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What are oceans?

Oceans are large bodies of salt water. They are home to amazing sea animals and plants and are a source of food, and water.

Did you know?

• Two thirds of the world is covered by the oceans.
• There are five oceans in the world. All five oceans are connected with each other, and water flows between them.
• The oceans are the Pacific Ocean, the Atlantic Ocean, the Indian Ocean, the Southern Ocean and the Arctic Ocean.
• The Pacific Ocean is the world’s largest ocean. The deepest known area of the ocean is the Mariana Trench in the Pacific Ocean. It is around 11,000 metres deep.
• The Arctic Ocean is the world’s smallest and shallowest ocean.
• More of the Earth is covered by water than by land.

Here are some more facts about oceans in these ����ý Bitesize and ����ý Teach guides.

Learn how big the oceans are and where they are located with these maps and videos.

Find out about the oceans and the living things that make them their home.

Coastal habitats are the places where the land meets the ocean. They can have rocky cliff edges, sandy beaches and rock pools. Most marine life lives in coastal habitats.

Ocean habitats are large and wet. Some ocean habitats are shallow, sunny and warm and others are deep, dark and cold. They are hotter near the equator and colder near the North and South Pole. This means that the conditions are different in the different areas of the oceans so different animals are suited to living there.

Discover more about coastal and ocean habitats and the plants and animals you might find there.

Learn more about the problem of ocean pollution and what we can do to help.

Write your own ocean story

Can you think of words to describe the ocean? Use adjectives to tell your reader what it is like to be by the sea.

Think about your senses.

• What can you hear and what can you see?
• What does the ocean feel like?
• What does it smell like?