Atlantic Ocean - the second largest ocean after the Pacific Ocean. It contains 25% of all the planet's water. The average depth is 3,600 m. The maximum is in the Puerto Rico trench - 8,742 m. The ocean area is 91 million square meters. km.
general information
The ocean arose as a result of the splitting of a supercontinent. Pangea"into two large parts, which subsequently formed into modern continents.
The Atlantic Ocean has been known to man since ancient times. Mentioning the ocean, which " called Atlantic“, can be found in records of the 3rd century. BC. The name probably arose from the legendary missing continent " Atlantis«.
True, it is not clear what territory it designated, because in ancient times people had limited means of transportation by sea.
Relief and islands
A distinctive feature of the Atlantic Ocean is the very small number of islands, as well as the complex bottom topography, which forms many pits and gutters. The deepest among them are the Puerto Rico and South Sandwich trench, whose depth exceeds 8 km.
Earthquakes and volcanoes have a great impact on the structure of the bottom. greatest activity tectonic processes are observed in the equatorial zone.
Volcanic activity in the ocean has been going on for 90 million years. The height of many underwater volcanoes exceeds 5 km. The largest and most famous are found in the Puerto Rico and South Sandwich trenches, as well as on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge.
Climate
The large meridional extent of the ocean from north to south explains the diversity climatic conditions on the surface of the ocean. In the equatorial zone there are slight temperature fluctuations throughout the year and an average of +27 degrees. The exchange of water with the Arctic Ocean also has a huge impact on ocean temperature. Tens of thousands of icebergs drift from the north into the Atlantic Ocean, reaching almost tropical waters.
Off the southeastern coast North America The Gulf Stream, the largest current on the planet, is born. Water consumption per day is 82 million cubic meters, which is 60 times higher than the consumption of all rivers. The width of the current reaches 75 km. wide and depth 700 m. Current speed ranges from 6-30 km/h. The Gulf Stream carries warm waters, the temperature of the upper layer of the current is 26 degrees.
In the area of The Newfoundland Gulf Stream meets the "cold wall" of the Labrador Current. Mixing of waters is created ideal conditions for the reproduction of microorganisms in upper layers. Best known in this regard Large Newfoundland barrel, which is a source of fishing for such fish as cod, herring and salmon.
Flora and fauna
The Atlantic Ocean is characterized by an abundance of biomass with relatively poor species composition in the northern and southern outskirts. Greatest species diversity observed in the equatorial zone.
Of the fish, the most common families are nanothenia and white-blooded pike. Large mammals are most widely represented: cetaceans, seals, seals etc. The amount of plankton is insignificant, which causes migration of whales to feeding fields to the north or to temperate latitudes, where there is more of it.
Many places in the Atlantic Ocean have been and continue to be intense places fishing. Previous development of the ocean led to the fact that hunting for mammals is already widespread here. for a long time. This has reduced the numbers of some animal species compared to the Pacific and Indian Oceans. 
Plants include a wide range of green, brown and red algae. The famous sargassum forms a popular book and interesting stories Sargasso Sea.
The Atlantic Ocean is considered one of the largest and most voluminous in size, namely the second in size after the Pacific Ocean. This ocean is the most studied and developed when compared with other water areas. Its location is as follows: from the east it is framed by the banks of the Northern and South America, and in the west its borders end with Europe and Africa. In the South it passes into the Southern Ocean. And with north side borders Greenland. The ocean is distinguished by the fact that there are very few islands in it, and the topography of its bottom is all dotted and has complex structure. The coastline is broken.
Characteristics of the Atlantic Ocean
If we talk about the area of the ocean, it occupies 91.66 million square meters. km. We can say that part of its territory is not the ocean itself, but existing seas and bays. The volume of the ocean is 329.66 million square meters. km, and its average depth is 3736 m. Where the Puerto Rico Trench is located, the ocean is considered to have the greatest depth, which is 8742 m. There are two currents - Northern and Southern.
Atlantic Ocean from the north
The ocean boundary from the north is marked in some places by ridges located under water. In this hemisphere, the Atlantic is framed by an indented coastline. A little of her Northern part connected to the Arctic Ocean by several narrow straits. Davis Strait is located in the northeast and connects the ocean with the Baffin Sea, which is also considered to belong to the Arctic Ocean. Closer to the center, the Denmark Strait is less wide than the Davis Strait. Between Norway and Iceland, closer to the northeast, is the Norwegian Sea.
