How many seas are there on the globe, their names. Map of the Mediterranean seas: islands, countries, seas, water

More than 70% of the Earth's surface is covered with water. This water is mainly contained in, as well as in many other bodies of water.

A sea is defined as a large object, filled with and sometimes associated with. However, the sea does not necessarily have to be tied to the ocean, since there are inland or closed seas in the world, such as the Caspian Sea.

Since sea waters make up a significant part of the world, it may be useful to know where the largest seas on our planet are located. This article provides a list, maps, photos and descriptions of the ten largest seas on Earth, in descending order.

Sargasso Sea

Sargasso Sea on the map

According to some sources, the Sargasso Sea is considered the largest in the world. But unlike other seas, it does not wash land and does not have permanent boundaries or area (which varies from 4.0 to 8.5 million km²), so calling it the largest is quite controversial. The Sargasso Sea is located in the Atlantic Ocean and is limited by ocean currents: in the west by the Gulf Stream, in the north by the North Atlantic Current, in the east by the Canary Current, and in the south by the North Equatorial Current.

The Sargasso Sea was first mentioned by Christopher Columbus, who crossed it on his original voyage in 1492.

The sea reaches a depth of 1500-7000 m and is characterized by weak currents, low precipitation, high evaporation, light winds and warm salty water. These factors create a biological desert largely devoid of plankton, the staple food. The Sargasso Sea is distinguished from other parts of the Atlantic Ocean by its characteristic brown Sargassum algae. In addition, the water in the sea is transparent and visibility is maintained even at a depth of about 60 m.

Sargassum algae in the Sargasso Sea

This sea is home to an amazing diversity of marine species. Turtles use algae to shelter and feed their young. The Sargasso Sea also provides essential food for shrimp, crabs, fish and other marine species that have specially adapted to this floating algae. The sea is a breeding ground for the endangered eel, as well as the Atlantic white marlin, Atlantic herring shark and finfish. migrate annually through the Sargasso Sea.

Philippine Sea

Philippine Sea on the map

The Philippine Sea is a marginal sea located northeast of the Philippine archipelago and in the western North Pacific Ocean. It borders the Philippines and Taiwan in the west, Japan in the north, the Mariana Islands in the east, and the Palau archipelago in the south. The surface area is about 5.7 million km². The sea has a complex and varied underwater terrain. The bottom was formed during the process of geological faulting. A special feature of the Philippine Sea is the presence, among which are the Philippine Trench and the Mariana Trench, which contains the deepest point on the planet. Numerous underwater mountains are located in the waters of the sea, and some of them are of volcanic origin.

Islands of the Palau archipelago in the Philippine Sea

The first European to travel the Philippine Sea was Ferdinand Magellan. This happened in 1521.

There is an exotic fish in the Philippine Sea. About five hundred species of hard and soft corals, and 20% of generally known species, are found in the waters of the sea. Here you can observe sea turtles, sharks, moray eels, and sea snakes, as well as numerous species of fish, including tuna. In addition, the Philippine Sea serves as a spawning ground for Japanese eel, tuna and various species.

coral sea

Coral Sea on the map

The Coral Sea is a marginal sea located in the southwestern Pacific Ocean. In the east it washes the coasts of Australia and New Guinea, in the west - New Caledonia, and in the south - the Solomon Islands. This sea has a length of about 2250 km from north to south and covers an area of ​​4.8 million km². In the south, the Coral Sea merges with the Tasman Sea, in the north with the Solomon Sea and in the east with the Pacific Ocean; it is connected to the Arafura Sea in the west through the Torres Strait.

The sea was named after its numerous coral formations, which formed a stretch of 1900 km along the north-eastern coast of Australia. The sea has and is prone to typhoons, especially from January to April.

Bird's eye view of the Coral Sea reefs

The sea is home to a variety of living organisms, including anemones, worms, gastropods, lobsters, crayfish, shrimp and crabs. Red algae colors many coral reefs purple-red, while green algae Halimeda, found throughout the Coral Sea.

In the northern part there are coastal plants consisting of only 30-40 species, and. The reefs are home to about 400 species of coral species, and there are also more than 1,500 species of fish. Five hundred species of algae settle on corals, creating mini-ecosystems on their surface, comparable to a coating. The coral sea is also home to a large number of fish species, and.

