11 Ocean Facts That You Might Not Have Ever Read Before

You might know about earth facts, the universe, and animals. But do you know the ocean itself is a vast subject and share several facts that are not known to many? For instance, water at the bottom of the ocean is extremely hot. Five oceans cover the earth’s surface. The Pacific Ocean is the biggest in the world and covers over 30% of the earth’s surface. 

The ring of fire, located in the pacific ocean, has a string of active volcanoes. Therefore, the world’s major earthquakes and volcanic eruptions are experienced in this region. Do you know 8th June is celebrated as Ocean’s day? The day promotes conservation efforts and preserves five crucial areas, including Arctic, Atlantic, Pacific, Southern, and their inhabitants. 

Let us know some ocean facts that would let you understand this water body deeply. 

1. The Sun Makes the Ocean Blue

Source = Rd

Have you ever wondered what makes the ocean look blue? The color is the result of the sun’s different wavelengths (red and orange) that are absorbed by the surface, and its blue wavelength penetrating deeper while giving away blue color. The wavelengths that travel farther down the ocean look blue the lower you go. 

2. The Deepest Part of the Ocean is very Deep

Source = Seterra

The Mariana Trench is considered to be the deepest part of the world’s ocean and also the deepest point on earth. It is located in the Western Pacific Ocean, about 124mi east of the Mariana Islands. It is crescent-shaped and measures about over 70km in width and 2550km in length. 

The Mariana Trench is also a part of the Izu- Bonin-Marian subduction system that forms the boundary between the tectonic plates. The movement of Pacific and Mariana plates is responsible for the formation of the Mariana Islands. With other microorganisms, gigantic single-celled amoebas with a size of 10 cm were also observed. 

Inside the Trench, there is a valley known as Challenger Deep that extends 7 miles below the surface. It was in 2019 when Victor Vescovo made a record by becoming the first person to reach the deepest point. 

3. You Can Find 20 million Tons of Gold in the Ocean

Source = Thoughtco

Yes, you read it right! There are around 20 million tons of gold dispersed in the ocean. The ocean floor has undissolved gold embedded in it. It is believed that if the ocean’s gold is distributed with humans, each of us would have nine pounds of gold. 

So, if you wish to find a fortune, then we have shown you the way. Did you know about this one of the hidden ocean facts before? 

4. The Majority of Volcanic Eruptions Occur Beneath the Ocean’s Surface

Source = Oceanexplorer.noaa.gov

You won’t believe it, but the majority of volcanic eruptions went unnoticed by people on earth. Do you know why? Because they are erupting underwater. Over 1 million volcanoes release molten hot lava beneath the ocean’s surface. 

Researchers believe that the area has several species that are invulnerable to the harsh environment, which includes a temperature of up to 750 degrees. 

5. The Ocean is Home to 95% of Aquatic Life

Source = Tmgrup

You can find several animals on the land. But, it is estimated that nearly 90% of life on earth is found under the ocean. The highest tides in the world can be noticed at the Bay of Fundy, which separates New Brunswick from Nova Scotia. 

Sea animals like zooplankton are so tiny that they can only be seen with a microscope. Over 200,000 marine species are documented, ranging from phytoplankton (0.02 meters) to huge cetaceans. 

Source = Trafalgar

Marine invertebrates exhibit a range of modifications to survive in waters, including breathing tubes. The skin of fish is protected by scales, and they use fins to stabilize themselves in the water. Out of the 95% of species present in the ocean, scientists estimate that they do not know anything about 86% of species. 

6. The Ocean has 8 Million Tons of Garbage

Source = Bestlifeonline

You might find this shocking, but nearly 8 million tons of garbage, including plastics, end up in the ocean every year. Floating plastic debris is the most abundant item of litter found in the ocean. You can detect plastic on the shorelines of the continents and in densely populated areas. 

Plastic pollution is the major problem affecting the marine environment and also threatens food safety and quality. Furthermore, it also contributes to climate changes and coastal tourism. Therefore, we must find a way to control pollution to save everyone’s life. 

7. White Shark Cafe

Source = Schmidtocean

The majority of white sharks hunt in the parts off the coasts of California and Hawaii. But every year, at a spot between North America and Hawaii, the sharks converge. The scientists identified the zone with a radius of 250kms. 

The White Shark Cafe is a remote mid-Pacific Ocean area that is considered as a winter and spring habitat of coastal great white sharks. Earlier, it was believed that the area had little food for the animals, but later, it was found that there is a food chain to be detected by satellites that provide food for sharks. 

8. The Ocean Produces Oxygen and Helps us Breathe

Source = Trafalgar

Do you know the ocean is responsible for producing over 70% of the oxygen that we breathe? The ocean transports the heat from the equator and regulates the climate and weather patterns. 

Marine photosynthesizers like phytoplankton use carbon dioxide, water, and energy from the sun and release oxygen while they make food for themselves. Also, the iceberg could supply drinking water to millions of people for five years. 

9. Blue Ringed Octopus is the Deadliest Creature in the Ocean

Source = Divescotty

One of the lesser-known Ocean facts is about Blue-Ringed Octopus. This deadly creature is considered to be the highly venomous species of octopus that can be found in tide pools and coral reefs in the Indian and Pacific oceans. 

You can identify Blue-ringed octopuses with their yellowish skin and blue and black rings that change color when the animal is threatened. They eat shrimp, hermit crabs, and other small animals. Sometimes, they also eat small injured fish and use their horny beak to pierce the crab releasing their venom. 

These creatures spend their time hiding in crevices while displaying their camouflage patterns with their chromatophore cells. They can also change their shape, which helps them to squeeze into crevices. If they are provoked, they change their color and turn themselves yellow, with each 50-60 rings flashing bright blue within a third of a second. 

10. It is Home to Fangtooth Fish

Source = Science-rumors

The fangtooth fish is a nightmare with long razor teeth and a maximum length of 16cms. Its head is small and appears with mucous cavities by edges and covered by a thin skin. Its eyes are small, and the entire head is black and more slender towards the tail. The pelagic fangtooths are the deepest living fish and are commonly found between 600-6560 ft deep in the ocean. 

They have the largest teeth compared to the body size of any fish and can kill fish larger than themselves. It can be seen in a range of colors from black to dark brown and light gray. 

The fangtooth can be noticed around the world in temperate marine waters. They live in tropical waters from the western Pacific and the Gulf of Mexico. It is carnivores and can hunt alone or in a group. Their large heads allow them to swallow prey whole and eat fish 1/3rd of their size. 

11. The Southern Ocean is Home to Emperor Penguins and Wandering Albatross

Source = Natgeokids

It is located around the South Pole across the Antarctic Circle in the Southern Hemisphere off Antarctica. 

The Southern Ocean is home to Penguins and Wandering Albatross and is also a favorite destination for tourists. The Wandering Albatross is one of the largest and most studied birds in the world. 

They are majorly known to circumnavigate the Southern Ocean three times, covering over 75,000 mi in a year. Emperor Penguins, on the other hand, are the tallest and the heaviest of living Penguin species with a streamlined body and wings flattened into flippers. Emperor Penguins spend their lives in Antarctica, where the temperature can drop to as low as -60 degrees. 

Final Words 

The Ocean is home to varieties of animals from the animal kingdom. It has cute creatures like starfish and also the deadliest ones like the blue whale. These were some of the amazing facts about Ocean that you might not have read in science books. 

Do you know other ocean facts and strange things about it? If so, then drop your comments below.