In the southwest of the Northern Current of the ocean are the Gulf of Mexico, which is connected by the Strait of Florida. And also the Caribbean Sea. There are many bays to note here, such as Barnegat, Delaware, Hudson Bay and others. It is in the northern side of the ocean that you can see the largest and largest islands, which are famous for their fame. These are Puerto Rico, the world famous Cuba and Haiti, as well as the British Isles and Newfoundland. Closer to the east you can find small groups of islands. These are the Canary Islands, the Azores and Cape Verde. Closer to the west are the Bahamas and the Lesser Antilles.
South Atlantic Ocean
Some geographers believe that the southern part is the entire space up to Antarctica. Someone defines the border at Cape Horn and Cape Good Hope two continents. The coastline in the south of the Atlantic Ocean is not as indented as in the north, and there are no seas. There is one large bay near Africa - Guinea. The furthest point to the south is Tierra del Fuego, which is framed by small islands in large quantities. Also you can't meet here big islands, but there are separate islands like o. Ascension, St. Helena, Tristan da Cunha. Actually extreme south you can find the Southern Islands, Bouvet, Falkland and others.
As for the current in the southern ocean, here all systems flow counterclockwise. Near eastern Brazil, the South Trade Wind Current branches. One branch goes north and flows around northern shore South America, filling the Caribbean. And the second is considered southern, very warm, moves near Brazil and soon connects with the Antarctic Current, then heads to the east. Partially separates and turns into the Benguela Current, which is distinguished by its cold waters.
Attractions of the Atlantic Ocean
There is a special underwater cave in the Belize Barrier Reef. It was called the Blue Hole. It is very deep, and inside it there is a whole series of caves that are connected to each other by tunnels. The depth of the cave reaches 120 m and is considered unique of its kind.
There is no person who does not know about the Bermuda Triangle. But it is located in the Atlantic Ocean and excites the imagination of many superstitious travelers. Bermuda attracts with its mystery, but at the same time frightens with the unknown.
It is in the Atlantic that you can see an unusual sea that has no shores. And all because it is located in the middle of a body of water, and its boundaries cannot be framed by land, only currents show the boundaries of this sea. This is the only sea in the world that has such unique data and is called the Sargasso Sea.
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In scope, the Atlantic Ocean is second only to the Pacific. Its size is impressive, and average depth equal to 3700 m. The deepest point is 8742 m. In the Atlantic Ocean there are seas such as the Mediterranean, Caribbean, Baltic, Black, Azov, Adriatic, etc. The salinity of the water in this ocean is 35 ppm.
A little history
The Atlantic Ocean got its name from a sunken island - the legendary Atlantis. According to another theory, the ocean was named after the ancient Greek character Atlas. IN different time Phoenicians, Normans, Vikings, ships of Columbus and Krusenstern sailed in its waters. The seabed was first studied in 1779. Thorough research began in 1803. At this time, the first map of the Atlantic Ocean was compiled.
Oceanic features
It contains famous islands: British, Iceland, Canary, Falkland, etc. The largest ports are Hamburg, Genoa, London, Boston, Rotterdam, New York, St. Petersburg, etc.
Water temperatures vary depending on the ocean zone and season. Near the equator it is about 26 degrees, and in the coastal region of North America the temperature does not rise above +7 degrees. The coast of the Atlantic Ocean is highly indented. His coastline forms numerous bays and seas. Many rivers flow into this ocean. Another feature is that the bottom has a complex topography. The Atlantic Ocean occupies a significant part of the planet, so the climate in its different parts is heterogeneous. The weather is influenced by the poles and strong currents. In the west of the ocean the water is much warmer than in the east. This is due to the warm Gulf Stream current.
The Atlantic Ocean is distinguished by a variety of flora and fauna. They live in the tropics sea urchins, sharks, parrot fish, dolphins, etc. northern regions there are fur seals, whales, seals. Commercial fish include salmon, herring and cod. More than half of the world's production of tuna, cod, sardines and herring comes from the Atlantic Ocean. Still remains poorly studied ocean floor. Little is known about the life of the inhabitants of the abyss.
