The Pacific Ocean is considered the largest body of water in the world. It has an area of about 179 million square meters. km, which is 2 times the area of the Atlantic Ocean. The largest seas in the ocean are Coral, Bering, Philippine, Tasmanovo. The largest bay is Alaska. The largest islands are New Guinea and New Zealand.
general characteristics
A map of the Pacific Ocean allows you to see that it absorbs a third of the planet's surface. The equator runs almost in the center of this reservoir. Its waters wash over Eurasia, Antarctica, Australia, North and South America. Moreover, almost the entire territory of this ocean is located within the Pacific lithospheric plate. Zones of seismic activity are located at the points of contact with other plates. Together, these zones form the "Ring of Fire" - a seismic belt. Ocean troughs were formed at the plate boundaries. These are the deepest parts of the ocean. A characteristic feature of the Pacific Ocean is underwater earthquakes and eruptions and their consequences - tsunamis.
Climatic features
Different parts of the Pacific Ocean are affected by different climatic conditions. This is due to the fact that it is located in all belts at once. The exception is the polar climatic zone. The Pacific Ocean is protected from the impact of the Arctic Ocean by a significant part of the land. Therefore, a warm climate is noted in its northern regions. The trade winds dominate in the center of the ocean. Typhoons or tropical hurricanes are often formed there. Ice on the ocean surface is formed only in the Bering and Okhotsk Seas.
Fauna and flora
The diverse and rich flora and fauna is an attractive feature of the Pacific Ocean. The most extensive species composition of organisms is recorded in the Sea of Japan. Coral reefs in equatorial and tropical latitudes are also interesting. Particularly noteworthy is the Great Barrier Reef, located off the coast of Australia. Various tropical fish, squid, sea urchins, octopuses, etc. are found there.
The countries of the Pacific coast are Canada, USA, Guatemala, Japan, Ecuador, Chile, Peru, etc. Today, the islands and the coastal zone are unevenly populated. The largest industrial centers are located in the USA, South Korea and Japan. The ocean plays a critical role in the economies of New Zealand and Australia. Traditionally, the South Pacific is used as a "graveyard" for space objects that have gone out of service. Tropical and temperate latitudes are of commercial importance. More than 60% of the world's fish catch comes from the Pacific Ocean. Transport links (sea and air routes) between the states of the Pacific basin go through it, as well as transit routes between the countries of the Indian and Atlantic oceans.
