Atlantic Ocean: Key Characteristics—Size, Depth, Currents, and Life

The Atlantic Ocean, Earth's second-largest ocean, separates the Americas from Europe/Africa.

Geography & Size

• Area: ~106.5 million km² (41.1M sq mi)
• Volume: ~310 million km³
• Avg depth: 3,926 m; Max: 8,605 m (Puerto Rico Trench)

Connections

• Arctic Ocean via Greenland/Norwegian Seas
• Pacific via Panama Canal & Drake Passage
• Indian Ocean via Suez Canal & Red Sea

Major Seas

Caribbean, Sargasso, North, Baltic, Mediterranean, Gulf of Mexico.

Currents & Climate

Gulf Stream (warm, northward); Labrador Current (cold, southward). Climates range from Arctic to tropical.

Seafloor

Mid-Atlantic Ridge (divergent boundary); continental shelves.

Biodiversity & Economy

Rich fisheries, whales, coral reefs, kelp forests. Vital for trade, cables, energy.

Threats

Pollution, overfishing, climate change—targets of international conservation.