Which ocean is bounded by the most continents

Most marine species live in tropical waters where sea temperatures are stable and less affected by climate change. Seals and whales, however, thrive in cold waters and thus are mostly found in polar regions. Polar species struggle the most with climate change and rising temperatures. The biggest creature of the ocean is the blue whale. Blue whales are found in all oceans, but due to whaling, overfishing and sea water pollution they are an endangered species.

Penguins can only be found in oceans in the southern hemisphere while polar bears are endemic only in oceans the northern hemisphere. The largest coral reef in the world is located in the Pacific Ocean off the Australian coast. It is called the Great Barrier Reef. In size, the Great Barrier Reef is as big as 70 million football fields! Or in comparison, it is slightly bigger than the land area of Italy or slightly smaller than Germany. Coral reefs are referred to as the nurseries of the oceans as they are hotspots of biodiversity.

The highest biodiversity in any ocean is found in the Pacific Ocean. In the Pacific Ocean, there are the most coral species and also the highest amounts of marine life.

Twice as many coral species live in the Pacific Ocean compared to the Atlantic Ocean. If ocean water temperatures are higher for longer times, coral bleaching takes place. The temperatures in the world's oceans range widely. In general, ocean water is warmer closer to the shore and near hydrothermal vents. Due to climate change, ocean water temperatures rise is experienced and this will inevitably also lead to sea level rise.

See below how sea temperatures have affected the ocean temperatures. Ocean currents are movements of water in the oceans due to the gravity and rotation of the earth which is called 'coriolis effect '. Ocean currents are important in controlling our climate as they distribute the heat from the equator to the poles.

The y are important to sea life as they carry nutrients and food. Did you know th at ocean water moves clockwise in the northern hemisphere a nd anti-clockwise in the southern hemisphere?

Warm ocean currents flow away from the equator and cold currents flow from the poles towards the equator. Three quarters of the world's countries border an ocean and of these, 22 countries border two or more oceans. And about one in eight countries have at least some areas that are located below sea-level.

Many of these areas or depressions are located in remote or unpopulated regions. However, some countries are at high risk for flooding as bigger areas of the country are located below sea-level. In the Netherlands, about one third of the land area is below sea-level! Eight of the ten largest cities in the world are located along a coastline. Coastal areas and ocean cities will most be affected by the predicted sea level rise due to climate change.

Ocean cities are particularly exposed to natural hazards, including storms, tropical cyclones, earthquakes, tsunamis and volcanic activity. All these dangerous phenomena will become more regular with climate change. By , about million people will live in cities below sea level. People in low lying areas in coastal regions will be most affected by raising sea levels and climate change.

Th e biggest ocean island is Greenland. Au stralia is commonly referred to as a continent and not an island. The Pacific Ocean houses most of the islands in t he world. There are about 25, islands in the Pacific Ocean. The islands entirely within the Pacific Ocean can be divided into three main groups known as Micronesia, Melanesia and Polynesia. The oceans were formed more than 3. Gravity prevents the water from leaving our planet. The oceans are not only an important source of oxygen, water, fish and seafood for our basic needs, but also provide important natural resources such as oil and gas and are important for shipping and transporting of goods as well as for tourism.

Trade along the oceans also led to the emergence of several strong kingdoms within Asia's boundaries. The kingdoms could trade with other continents such as Africa and Europe and increase their wealth. The oceans also made it easier for European colonial powers to establish colonies in Asia. The British relied heavily on the oceans to maintain control of colonies such as India and China. Asia and North America have obtained significant benefits from the bordering three oceans such as vast fishing grounds.

The nations within the two continents can exploit the vast fishing grounds and get large quantities of fish. Fishing is a major industry on both continents as it employs a large number of people. The tourism industry in the two continents also benefits greatly from the fact that they border three oceans. A large number of sandy beaches along the coastlines of the oceans attract vast numbers of tourists annually.

Tourists also visit the region for scuba diving and explore unique marine life within the oceans. The oceans have also improved trade between the two continents and other continents around the world. A significant number of ships transport products from one continent to another through the oceans. Governments and organizations around the world are dedicated to protecting and conserving oceans due to their importance to human development. One of the major challenges facing the oceans is the dumping of waste mainly plastics into the water.

The plastic poses a great risk to fish and other marine life in the ocean because they could consume the plastic, and people may later eat the fish.

The land between the two rivers, known as Mesopotamia , was the center of the earliest civilizations, including Sumer and the Akkadian Empire. Today, the Tigris-Euphrates river system is under threat from increased agricultural and industrial use. These pressures have caused desertification and increased salts in the soil , severely damaging local watershed habitat s. Saltwater The Persian Gulf has an area of more than , square kilometers 90, square miles. The gulf is subject to high rates of evaporation , making it shallow and extremely salty.

The countries that border the gulf have engaged in a number of disputes over this rich resource. The Sea of Okhotsk covers 1. The sea is largely frozen between October and March. Large ice floe s make winter navigation almost impossible. The Bay of Bengal is the largest bay in the world, covering almost 2. Many large rivers, including the Ganges and Brahmaputra, empty into the bay. The briny wetlands formed by the Ganges-Brahmaputra on the Bay of Bengal is the largest delta in the world.

Because China has such diverse landscapes, from the arid Gobi Desert to the tropical rain forest s of Yunnan Province, many flower s can adapt to climate s all over the world. From roses to peonies, many familiar flowers most likely originate d in northern China.

China is the likely origin of such fruit trees as peaches and oranges. China is also home to the dawn redwood, the only redwood tree found outside North America. In the Himalayas, communities use yak s as beasts of burden. Yaks are large animals related to cattle, but with a thick fiber coat and the ability to survive in the oxygen-poor high altitude of the mountains.

Yaks are not only used for transportation and for pulling plow s, but their coats are sources of warm, hardy fiber. Yak milk is used for butter and cheese. In the Mongolian steppe, the two-humped Bactrian camel is the traditional beast of burden.

Bactrian camels are critically endangered in the wild. Its size and ability to adapt to hardship make it an ideal pack animal. Bactrians can actually outrun horses over long distances. These camels were the traditional animals used in caravan s on the Silk Road , the legendary trade route linking eastern Asia with India and the Middle East.