The deepest seas. The largest seas in the world - Sargasso, Philippine and others Top 10 deepest seas
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The sea is a body of salt water that is connected to one of the five oceans. But some seas are located inside the continent, others are considered part of others, and others are considered a component of the ocean. There are about 90 marine bodies of water on our planet, which differ in size, shape, depth, and the presence or absence of shores.
The top 10 includes the largest seas in the world by area.
10. Sea of Okhotsk
Okhotsk opens the top ten largest seas in the world with an area of 1.6 million square meters. km. and a maximum depth of 4 thousand meters in the Kuril Basin. It washes the shores of Japan and Russia. Previously, the sea was called Kamchatka. They began to call it Okhotsk in honor of the Okhota River, which flows into this sea. Its waters abound with species of valuable fish, such as salmon, chinook salmon, sockeye salmon, chum salmon and others. The Kuril Islands are located in the Sea of Okhotsk.
9. Bering Sea
The Bering Sea is the largest in Russia, its total area is 2.3 million square meters. km. Its waters belong to the Pacific Ocean, it washes the shores of the United States and Russia, being the water border between the states. The deepest point of the seabed reaches 4 thousand meters. The sea received its current name in honor of the explorer and navigator Bering, who devoted most of his life to the study of sea waters. In the 13th century, Beringovo was called Bobrovoe or Kamchatka. The sea is covered with ice almost all year round, but despite this, about 240 species of fish are found here, including valuable species that are of interest for fishing.
8. Mediterranean Sea
The Mediterranean is one of the largest seas on the planet. Its area is about 2.5 million square meters. km., and the maximum depth can reach 5 thousand meters in places. The sea washes three parts of the world at once - Africa, Asia and Europe. It is connected to the Atlantic Ocean by the Strait of Gibraltar. Parts of the Mediterranean Sea are the Aegean, Adriatic, Ionian and Tyrrhenian. All together they form one big sea. There is a very rich fauna here, numbering about 550 species of fish alone, 70 of which are found only in these waters. The Mediterranean Sea also abounds in sharks and has about 15 species that are dangerous to humans.
7. Caribbean Sea
The Caribbean ranks seventh in the ranking of the largest seas in the world by area. Its size is about 2.7 million square meters. km., and the greatest depth is about 8 thousand meters. It belongs to the Atlantic Ocean basin. The sea received its name thanks to the Indian tribe of the Caribs who lived on its coast. The second name of the sea body of water is Antilles. There is a version of scientists that the Caribbean is the source of the largest number of hurricanes in the Western Hemisphere. Natural disasters regularly destroy the buildings of the inhabitants of the islands and the coastline of the basin.
6. Weddell Sea
Weddell ranks sixth on the list of the largest seas in the world. Its area is 2.9 million square meters. km., and the greatest depth reaches almost 7 thousand meters. It is a marginal sea in the Atlantic sector of the Southern Ocean, between the western part of the Antarctic Peninsula and Coats Land (east). The Weddell Sea is considered the coldest and cleanest sea in the world. The water here is surprisingly clear. A special feature of Weddella is the fact that the water temperature in it can reach minus 25 degrees, but does not freeze! The local fauna is represented by marine animals such as penguins, seals, whales, etc.
5. Tasman Sea
The Tasman Sea has an area of 3.3 million square meters. km and the greatest depth is more than 5 thousand meters. This is one of the largest seas on the planet in terms of area. It is located between New Zealand and Australia. It got its name in honor of the Dutch navigator Abel Tasman. The depth of the sea is about 6 thousand meters, which makes it one of the deepest. The flora and fauna of this sea differs significantly in different areas.
4. Coral Sea
The Coral Sea is in fourth place with an area of 4.7 million square meters. km. It belongs to the waters of the Pacific Ocean and is located between the shores of New Guinea, Australia and New Caledonia. The depth of the sea can reach more than 9 thousand meters in some places. The sea has numerous coral reefs and islands. It is here that the largest reef on the planet is located, called the Great Barrier Reef with a length of 2.5 thousand km. and an area of 344 thousand square meters. km., which is larger than the area of Great Britain. The richest underwater flora and fauna is concentrated here.
