Atlantic coast names. What washes the Atlantic Ocean
From this article you will learn between which continents the 5 oceans are located.
Between which continents is the Pacific Ocean located: list and names of washed continents, description
Geographic map indicating Pacific Ocean and sushiPacific Ocean- the largest in terms of the size of the water surface - about 179 million square km. The lands of Eurasia are washed by the ocean on the western side, Australia on the southwestern side, and America on the eastern side. In the north, the ocean is separated by the Bering Strait from the Arctic Sea. In the south, the Pacific waters come into contact with the Southern Ocean, and are divided along a conventional line.
In the south-north direction, the ocean waters have a length of 15,800 km, and in the west-east direction - 19,500 km. The deepest place on Earth is the Pacific Mariana Trench, approximately 11 km.
States, washed by the ocean:
- Russia
- China
- Japan
- Vietnam
- Thailand
- Korea
- Malaysia
- Philippines
- Papua New Guinea
- Australia
- Indonesia
- New Zealand
- Canada
- Guatemala
- Costa Rica
- Nicaragua
- Mexico
- Salvador
- Ecuador
- Colombia
- Panama
Shores of Eurasia wash themselves seas:
- Moluccan
- Halmahera
- Seram
- Sulawesi
- Gang
- Yellow
- Japanese
- Flores
- Yavansky
- Okhotsk
- Filipino
- East China
- Beringov
- South China
Pacific Shores Coast of Australia wash themselves seas:
- Tasmanov
- Fiji
- Solomonov
- New Guinea
- Coral
Shores of America wash themselves bays:
- Californian
- Panama
- Alaskan
Islands there are close to 10 thousand in the ocean, formed by volcanoes. The largest are represented:
- New Guinea
- Greater Sunda Group
- Sakhalin
- Japanese
- Filipino
- New Zealand
- Hawaiian
- Tierra del Fuego
Pacific Shores North America rugged by mountain ranges, only in some areas, and in the north of the mainland, there are depressions. Along the entire coastline South America the high Andes mountains spread out. The Asian and Australian coasts and islands are also mountainous, but the mountains are not high.
The Pacific Ocean is so large that all climatic bands are found on its territory. In the tropics (subtropics), the ocean water temperature is 25-29ᵒC, often cyclones with downpours and destructive winds. To the north, near Japan and Russia, the average temperature of ocean water is 5-8ᵒC, ice in winter.
In the southern hemisphere, near the coast of Australia there is a warm current, and the ocean water is 11-28ᵒC.
More than half of all living sea creatures known on Earth live in the Pacific Ocean, at different latitudes: whales (minke and sperm whales), fur seals, seals, walruses. Of the smaller fish, about 2 thousand species live in the ocean, as well as various shrimp, mollusks, and crabs. There is an abundance of corals in the tropics.
Between which continents is the Arctic Ocean located: list and names of washed continents, description
Geographic map showing the Arctic Ocean and land mass The Arctic Ocean is the smallest in size. It occupies approximately 14.8 million square km. The location of the ocean is between North America and Eurasia. Water from it flows into the Quiet and Atlantic Ocean s. The deepest place in the ocean is considered to be the Greenland Sea, 5.5 km deep.
Shores states, washed by the ocean:
- Russia
- Denmark (Greenland belongs to it)
- Iceland
- Sweden
- Finland
- Norway
- Canada
The shores of the above countries are washed by seas:
- Barentsev
- Beaufort
- Karsky
- White
- Chukotka
- Baffin
- Greenlandic
- East Siberian
- Laptev
- Lincoln
- Norwegian
Arctic Ocean Islands:
- Greenland
- Kolguev
- Spitsbergen
- Severnaya Zemlya
- Canadian archipelago
- Vaygach
- Novosibirsk
- Wrangel
- New Earth
- Franz Josef Land
The shores of the American land near the ocean are hilly with low elevations and are often covered with glaciers. The Eurasian coasts are more strongly dissected, and also partially with glaciers.
Arctic climate severe. In the ocean all year round ice. In summer, the ice breaks into separate islands, which drift (move) with average speed 7 km per day, but a speed of 100 km per day is possible.
