Exploring the Atlantic Ocean
Exploring the Atlantic Ocean
The Atlantic Ocean is one of Earth's five oceans, and it's the second-largest! Let's dive in and discover some amazing facts about this vast body of water.
Size and Location
The Atlantic Ocean covers about 20% of the Earth's surface. It stretches all the way from the Arctic Ocean in the north to the Southern Ocean near Antarctica. To the east, it borders Europe and Africa, and to the west, it borders North and South America.
Interesting Features
- Mid-Atlantic Ridge: This is the longest mountain range in the world, and it's mostly underwater in the Atlantic Ocean!
- Gulf Stream: This is a warm and swift Atlantic current that originates in the Gulf of Mexico, flows up the eastern coastline of the United States and Canada, before crossing the Atlantic Ocean towards Northwest Europe. It helps to keep the climate of Western Europe mild.
- Deep Sea: The deepest point in the Atlantic Ocean is the Puerto Rico Trench, which plunges down more than 27,000 feet! That's deeper than Mount Everest is tall.
Amazing Marine Life
The Atlantic Ocean is home to a huge variety of animals. Here are just a few:
- Migrate:
- To move from one place to another, usually depending on the season.
- Endangered:
- In danger of disappearing forever.
- Pollution:
- Harmful substances that damage the environment.
- Sustainable:
- Able to be maintained or continued.
- current:
- A continuous flow of water moving in a specific direction through an ocean or other body of water.
- mammals:
- Warm-blooded animals with backbones that breathe air, grow hair or fur, and nurse their young with milk.
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- 1What are the five oceans of Earth?
- 2Which continents border the Atlantic Ocean?
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About this informational passage for Upper Elementary
“Exploring the Atlantic Ocean” is a informational reading passage about Atlantic Ocean, written for Upper Elementary. It takes about 3 minutes to read (385 words) and comes with an interactive quiz and a printable worksheet with comprehension questions and an answer key.