Rest
The Atlantic Ocean guarantees a varied holiday, as its waters wash the shores different countries. A tourist can choose a resort based on personal preferences and budget. The best beaches of the Atlantic Ocean are known throughout the world. These include Canary and Portuguese beaches, as well as the beaches of South Africa.
Bahamas. The place where the Caribbean and the Atlantic meet! Unforgettably!!!
Where are the oceans?
Oceans are the source of life on Earth. It is believed that the first living organisms on our planet originated in the oceans. Despite the fact that the composition of water has changed greatly since then, and the number of diverse life forms in it can now hardly be counted, the oceans continue to play a very important role important role both in the life of the planet as a whole and in the lives of people.
WHO LIVES AT THE BOTTOM OF THE MARIANA Trench?
The climate on the planet depends on the oceans; they participate in the water cycle in nature; they are a habitat for huge number plants and organisms; The oceans are used for fishing and shipping.
Those who have never been to the ocean may wonder where the ocean is. In order to answer this, it is necessary to provide some specifics. Since it is impossible to answer where the world's oceans are located - they are everywhere. The waters of the world's oceans cover more than 70% of the Earth's area.
223 Currents of the Atlantic Ocean
Therefore, in this article we will turn our attention to each of the currently existing oceans in turn and tell you where they are located.
Pacific Ocean
Area – 165,250,000 km2.
Average depth – 4,028 m.
The Pacific Ocean is the largest of the four oceans on Earth. On its territory is located the deepest ocean trench on the planet - the Mariana Trench (Mariana Trench).
Where is the Pacific Ocean? Between Southern Ocean, Asia, Australia and Western hemisphere. The equator divides the Pacific Ocean into northern and southern parts. Fish production in the waters of the Pacific Ocean accounts for about 60% of the world's total. Around it there are zones of increased seismic and volcanic activity, which is sometimes also called the “Pacific volcanic ring of fire" Tropical cyclones - typhoons and hurricanes - form here.
Consider the geographical position, the history of research, the peculiarities of the nature of the Atlantic Ocean, and its natural history.
Lighting - to get to know scientists about geographical locations, the history of research, the peculiarities of nature, the ruler's development of the Atlantic Ocean;
2. Developing - develop to identify the reasons for the peculiarities of nature, select cards to characterize the relief and the earth's crust of the continent, compose them, work with various knowledge sources - a handbook, maps to the atlas.
3. Vikhovna - demonstrate respect, seriousness, accuracy, and work independently.
Bathroom installation:
satin;
computer, multimedia projector, screen;
multimedia presentation “Atlantic Ocean”.
Lesson progress
II.
Checking your homework
Dictation on the topic: “Pacific Ocean”
- Having listened to the affirmations, you know that it is true that the statement about the ocean is important to you, so that you can correctly write the letter that is worth entrusting to the affirmations.
The name of the ocean was given by F. Magellan. About
The third ocean on Earth is beyond its size. About
By this ocean of ripples is the Mariana Trench. Before
The bottom part of the ocean washes the continent of Eurasia. Before
The area of the ocean is increasing.
IN
This ocean joins the Pivnichny Ice Ocean and the Bering Channel. E
Operated by “Ring of Fire” A
The coldest ocean in terms of surface water temperature. I
In the middle of the ocean to pass the mid-ocean ridge L
At the bottom part of the ocean, the monsoons stretch even harder.
D
This ocean occupies about 1/3 of the earth's surface. A
The outer part washes Africa. N
Development of new material.
As you already knew about the ocean, listen to me respectfully and try to find out what is beyond the ocean.
We are familiar with a very special geographical object - a unique territory, where there is a sea without shores, where the strongest ocean currents pass, and where the most mysterious triquet on the planet
(Bermudian) - 70 countries were distributed within this range.
Since ancient times, I have become accustomed to being human. It was called the “Sea beyond the Herculean Stapes” and “The Western Ocean”, “Sea of Moroku”, and now we call it... the Atlantic OCEAN!!
How did this ocean lose its name?