3. Arabian Sea
The Arabian opens the three largest seas on the planet. Its area is approximately 4.8 million square meters. km., and the maximum depth is 4 thousand meters. Initially, the sea was called Eritrean. It is part of the Indian Ocean and washes the shores of the island. Somalia, Maldives, Djibouti, Iran, India and Pakistan. This is where the best beaches in India are located for relaxation. The world's most important trade routes pass through the sea. In addition, the Arabian is one of the saltiest and cleanest seas in the world. The underwater world is rich in vegetation and marine life. Here you can find rare species of animals, such as the green sea turtle or hawksbill turtle. The Arabian Sea is considered one of the most popular among ecotourism lovers.
2. Philippine Sea
The Philippine Sea is the largest coastal sea, with an area of approximately 5.7 million square meters. km., and the maximum depth in some places can reach 11 thousand meters. Here is the deepest trench on the planet, which is called Mariana. The sea is located not far from the Philippine archipelago, hence its name. It does not have clear coastal boundaries: it is separated from the ocean by groups of islands: the Philippine Islands, o. Honshu, Kyushu, Ryukyu and about. Taiwan. Philippine waters are inhabited by many species of fish from small to giant. Industrial fishing for tuna takes place here, which is considered one of the most valuable marine products.
1. Sargasso Sea
The Sargasso Sea tops the list of the largest seas in the world. Its area reaches 6-7 million square meters. km. and may change depending on sea currents. The uniqueness of this sea is that it has no shores. Its water boundaries are considered to be three ocean currents. The shape of the sea is a large-scale ellipse of light green color. It received this shade from abundant underwater vegetation in the form of algae. Just imagine: for about one square meter there are about two tons of underwater plants! This is where the second name came from, which Sargasso received from Columbus - “a jar of algae.” The depth of the sea in some places can reach about 7 thousand meters. The average temperature here ranges from 20 to 28 degrees above zero.
Most likely, you will think that in this ranking it is the oceans that are the deepest bodies of water. But get ready to be surprised - there are seas to which the oceans are significantly inferior in area and the number of kilometers from the surface of the water to their darkest depths. By the way, Wikipedia helped the authors a lot in writing this material, but in order not to open ten tabs in the browser at once, here are all the record holders in one link!
10. Arctic Ocean (average depth – 1225 m, greatest depth – 5527 m)
This ocean is the smallest ocean in terms of depth and area in the world among the five most important water bodies on Earth. The International Hydrographic Organization (IHO) has recognized the Arctic Ocean as an ocean, despite the fact that some oceanographers persistently call it the Arctic Mediterranean Sea or simply the Arctic Sea, classifying it as an intercontinental body of water or even the mouth of the Atlantic Ocean.
9. Sea of Japan (average depth - 1753 m, greatest depth - 3742 m)
The Sea of Japan is a marginal sea between the Japanese archipelago, Asia and Sakhalin. It is the islands that separate the sea from the Pacific Ocean. Politically, it refers to Japan, North Korea, Russia and South Korea. The northern and southern waters of this ocean are very different in the diversity of flora and fauna. There are many starfish, shrimp, sea urchins and blennies here.
8. Mediterranean Sea (average depth - 1500 m, greatest depth - 5267 m)
This sea has access to the Atlantic Ocean, is surrounded by the Mediterranean basin and is almost completely isolated by land: from the north by Southern Europe and Asia Minor, from the south by North Africa and from the east by the Levantine region (Syria, Palestine, Lebanon). Sometimes the Mediterranean Sea is considered an integral part of the Atlantic Ocean, although the classification of this sea as a separate body of water is more common.
