The oceans make up a complex system that includes four oceans. This is a rich world that lives its own life, diverse and interesting. The smallest ocean is the Arctic. It is located in the central part of the Arctic. It is surrounded on almost all sides by land (North America and Eurasia).
It is not only the smallest ocean on Earth, but also the coldest. This is due to its geographical location. Most of the ocean is covered with ice, so the Arctic Ocean is the most unknown part of the oceans. Shipping is not so actively developed here.
But this ocean is of great strategic importance. Its location allows you to get the shortest route from North America to Russia. Therefore, after the World War he became the object of careful study with the aim of implementing military and scientific programs.
The smallest ocean has become the site of numerous expeditions on icebreakers, submarines. Vessels advanced far into the ice, sank to a depth below their thickness. Studies were conducted on drifting ice.
In its relief, the smallest ocean is a deep hollow, which is surrounded by seas. The ocean area is 14.75 million kilometers. Half of it is the shelf, reaching the largest width of 1300 kilometers. It is here that it has the greatest depth and is distinguished by the rugged coast. As established, these are the consequences of the formation of glaciers.
The central basin reaches a diameter of up to 2250 kilometers. An underwater mountain range of Lomonosov passes through its center. The smallest ocean reaches the greatest depth at 5527 meters. This point is located in the Greenland Sea.
The Bering Strait connects the Arctic and Pacific Oceans and divides Alaska and northeastern Asia. The division border with the Atlantic Ocean passes through the sea, called the Norwegian, which is located between Greenland and Europe.
The geographical position of the ocean determines many of its characteristics. For example, it receives less solar energy than other parts of the oceans. Therefore, the temperature of its water is quite low, and most of the ocean is covered with ice. Their structure is heterogeneous. In some areas, the ice has a continuous structure, while in others the ice blocks are not soldered together.
The ice cover also varies with the time of year. Due to the fact that shipping in this area is underdeveloped, the nature of the currents has not yet been studied. Most of the conclusions were made based on the study of the movement of ships that were frozen in ice blocks.
It was found that mainly the Norwegian Current brings water to the Arctic Ocean. Then these waters are connected with the waters of the Pacific Ocean flowing through the Bering Strait.
The flora and fauna of the ocean is not rich in species richness. This is due to its geographical location and climatic conditions. Ice does not let in enough sunlight, which prevents the plants from fully developing. Closer to Eurasia, there are whales, bears, seals and some other animals.
Speaking about which ocean is the smallest, it should be noted that the Arctic Ocean is of great importance for mankind, and many countries are engaged in its study.
