The climate crisis has given us all a renewed appreciation for our planet’s oceans and the marine life that lives beneath the water’s surface, as well as ocean conservation projects led by initiatives like the TreadRight Foundation. These 10 unbelievable ocean facts illustrate just how important these initiatives are.
1. Our oceans cover more than 70 per cent of the Earth’s surface.
With so much of the Earth’s surface taken up by ocean, it’s evident how vital these marine environments are to the planet, and how much there still is to be explored.
2. The majority of life on Earth is aquatic.
As so much of the Earth’s surface is underwater, it comes as no surprise that marine species outnumber those on land. But, it’s an incredible 94 per cent of the Earth’s living species that exist within the oceans.
3. Less than five per cent of the planet’s oceans have been explored.
According to the Ocean Service, man has explored less than five per cent of Earth’s oceans. As researchers strive to discover more, we’re continually getting to know our oceans better.
4. The world’s longest mountain chain is underwater.
Earth’s longest chain of mountains, the Mid-Ocean Ridge, is almost entirely beneath the ocean, stretching across a distance of 65,000 kilometres. It’s said that this mountain chain is less explored than the surface of Venus or Mars.
5. There are more historic artefacts under the sea than in all of the world’s museums.
Around 1,000 shipwrecks lie off the Florida Keys alone, some of which are within the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary. Other underwater museums have been created in recent years, including the Mediterranean’s submerged bronze statue, Christ of the Abyss.
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6. We still only know a fraction of the marine species in our oceans.
According to the World Register of Marine Species there are now 240,470 accepted species, but this is believed to be just a small proportion of the species that exist, with new marine life being discovered everyday.
7. Over 70 per cent of our planet’s oxygen is produced by the ocean.
It’s thought that between 70 and 80 per cent of the oxygen we breathe is produced by marine plants, nearly all of which are marine algae.
8. It’s possible to find rivers and lakes beneath the ocean.
When salt water and hydrogen sulfide combine, it becomes denser than the rest of the water around it, enabling it to form a lake or river that flows beneath the sea.
9. Around 50 per cent of the US lies beneath the ocean.
Not only does a large part of the planet exist beneath the ocean, so does the United States – around 50 per cent, in fact.
10. The Pacific Ocean is the world’s largest ocean and contains around 25,000 islands.
With 25,000 islands lying within it, the Pacific Ocean has more islands than anywhere else on the planet.
Through projects like Shark Savers and Surfrider, the TreadRight Foundation champions the importance of our planet’s oceans, which we at Trafalgar support wholeheartedly through our JoinTrafalgar initiatives.
Image credits: Cover photo © iStock / Rainer von Brandis. A shoal of fish © iStock / atese. Crashing waves © iStock / jmorkel. Christ in the Abyss statue © iStock / Dan Hartmann. An underwater cave © iStock / gremlin. The seashore © iStock / wbritten.
“Earth’s longest chain of mountains, the Mid-Ocean Ridge, is almost entirely beneath the ocean, stretching across a distance of 65,000 kilometres.” Didn’t know about this. Thanks for letting all know about these facts.
You teached me a lot so thank you soooooo much.
PS. To who ever is reading this I hope you have a lovely day and may god bless you xxx
thanks alot this has helped me with my geography homework.
You teached me a lot so thank you soooooo much.
PS. To who ever is reading this I hope you have a lovely day and may god bless you xxx
This helped me with a project so, Thank You.
SAMMME
This helped my project about the ocean, it was the best website I was on the whole time I did my project
Glad we could help 🙂
😉
thanks
It helped with my project a lot too.
SAME
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wow that is a lot of books. what is name of your song?
This helped me with my ELA paper. Thank you so much!
Glad we could help, Mya 🙂
hu friendd
it also helped me to!
i love the ocean so much i wrote a song about it i have over 100,000,000 books about the ocean
Wow Nancy, that’s ALOT of books 😉 Great to hear you share out passion for the ocean and ocean conservation.
About fact 10 – In the Baltic sea, between Sweden and Finland, are more than 50.000 islands.
Aww
this really helped me with my project!
this helped with my science paper about the ocean
Thanks…this really helped with my bio paper
I have loved the ocean since i was 5. I have studied since i was 7. My dream is to be a marine biologist. I want to dedicate my life to the sea and the animals. I ❤ animals.
And in 50 years or so the oceans of Earth will be largely fished out and toxic, plastic polluted, liquid disaster areas.
Such a shame we will never learn our lessons and realise we share the planet with so many other earthling – the fish and the land animals. Life before profit!!
this is very cool i love it
right it helped with my paper but i think it could do with some more so you dont have to look all over the internet
i think you should put more info on your website but its good info it helped me with my biome paper
nice info. thanks it helped with my homework!!!!!
me to with my ecology magazine prewrite
yes me three it helped in my project