7. Gulf of Mexico (average depth – 1485 m, greatest depth – 4384 m)
The Gulf of Mexico is an ocean basin surrounded by the North American mainland. In the northeast, north and northwest it washes the shores of the United States, in the southwest - Mexico, and in the southeast - Cuba. There is still debate in the scientific community about the origin of this reservoir of unusually round shape. There is a hypothesis that it was formed as a result of a collision of the Earth with a meteorite about 300 million years ago. But most geologists believe that this water area occurred as a result of the tectonic movement of lithospheric plates.
6. Bering Sea (average depth – 1600 m, greatest depth – 4151 m)
It has an area of 2,315,000 sq km and is considered a marginal sea. Located in the North Pacific Ocean, the Bering Sea lies between Asia and North America. In the northeast, the Bering Sea borders the Alaska Peninsula, in the northwest it washes the shores of Chukotka, Northern Kamchatka and the Koryak Highlands. In the 18th century, this sea was called Kamchatka and Beaver, but then it received the name of the famous Vitus Bering, a navigator and scientist who explored this natural basin from 1725 to 1743. Among the animals, pinnipeds (seals, seals and walruses) love these frosty waters the most.
5. South China Sea (average depth – 1024 m, greatest depth – 5560 m)
This semi-enclosed sea, belonging to the waters of the Pacific basin, covers an area of 3,500,000 sq km. It is located from the Indochina Peninsula to the islands of Kalimantan, Palawan, Luzon and Taiwan. The South China Sea is home to a third of the world's shipping lanes and is believed to be home to major oil and gas deposits.
4. Caribbean Sea (average depth – 2500 m, greatest depth – 7686 m)
The Caribbean Sea belongs to the Atlantic Ocean in the tropical climate zone of the Western Hemisphere. In the south and west it is surrounded by Central and South America, in the north and east by the Greater and Lesser Antilles, in the southwest by the Panama Canal and the Pacific Ocean, in the northwest by the Yucatan Strait and the Gulf of Mexico. Today, this sea is most often associated with the azure horizons of elite resorts, but there were times when these waters were considered a haven for cruel pirates who terrified peaceful sailors.
3. Atlantic Ocean (average depth – 3646 m, greatest depth – 8486 m)
It is the world's second deepest ocean, covering an area of approximately 106,460,000 square meters. It covers approximately 20% of the earth's surface and 29% of the water surface of the world's oceans. The Atlantic divides the Old World from the New, Europe and Africa from South and North America. To the north it borders Greenland and Iceland.
2. Indian Ocean (average depth – 3711 m, greatest depth – 7729 m)
This is the world's third largest ocean area. The Indian Ocean covers about 70,560,000 sq km, bordered by Asia to the north, Africa to the west, Australia to the east and Antarctica to the south.
The formation of this ocean began in the Early Jurassic period with the separation of the ancient supercontinent Gondwana, and its transformation continues to this day due to the relentless movements of tectonic plates. One of the most significant activities in this region is considered to be the 2004 earthquake, when a powerful tremor measuring 9.3 on the Richter scale caused the deadliest tsunami in modern human history.
1. Pacific Ocean (average depth – 3984 m, greatest depth – 10994 m)
Before you is the largest and deepest ocean on Earth. It stretches from the Arctic Ocean in the north to Antarctica in the south, and washes the shores of Asia and Australia in the west, and in its eastern part it borders on South and North America.
The Pacific Ocean received its deceptive name during a three-month expedition by a team of discoverers led by the Portuguese navigator Magellan. Then they were incredibly lucky with the weather and did not encounter a single storm during their journey through these waters.
Seas are amazing objects on our planet. Their expanses are little studied, but even the available data is enough to admire the depths, latitudes and underwater world.
It is difficult to say unequivocally how many amazing treasures have been lost at the bottom of the seas, how many amazing discoveries have not yet been made by scientists, how many secrets the sources of the diverse underwater and plant world keep. However, we can build on the available data to make a ranking of the deepest seas, and therefore the most interesting and mysterious places on Earth.
