Which ocean is bigger: Indian or Atlantic? The history of the discovery of the Indian and Atlantic Ocean

To study the World Ocean is an exciting activity. The abundance of information is systematized and gradually fits in the mind. But sometimes there are questions that you want to find answers for yourself. Here, for example, which ocean is greater: Indian, Atlantic, and maybe Northern Arctic or Quiet?

Anyone who knows at least a little geography will answer unequivocally that Quiet occupies a large area of the world's ocean. And the smallest is the Arctic. But what do we know about the two remaining ones? Which ocean is more: Indian or Atlantic, we will consider in this article.

Determine the size of the Atlantic Ocean

A very solid area has the Atlantic. It is more than 90,000,000 km². The coastline has 13 seas, and the fourteenth hid in the middle of the water. Its name is Sargassovo. Surprisingly, this sea has no coast.

Despite the area with six zeros, the Atlantic Ocean is half as large as the great handsome Pacific Ocean. But the Atlantic is growing all the time. Some scientists believe that in 100-150 million years, the Atlantic Ocean will occupy most of the Earth.

Today, at the widest point, the Atlantic stretches for 7200 km. The average depth of the ocean is more than 3500 meters. The depth of the maximum depression along the coast of Puerto Rico is 8740 m.

Indian Ocean

Considering information about the Indian Ocean, we will pay attention to the numbers to get an answer, which ocean is bigger: Indian or Atlantic? This part of the World Ocean also has a very decent size. Its area is more than 76 million km². But there are very few seas in this area, only 5.

The area of the seas occupied 15% of the total ocean surface. The widest place in the Indian Ocean stretches for almost 10 thousand kilometers. This is relatively small. But the average depth is quite decent - 3,711 m. However, the Indian Ocean yielded to the Pacific and the Atlantic at its maximum depth. It is 7730 meters, the name of the deepest point is the Sunda Trench.

Compare and get the answer

So, we know the areas of the Atlantic and the Indian Ocean. We can compare and find out the answer to the question that has arisen. 90 million and 76 million, the difference is quite significant. Now we know exactly which ocean is bigger: Atlantic or Indian. Of course, the Atlantic is larger, and the total volume of water in the Atlantic Ocean is also more significant than that of the Indian Ocean.

What we know about the opening of the Atlantic Ocean

Scientists consider the Atlantic as the youngest ocean in the world. Approximate time of its formation - 200 million years ago. This happened during the split of ancient Pangea. The two major continents started moving in opposite directions, then there was another split, and Godwin was divided into Africa and the South American continent. Approximately 150 million years ago, there was a division of Europe and North America. Tectonic plates are still in motion, and this explains the increase in the area of the Atlantic.

The Vikings are rightly considered the discoverers of the Atlantic Ocean. Over time, their relay was picked up by the Portuguese and the Spaniards. I really wanted people to find a short trip to India. Christopher Columbus, in search of a treasured path, discovered an unknown land, which he took for the Indian coast. And now everyone knows that it was America.

The name Atlantic Ocean received in honor of the hero of ancient myths - Atlanta. There is another theory, but it is unlikely.

Discovery and exploration of the Indian Ocean

Studying the question of which ocean is greater: Indian or Atlantic, it is worth looking into the history of their discovery and research. Perhaps this will help to learn more about the majestic waters of our planet.

The history of the Indian Ocean also began with the supermaterial Pangea. It was formed during the split of Godwana to Africa and America.

The first navigators of the Indian Ocean are the Sumerians, whose civilization existed in Mesopotamia. There are descriptions of waterways between India and Arabia. They refer to the third millennium BC. Good navigators were the Phoenicians. In the VII-VI BC. They managed to get around Africa. Our era is marked by the development of navigation on the waters of the Indian Ocean ships of India and China.

The discoverer among the Europeans, who managed to pass the Indian Ocean from the Malacca Peninsula to the Persian Gulf, was Marco Polo in the 13th century. He compiled a detailed description of the route and the entire journey in the "Book of the Diversity of the World".

Another interesting description of the trip was made by a merchant from Russia Afanasy Nikitin, who crossed the Arabian Sea to India.

Historians appropriated the honor of the official opening of the Indian Ocean for Europeans by Portuguese mariners, and specifically Bartolomeo Dias. He was able to understand that there is still a passage across the sea to India.

We hope that we were able to give an exhaustive answer to the question of which ocean is greater: Indian or Atlantic. Read books about the great navigators who, at the risk of their lives, made great discoveries. Learn geography, and you learn the most interesting facts about our planet. Explore our Earth, learn more about the new achievements of science. Indian or Atlantic Ocean, which one deserves more attention? The answer is unequivocal - both, because they store in their depths many mysterious and unknown.

Geography and history are interwoven very closely. This is proved by the Atlantic and Indian oceans, the history of the discovery of which is associated with a variety of geographical mysteries. There are also intertwined ancient myths, and the desire for wealth, and the court of slavers, and bloodthirsty pirates. It may seem that nothing new can be found out, but it is not. Space technology and satellite observation have greatly expanded the capabilities of modern researchers. So you can wait for news about new discoveries of scientists.