Arabian Sea

Arabian Sea on the map

The Arabian Sea is a marginal sea and is located in the northwestern part of the Indian Ocean. Its total area is about 3.86 million km². This sea is part of the main sea route between and India. It is bounded on the west by the Somali and Arabian Peninsulas, on the north by Iran and Pakistan, on the east by India, and on the south by the rest of the Indian Ocean. In the north, the Gulf of Oman connects the sea with the Persian Gulf through the Strait of Hormuz. To the west, the Gulf of Aden connects it to the Red Sea through the Bab el-Mandeb Strait. The Arabian Sea has an average depth of 2734 m and a maximum depth of 5803 m.

Island in the Arabian Sea

The sea is dominated by a monsoon climate. During the rainy season, which occurs from April to November, the water salinity is less than 35‰, and during the dry season (November to March) it is more than 36‰.

Vast deposits of oil and natural gas have been discovered in the Arabian Sea.

The sea is home to a large number of organisms, but a periodic phenomenon in the Arabian Sea is. This phenomenon is explained by a subsurface layer of water of tropical origin, which is poorly enriched in oxygen, but rich in phosphates. Under certain conditions, this layer comes to the surface, which leads to the death of fish due to lack of oxygen.

South China Sea

South China Sea on the map

The South China Sea is a marginal sea in the western part of the Pacific Ocean, it washes the mainland of the Southeast. The sea is limited in the northeast by the Taiwan Strait; in the east - the islands of Taiwan and the Philippines; in the southeast and south - Kalimantan, the Gulf of Thailand and Malaysia; and in the west and north - Asia. The South China Sea covers an area of ​​about 3.69 million km², with an average depth of 1212 m and a maximum depth of 5016 m.

The climate in the sea is tropical and is largely determined by the monsoons. Monsoons control currents as well as the exchange of water between the South China Sea and adjacent bodies of water.

Landscape of the South China Sea

Large deposits of oil and natural gas have been discovered in the South China Sea. This sea provides some of the world's most important shipping lanes. Typically, oil and minerals are concentrated in the north, and marine foods and industrial goods are concentrated in the south. Some areas in the central South China Sea are still poorly understood.

The shallow-water marine fauna and flora of the Caribbean are concentrated around submerged fringed coral reefs that support a variety of fish and other marine life.

Tourism is an important part of the Caribbean economy, serving primarily the populations of the United States and Canada in the north, and Brazil and Argentina in the south. With a typically sunny climate and recreational resources, the Caribbean has become one of the world's major winter resorts.

Mediterranean Sea

Mediterranean Sea on the map

The Mediterranean Sea is an intercontinental sea that stretches from the Atlantic Ocean in the west to Asia in the east, and separates Europe from. This sea has an area of ​​2.5 million km² and a coastline of about 46 thousand km, and is considered the largest inland sea on Earth. The Mediterranean Sea has an average depth of 1,500 m, and the deepest recorded point is 5,267 m, in the Ionian Sea. The Mediterranean Sea basin contains some of the most fertile, beautiful and therefore most desirable land on the planet. Typical is characterized by hot, humid and dry summers and mild, rainy winters. is one of the most populated and developed areas in the world. However, it is also one of the least secure regions in the world.

Beautiful view of the Mediterranean Sea

This sea contains significant reserves of oil and natural gas. While Mediterranean oil and natural gas production accounts for only a small portion of global production, a significant portion of total global oil refining occurs in the Mediterranean region. In addition, petroleum products are produced for domestic consumption and export.

The Mediterranean Sea is stable due to the strong closed nature of the currents, which favorably affects even the smallest macroscopic organisms. The Mediterranean's stable sea temperatures provide a breeding ground for life at depth, which allows organisms to thrive, maintaining a balanced aquatic ecosystem. The Mediterranean Sea has a rich diversity of marine biota. Almost one third (about 12 thousand) of species are endemic.

Commercial fishing is of great economic importance to the region. There is a high demand for fish and seafood, and the total catch for consumption in Mediterranean countries - both within and outside the region - represents a significant proportion of the world's catch.

