceland.

It is four times longer than the Andes, Rocky

Mountains, and Himalayas combined.

Ninety percent of all volcanic activity occurs in the oceans. In 1993, scientists located the largest known concentration of active volcanoes on the sea floor in the South Pacific. This area, the size of New York State, hosts 1,133 volcanic cones and seamounts. Two or three could erupt at any moment.

The highest tides in the world are at the Bay of Fundy, which separates New Brunswick from Nova Scotia. At some times of the year the difference between high and low tide is 53 feet 6 inches, the equivalent of a five-story building.

Canada has the longest coastline of any country, at 56,453 miles or around 15 percent of the world's 372,384 miles of coastlines.

In 1958, the United States Coast Guard icebreaker East Wind measured the world's tallest known iceberg off western Greenland. At 550 feet it was only 5 feet 6 inches shorter than the Washington Monument in Washington, D.C.

The volume of the Earth's moon is the same as the volume of the Pacific Ocean.
THE WEATHER MAKER

The ocean determines climate and plays a critical role in Earth's habitability. Most of the solar energy that reaches the Earth is stored in the ocean and helps power oceanic and atmospheric circulation.

In this manner, the ocean plays an important role in influencing the weather and climatic patterns of the Earth.

Two hundred million years of recorded geologic and biologic history of the Earth are found in the ocean's floor. By studying ocean sediments, scientists can learn about ancient climate, how it changed, and how better to predict our own climate.

The top 10 feet of the ocean hold the same amount of thermal energy as exists in the entire atmosphere.
El NiZo, a periodic shift of warm waters from the western to eastern Pacific Ocean, has dramatic effects on climate worldwide.

In 1997-1998, the most severe El NiZo of the century created droughts, crop failures, fires, torrential rains, floods, landslides--total damages were estimated at more than $90 billion (United Nations)
Undersea earthquakes and other disturbances cause tsunamis, or great waves. The largest recorded tsunami measured 210 feet above sea level when it reached Siberia's Kamchatka Peninsula in 1737.

OUR USE OF THE OCEAN

Substances from marine plants and animals are used in scores of products, including medicine, ice cream, toothpaste, fertilizers, gasoline, cosmetics, and livestock feed.

Examine the foods in your own kitchen and you may find the terms "alginate" and "carrageenan" on the labels. Carrageenans are compounds extracted from red algae that are used to stabilize and jell foods and pharmaceuticals. Brown algae contain alginates that make foods thicker and creamier and add to shelf life.

They are used to prevent ice crystals from forming in ice cream. Alginates and carrageenans are often used in puddings, milkshakes, and ice cream. The commonly used color additive beta-carotene often comes from green algae as well as many vegetables, including carrots.

Many people don't realize that kelp is harvested like wheat; a substance called algin is extracted and is used in lipstick, toothpaste and ice cream. You might be wearing kelp right now, since it is used in the dyes that color our clothes.

Oils from the orange roughy, Hoplostethus atlanticus, a deep-sea fish from New Zealand, are used in making shampoo.

The remains of diatoms, algae with hard shells, are used in making pet litter, cosmetics, pool filters and tooth polish.

The ocean holds immense quantities of protein. The total annual commercial harvest from the seas exceeds 85 million metric tons.

Fish is the biggest source of wild or domestic protein in the world.

Since the architecture and chemistry of coral are very close to human bone, coral has been used to replace bone grafts in helping human bones to heal quickly and cleanly.

Horseshoe crabs have existed in essentially the same form for the past 135 million years. Their blood provides a valuable test for the toxins that cause septic shock, which previously led to half of all hospital-acquired infections and one-fifth of all hospital deaths.

Over 90 percent of trade among countries is carried by ships.

The ocean is a source of mineral deposits, including oil and gas.

About half the communications between nations are via underwater cables.

Many nations' battles have been fought on or under the water.

Knowing oceanography can enhance the conditions for trade, communications, and defense.
OUR MISUSE OF THE OCEAN

In 1993, United States beaches were closed or swimmers advised not to get in the water over 2,400 times because of sewage contamination. The problem is even worse than the numbers indicate: there are no federal requirements for notifying the public when water-quality standards are violated, and some coastal states don't monitor water at beaches.

The largest amount of oil entering the ocean through human activity is the 363 million gallons that come from industrial waste and automobiles. When people pour their used motor oil into the ground or into a septic system, it eventually seeps into the groundwater. Coupled with industrial waste discharged into rivers, oil becomes part of the run-off from waterways that empty into the ocean. All of this oil impacts ocean ecosystems.

The Coast Guard estimates that for United States waters, sewage treatment plants discharge twice as much oil each year as tanker spills.

Animals may perish when the oil slicks their fur or downy feathers, decreasing the surface area so they are no longer insulated from the cold water. Or the animals may ingest the oil, then become sick or unable to reproduce properly.

Each year industrial, household cleaning, gardening, and automotive products are added as water pollutants. About 65,000 chemicals are used commercially in the United States today, with about 1,000 new ones added each year. Only about 300 have been extensively tested for toxicity.

