Five oceans
Also called: World oceans · Topic: Oceans: Hydrological Cycle, Relief of the Ocean Floor, Temperature and Salinity · NCERT: Class 11, Ch 12 "Water (Oceans)"
Meaning
The world ocean is divided into five oceans. From largest to smallest, they are the Pacific, Atlantic, Indian, Southern and Arctic. The Pacific is the largest and deepest. It covers about one-third of Earth's surface, which is more than all the land put together. The Arctic is the smallest. The oceans flow into one another, so their boundaries are only agreed lines. Seas, bays and gulfs are parts of these oceans.
Example
The Indian Ocean is the third largest ocean and the only one named after a country. Asia closes it off to the north, Africa lies to its west and Australia to its east, with the Southern Ocean to the south. Its arms beside India are the Arabian Sea in the west and the Bay of Bengal in the east.
Don't confuse with
- Seas, bays and gulfs: these are smaller parts of an ocean, not separate oceans. The Arabian Sea, for example, is part of the Indian Ocean.