You must’ve told your child that Earth is sometimes called the Blue Planet, but do they know it’s because of how much our oceans make up the planet?

Covering 70% of the world’s surface, oceans are perhaps the most fascinating thing about our planet. It’s important for kids to know about the ocean, and so in this article, we’ve gathered some interesting facts for kids to learn:

1. The Pacific Ocean

The Pacific Ocean is the largest of the oceans of the world, covering 45% of the global ocean coverage. It spans 19,300km across the globe and 15,500 km from north to south. It’s also the deepest ocean, plunging to a depth of 10,920 m in the Mariana Trench.

Large parts of the ocean are still unexplored due to its great depths - while in the shallow depths around New Zealand and Australia, natural gas and petroleum deposits have been discovered. 

So, what kind of fish are available? Tuna, salmon, herring, snapper and swordfish are plenty in the Pacific.

2. The Atlantic Ocean

The second-largest ocean is the Atlantic, covering 22% of the global sea area. This ocean is bisected by the Equator, spanning 6,900 km from Morocco to Florida and 6,500 km from Cape Horn to Cape of Good Hope in the South Atlantic.

The Atlantic itself is also quite deep, with average depths reaching 3,660 meters - and at the Puerto Rico Trench it goes as deep as 8,648 meters. 

This ocean has contributed significantly to the world with rich reserves of stones, placer deposits, petroleum, etc. It is also quite rich in fish, including whales, sea lions, dolphins, seals and manatees.

3. The Indian Ocean

The Indian Ocean is one of the busiest oceans of the world, covering 70,560,000 square km of the Earth’s surface, connecting Southern Asia, Australia, and Africa. 

The Indian Ocean’s average depth is 3,741 meters, and its deepest point is 8,047 m at the Diamantina Deep.

Speaking of its marine biodiversity, the Indian Ocean is brimming with manta rays, whale sharks, tuna, silky sharks, and much more.

4. The Arctic Ocean

We’ve talked about three massive oceans of the world, now let’s focus on the smallest one—the Arctic Ocean. This ocean is surrounded by Asia, Greenland, North America, and Europe. 

Oh and, most of the ocean is frozen over during the winter months!

The Arctic is home to over 240 fish species, including snailfish, eelpouts, cods, beluga, narwhal and grey whales.

5. The Southern Ocean

Finally, the fifth ocean is the Southern Ocean, encircling Antarctica. This is a deep ocean, with average depths ranging between 4,000 and 5,000 meters in most parts. 

Plus, it is a storehouse of massive oil and gas fields, gold, placer deposits, and a lot more. In fact, it’s also one of the most dangerous parts of the world for ships due to storms, rough seas and icebergs.

What makes the Southern Ocean so special is its aquatic life—penguins, orcas, whales, colossal squids and seals. 

We hope that this article was informative for children, and maybe even helps them pass their Geography exam! But most importantly, we hope that this sparks their curiosity – and you never know, it could lead to them discovering a passion for marine biology or the environment in general. Keep engaging with your kids on topics like these, so that they can discover the world and their interests.

Stay tuned to ActiKid’s to know more about educating children the right way and setting them on a path to a healthy, conscious lifestyle!

 ActiKid – Nourishing the next generation.    

This article contains general information regarding health and well-being. This information is not intended as advice and should not be treated as such. You must not rely on the information on this website as an alternative to advice from medical or educational professionals.