Its name is incredibly similar to the Atlantean Mountains at the southern end of Africa. Or I call the continent Atlantis. The Supreme Ruler of Atlas (in Greek Atlant, also called Atlantis and the Atlantic Sea) lived on the land.
Atlantis decided to expand its influx to its neighbors, to order them, its vikorysts, who are beyond the reach of knowledge and ability in our hour. Ale... a few strong earthquakes split the island, and they plunged into the ocean.
Let's get to know the ocean and follow the plan:
2. Walking and topography of the ocean bottom
3. Features of nature.
4.
Lord's activity.
1. Geographical location of the ocean.
The Atlantic Ocean extends from the cordons of the Snowy-Icy Ocean at night to Antarctica at daytime. At the outflow it washes the shores of Eurasia and Africa, and at the outset it washes the shores of Southern and Southern America.
characterized by the DP of the ocean behind the plan.
Working with atlases.
Between which continents does the Atlantic Ocean grow?
What other oceans of ties?
What kind of seas and creeks enter the warehouse given to the ocean?
How did the ocean expand to the equator, the tropics, the polar regions and the prime meridian?
The Atlantic Ocean extends from subarctic latitudes to Antarctica.
The greatest width of the river reaches at mid-latitudes and extends to the equator.
2.
History of ocean exploration
The Atlantic Ocean began to be explored by seafarers in the 2nd century. BC The routes of ancient seafarers ran on the south (the coast of Europe) and on the day (on the coast of Africa). Great courage was required in order to enter the unknown ocean at that time. The Vikings were the first to cross the Atlantic, as geographers believe.
The Era of the Great Geographical Discoveries (the swimming pool of H.
Columbus, Vasco da Gami, F. Magellan and etc.) The Atlantic Ocean became the main waterway on Earth. Work has begun on my research: measure the depths, change the fluidity and flow direction, force and fluidity of the wind, etc.
The beginning of complex exploration of the Atlantic was laid with the voyages of the Challenger at the end of the 19th century. Behind the stage of age, the Atlantic Ocean sits first place. At this time, there are a lot of changes in the water masses, bottom topography, currents, and interaction between the ocean and the atmosphere.
Walking the Atlantic Ocean
— The Atlantic Ocean is the youngest. Having settled in 160 million years before the collapse of Gondwana.
While using the Earth's Crust card, give your food confirmation:
As a result of what processes was the Atlantic Ocean created?
What plates of the lithosphere create the bottom of the ocean, in what direction and with what fluidity do the smells move?
Ocean bottom relief
Around the middle of the ocean lies the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, over 17 thousand km long and 1000 km wide.
At night, the ocean ridge comes to the surface - the island of Iceland.
The ocean floors are occupied by oceanic plains and underwater rises.
The shelf occupies approximately 1/3 of the underwater areas of the continents. The widest area is along the coasts of Europe and Northern America.
Peculiarities of nature
The ocean lies in all climatic zones (except the Arctic). The widest part of the Atlantic is spread out in tropical and temperate latitudes.
The temperature of surface waters in the Atlantic is lower on average, lower in the Pacific Ocean.
The average salinity of surface waters is 35.3 ‰, the maximum is above 37.5 ‰. (Recorded by Zoshit)
As I call the sea, you raise your hands, let’s move your arms to the sides, stretch your arms forward.
Beringov
Tasmanovo
Kuroshio
Okhotsk
Skhidno-Australian
Magellan
Pivdenno-pasatna
Beringov
Drake
coral
setting winds
The Gulf Stream is a great sea current in the Atlantic Ocean.
Thanks to the warm waters of the European powers, located on the shores of the ocean, there is a milder climate, but without it.
The heat in the Gulf Stream is as warm as 1 million nuclear power plants have seen.
Map the main currents of the Atlantic Ocean
— What is the role of currents on the ocean and coastal climate?
territory?
The organic light of the Atlantic is poor in species, the lower organic light of the Pacific Ocean.
This is explained by the youth, the severely cold climate and the hour of remaining freezing.
The Atlantic Ocean is rich in commercial fish species: herring, sea bass, cod, mackerel, capelin and others.
Sharks, whales, and seals are catching up. The region of the Canary Islands is rich in lobsters and anchovies. Near the bottom part there are sea urchins and mollusks.
