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Our ocean provides countless benefits to our planet and all the creatures that live here.
NOAA's New Blue EconomySTRATEGY
The Ocean Service and airports/airspaceOCEAN FACT
Maritime commerce in a changing climatePROGRAMS/PROJECTS
What is PORTS?OCEAN FACT
Precision marine navigationPODCAST
Why should we care about the ocean?OCEAN FACT
Every kid outdoorsRECREATION
Expanding coastal access for people with disabilitiesRECREATION
Heritage of the blueRECREATION
How many species live in the ocean?OCEAN FACT
What is hydrography?OCEAN FACT
What is a marine national monument?OCEAN FACT
Dive in: underwater adventureRECREATION
Marine protected areasPODCAST
What is smart growth?OCEAN FACT
What is Digital Coast?OCEAN FACT
What is resilience?VIDEO
What do you know about our ocean? Soak up some surprising ocean facts in less than two minutes with our video. Then explore over 340 more facts about our ocean and coasts!
What do you know about our ocean? The ocean is where life began over 3.5 billion years ago. The ocean covers over 70% of the Earth's surface and includes over 96% of the Earth's water. Australia's Great Barrier Reef is the largest living structure on Earth and can be seen from the moon! The deepest part of the ocean is in the Mariana Trench, and nearly 7 miles beneath the waves! Coral reefs cover only 1/50th of the ocean floor but about one quarter of all the marine species make coral reefs their home. No light penetrates the ocean at depths greater than 3,280 feet. Aided by deep diving rovers and remote sensing cameras, scientists are still discovering new species beneath the waves. The Gulf Stream transports more water than all of the Earth's rivers combined. The mid-ocean ridge crisscrosses the globe for over 40,000 miles and is the largest geological feature on Earth. Did you know that about 95% of the ocean remains unexplored? There is only one world ocean. Happy World Ocean Day from NOAA's National Ocean Service.