The largest closed body of water on Earth, which can be classified as the largest endorheic lake, or as a full-fledged sea, due to its size, as well as due to the fact that its bed is composed of oceanic-type crust.
Located at the junction of Europe and Asia. The water in the Caspian Sea is brackish, from 0.05 ‰ near the mouth of the Volga to 11-13 ‰ in the southeast. The water level is subject to fluctuations, according to 2009 data it was 27.16 m below sea level. The area of the Caspian Sea is currently approximately 371,000 km², the maximum depth is 1025 m.
Black Sea – 2,210 meters
Inland sea of the Atlantic Ocean basin. The Bosphorus Strait connects with the Sea of Marmara, then, through the Dardanelles, with the Aegean and Mediterranean Seas. The Kerch Strait connects with the Sea of Azov. From the north, the Crimean Peninsula cuts deep into the sea. The water border between Europe and Asia runs along the surface of the Black Sea.
Bering Sea – 4,151 m
The sea in the north Pacific Ocean, separated from it by the Aleutian and Commander Islands; The Bering Strait connects it to the Chukchi Sea and the Arctic Ocean. The Bering Sea washes the shores of Russia and the United States.
Mediterranean Sea - 5,121 m
The intercontinental sea, in origin, is a deep-sea pseudo-abyssal intra-shelf depression connected in the west with the Atlantic Ocean by the Strait of Gibraltar.
The sea in the western Pacific Ocean, between the islands of the Malay Archipelago. Area - 714 thousand km², length from north to south 500 km, from east to west - 1000 km; depth - up to 7440 m; Coral reefs; port of Ambon. Bounded by the islands of Buru and Seram in the north, Timor in the southwest, Tanimbar and Aru in the east, and includes the Banda archipelago.
A unique spring of rich underwater world is located off the coast of Indonesia. Another sea that is part of the Pacific Ocean. We are talking about a volcanic zone, as well as an island of volcanic origin. Speaking about the underwater world, the following inhabitants should be highlighted:
- rare dolphins;
- jellyfish;
- various nautiluses;
- sea octopuses;
- squid;
- large stingrays and amazing sea snakes.
Naturally, the most unique species live at the very bottom.
Caribbean Sea – 7,686 m
The marginal semi-enclosed sea of the Atlantic Ocean basin is limited to the west and south by Central and South America, and to the north and east by the Greater and Lesser Antilles. In the northwest it is connected to the Gulf of Mexico through the Yucatan Strait, and in the southwest it is connected to the Pacific Ocean through the artificial Panama Canal.
The maximum depth recorded to date is 7,686 meters. At the same time, there are many frigates and galleons in the Caribbean Sea. Consequently, there are a huge number of such invariances, as well as rises. This place is a favorite among pirates and adventure lovers. A huge number of people every year try to discover the treasures that this amazing body of water undoubtedly stores in its depths.
Coral Sea – 9,140 m
The Pacific Ocean, which lies between the coasts of Australia, New Guinea, and New Caledonia. Surface area – 4,791 thousand km². Maximum depth 9,140 meters. It has numerous coral reefs and islands, such as Willis, Tregross, Bampton, and Chesterfield islands.
Philippine Sea – 10,265 m
Oceanic interisland sea of the Pacific Ocean, located near the Philippine archipelago. The second largest sea on Earth. It does not have clear land boundaries and is separated from the ocean by groups of islands: the Japanese, Taiwan and Philippine islands in the west, underwater ridges and the islands of Izu, Ogasawara, Kazan and Mariana in the east, Yap and Palau in the southeast.
It covers an area of 5,726 thousand km 2, and covers one of the deepest places on Earth - the Philippine Trench, whose depth reaches 10,265 m. Average depth 4,108 m.
It is also located in the Pacific Ocean, from which we can draw a reasonable conclusion - the deepest sea bodies of water are located in the Pacific Ocean.