In the ocean and seas plants and animals scanty, the only exception in Bely and Barents Seas . Here such sea regulars grow and live, represented by algae:
- Laminaria
- Eelgrass
- Anfeltius
- Fucus
Fish(about 150 species):
- Salmon
- Flounder
- Cod
- Herring
- Scorpionfish
Bird(up to 30 types):
- Seagulls
- Little auks
- Waders
- Geese
- Geese
- Eiders
Mammals:
- Seals
- Lemmings
- Kitami
- Reindeer
- Walruses
- Polar bears
Many plants and animals grown in the northern cold water, are characterized gigantism, longevity. The largest specimens of mussels and jellyfish are caught here, and the lifespan of fish is much longer than those living in the warm sea.
Between which continents is the Atlantic Ocean located: list and names of washed continents, description
Geographic map showing the Atlantic Ocean and land mass From the north, the Atlantic Ocean washes Iceland and Greenland, from the west – America, from the east – Eurasia and Africa, and in the south it mixes with the water of the Southern Ocean. Its area is approximately 92 million square km, it is in second place in size. The deepest point of the ocean is the Puerto Rico Trench, with a depth of 8.7 km.
The Atlantic Ocean is famous for the following seas:
- Irish
- Norwegian
- Caribbean
- Northern
- Baltic
- Mediterranean
- Sargasso
- Labrador
- Irminger
- Celtic
Islands:
- British, on which Ireland and Great Britain are located
- Iceland
- Sardinia
- Sicily
- Malta
- Madeira
- Newfoundland
- Greater and Lesser Antilles with Jamaica, Haiti, Cuba, Guadeloupe and Trinidad
- Bahamian
- Canary
- Faroese
- Bermudian
- Falkland
- Tierra del Fuego
Atlantic Ocean States:
- Iceland
- Norway
- Denmark
- Great Britain
- the Netherlands
- Belgium
- France
- Spain
- Portugal
- Mauritania
- Morocco
- Ivory Coast
- Senegal
- Guinea
- Benin
- Cameroon
- Gabon
- Namibia
- Congo
- Angola
- Uruguay
- Argentina
- Brazil
- Guiana
- Suriname
- Guyana
- Venezuela
- Colombia
- Panama
- Mexico
- Canada
The Atlantic Ocean covers all climatic zones. The tropics with an average water temperature of 20ᵒC, heavy rainfall with frequent hurricanes; in the subtropics - an average of 10-20ᵒC, with heavy rains in summer; temperate zone - +10-0ᵒC.
In the Atlantic Ocean, high tides are frequent on the American and European coasts.
The northern part of the ocean is rich in reddish-brown algae, and the tropics - and green.
Ocean depths are represented by all kinds animals:
- Squid
- Octopuses
- Tuna
- Sardina
- Mackerelew
- Cod
- Sea bass
- Halibut
- Herring
- Haddock
The Atlantic Ocean has long been a place of intensive fishing, so almost all whales here have been exterminated, and only since 2010 it has been prohibited to kill them.
Between which continents is the Indian Ocean located: list and names of continents washed by it, description
Geographic globe map showing the Indian Ocean and land mass The Indian Ocean is washed by Eurasia from the north, Africa from the west, the Australian coast from the east, and merges with the Southern Ocean in the south. The ocean has an area of approximately 283 million square km. The Indian Ocean, with its deepest point, the Sunda Trench (7.7 km), is almost entirely located in the southern hemisphere.
The Indian Ocean is famous seas:
- Red
- Laccadive
- Andaman
- Timorese
- Arabian
- Arafura
Islands:
- Madagascar
- Tasmania
- Andaman
- Sri Lanka
- Mascarene
- Socotroi
- Comorian
- Bahrain
- Seychelles
- Maldivian
Indian Ocean States:
- Djibouti
- Somalia
- Mozambique
- Eritrea
- Tanzania
- Kenya
- Sudan
- Egypt
- Jordan
- Oman
- Saudi Arabia
- Yemen
- Israel
- Kuwait
- Iran
- Qatar
- Iraq
- Pakistan
- India
- Bangladesh
- Thailand
- Myanmar
- Indonesia
- East Timor
- Australia
- Malaysia
The Indian Ocean is 4 climatic zones. In summer, on the tropical and subtropical Asian coast there are frequent monsoons with strong storm winds, the water temperature close to the equator is 28ᵒC, in the Red Sea 30-31ᵒC. In the temperate zone, closer to 50ᵒ south latitude, the average air temperature is 5-6ᵒC, and the water temperature is close to 0ᵒC.