5. Gospodarske vikoristannya ocean.
Species bud of coryscopaline
Ribniy promisel
Transport routes
Recreational resources
Find and edit corrections in the text.
The Atlantic Ocean is the third largest ocean in the world.
Roztashovuetsya in two pіvkul. At the same time it washes the shores of Pivnichnaya and Pivdennaya America, and at the same time - Antarctica. The greatest width of the veins is at the equator. The Spanish were the first to cross the Atlantic, as geographers believe.
The Atlantic Ocean is the oldest.
There are deep-water troughs in the middle of the ocean. The average salinity of surface waters is 25.3 ‰. The Atlantic with rich species, the lower organic world of the Pacific Ocean.
I would like to end with the words of a bard
Green Atlantic -
Long time ago.
Volotsyugi and romance
I’ll put the windows back on.
І snowstorms
Fly across the ocean
Ships of all piers,
And all possible countries.
View from Antarctica to the Arctic
Carry your own ships
green Atlantic
The eyes of Neptune.
Similar articles
Pacific region: on the map, seas, currents, photographs, islands, depression, fish, geography, ecology, depth, dimensions, area
Pacific Ocean- the largest ocean on our planet. The sea area is 178.6 million square meters. Km, size 710 million cubic kilometers, average depth - 3980 meters.
Sea: Bering, Okhotsk, Japan, East China, Yellow, South China, Javanese, Sulawesi, Sulu, Philippines, Coral, Fiji, Tasman, etc.
Considering the number (approximately 10 thousand) and total area islands (about 3.6 million km2), the Pacific Ocean ranks first among the oceans.
In the northern part - Aleutian; in the west - Kuril, Sakhalin, Japanese, Philippine, larger and smaller Sunda, New Guinea, New Zealand, Tasmania; in central and southern parts- many small islands.
The bottom discharge is changing.
In the East-East Pacific region, in the central part of many basins, the Globokomorskie ditches in the north - Aleut, Kuril-Kamchatka, Izu-Bonin (Northeast, Northwest, Middle, East, South, etc.); west - Marian (from greatest depth oceans - 11,022 m), in the Philippines, etc. in Eastern - Central America, Peru and others.
Basic surface currents: in the northern part of the Pacific Ocean - warm Kuroshio, the northern part of the Pacific Ocean and Alaska and cold California and the Kuril Islands; in the southern part there are warm South Pass and east Australian and cold westerly and Peruvian winds.
Surface water temperatures at the equator range from 26 to 29 °C, and in the subpolar regions at -0.5 °C. Salinity is 30-36.5%.
The Pacific Ocean accounts for about half of the world's fish catch (peninsular herring, salmon, cod, sea bass, etc.).
Crustaceans, shrimp, oyster production.
IN Pacific Ocean there was an important ocean and air connection between the states of the Pacific Ocean and transit routes between the countries of the Atlantic Ocean and the Indian Ocean.
Major ports: Vladivostok, Nakhodka (Russia), Shanghai (China), Singapore (Singapore), Sydney (Australia), Vancouver (Canada), San Francisco (USA), Vasco (Chile).
Across the Pacific Ocean, at the 180th meridian, there is a date line.
Photo Pacific Ocean:
Where is it on the map:
The Atlantic Ocean is the second largest ocean after the Pacific.
Its area is much smaller and amounts to 91.6 million km². About a quarter of this area is in shelf seas.
The coastline is very indented, primarily in the Northern Hemisphere; in the Southern Hemisphere it is relatively flat. The ocean washes all continents except Australia. Islands located in the ocean are located near continents. The Atlantic washes the most big Island planet - Greenland.
This ocean has begun to develop European civilization before everyone else, and therefore has for Europe great value. It received its name in honor of the Titan Atlas, since he held the firmament not far from the mythical Garden of the Hesperides, located at the edge of the earth's firmament, right where the Atlantic Ocean went - this is what the ancient Greeks believed.
Its name is also associated with the legendary Atlantis, which, according to legend, was located somewhere in the waters of the Atlantic and sank irrevocably in its depths. Perhaps the myth of Atlantis has a basis in reality. As a result of the movement earth's crust some Mediterranean islands went under water along with temples, palaces and columns erected by ancient civilizations.
