13 Fascinating Facts About the Ocean

The ocean is a mysterious place. It covers about 70 percent of the earth's surface, yet there is still so much we don't know about it. It's almost as if the water on this planet is a whole other world within a world. We found some truly fascinating facts about oceans — learn things that will truly shock you!

01
It takes about 1,000 years for water to travel all the way around the world.
StockSnap | Jeremy Bishop

It takes about 1,000 years for water to travel all the way around the world.

The water in oceans is constantly moving through a global ocean conveyor belt.

02
The Great Barrier Reef is the biggest living structure on the planet.
Flickr user PRONOAA Photo Library | David Burdick

The Great Barrier Reef is the biggest living structure on the planet.

Off the coast of Queensland, Australia, the Great Barrier Reef is 1,429 miles long.

03
When octopuses feel stressed, they will sometimes eat their own arms.
Flickr user damn_unique

When octopuses feel stressed, they will sometimes eat their own arms.

This act is known as autophagy.

04
We have only explored less than 5 percent of the ocean.
StockSnap | Jeremy Bishop

We have only explored less than 5 percent of the ocean.

Since the ocean covers 70 percent of the earth's surface, that means there is still so much to learn about the ocean. Who knows what kind of plants and creatures we haven't discovered yet.

05
The Atlantic ocean is growing larger and the Pacific is becoming smaller.
StockSnap | Jeremy Bishop

The Atlantic ocean is growing larger and the Pacific is becoming smaller.

North America's plate is moving away from Europe, causing the change in the size of the oceans.

06
More than 50 percent of America is underwater.
Flickr user FromSandToGlass

More than 50 percent of America is underwater.

There's about 200 nautical miles of underwater land that extends from the United States's coasts.

08
The Pacific ocean has around 25,000 islands.
StockSnap | Talia Cohen

The Pacific ocean has around 25,000 islands.

All together, this is more islands than the rest of the world has combined.

09
Almost two-thirds of plant and animal life in the ocean remains undiscovered.
StockSnap | Ruth Caron

Almost two-thirds of plant and animal life in the ocean remains undiscovered.

There are still hundreds of thousands of species that we haven't even found yet.

10
There are about 20 million tons of gold in the ocean.
Flickr user Mathias Appel

There are about 20 million tons of gold in the ocean.

Unfortunately most of it is very diluted and almost impossible to get.

11
There are some fish that can live over 30 years.
Flickr user Malcolm Browne

There are some fish that can live over 30 years.

There are fish that live in very deep parts of the ocean and they can live to be over 30 years old.

12
Humpback whales sing to each other.
StockSnap | Thomas Kelley

Humpback whales sing to each other.

Each community of whales has a unique song that they sing to communicate with one another.

13
The Arctic Ocean is the world's smallest ocean.
Flickr user U.S. Geological Survey | Patrick Kelley

The Arctic Ocean is the world's smallest ocean.

It's approximately 1.5 times as big as America.