From plants algae grow in the ocean, a lot of single-celled ones, they multiply quickly, and from them the water “blooms”.
From animal world The ocean is rich in peridineas, jellyfish, ctenophores, and poisonous physalia that glow at night. From larger inhabitants present:
- Tuna
- Notothenia
- Sharks
- Dolphins
- Sea snakes
- Large sea turtles
- Sperm whales
- Penguins
- Albatrosses
- Shellfish
- Elephant seals, stars, urchins
Between which continents is the Southern Ocean located: list and names of continents washed by it, description
Geographic map showing the Southern Ocean and Antarctica Regarding the Southern Ocean, the arguments are ambiguous: it is sometimes recognized, sometimes not. Now the ocean exists. He was recognized last time in 2000. The fate of the ocean is decided by the countries in the IGO.
The Southern Ocean includes the southern ends (south of the 60th parallel) of the remaining oceans (Indian, Atlantic and Pacific) around Antarctica. The ocean has no exact boundaries. It has an area of approximately 20 million square km.
The ocean is rich seas what's around Antarctica:
- Somov
- d'Urville
- Rieser-Larsen
- Cosmonauts
- Mawson
- Commonwealth
- Lazarev
- Davis
- Amundsen
- Scotia
- Bellingshausen
- Rossa
- Weddell
South ocean
AND islands:
- South Orkney
- Kerguelen
- South Shetland
Ocean water with a temperature of -2-+10ᵒC freezes in winter after latitude 65. It is not easy for ships to navigate here: icebergs are also found in summer. The greatest depth is 8.4 km, represented by the South Sandwich Trench.
And, despite the harsh climate, close to 180 species of algae (diatoms) grow in the ocean, and a small variety of blue-green ones. Animals in the waters include whales, seals, krill, and notothenia. The ocean coast is inhabited by penguins and petrels. The Southern Ocean is richer in fish than the Northern Ocean, and there are many Russian ships engaged in fishing.
So, we learned more about our Earth.
Video: Continents and oceans
The Atlantic Ocean is the second largest and deepest. Its area is 91.7 million km2. The average depth is 3597 m, and the maximum is 8742 m. The length from north to south is 16,000 km. Geographical position of the Atlantic Ocean The ocean extends from the Arctic Ocean in the north to the coast of Antarctica in the south. In the south, the Drake Passage separates the Atlantic Ocean from […]
The Atlantic Ocean is the second largest ocean on Earth. This is the most studied and developed ocean by people. The Atlantic Ocean washes the shores of all continents except Australia. Its length is 13 thousand km (along the meridian 30 west), and its greatest width is 6700 km. The ocean has many seas and bays. The structure of the Atlantic Ocean floor is divided into three main parts: [...]
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. Coastline It is very rugged, 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 name Atlantica came to us from ancient times. Scientists believe that it is connected with the name of the Atlas Mountains in northwest Africa. Therefore, the Atlantic Sea in the times of Homer and Hesiod literally meant “the sea beyond the Atlas Mountains.” Later, the Greeks began to designate the south of the part of the modern Atlantic Ocean known to them, and the waters adjacent to Europe called it the Outer Sea, […]
All species are represented in the Atlantic Ocean economic activity humans in marine areas. Among them highest value have sea transport, then - underwater oil and gas production, only then - fishing and use biological resources. On the shores of the Atlantic there are more than 70 coastal countries with a population of over 1.3 billion people. Many transoceanic routes pass through the ocean with [...]
In the Atlantic Ocean, all zonal complexes are distinguished - natural zones, except for the North Polar. The waters of the northern subpolar zone are rich in life. It is especially developed on the shelves off the coasts of Iceland, Greenland and the Labrador Peninsula. The temperate zone is characterized by intense interaction between cold and warm waters, its waters are the most productive areas of the Atlantic. Vast expanses of warm waters of two subtropical, two tropical […]
The Atlantic Ocean is poorer in flora and fauna species than the Pacific Ocean. One of the reasons for this is its relative geological youth and noticeable cooling in the Quaternary period during the glaciation of the northern hemisphere. However, in quantitative terms, the ocean is rich in organisms - it is the most productive per unit area. This is primarily due to the widespread development of shelves and shallow waters [...]
