• View
• Edit
• History
• Print

Atlantic Ocean

Being the second-largest ocean, the Atlantic Ocean covers about one-fifth of the Earth's surface. It is also the saltiest of the world's major oceans. It is bounded by the Americas on the west and Europe and Africa on the east. It is also linked to the Pacific Ocean by the Arctic Ocean on the north, and the Drake Passage on the south.

Its irregular coasts indented by numerous bays, gulfs, and seas include the Caribbean Sea, Gulf of Mexico, Gulf of St. Lawrence, Mediterranean Sea, Black Sea, North Sea, Labrador Sea, Baltic Sea, Gulf of Maine, Bay of Fundy, and the Norwegian-Greenland Sea.

The Atlantic Ocean has also contributed largely to the development and the economy of the countries surrounding it. For instance, it has numerous petroleum deposits in the sedimentary rocks of the continental shelves and the world's richest fishing resources. Fish caught in the ocean include cod, haddock, hake, herring, and mackerel.