Along the banks Mediterranean Sea Over the course of thousands of years, new states arose and disappeared: Crete, Mycenae, policies of Ancient Greece, Phenicia, Carthage, and finally Rome. Ancient Rome from small town Over the course of several centuries, the state turned into the strongest Mediterranean power. IN I-II centuries AD Rome controlled the entire Mediterranean coast. The Romans even called it "Mare Nostrum" or "Our Sea".
In the Middle Ages, the most important trade routes between Europe, Asia and Africa passed here. Countries that had access to the Atlantic began to colonize increasingly remote corners of the planet. With the discovery of America, the Atlantic Ocean became a link between the Old and New Worlds.
And today its economic and transport importance is still very great.
Speaking about the topography of the Atlantic bottom, it should be said that this is a young ocean. It was formed only in the Mesozoic era, when the single continent of Pangea began to split into pieces, and America separated from Africa. The Mid-Atlantic Ridge stretches across the entire ocean from north to south. The island of Iceland in the north is nothing more than the outcrop of this ridge to the surface, which is why Iceland is a country of geysers and volcanoes.
Now the ocean continues to expand, and the continents are moving away from each other at a speed of several centimeters per year. The Mediterranean Sea is the largest inland sea of the ocean by its origin, together with the Black, Caspian and Seas of Azov are the remnants of the ancient tropical ocean Tethys, which closed after the collision of Africa and Eurasia.
In the future, after millions of years, these seas will completely disappear, and mountains will form in their place.
The climate of the Atlantic Ocean is very diverse, because it, like the Pacific Ocean, is located in all climatic zones planets. However, the temperature surface waters here is lower than in the Pacific and Indian Oceans.
This is explained by the constant cooling effect of melting ice brought here from the Arctic. Currents promote movement floating ice, the distribution border of which reaches 40° N. At the same time, the salinity of the Atlantic is very high, since the most large areas The ocean is located in the tropics, where evaporation is high and very little rain falls. The evaporated moisture is carried by the winds to the continents, due to the relative narrowness of the ocean, without having time to fall over its water area.
The organic world of the Atlantic is poorer than the world of the Pacific.
The reason for this is the colder climate and its youth. But with little diversity, the number of fish and other marine animals is significant. The shelf occupies large areas here, and therefore is created comfortable places for the spawning of many commercial fish: cod, herring, mackerel, sea bass, capelin. Whales and seals are found in polar waters.
Off the coast of North America there is a unique Sargasso Sea, it has no shores, and its borders are formed ocean currents. The surface of the sea is covered with sargassum algae, the sea waters are poor in plankton. Once upon a time, the Sargasso Sea was also the most transparent on the planet, however, now its surface is heavily polluted with oil products.
Thanks to your natural conditions, The Atlantic Ocean is the most productive in terms of biological resources.
Most of the fish catch comes from the northern part, but too active fishing has led to a noticeable reduction in the amount of resources in last years. There are a lot of oil and gas reserves on the Shelf, especially in the Gulf of Mexico, however, the 2010 accident showed what colossal damage to the ocean ecology is caused during their extraction.
There are also large hydrocarbon deposits on the shelf North Sea off the coast of Europe. Today, the ocean is already very polluted by human activity and is not capable of self-cleaning at such a speed. The task of the developed states of the Earth for the coming decades is to protect and preserve its natural resources.
Atlantic Map
Map source: http://geography.su/atlas/item/f00/s00/z0000000/map002.shtml
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Atlantic Ocean: on the map, seas, currents, photos, islands, depressions, fish, geography, ecology, depth, dimensions, area
Atlantic Ocean- the second largest ocean after the Pacific Ocean. The area with seas is 91.6 million sq. km, the volume is 329.7 million.
cubic km, average depth 3600 m, greatest depth - 8742 m (Puerto Rico Trench). The name of the Atlantic Ocean comes from the name of the Titan Atlas in Greek mythology.
Seas: Baltic, North, Mediterranean, Black, Sargasso, Caribbean and others.
Large bays - Biscay, Guinea, Mexico.
Main islands: British, Iceland, Newfoundland, Greater and Lesser Antilles, Canary Islands, Cape Verde, Falklands (Malvinas).