It is estimated that medical waste that washed up onto Long Island and New Jersey beaches in the summer of 1988 cost as much as $3 billion in lost revenue from tourism and recreation.

The most frequently found item in beach cleanups are pieces of plastic. The next four items are plastic foam, plastic utensils, pieces of glass and cigarette butts.

Lost or discarded fishing nets keep on fishing. Called "ghost nets," this gear entangles fish, marine mammals, and sea birds, preventing them from feeding or causing them to drown. As many as 20,000 northern fur seals may die each year from becoming entangled in netting.

The Mississippi River drains more than 40 percent of the continental United States, carrying excess nutrients into the Gulf of Mexico. Decay of the resulting algae blooms consumes oxygen, kills shellfish and displaces fish in a 4,000 square mile bottom area off the coast of Louisiana and Texas, called the "dead zone."

The zebra mussel is the most famous unwanted ship stowaway, but the animals and plants being transported to new areas through ship ballast water is a problem around the world. Poisonous algae, cholera, and countless plants and animals have invaded harbor waters and disrupted ecological balance.

There are 109 countries with coral reefs. Reefs in 90 of them are being damaged by cruise ship anchors and sewage, by tourists breaking off chunks of coral, and by commercial harvesting for sale to tourists.

One study of a cruise ship anchor dropped in a coral reef for one day found an area about half the size of a football field completely destroyed, and half again as much covered by rubble that died later.

It was estimated that coral recovery would take fifty years.

Egypt's High Aswan Dam, built in the 1960s to provide electricity and irrigation water, diverts up to 95 percent of the Nile River's normal flow. It has since trapped more than one million tons of nutrient rich silt and caused a sharp decline in Mediterranean sardine and shrimp fisheries.

The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization estimates that of the seventeen major fisheries areas in the world, four are depleted and the other thirteen are either fished to capacity or overfished.

Commercial marine fisheries in the United States discard up to 20 billion pounds of non-target fish each year-- twice the catch of desired commercial and recreational fishing combined. Worldwide this adds up to a staggering 60 billion pounds each year!!

With only 4.3 percent of the world population, Americans use about one-third of the world's processed mineral resources and about one-fourth of the world's non-renewable energy sources, like oil and coal.

FACTS ABOUT OCEAN LIFE

Life began in the seas 3.1 billion to 3.4 billion years ago.

Land dwellers appeared 400 million years ago; a relatively recent point in the geologic time line.

The blue whale, Balaenoptera musculus, is the largest known animal ever to have lived on sea or land. They can reach over 110 feet and weigh almost 200 tons (more than the combined weight of 50 adult elephants).

The blue whale's blood vessels are so broad that a full-grown trout could swim through them, and the heart is the size of a small car.

The oarfish, Regalecus glesne, is the longest bony fish in the world. With its snakelike body, sporting a magnificent red fin along its 50-foot length horselike face and blue gills, it accounts for many sea-serpent sightings

Green turtles can migrate more than 1,400 miles to lay their eggs.

Bluefin tuna, Thunnus thynnus, are among the largest and fastest marine fish. An adult may weigh 1,500 pounds and swim up to 55 miles per hour.

Penguins "fly" underwater at up to 55 miles per hour.

A group of herring is called a seige. A group of jelly fish is called a smack.

Many fish can change sex during the course of their lives. Others, especially rare deep-sea fish, have both male and female sex organs.

Giant kelp, the fastest growing plant in the ocean, can grow up to 2 feet per day. Under optimal conditions, giant kelp can grow to a length of more than 100 feet in little more than a year and can grow to a maximum of 200 feet.

Hydrothermal vents, fractures in the sea floor that spew sulphur compounds, support the only complex ecosystem known to run on chemicals, rather than energy from the sun.

OCEAN PHYSICS AND CHEMISTRY

At the deepest point in the ocean the pressure is more than 8 tons per square inch, or the equivalent of one person trying to hold-up 50 jumbo jets against the force of gravity.

The major ions in seawater are Na+, Mg2+, Ca2+, K+, Sr2+, Cl-, SO42- (sulfate), HCO3- (bicarbonate), Br-, B(OH)3 (boric acid), and F-. Together, they account for almost all of the salt in seawater.

At 39 degrees Fahrenheit (3.89 degrees Celsius), the temperature of almost all of the deep ocean is only a few degrees above freezing.

If extracted, it is estimated that all the gold suspended in the world's seawater would give each person on Earth 9 pounds.

If the ocean's total salt content were dried, it would cover the continents to a depth of 500 feet.

When nitrogen and phosphorus from sources such as fertilizer, sewage and detergents enter coastal waters, oxygen depletion occurs.

One gram of nitrogen can cause enough organic growth to require 15 grams of oxygen to decompose the resulting vegetation. A single gram of phosphorus will deplete about one hundred grams of oxygen.

I read ur facts on definitions n coastlines excellent facts hun

very nice work Ms

Miss mine said:

I read ur facts on definitions n coastlines excellent facts hun

Shukariyah jani.

Mwaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhh!!

rapunzel said:

very nice work Ms

Thank you sweets.

Mwahhhhhhhhhhh!!