Zoning water masses in the ocean is complicated by the influence of land and sea currents. This is manifested primarily in the temperature distribution surface waters. In many areas of the ocean, isotherms off the coast deviate sharply from the latitudinal direction. The northern half of the ocean is warmer than the southern half, the temperature difference reaches 6°C. The average surface water temperature (16.5°C) is slightly lower than in the Pacific Ocean. Cooling […]
In the Atlantic, as in the Pacific, two rings form surface currents. In the northern hemisphere, the Northern Trade Wind Current, Gulf Stream, North Atlantic and Canary Currents form a clockwise movement of water. In the southern hemisphere, the South Trade Wind, the Brazilian Current, the West Wind Current and the Benguela Current form the movement of water counterclockwise. Due to the considerable extent of the Atlantic Ocean from north to south […]
The Atlantic Ocean is located in all climatic zones Earth. The main part of the ocean is between 40° N latitude. and 42° S - is located in subtropical, tropical, subequatorial and equatorial climatic zones. There are high positive air temperatures here all year round. The most severe climate is found in sub-Antarctic and Antarctic latitudes, and to a lesser extent in subpolar and northern latitudes. The climate of the Atlantic Ocean (more […]
Oil and gas reserves have been discovered on the North Sea shelf, in the Gulf of Mexico, Guinea and Biscay. Phosphorite deposits were discovered in the area of rising deep waters off the coast North Africa in tropical latitudes. Placer deposits of tin off the coast of Great Britain and Florida, as well as diamond deposits off the coast of South-West Africa, have been identified on the shelf in sediments of ancient and modern rivers. […]
The Mid-Atlantic Ridge runs across the entire ocean (approximately at an equal distance from the coasts of the continents). The relative height of the ridge is about 2 km. Transverse faults divide it into separate segments. In the axial part of the ridge there is a giant rift valley ranging from 6 to 30 km wide and up to 2 km deep. The rift and faults of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge are associated with both underwater active […]
The Atlantic Ocean stretches from north to south for 16 thousand km from subarctic to Antarctic latitudes. The ocean is wide in the northern and southern parts, narrowing in equatorial latitudes to 2900 km. In the north it communicates with the Northern Arctic Ocean, and in the south it is widely connected to the Pacific and Indian oceans. Bounded by the shores of North and South America - […]
The western and southwestern outskirts of Russia are washed by the seas of the Atlantic Ocean. The Baltic Sea forms bays off the coast of the country, on the shores of which there are major ports. St. Petersburg is located in the Gulf of Finland, and Kaliningrad is located on the Pregola River, which flows into the Vistula Lagoon. In the southwest there are the Black and Azov Seas, where there are also large bays. In the Black Sea - Karakinitsky Bay and [...]
The Atlantic Ocean is limited by the shores of Europe and Africa in the east, North and South America in the west. Due to the meridional extent, it contains natural zones from the northern subpolar to the southern polar, which determines the diversity of its natural conditions. However, the main part of its spaces lies between 40° N. w. and 42° S. w. in subtropical, tropical and […]
Within the Atlantic Ocean, all physiographic zones are clearly represented, except for the North Polar. The northern subpolar (subarctic) belt covers the waters off the island of Greenland and the Labrador Peninsula. In winter, the air temperature drops to - 20°, water temperature to - 1 °C and below. The ocean is partially covered with ice in winter. Ice formation causes an additional increase in the salinity of water and its immersion to depth. In spring […]
The organic world of the Atlantic Ocean is poorer in terms of species organic world The Pacific and Indian oceans, but quantitatively it is the richest (260 kg/km2) due to the widespread development of the shelf. The poverty of species composition is largely due to the relative youth of the ocean, its long-term isolation from other oceans, and the strong climate cooling in the Quaternary. For distribution organic life strongly […]
The climatic conditions of the Atlantic Ocean determine the features of its hydrological regime. Waves in the Atlantic Ocean Wave formation in the Atlantic Ocean depends on the nature of the prevailing winds over certain areas. The area of most frequent storms extends north of 40° N. w. and south of 40° S. w. The height of waves during long and very strong storms can reach 20-26 m. But […]
The climate of the Atlantic Ocean is determined by its enormous meridional extent, the nature of atmospheric circulation and the ability of the water surface to significantly equalize the annual temperature variation. The oceanic climate is generally characterized by slight fluctuations in air temperature. In the Atlantic Ocean at the equator they are less than 1 °C, in subtropical latitudes 5 °C, and at 60 ° N. w. and Yu. w. - 10 °C. Only […]
Deep-sea sediments consist of silts, which get their name from the smallest organisms, the remains of which are found in the largest quantities in the ground. Among deep-sea sediments, the most common are foraminiferal muds, occupying 65% of the area of the ocean floor and mid-ocean ridge. The Atlantic Ocean is a part of the World Ocean that is characterized by the penetration far to the north of heat-loving foraminifera, which is associated with the warming effect of […]
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. Approximately off the coast of North Carolina, the Gulf Stream turns east and enters the 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 flow of icy water was called the Anti-Gulf Stream.
