What is the difference between ocean and bay?

An ocean is a vast body of water that covers large areas of the Earth's surface. The world has five oceans: the Pacific Ocean, the Atlantic Ocean, the Indian Ocean, the Arctic Ocean, and the Southern Ocean (often considered part of the Atlantic, Indian, and Pacific Oceans). Oceans are characterized by their salinity, depth, and size. They contain seawater, which is a mixture of water, salt, and other minerals. Oceans are also relatively deep, with an average depth of about 3,700 meters (12,100 feet). Finally, oceans are much larger than bays and other bodies of water, covering an estimated 71% of the Earth's surface.

A bay, on the other hand, is a smaller body of water that is connected to a larger body of water, such as an ocean or a lake. Bays are typically sheltered or partially enclosed by land, and they are often formed by the erosion of coastal cliffs or the deposition of sediment by rivers. Bays vary in size, but they are generally considered to be smaller than oceans. They also tend to be shallower than oceans, with an average depth of around 100 meters (330 feet). Finally, bays are often associated with coastal areas and contain brackish water, which is a mixture of seawater and freshwater.