The meridian Mid-Atlantic Ridge divides the Atlantic Ocean into eastern and western parts.
The main surface currents: warm North Trade Wind, Gulf Stream and North Atlantic, cold Labrador and Canary in the northern part of the Atlantic Ocean; warm South Trade Winds and Brazil, cold Western Winds and Benguela in the southern part of the Atlantic Ocean.
The highest tide is 18 m (Bay of Fundy).
The surface water temperature at the equator is up to 28 C. It freezes in high latitudes. Salinity 34-37.3%.
Fishing: (herring, cod, sea bass, hake, tuna, etc.) - 2/5 of the world catch. Oil production on the shelves of the Gulf of Mexico, Caribbean Sea, North Sea.
Leading position in global shipping. Major ports: Rotterdam (Netherlands), New York, Houston (USA), Marseille (France), Hamburg (Germany), Genoa (Italy), London (UK), Buenos Aires (Argentina), St. Petersburg (Russia) , Ilyichevsk (Ukraine).
49 countries are washed by the Atlantic Ocean:
Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Bahamas, Barbados, Benin, Brazil, Great Britain, Venezuela, Gabon, Haiti, Guyana, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Grenada, Democratic Republic Congo, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ireland, Iceland, Spain, Cape Verde, Cameroon, Canada, Cote d'Ivoire, Cuba, Liberia, Mauritania, Morocco, Namibia, Nigeria, Norway, Portugal, Republic of the Congo, Sao Tome and Principe, Senegal, St. Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Suriname, USA, Sierra Leone, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Uruguay, France, Equatorial Guinea, South Africa.
Photo of the Atlantic Ocean:
The Atlantic Ocean, or Atlantic, is the second largest (after the Pacific) and the most developed among other water areas. In the east it is limited by the coasts of South and North America, in the west - Africa and Europe, in the north - Greenland, in the south it merges with the Southern Ocean.
Distinctive features of the Atlantic: a small number of islands, complex bottom topography and a highly indented coastline.
Characteristics of the ocean
Area: 91.66 million sq. km, with 16% of the territory falling on seas and bays.
Volume: 329.66 million sq. km
Salinity: 35‰.
Depth: average - 3736 m, greatest - 8742 m (Puerto Rico Trench).
Temperature: in the very south and north - about 0°C, at the equator - 26-28°C.
Currents: conventionally there are 2 gyres - Northern (currents move clockwise) and Southern (counterclockwise). The gyres are separated by the Equatorial Intertrade Current.
Main currents of the Atlantic Ocean
Warm:
Northern trade wind - begins off the west coast of Africa, crosses the ocean from east to west and meets the Gulf Stream near Cuba.
Gulf Stream- the most powerful current in the world, which carries 140 million cubic meters of water per second (for comparison: all the rivers of the world carry only 1 million cubic meters of water per second). It originates near the coast of the Bahamas, where the Florida and Antilles currents meet. Having united, they give rise to the Gulf Stream, which flows into the Atlantic Ocean through the strait between Cuba and the Florida Peninsula. The current then moves north along the US coast. Near the coast of the state North Carolina The Gulf Stream turns east and exits into open ocean. After approximately 1,500 km, it meets the cold Labrador Current, which slightly changes the course of the Gulf Stream and carries it to the northeast. Closer to Europe, the current splits into two branches: Azores and North Atlantic.
Only recently it became known that 2 km below the Gulf Stream there is a reverse current flowing from Greenland to the Sargasso Sea. This thread ice water called the Anti-Gulf Stream.
North Atlantic- a continuation of the Gulf Stream, which washes the western coast of Europe and brings warmth southern latitudes, providing a mild and warm climate.
Antilles- begins east of the island of Puerto Rico, flows north and joins the Gulf Stream near the Bahamas. Speed - 1-1.9 km/h, water temperature 25-28°C.
Interpass countercurrent - current that encircles the globe at the equator. In the Atlantic, it separates the North Trade Wind and South Trade Wind Currents.
South Passat (or South Equatorial) - passes through southern tropics. average temperature water - 30°C. When the South Trade Wind Current reaches the coast of South America, it divides into two branches: Caribbean, or Guiana (flows north to the coast of Mexico) and Brazilian— moving south along the coast of Brazil.