Mariana Trench – 10,994 m
An oceanic deep-sea trench in the western Pacific Ocean, the deepest known on Earth. Named after the nearby Mariana Islands. The deepest point of the Mariana Trench is the Challenger Deep.
It can be said that the deepest place is the Mariana Trench, of all those recorded to date.
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Man has always been interested in the seas; he was irresistibly drawn and fascinated by their wild, unbridled beauty. At the present stage there are ninety of them in the world. It is interesting to know what is the largest sea on Earth and the deepest, what is it called and where is it located. Let's take a closer look at the amazing places on the planet.
What is the sea?
This is a certain area in the World Ocean, which is isolated by land or underwater elevations. It differs markedly in climatic, meteorological and hydrological properties. There is a certain classification of seas according to the degree of their isolation:
- outlying;
- internal;
- interisland;
From a geological point of view, even the largest sea in the world is a very young formation. They took their final form in the Anthropocene. The deepest ones were formed in places where the earth's crust was broken, and the shallow ones are the result of the flooding of the continent by the waters of the World Ocean.
The Sargasso Sea is a unique place on the planet
It is unlike any other. This is the largest sea in the world. It is a special area in the Atlantic Ocean, which is limited by currents, including the Gulf Stream, and not by continents and underwater hills. Its area covers about 7 million km 2, and most of it is covered with algae, which gave it its name - sargassum (sea grapes). Their large thickets create an obstacle in the path of ships and have long been the subject of many legends and fictions. The warm waters of the Sargasso Sea are home to many species of amazing creatures, such as the clown fish. Many fish specifically come there to spawn, since there is no threat from large predators. The sea is unique and stands apart from the rest.
The largest and deepest sea
Its area is almost 6000 square meters. km, and the maximum depth reaches 11022 m. This is the Philippine Sea, located in the western part of the Pacific waters. It does not have smooth and clear boundaries on land, and is separated from the ocean by groups of islands. This is the second largest sea after the Sargasso, but the first in depth. Some researchers attribute the famous Mariana Trench to its territory, but officially it still belongs to the Pacific Ocean. Fishing and whaling are active in the waters of the Philippine Sea.
Largest sea by area: top 5
If we do not take into account the already mentioned Sargasso and Philippine Seas, the rating will look as follows.
![](https://i1.wp.com/syl.ru/misc/i/ai/180327/726189.jpg)
Seas on Russian territory
The territory of the country is washed by the waters of thirteen seas, which belong to three oceans. They are not so big and not so warm compared to the world giants.
- Atlantic Ocean: Baltic, Azov and Black Seas. The latter is the warmest of all, with an average summer water temperature of 23-25°C.
- Arctic Ocean: Chukchi, Barents, Pechora, East Siberian, Kara, White and Laptev Sea.
- Pacific Ocean: Japan, Bering and Okhotsk Seas.
The largest and deepest sea in Russia is the Bering Sea (pictured above), located in the Pacific Ocean. It is very cold and even in summer the water temperature in it fluctuates between 7-10 °C. However, it is very rich in commercial fish species and shellfish. The main mammals are representatives of pinnipeds, seals and bearded seals, walruses, seals - the latter form large rookeries on the shores of Chukotka. The Bering Sea is also home to whales, including blue whales, bowheads and humpback whales.
Having learned about the largest sea in the world, do not forget about the smallest sea on Earth - Marmara. It got its name from the nearby island of Marmara, where white marble was once mined, a place known since the times of Ancient Greek civilization. Located in the Atlantic Ocean between the Asia Minor and European parts of Turkey. Its area is only 11,472 square meters. km. The waters of the Sea of Marmara are very salty and warm, so the shores are densely populated.
The depths of the sea are mysterious; to this day there remains a lot of unknowns. Despite all the technological progress, the abyss of water remains largely unexplored, and people know little more about them than about space.
It is not surprising that every year it is possible to discover new species of fish and other marine life, and make new discoveries at the bottom and in the water column.
