We explain what the Atlantic Ocean is, where it is located and what its extension is. Also, its characteristics, its marine currents and more.
What is the Atlantic Ocean?
The Atlantic Ocean is the body of salt water that separates America from Europe and Africa.. It was formed 200 million years ago, after the separation of the supercontinent Pangea.
The Atlantic is the second largest ocean in the world. It covers approximately 106.4 million square kilometerswhich is equivalent to 20% of the total surface of the Earth. It extends between the continental masses of America to the west and Africa and Europe to the east.
For centuries, the idea that this ocean marked the end of the world reigned in Europe, Asia and Africa. But in 1492, the Genoese navigator Christopher Columbus crossed its waters in search of a trade route that would allow him to reach Asia and found the American continent.
Later, during the time of colonization, this ocean It was an important trade route between America, Europe and Africa. Across the Atlantic, the wealth that Europeans extracted from America and the slaves that were transferred from Africa to work in the mines and plantations were transported. Likewise, during the 19th and 20th centuries, it was the route taken by millions of European immigrants who left their countries to live in America.
Currently, The Atlantic is one of the most commercially active oceans in the world. It has vital economic importance for exchange between Europe and America, and oil, fish farming, tourism and commercial exploitation is among the largest on the planet.
The name Atlantic comes from the Greek deity Atlas, the titan who holds the heavens on his back as a punishment imposed by Zeus. The ancient Greeks thought that the world ended at the Pillars of Hercules, which mark the end of the Mediterranean Sea, and they believed that the Atlantic Ocean was a gigantic river that went around the world.
Features of the Atlantic Ocean
The main characteristics of the Atlantic Ocean are:
- It is the second largest ocean in the world.
- It has an area of 106.4 million square kilometers.
- It extends between America, Africa and Europe.
- It was formed 200 million years ago, with the separation of the supercontinent Pangea.
- It has a large mountain range of volcanoes in its depths, known as the Mid-Atlantic Ridge.
- Its climate varies as its waters move away from the warmer equatorial areas.
- It houses a great diversity of aquatic species.
Formation of the Atlantic Ocean
200 million years ago, there was a single supercontinent called Pangea, made up of the union of all the continents that exist today. At that time, the only ocean in existence was Panthalassa, which surrounded Pangea. When the continents began to separate, other oceans formed. With the separation of Africa, Europe and America, the Atlantic Ocean was formed.
As geological time passed, the continents became increasingly separated, and the Atlantic Ocean became more extensive. The speed of separation between America from Europe and Africa is approximately 3 centimeters per year.
Relief of the Atlantic Ocean
The Mid-Atlantic Ridge is a mountain range of volcanoes that is submerged in the center of the Atlantic Ocean.. It extends from north to south for more than 16,000 kilometers, from Iceland to Antarctica. It was formed as a result of the separation of the North American and Eurasian and African tectonic plates.
This ridge is a site of intense underwater volcanic activity, and although these eruptions almost never represent a risk to the population, they are significant due to their geological importance. The lava that comes out of volcanoes during eruptions quickly cools and solidifies when it comes into contact with water, and in this way the crust of the ocean floor is formed.
In some sectors, These volcanoes are so high that they exceed sea level and form islands in the middle of the ocean. Some of the main islands are Iceland and the Azores Islands in the northern Atlantic, and the Ascension Islands and Saint Helena in the south.
Atlantic Ocean Climate
Due to its large area, the Atlantic Ocean encompasses a wide variety of climates. In equatorial and tropical areas, the climate is hot and rainyand the ocean waters are warmer. As the distance from the equator increases, the climate becomes colder and the water temperature drops.
Extreme weather events also occur in the Atlantic Ocean. In the waters near the Gulf of Mexico, large tropical storms called hurricanes form.which especially affect Central America, Mexico and the southern United States.
Flora and fauna of the Atlantic Ocean
The marine flora in the Atlantic Ocean, as in all oceans, is characterized by the presence of phytoplankton, microorganisms capable of photosynthesis that occupy the base of the marine food chain.
As for the fauna, There are fish of different sizes and large predatorslike sharks and orcas. Furthermore, in the depths animal life forms develop that have evolved to resist water pressure, darkness and low temperatures. Some species even have bioluminescent organs that allow them to communicate, defend themselves against predators, and search for food in low light conditions.
On the other hand, the waters near the poles are home to marine life adapted to low temperatures and the presence of ice, such as seals, walruses, penguins and whales.
Marine currents of the Atlantic Ocean
Temperature differences in the water favor the formation of marine currents, which are flows of moving water within the oceans. The main marine currents that circulate through the Atlantic Ocean are:
cold currents:
- North Atlantic Current. It flows from the Newfoundland region of Canada towards western Europe.
- Canary Current. It flows south from the Canary Islands to northwest Africa.
- Labrador Current. It flows from the Arctic southward along the coast of Canada.
- Benguela Current. It flows north from Antarctica, along the western coast of Africa.
warm currents:
- Gulf Stream. It flows from the Gulf of Mexico toward the northeast and affects the east coast of the United States and northern Europe.
