Overview
The Arctic Ocean is the smallest and shallowest of Earth's five oceans, covering approximately 14 million square kilometers. It lies entirely within the Arctic Circle and is bounded by the northern coasts of Eurasia and North America. Much of its surface is covered by sea ice that varies in extent with the seasons.
Geography and Physical Features
The Arctic Ocean has an average depth of about 1,038 meters, with its deepest point in the Litke Deep reaching roughly 5,450 meters. The Lomonosov Ridge, an undersea mountain range, divides the ocean basin into two main parts. Major adjoining waterways include the Bering Strait to the Pacific and the Greenland Sea to the Atlantic.
Significance
The Arctic Ocean is the focus of major scientific and environmental concern due to the rapid loss of sea ice driven by climate change. The region is also of strategic importance, as melting ice opens potential shipping lanes such as the Northwest Passage and the Northern Sea Route, and exposes previously inaccessible energy resources.
Notable Facts
The North Pole lies in the middle of the Arctic Ocean, atop floating sea ice rather than land. Polar bears, walruses, narwhals, and bowhead whales are among the marine mammals native to its waters. The minimum extent of Arctic sea ice has declined by roughly 13 percent per decade since satellite records began in 1979.