Tasman Sea

Tasman Sea on the map

The Tasman Sea is a marginal sea located in the southwest Pacific Ocean, between the southeast coast of Australia and Tasmania in the west, and New Zealand in the east; it merges with the Coral Sea in the north, and covers an area of ​​about 2.3 million km². The maximum depth exceeding 5200 m was recorded in the East Australian Basin.

The sea was named after the Dutch navigator Abel Tasman, who sailed across it in 1642.

Paradise island in the Caribbean

The South Trade Wind Current and prevailing winds feed the East Australian Current, which is dominant along the coast of Australia. From July to December its effect is minimal, and colder waters from the south can penetrate far to the north. Lord Howe Island, located on this parallel, represents the southernmost development of the modern coral reef. In the east, water circulation is controlled by currents from the western Pacific Ocean from January to June and colder subantarctic water moving north through Cook Strait from July to December. These various currents tend to make the climate in the south of the Tasman Sea temperate and that in the north subtropical.

The sea is crossed by shipping lanes between New Zealand and south-eastern Australia, and Tasmania, and its economic resources include fisheries, and oil fields in the Gippsland Basin in the eastern Bass Strait.

About 90% of the Tasman Sea's marine life is found nowhere else, as it is the meeting point of three ocean currents. It serves as habitat for a huge number of species; from microscopic life forms to a giant squid that can form rings the size of car tires.

Bering Sea

Bering Sea on the map

The Bering Sea is a marginal sea of ​​the Pacific Ocean. Covering an area of ​​more than 2 million km², the sea borders on the west the Kamchatka Peninsula and the Russian Far East; in the south - with the Aleutian Islands; in the east - with Alaska.

The sea ends at the Bering Strait, located south of the Arctic Circle. This strait is a narrow sea passage between the easternmost point of the Asian continent (Russia) and the westernmost point (Alaska).

The sea (and the strait) are named after the Danish-born Russian sailor Vitus Bering, who first saw the lands of Alaska while exploring the area with the Kamchatka expedition in the mid-18th century.

Stormy Bering Sea

Although the Bering Sea is located at the same latitude as Great Britain, its climate is much harsher. The southern and western parts are characterized by cool, rainy summers with frequent fogs and relatively warm, snowy winters. Winters are extreme in the northern and eastern parts, with temperatures ranging from -35° to -45° C and strong winds. Summers in the north and east are cool, with relatively low precipitation. January and February are the coldest months, July and August are the warmest. Severe storms caused by centers of low atmospheric pressure sometimes penetrate the southern part of the sea.

It is believed that oil and gas fields exist under the Bering Sea shelf, and along the edge - Kamchatka. However, the volume of potential reserves is unknown.

There are more than 300 species of fish in the Bering Sea, including 50 deep-sea species. The most important among them are salmon, herring, cod, flounder, halibut and pollock. Fur seals and sea otters are found on the islands. The northern regions are home to walruses, seals and sea lions. Several species of whales, especially gray whales, migrate to the Bering Sea to feed during the summer. Intensive fishing has sharply reduced some of the most valuable fish species, and this has led to greater exploitation of other species.

If you find an error, please highlight a piece of text and click Ctrl+Enter.

Today there are 81 seas.

All seas are divided according to their location in the following directions: Atlantic, Pacific, inland seas and seas, with the Southern Ocean, North and Indian Ocean.

Types of seas

Traditionally, seas are usually divided into four groups:
- interisland,
- semi-closed,
- outlying,
- internal.

Inland seas are found "within" continents, but may have a connection to the ocean or other adjacent sea. Such seas are subject to great influence from land; the water level in them may be variable. These seas include: the Dead Sea, the Aral Sea and the Caspian Sea.

Some scientists and researchers consider the coastal sea to be a sea, and therefore they do not include inland seas and inter-island seas in the general list.

Marginal seas are located on the edge of the land and have direct access to the ocean, but semi-enclosed seas are fenced by the mainland, but partially.

Interisland seas, based on the basis of their name, are located between different islands. The interisland seas include the following: Fiji, Java and New Guinea Seas.