North Atlantic- a continuation of the Gulf Stream, which washes the western coast of Europe and brings the warmth of 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 the southern tropics. The average water temperature is 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 - open 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 the Arctic Ocean, and along with the flow, huge icebergs are carried south. 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 along the coast of Africa to the north.
Falkland (or Malvinas) branches off from the West Wind Current 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
The underwater world of the Atlantic is poorer in diversity than in the Pacific Ocean. This is due to the fact that the Atlantic Ocean was more exposed to freezing during the 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, kelp predominates; in temperate latitudes, 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 a lot amazing views 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 compiled, and research is being carried out to lay an underwater cable between Europe and America.
4. 1950s - present day. A comprehensive study of all components of oceanography is being carried out. Priorities include: studying the climate of different zones, identifying global atmospheric problems, ecology, mining, ensuring ship traffic, and seafood production.
In the center of the Belize Barrier Reef there is a unique underwater cave - the Great 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: the Bermuda Triangle. The Atlantic Ocean is also home to another myth (or reality?) - the continent of Atlantis.
Education
What continents is washed by the Atlantic Ocean? Which countries are washed by the Atlantic Ocean?
June 25, 2016The Atlantic Ocean is the second largest. It is present in all hemispheres of the Earth. From the article you will learn which continents are washed by the Atlantic Ocean and how it affects them.
Characteristics of the Atlantic Ocean
The ocean covers an area of 91.66 million square meters. km, making it the second largest after Quiet. More than 16% of its total area falls on straits, seas and bays. The salinity of the water is approximately 34-37 ppm. The deepest point is the Puerto Rico Trench, 8,742 meters deep. The average depth of the Atlantic Ocean is about 4 kilometers, and this is less than that of the Pacific and Indian.
The Atlantic is located in all 4 hemispheres and washes 5 continents. The Denmark Strait and the Davis Strait to the north connect it to the Arctic Ocean. The Drake Passage in the south connects it with the Pacific Ocean, and it is connected with the Indian Ocean by the body of water between Antarctica and Africa.
Previously, the Atlantic Ocean was called the Western, Outer, North Sea; now the term “Atlantic” is often used to designate it. On the European map, authored by the Dutchman Varenius, the modern name of the ocean appeared in 1650.
The origin of the name “Atlantic Ocean” is associated with the African Atlas Mountains. Scientists suggest that even among the ancient Greeks this name literally meant “the sea beyond the Atlas Mountains.” There are two more versions of the name - one connects it with the sunken Atlantis, the other with the name of the titan Atlas.
Atlantic exploration
People began to explore the described water expanses earlier than other oceans, through the waters Mediterranean Sea. Even before our era, ancient peoples founded cities and states on the shores of the Mediterranean. Watching the ebb and flow of the tides, animals and flora, they were the first explorers of these waters.
Of course, in ancient times people did not know exactly which continents were washed by the Atlantic Ocean. Their geographical knowledge was noticeably different from modern ones. Nevertheless, Pytheas made voyages in the North Atlantic back in the 4th century BC. And in the 10th century AD, Eric the Red, originally from Normandy, made his first voyage across the Atlantic Ocean, arriving on the shores of the island of Newfoundland.
During the Age of Great Geographical Discoveries, a large number of voyages took place across the waters of the Atlantic. At the same time, the first descriptions of depths, soil, tropical hurricanes were made, and the Northern Trade Wind, Brazilian, Guiana Currents and the Gulf Stream were discovered. This era gave impetus to the study depths of the sea, as well as territories that border the Atlantic Ocean. Nowadays, much is already known about it, but research continues to this day.