Guinean - located in the Gulf of Guinea. It flows from west to east and then turns south. Together with the Angolan and South Equatorial currents, it forms the cyclic current of the Gulf of Guinea.
Cold:
Lomonosov countercurrent - discovered by a Soviet expedition in 1959. It originates off the coast of Brazil and moves north. The 200 km wide stream crosses the equator and flows into the Gulf of Guinea.
Canary- flows from north to south, towards the equator along the coast of Africa. This wide stream (up to 1 thousand km) near Madeira and the Canary Islands meets the Azores and Portuguese currents. Approximately around 15°N latitude. joins the Equatorial Countercurrent.
Labrador - begins in the strait between Canada and Greenland. It flows south to the Newfoundland Bank, where it meets the Gulf Stream. The waters of the current carry cold from Arctic Ocean, and along with the flow to the south they are carried huge icebergs. In particular, the iceberg that destroyed the famous Titanic was brought precisely by the Labrador Current.
Benguela- is born near the Cape of Good Hope and moves north along the coast of Africa.
Falkland (or Malvinas) branches off from the Current western winds and flows north along east coast South America to La Plata Bay. Temperature: 4-15°C.
Current of the westerly winds encircles the globe in the region of 40-50°S. The flow moves from west to east. In the Atlantic it branches off South Atlantic flow.
Underwater world of the Atlantic Ocean
Undersea world The Atlantic is poorer in diversity than the Pacific. This is due to the fact that the Atlantic Ocean was more frozen during ice age. But the Atlantic is richer in the number of individuals of each species.
The flora and fauna of the underwater world is clearly distributed among climatic zones.
The flora is represented mainly by algae and flowering plants (Zostera, Poseidonia, Fucus). IN northern latitudes Laminaria predominates; in temperate areas, red algae predominates. Throughout the ocean, phytoplankton actively thrives at depths of up to 100 m.
The fauna is rich in species. Almost all species and classes of marine animals live in the Atlantic. Of the commercial fish, herring, sardine, and flounder are especially valued. There is an active catch of crustaceans and mollusks, and whaling is limited.
The tropical zone of the Atlantic amazes with its abundance. There are a lot of corals and many amazing species of animals: turtles, flying fish, several dozen species of sharks.
The name of the ocean first appears in the works of Herodotus (5th century BC), who calls it the Sea of Atlantis. And in the 1st century AD. The Roman scientist Pliny the Elder writes about a vast expanse of water called Oceanus Atlanticus. But official name The “Atlantic Ocean” was established only in the 17th century.
The history of Atlantic exploration can be divided into 4 stages:
1. From antiquity to the 15th century. The first documents that talk about the ocean date back to the 1st millennium BC. The ancient Phoenicians, Egyptians, Cretans and Greeks knew the coastal zones of the water area well. Maps of those times have been preserved with detailed depth measurements and indications of currents.
2. Time of the Greats geographical discoveries(XV-XVII centuries). The development of the Atlantic continues, the ocean becomes one of the most important trade routes. In 1498, Vasco de Gama, having circumnavigated Africa, paved the way to India. 1493-1501 - Columbus's three voyages to America. The Bermuda anomaly was identified, many currents were discovered, and detailed maps depths, coastal zones, temperatures, bottom topography.
Expeditions of Franklin in 1770, I. Kruzenshtern and Yu. Lisyansky of 1804-06.
3. XIX - first half of the XX century - the beginning of scientific oceanographic research. Chemistry, physics, biology, ocean geology are studied. A map of currents has been drawn up, and research is being carried out to lay an undersea cable between Europe and America.
4. 1950s - present day. A comprehensive study of all components of oceanography is being carried out. Priority: climate research different zones, identifying global atmospheric problems, ecology, mining, ensuring ship traffic, seafood production.
In the center of the Belize Barrier Reef there is a unique underwater cave - Big Blue hole. Its depth is 120 meters, and at the very bottom there is a whole gallery of smaller caves connected by tunnels.
The Atlantic is home to the only sea in the world without shores - the Sargasso. Its boundaries are formed by ocean currents.
Here is one of the most mysterious places on the planet: Bermuda Triangle. The Atlantic Ocean is also home to another myth (or reality?) - the continent of Atlantis.
