The Atlantic Ocean is Earth's second-largest ocean, covering approximately one-fifth of its surface. The ocean's name, derived from Greek mythology, means the "Sea of Atlas". This ocean occupies an elongated, S-shaped basin extending in a north-south direction and is divided into the North Atlantic and South Atlantic by equatorial counter currents at about 8° north latitude. Bounded by the Americas on the west and Europe and Africa on the east, the Atlantic is linked to the Pacific Ocean by the Arctic Ocean on the north and th ...

Including:

• Atlantic Ocean - Ocean bottom
• Atlantic Ocean - Water characteristics
• Atlantic Ocean - Climate
• Atlantic Ocean - History and economy
• Atlantic Ocean - Terrain
• Atlantic Ocean - Elevation extremes
• Atlantic Ocean - Natural resources
• Atlantic Ocean - Natural hazards
• Atlantic Ocean - Current environmental issues
• Atlantic Ocean - Notes on geography
• Atlantic Ocean - Ports and harbours
• Atlantic Ocean - Note on transportation

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The principal feature of the bottom topography of the Atlantic Ocean is a great submarine mountain range called the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. It extends from Iceland in the north to approximately 58° south latitude, reaching a maximum width of about 1,600 kilometres (1,000 mi). A great rift valley also extends along the ridge over most of its length. The depth of water over the ridge is less than 2,700 metres (8,900 ft) in most places, and several mountain peaks rise above the water, forming islands. The South Atlantic Ocean has a ...

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Atlantic Ocean, Atlantic Ocean - Ocean bottom, Atlantic Ocean - Water characteristics, Atlantic Ocean - Climate, Atlantic Ocean - History and economy, Atlantic Ocean - Terrain, Atlantic Ocean - Elevation extremes, Atlantic Ocean - Natural resources, Atlantic Ocean - Natural hazards, Atlantic Ocean - Current environmental issues, Atlantic Ocean - Notes on geography, Atlantic Ocean - Ports and harbours, Atlantic Ocean - Note on transportation

Read more here: » Atlantic Ocean: Encyclopedia II - Atlantic Ocean - Ocean bottom

The principal feature of the bottom topography of the Atlantic Ocean is a great submarine mountain range called the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. It extends from Iceland in the north to approximately 58° south latitude, reaching a maximum width of about 1,600 km (1,000 miles). A great rift valley also extends along the ridge over most of its length. The depth of water over the ridge is less than 2,700 m (8,900 ft) in most places, and several mountain peaks rise above the water, forming islands. The South Atlantic Ocean has a ...

See also:

Atlantic Ocean, Atlantic Ocean - Ocean bottom, Atlantic Ocean - Water characteristics, Atlantic Ocean - Climate, Atlantic Ocean - History and economy, Atlantic Ocean - Terrain, Atlantic Ocean - Elevation extremes, Atlantic Ocean - Natural resources, Atlantic Ocean - Natural hazards, Atlantic Ocean - Current environmental issues, Atlantic Ocean - Notes on geography, Atlantic Ocean - Ports and harbours, Atlantic Ocean - Note on transportation

Read more here: » Atlantic Ocean: Encyclopedia II - Atlantic Ocean - Ocean bottom

The surface is usually covered with sea ice in the Labrador Sea, Denmark Strait, and Baltic Sea from October to June. There is a clockwise warm-water gyre (broad, circular system of currents) in the northern Atlantic, and a counter-clockwise warm-water gyre in the southern Atlantic. The ocean floor is dominated by the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, a rugged north-south centerline for the entire Atlantic basin, first discovered by the Challenger Expedition. Atlantic Ocean - Elevation extremes. lowest point: Milwaukee Deep in the Puerto Rico Trench -8,605 metres (28,232 ft; 5.3 mi) hi ...

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Atlantic Ocean, Atlantic Ocean - Ocean bottom, Atlantic Ocean - Water characteristics, Atlantic Ocean - Climate, Atlantic Ocean - History and economy, Atlantic Ocean - Terrain, Atlantic Ocean - Elevation extremes, Atlantic Ocean - Natural resources, Atlantic Ocean - Natural hazards, Atlantic Ocean - Current environmental issues, Atlantic Ocean - Notes on geography, Atlantic Ocean - Ports and harbours, Atlantic Ocean - Note on transportation

Read more here: » Atlantic Ocean: Encyclopedia II - Atlantic Ocean - Terrain

The surface is usually covered with sea ice in the Labrador Sea, Denmark Strait, and Baltic Sea from October to June. There is a clockwise warm-water gyre (broad, circular system of currents) in the northern Atlantic, and a counter-clockwise warm-water gyre in the southern Atlantic. The ocean floor is dominated by the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, a rugged north-south centerline for the entire Atlantic basin, first discovered by the Challenger Expedition. Atlantic Ocean - Elevation extremes. lowest point: Milwaukee Deep in the Puerto Rico Trench -8,605 m ...

See also:

Atlantic Ocean, Atlantic Ocean - Ocean bottom, Atlantic Ocean - Water characteristics, Atlantic Ocean - Climate, Atlantic Ocean - History and economy, Atlantic Ocean - Terrain, Atlantic Ocean - Elevation extremes, Atlantic Ocean - Natural resources, Atlantic Ocean - Natural hazards, Atlantic Ocean - Current environmental issues, Atlantic Ocean - Notes on geography, Atlantic Ocean - Ports and harbours, Atlantic Ocean - Note on transportation

Read more here: » Atlantic Ocean: Encyclopedia II - Atlantic Ocean - Terrain

The salinity of the surface waters in the open ocean ranges from 33 to 37 parts per thousand by mass and varies with latitude and season. Although the minimum salinity values are found just north of the equator, in general the lowest values are in the high latitudes and along coasts where large rivers flow into the ocean. Maximum salinity values occur at about 25° north latitude. Surface salinity values are influenced by evaporati ...

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Atlantic Ocean, Atlantic Ocean - Ocean bottom, Atlantic Ocean - Water characteristics, Atlantic Ocean - Climate, Atlantic Ocean - History and economy, Atlantic Ocean - Terrain, Atlantic Ocean - Elevation extremes, Atlantic Ocean - Natural resources, Atlantic Ocean - Natural hazards, Atlantic Ocean - Current environmental issues, Atlantic Ocean - Notes on geography, Atlantic Ocean - Ports and harbours, Atlantic Ocean - Note on transportation

Read more here: » Atlantic Ocean: Encyclopedia II - Atlantic Ocean - Water characteristics

The Atlantic Ocean appears to be the second youngest of the world's oceans, after the Southern Ocean. Evidence indicates that it did not exist prior to 180 million years ago, when the continents that formed from the breakup of the ancestral supercontinent, Pangaea, were being rafted apart by the process of seafloor spreading. The Atlantic has been extensively explored since the earliest settlements were established along its shores. The Vikings, Portuguese, and Christopher Columbus were the most famous among its early explorers. After Columb ...

See also:

Atlantic Ocean, Atlantic Ocean - Ocean bottom, Atlantic Ocean - Water characteristics, Atlantic Ocean - Climate, Atlantic Ocean - History and economy, Atlantic Ocean - Terrain, Atlantic Ocean - Elevation extremes, Atlantic Ocean - Natural resources, Atlantic Ocean - Natural hazards, Atlantic Ocean - Current environmental issues, Atlantic Ocean - Notes on geography, Atlantic Ocean - Ports and harbours, Atlantic Ocean - Note on transportation

Read more here: » Atlantic Ocean: Encyclopedia II - Atlantic Ocean - History and economy