- Brazilian Current. It flows south from northeastern Brazil along the coast of South America.
Countries surrounding the Atlantic Ocean
The countries surrounding the Atlantic Ocean belong to America, Africa and Europe.
| America | Argentina, Bahamas, Brazil, Canada, Cuba, Puerto Rico, Dominican Republic, United States, Guyana, French Guiana, Haiti, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago, Uruguay, Venezuela and other countries in the Caribbean Sea and the Gulf of Mexico: Antigua and Barbuda , Barbados, Belize, Colombia, Costa Rica, Dominica, Grenada, Guatemala, Honduras, Jamaica, Mexico, Nicaragua. |
| Africa | South Africa, Angola, Benin, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Ivory Coast, Ghana, Gambia, Guinea, Gabon, Guinea-Bissau, Equatorial Guinea, Liberia, Morocco, Mauritania, Namibia, Nigeria, Republic of the Congo, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Santo Tome and Principe, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Togo and other Mediterranean African countries: Algeria, Egypt, Libya and Tunisia. |
| Europe | Spain, France, United Kingdom, Portugal, Ireland, Iceland, Norway, and other Baltic Sea countries: Germany, Belgium, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Sweden, Latvia, Lithuania, Netherlands, Poland, Russia; In addition, other countries in the Mediterranean Sea: Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Cyprus, Northern Cyprus, Croatia, Slovenia, Greece, Italy, Malta, Monaco, Montenegro. |
Atlantic Ocean Islands
The Atlantic Ocean has a significant number of islands:
- The Svalbard archipelago, in the Norwegian Sea.
- Islands of the Scandinavian Peninsula, off the Norwegian and Swedish coasts.
- Islands of the Baltic Sea, starting in the Danish Straits.
- Islands on the European continental coast, from Jutland to the English Channel.
- British Isles, including the United Kingdom and Ireland.
- Islands on the Atlantic coast of France, Spain and Portugal to the Strait of Gibraltar.
- Mediterranean islands, such as Sicily, Sardinia, Cyprus, Corsica, Mallorca, Crete, Rhodes, Lesbos, among others.
- Islands off the African coast, such as the Canary Islands or the Azores.
- South American islands, such as Trinidad and Tobago.
- Islands of the Caribbean Sea, such as Margarita Island, Hispaniola, Cuba, Puerto Rico, among others.
- Islands in the Gulf of Mexico, such as Isla Pérez or the Florida Keys.
He Bermuda triangle It is a region of the Atlantic Ocean located between the Bermuda Islands, Puerto Rico and Miami, in the United States. He gained international notoriety due to a series of incidents and disappearances of ships and planes that happened there over time. Various theories have been proposed for these phenomena, ranging from climatic explanations and magnetic problems to supernatural theories and paranormal phenomena.
Pollution in the Atlantic Ocean
Pollution in the Atlantic Ocean is a topic of concern and study in the scientific and environmental community in recent decades. Degradation of the marine environment includes chemical pollution, plastic pollution and pollution from oil exploitation..
Chemical pollution
chemical pollution It is caused by the discharge of toxic chemicals, such as heavy metals and industrial products.. These pollutants can enter the ocean through activities such as agriculture, mining, and industry. Exposure to these chemicals can have serious impacts on marine life and human health.
Plastic pollution
The accumulation of plastics in the Atlantic Ocean is a growing problem. Plastic waste, from microplastics to larger objects, They decompose very slowly in the marine environment. There are two “islands” of plastic, a larger one in the northern Atlantic and a smaller one in the south. These are enormous accumulations of garbage that float in the water and can be millions of square kilometers in area.
Pollution from oil exploitation
Oil exploitation activities on the continental shelves of the Atlantic Ocean are also a major source of pollution. They occur in the shallowest areas of the ocean and closest to the coasts.. Oil spills and the release of chemicals related to oil extraction and transportation can have detrimental effects on marine ecosystems and wildlife. These incidents cause long-term damage to marine habitat, biodiversity and human health.
Atlantis
Atlantis is a legendary island of mythical origin mentioned by the Greek philosopher Plato in his dialogues. Timaeus and Critias. According to Plato, Atlantis was an advanced and powerful civilization that existed thousands of years ago and sank into the Atlantic Ocean after a cataclysm..
Throughout history, there have been many theories and speculations about the true existence and location of Atlantis. However, there is no firm archaeological evidence to support its existence, so it is considered a mythical legend, and not a real historical civilization.
References
- Gibbens, S. (sf). Explaining the Atlantic Ocean. National Geographic. https://www.nationalgeographic.es/
- Iberdrola. (sf). Discover the islands of plastic that pollute our oceans. https://www.iberdrola.com/
- National Geographic. (2010). Oceans. https://www.nationalgeographic.es/
- International Atomic Energy Agency. (sf). Pollution of the sea and coasts. https://www.iaea.org/es/
- Portillo, G. (2023). What are marine currents and how are they formed?. Network Meteorology. https://www.meteorologiaenred.com/
