Atlantic Ocean

The ocean between two worlds

The Atlantic Ocean separates America from Europe and Africa. Columbus sailed across this ocean to reach America. On its floor is a giant underwater mountain range running right down the middle. The Atlantic has the Bermuda islands, Iceland and the place where the Titanic sank.

The Atlantic is the second-largest ocean (106 million km²), stretching north to south in an S shape. The Mid-Atlantic Ridge is a 16,000 km underwater mountain chain where tectonic plates spread apart 2–5 cm a year, creating new ocean floor; Iceland is the part of this ridge that rises above the water. The warm Gulf Stream current softens Europe's climate. The Sargasso Sea is the only sea with no coastline — it is bounded only by currents. The Atlantic is Earth's 'youngest' ocean, born 180 million years ago when Pangaea split apart.

Fun facts

• The Atlantic widens by 2–3 cm every year — America is slowly drifting away from Europe.
• The ocean is named after Atlas, the titan from Greek myth who held up the sky.
• The Titanic sank in the Atlantic in 1912 and lies 3,800 m deep.
• The Gulf Stream carries 100 times more water than all the world's rivers combined.