Overview
The Atlantic Ocean is the second-largest of Earth's oceans, covering approximately 106 million square kilometers, or about 20 percent of Earth's surface. It separates the Americas from Europe and Africa, extending from the Arctic Ocean in the north to the Southern Ocean in the south. The ocean is typically divided into the North Atlantic and South Atlantic.
Geography and Physical Features
The Atlantic has an average depth of about 3,646 meters, with its deepest point in the Puerto Rico Trench at roughly 8,376 meters. The Mid-Atlantic Ridge, an underwater mountain range, runs north to south along the ocean's center and marks the boundary between tectonic plates that are slowly spreading apart. Major seas include the Caribbean, Mediterranean, and Baltic.
Significance
The Atlantic has been the principal arena of global maritime exploration, colonization, and commerce since the late 15th century. The transatlantic slave trade, European colonization of the Americas, and the rise of modern global trade all unfolded across its waters. Today it remains the most heavily traveled ocean.
Notable Facts
The Gulf Stream, a powerful warm current originating in the Gulf of Mexico, profoundly moderates the climate of Western Europe. The Bermuda Triangle, a region in the western Atlantic, has gained fame for its association with unexplained disappearances. Iceland is the largest landmass that sits directly atop the Mid-Atlantic Ridge.