And even regarding the depth of the seas and their deepest points, scientists do not deny that new discoveries can occur at any moment. However, a rating of the deepest seas already exists, and it is worth studying, if only to understand the reason for the lack of knowledge of the abyss of water. After all, diving to such depths is really problematic and unsafe!
Fifth place - Weddell Sea
![](https://i0.wp.com/kipmu.ru/wp-content/uploads/mr_udzl.jpg)
This sea ranks fifth in depth, its deepest point is at 6820 meters below surface level. It is located near Antarctica, washing its shores, limited to the Antarctic Peninsula. The greatest depth is in the northern part, the southern part of the water area remains relatively shallow. Icebergs roam this sea, and the climate here is not very hospitable.
Fourth place - Caribbean Sea
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Despite its small size, it is an exceptionally deep body of water that lies between South and Central America. Its depth reaches 7090 meters, and the bottom is strewn with treasures - this is exactly what treasure hunters think. In fact, they are close to the truth, because many galleons carrying New World gold sank here, and the place was known for pirate activity. But you should look for jewelry in the lowlands of the seabed, and diving to such depths requires special equipment, which requires a lot of effort and huge investments. And therefore, the mysteries of the Caribbean Sea still excite minds. The Caribbean Sea belongs to the Atlantic Ocean.
Third place - Banda Sea
![](https://i1.wp.com/kipmu.ru/wp-content/uploads/more_banda.jpg)
The Banda Sea has a maximum depth of about 7440 meters. This body of water is located near Indonesia and is famous for its rich natural world. Rare dolphins, jellyfish and octopuses, nautiluses, stingrays, sea snakes, and many other living creatures are found here. This sea belongs to the Pacific Ocean.
Just as the bottom of the Caribbean Sea is hypothetically strewn with jewels, so the bottom of this sea is also full of riches, but only natural ones. After all, the closer to the bottom, the higher the depth, the more rare and unique species you can find.
Second place – Coral Sea
![](https://i2.wp.com/kipmu.ru/wp-content/uploads/koral_more.jpg)
The Coral Sea is also classified as a Pacific Ocean and borders the Philippine Islands. The average depth here is 4 km, which is quite trivial, but there are places with deep-sea depressions. It is also worth pointing out that many scientists “donate” the famous Mariana Trench to this body of water, and not to the Philippine Sea, so its placement in the list of the deepest is quite natural.
The deepest sea in the world
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The deepest sea in the world is the Philippine Sea. And since two seas have to share the deepest mark on the planet, then the Philippine Sea should rightfully be in first place. The lower mark is 9140 meters, and the reservoir again belongs to the Pacific Ocean. The mark falls on the Mariana Trench, which is a trench that goes into the deep layers of the earth's crust. Considering the volcanic activity at the bottom of the reservoir, one should not be surprised at the presence of such an object here. Also at depth it is possible to discover “black smokers” and other objects that demonstrate volcanic activity and create a unique natural world around them. The Mariana Trench is of great interest, dives are carried out in it, but no one has been to its very bottom yet.
Depth of Russian seas
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In general, it is the Pacific seas that turn out to be the deepest, and this is especially true for areas near Australia, New Guinea, and the Philippines. Along with the enormous depth, these waters also delight with the richness and abundance of the natural world, because there are corals, flying fish, and many other exotic things that are still being studied by biologists. However, the Russian seas are not so deep, and they definitely will not be included in the list of the first five. Only the Bering Sea is worth noting.
This the deepest of the Russian seas, its depth reaches 4151 meters. It is located between Siberia and Alaska, separating two continents, North America and Eurasia. Scientists believe that during the last great glaciations, this sea shallowed, creating an isthmus along which animals could move and people could migrate, populating the continents. A The Sea of Azov does not exceed 15 meters in depth.
Deep waters are fraught with many mysteries that to this day excite the minds of people, causing periodic sensations, even speculation about the presence of intelligent life. And even if humanity will one day be able to fully explore and develop the seas and oceans, this will not happen soon.
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