Video on the topic
Which continents are washed by the Atlantic Ocean?
All the oceans on our planet make up the continuous World Ocean. There is no between them clear boundaries, and all divisions are essentially conditional. After all, the Atlantic did not exist 200 million years ago, and all the earth’s continents were one piece of land.
About 180 million years ago, the process of splitting the common continent into separate territories began. In the northern part of the Atlantic, areas of land became increasingly distant from each other. Approximately 140 million years ago, plates began to move in the South Atlantic. Gradually, Greenland separated from Europe, and the Mid-Labrador Range began to die off.
So, what continents is washed by the Atlantic Ocean? In the course of large-scale global processes, the waters of this ocean stretch for almost 16 thousand kilometers from north to south. The ocean now washes:
- North and South America;
- Eurasia;
- Africa;
- Antarctica.
Only Australia is not included in the list. In the north it is located between the shores of Greenland and Iceland, in the south - near Antarctica. Africa and Europe are located on the eastern side of the ocean, both Americas are located in the west.
Coastline
We have already learned which shores are washed by the Atlantic Ocean. Now we can talk about their features. The ocean stretches across two earthly hemispheres, so its entire territory is conventionally divided into northern and southern. The border for them is the equator.
The North Atlantic is characterized by a highly rugged coastline. There are many inland seas in this part. Thus, in the northeast there is the Norwegian Sea, which occupies the territory between Norway and Iceland.
The North Sea is located off the coast of Denmark and Great Britain. In the east it turns into the Baltic, which has the Gulf of Finland and the Gulf of Bothnia. Much further south, a system of inland seas begins - the Mediterranean communicates with the ocean through the Strait of Gibraltar, followed by the Black and Azov.
In the southwest North Atlantic, the Strait of Florida connects the ocean with the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean Sea. On the coast of North America there are Barnegat, Long Island, Delaware, and Pamlico bays.
The shores washed by the southern Atlantic waters, cut up much less. There are no inland seas in this part. Near the African continent there is the Gulf of Guinea, which juts into the land - this is the largest bay in the South Atlantic. There are few of them near the coast of South America. The southern part of this continent is significantly dissected; in the Tierra del Fuego region there are many small islands.
The influence of Atlantic waters
It would take a very long time to list which countries are washed by the Atlantic Ocean. Not counting the waters of all its seas, the waters of the Atlantic wash about 50 countries. All of them experience a powerful oceanic influence. An important climate-forming factor for coastal areas is the currents and zoning of the Atlantic Ocean. In the northern part, the water temperature is noticeably colder (about 5 degrees).
Warm ocean currents warm the climate of the coast, making it soft and humid. They also contribute a large number precipitation. The largest and most powerful current in the Atlantic is the warm Gulf Stream. This current influences the climate of North America and Western Europe. Thanks to it, for example, winter temperatures in Reykjavik are higher than those in New York.
Warm currents of the Atlantic Ocean:
- Brazilian;
- Guiana;
- Gulf Stream;
- Norwegian.
Cold Atlantic currents contribute to a colder and drier climate on the coasts. Thus, the Labrador Current creates a harsh climate on the island of Labrador, and the Benguela and Canary Currents make the climate of the West African coast dry. The collision of the Gulf Stream with the Labrador Current provides prolonged fog on the shores of Newfoundland.
Cold currents of the Atlantic Ocean:
- Greenlandic;
- Labrador;
- Canary;
- Benguela.
Conclusion
Now we know which continents are washed by the Atlantic Ocean and what influence it has on them. Stretching from north to south, this expanse of water has long been of great importance for people. The waters of the Atlantic connect five continents and significantly influence their weather conditions.
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 is of great importance for Europe. It received its name in honor of the titan Atlant, 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 - as 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 of the earth's crust, some islands of the Mediterranean went under water along with temples, palaces and columns erected ancient civilizations. Along the shores of the Mediterranean Sea, new states arose and disappeared over the course of thousands of years: Crete, Mycenae, poleis 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 of the planet. However, surface water temperatures here are 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 largest areas the ocean is 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 boundaries are formed by 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 fish catch occurs in its 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 North Sea shelf 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.