Lack of seas

Compared to areas of land and land in general, the area of ​​seas on the planet is small. There are even seas of garbage, which, due to the large amount of waste, turn into a floating garbage dump, polluting. Such seas of plastic and other waste have been observed in the waters of the Indian and Pacific Oceans.

It is worth mentioning the disappearing seas. For example, the huge Aral Sea, due to the influence of human economic activity, began to disappear, the water seemed to evaporate. And all this happened due to water intake from other rivers, so fresh water stopped flowing into the Aral Sea. As a result, all the fauna that lived in this once huge sea simply disappeared, the climate of the area changed: where previously gardens bloomed and breezes blew, today there are only deserted dunes and the skeletons of ships rotted by time. This is a terrible tragedy of the region, which has not gone unnoticed in the world. Attempts were made to sea artificially, but they were in vain. After more than half a century, it became obvious that only natural forces can restore the original balance of water and land; today the sea is slowly coming back to life.

The issue of the environmental situation and the issue of preserving water resources is becoming more acute every year: scientists suggest that climate change and the active expansion of man into the natural elements will wipe out more than one sea from the face of the planet, and a war between nations is not far off, not for territory, but for fresh and salt water.

The Mediterranean Sea is connected to the Atlantic Ocean in the west through the Strait of Gibraltar. This enclosed sea is surrounded on all sides by land. The ancient Greeks called the Mediterranean Sea the sea in the middle of the Earth. At that time, this name was fully justified, because all the ancient European and North African civilizations appeared in the basin of this sea. And it was the Mediterranean Sea that served as the main route for contacts between them.

Interesting fact: they say that the Mediterranean Sea is the remnants of its former greatness. Previously, in its place was the ancient Tethys Ocean. It extended far to the east and was much wider. Today, from Tethys, in addition to the Mediterranean Sea, only the drying up Aral and Caspian seas, as well as the Black, Azov and Marmara seas remain. The last three seas are included in the Mediterranean basin.

In addition, within the Mediterranean Sea, the Alboran, Balearic, Ligurian, Tyrrhenian, Adriatic, Ionian, Aegean, Cretan, Libyan, Cyprus and Levantine seas are distinguished as separate seas.

Detailed physical map of the Mediterranean seas in Russian. To enlarge, just click on the picture.

The currents of the Mediterranean Sea are not entirely normal. Under the influence of high temperatures, a lot of water evaporates and, therefore, the flow of fresh water prevails over its inflow. This naturally leads to a decrease in the water level and it has to be drawn from the Atlantic Ocean and the Black Sea. Interestingly, at depth in the more saline layers, the reverse process occurs and salt water flows into the Atlantic Ocean.

In addition to the above factors, the currents of the Mediterranean Sea are mainly caused by wind processes. Their speed in the open parts of the sea is 0.5-1.0 km/h; in the straits it can increase to 2-4 km/h. (for comparison, the Gulf Stream moves north at a speed of 6–10 km/h).

The magnitude of the tides is usually less than one meter, but there are places where, together with wind surges, it can reach up to four meters (for example, the northern coast of the island of Corsica or the Strait of Genoa). In narrow straits (the Strait of Messina), the tides can cause strong currents. In winter, waves reach their maximum and wave heights can reach 6-8 m.

The water of the Mediterranean Sea has an intense blue color and a relative transparency of 50-60 m. It is one of the saltiest and warmest seas in the world. In summer, the water temperature varies from 19 to 25 degrees, while in the east it can reach 27-3°C. In winter, the average water temperature decreases from north to south and varies between 8-17°C in the east and central part of the sea. At the same time, in the west the temperature regime is more stable and the temperature stays between 11-15°C.

There are many large and not very large islands in the Mediterranean Sea, and almost each of them is an attraction for many tourists. Let's name just a few of them:

The islands of Mallorca and Ibiza in Spain, Sardinia and Sicily in Italy, Corfu, Crete and Rhodes in Greece, Corsica in France, as well as Cyprus and Malta.

The territory of the Russian Federation is washed by three oceans. All the seas of Russia, the list of which is given in the text of the article, are interesting and special in their own way. All of them are unique and original.

