The Atlantic Ocean is a vast body of water connecting continents and influencing global climate patterns. It serves as a major pathway for ocean currents and marine life. The Atlantic conceals remarkable geological features and unique ecosystems.
Earth’s Longest Mountain Range
Beneath the Atlantic’s surface lies the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, an underwater mountain range spanning 10,000 miles (16,000 km) from the Arctic Ocean to nearly the southern tip of Africa. This formation arises from the pulling apart of major tectonic plates, including the North American, Eurasian, African, and South American plates. As these plates diverge, molten magma from Earth’s mantle rises to the seafloor, creating new oceanic crust in a process called seafloor spreading, which widens the Atlantic Basin by about 1 to 10 centimeters annually. This geological activity results in seismic events and volcanic eruptions along the ridge. The Mid-Atlantic Ridge occasionally breaks the surface, notably forming the island of Iceland.
A Sea Without Shores
The Sargasso Sea is the only sea in the world not defined by land boundaries. Its borders are formed by a system of ocean currents known as the North Atlantic Gyre, encompassing the Gulf Stream, the North Atlantic Current, the Canary Current, and the North Atlantic Equatorial Current. This circulation pattern traps mats of floating seaweed, primarily two species of Sargassum: Sargassum natans and Sargassum fluitans. These seaweeds reproduce vegetatively on the open ocean, creating a specialized floating habitat. The Sargasso Sea provides a nursery and home for a variety of marine organisms, including the camouflaged sargassum fish, and serves as a spawning ground for eels and a development site for juvenile sea turtles.
The Famous Triangle
The Bermuda Triangle, a region in the western North Atlantic roughly bounded by Bermuda, Miami, and Puerto Rico, gained notoriety for the alleged disappearances of over 50 ships and 20 airplanes. While popular theories often suggest supernatural causes, most incidents can be attributed to natural phenomena or human factors. Explanations include frequent tropical storms and hurricanes, strong currents of the Gulf Stream, and the possibility of rogue waves reaching nearly 100 feet. Navigational challenges, such as magnetic anomalies affecting compasses, and human error contribute to incidents in this heavily trafficked area. Investigations by scientific organizations indicate that disappearances in the Bermuda Triangle do not occur with any greater frequency than in other comparable, busy ocean regions.