Seas of Russia: list

The largest country on the planet is connected to three oceans through 12 seas, both internal and peripheral. One sea in Russia does not have a direct connection with the World Ocean (except for the connection through it - this is the Caspian Sea, which is drainless.

Total - 13 seas.

Atlantic seas

The seas from the Atlantic basin beat against the western shores of Russia. In the north it is the Baltic Sea, in the south it is the Azov and Black Sea.

They are united by the following features:

• they are all internal, that is, deeply continental;
• all of them are the final seas of the Atlantic, that is, to the east of them there are either waters of another ocean or land.

The Russian coastline along the Atlantic seas is about 900 km. The Baltic Sea touches the Leningrad and Kaliningrad regions. The Black and Azov seas wash the shores of the Rostov region, Krasnodar region and Crimea.

Seas of the Arctic Ocean

Some seas of Russia (the list is given above) belong to the Arctic Ocean basin. There are six of them: five of them are outlying (Chukotskoye, Karaskoye, Laptev, East Siberian, Barentsevo) and one is internal (Beloye).

Almost all of them are covered with ice all year round. Thanks to the Atlantic Current, the southwest of the Barents Sea. The waters of the Arctic Ocean reach the territory of such Russian regions as the Murmansk region, the Arkhangelsk region, the Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous Okrug, the Taimyr Autonomous Okrug, the Republic of Sakha, and the Chukotka Autonomous Okrug.

Pacific Seas

The list of seas washing the coast of Russia from the east and belonging to the Pacific Ocean is given below:

• Beringovo;
• Japanese;
• Okhotsk.

These seas are adjacent to the territories of the Chukotka Autonomous Okrug, the Magadan Region, the Kamchatka Region, the Khabarovsk Territory, the Sakhalin Region, and the Primorsky Territory.

Warm seas

Half of the Russian seas are covered with ice all year round. There are seas that are partially covered with ice for a certain period of time. The warm seas of Russia, the list of which is given below, do not freeze throughout the year. So, the warm seas of Russia include:

Seas of Russia: list of unique seas

All geographical objects of the Earth are special and interesting in their own way. There are objects that are unique and inimitable. Of course, this is Lake Baikal, the Volga, Kamchatka geysers, the Kuril Islands and much more. The seas of Russia are also exceptional, a list of which is given below. The table shows the characteristics of some Russian seas from the point of view of their uniqueness.

We hope that the article was interesting and useful.

Photos from open sources

The sea is a body of salt water that is connected to one of the five oceans. But some seas are located inside the continent, others are considered part of others, and others are considered a component of the ocean. There are about 90 marine bodies of water on our planet, which differ in size, shape, depth, and the presence or absence of shores.

The top 10 includes the largest seas in the world by area.

10. Sea of ​​Okhotsk

Okhotsk opens the top ten largest seas in the world with an area of ​​1.6 million square meters. km. and a maximum depth of 4 thousand meters in the Kuril Basin. It washes the shores of Japan and Russia. Previously, the sea was called Kamchatka. They began to call it Okhotsk in honor of the Okhota River, which flows into this sea. Its waters abound with species of valuable fish, such as salmon, chinook salmon, sockeye salmon, chum salmon and others. The Kuril Islands are located in the Sea of ​​Okhotsk.

9. Bering Sea

The Bering Sea is the largest in Russia, its total area is 2.3 million square meters. km. Its waters belong to the Pacific Ocean, it washes the shores of the United States and Russia, being the water border between the states. The deepest point of the seabed reaches 4 thousand meters. The sea received its current name in honor of the explorer and navigator Bering, who devoted most of his life to the study of sea waters. In the 13th century, Beringovo was called Bobrovoe or Kamchatka. The sea is covered with ice almost all year round, but despite this, about 240 species of fish are found here, including valuable species that are of interest for fishing.

8. Mediterranean Sea

The Mediterranean is one of the largest seas on the planet. Its area is about 2.5 million square meters. km., and the maximum depth can reach 5 thousand meters in places. The sea washes three parts of the world at once - Africa, Asia and Europe. It is connected to the Atlantic Ocean by the Strait of Gibraltar. Parts of the Mediterranean Sea are the Aegean, Adriatic, Ionian and Tyrrhenian. All together they form one big sea. There is a very rich fauna here, numbering about 550 species of fish alone, 70 of which are found only in these waters. The Mediterranean Sea also abounds in sharks and has about 15 species that are dangerous to humans.

7. Caribbean Sea

The Caribbean ranks seventh in the ranking of the largest seas in the world by area. Its size is about 2.7 million square meters. km., and the greatest depth is about 8 thousand meters. It belongs to the Atlantic Ocean basin. The sea received its name thanks to the Indian tribe of the Caribs who lived on its coast. The second name of the sea body of water is Antilles. There is a version of scientists that the Caribbean is the source of the largest number of hurricanes in the Western Hemisphere. Natural disasters regularly destroy the buildings of the inhabitants of the islands and the coastline of the basin.

6. Weddell Sea

Weddell ranks sixth on the list of the largest seas in the world. Its area is 2.9 million square meters. km., and the greatest depth reaches almost 7 thousand meters. It is a marginal sea in the Atlantic sector of the Southern Ocean, between the western part of the Antarctic Peninsula and Coats Land (east). The Weddell Sea is considered the coldest and cleanest sea in the world. The water here is surprisingly clear. A special feature of Weddella is the fact that the water temperature in it can reach minus 25 degrees, but does not freeze! The local fauna is represented by marine animals such as penguins, seals, whales, etc.

5. Tasman Sea

The Tasman Sea has an area of ​​3.3 million square meters. km and the greatest depth is more than 5 thousand meters. This is one of the largest seas on the planet in terms of area. It is located between New Zealand and Australia. It got its name in honor of the Dutch navigator Abel Tasman. The depth of the sea is about 6 thousand meters, which makes it one of the deepest. The flora and fauna of this sea differs significantly in different areas.

4. Coral Sea

The Coral Sea is in fourth place with an area of ​​4.7 million square meters. km. It belongs to the waters of the Pacific Ocean and is located between the shores of New Guinea, Australia and New Caledonia. The depth of the sea can reach more than 9 thousand meters in some places. The sea has numerous coral reefs and islands. It is here that the largest reef on the planet is located, called the Great Barrier Reef with a length of 2.5 thousand km. and an area of ​​344 thousand square meters. km., which is larger than the area of ​​Great Britain. The richest underwater flora and fauna is concentrated here.

3. Arabian Sea

The Arabian opens the three largest seas on the planet. Its area is approximately 4.8 million square meters. km., and the maximum depth is 4 thousand meters. Initially, the sea was called Eritrean. It is part of the Indian Ocean and washes the shores of the island. Somalia, Maldives, Djibouti, Iran, India and Pakistan. This is where the best beaches in India are located for relaxation. The world's most important trade routes pass through the sea. In addition, the Arabian is one of the saltiest and cleanest seas in the world. The underwater world is rich in vegetation and marine life. Here you can find rare species of animals, such as the green sea turtle or hawksbill turtle. The Arabian Sea is considered one of the most popular among ecotourism lovers.

2. Philippine Sea

The Philippine Sea is the largest coastal sea, with an area of ​​approximately 5.7 million square meters. km., and the maximum depth in some places can reach 11 thousand meters. Here is the deepest trench on the planet, which is called Mariana. The sea is located not far from the Philippine archipelago, hence its name. It does not have clear coastal boundaries: it is separated from the ocean by groups of islands: the Philippine Islands, o. Honshu, Kyushu, Ryukyu and about. Taiwan. Philippine waters are inhabited by many species of fish from small to giant. Industrial fishing for tuna takes place here, which is considered one of the most valuable marine products.

1. Sargasso Sea

The Sargasso Sea tops the list of the largest seas in the world. Its area reaches 6-7 million square meters. km. and may change depending on sea currents. The uniqueness of this sea is that it has no shores. Its water boundaries are considered to be three ocean currents. The shape of the sea is a large-scale ellipse of light green color. It received this shade from abundant underwater vegetation in the form of algae. Just imagine: for about one square meter there are about two tons of underwater plants! This is where the second name came from, which Sargasso received from Columbus - “a jar of algae.” The depth of the sea in some places can reach about 7 thousand meters. The average temperature here ranges from 20 to 28 degrees above zero.