Ocean Facts
The seas and the life in them.
Tsunami Waves Can Travel as Fast as a Jet Plane
Over deep water, tsunami waves may travel as fast as jet planes, slowing down only when they reach shallow water.
Seawater Is About 3.5 Percent Salt
About 3.5 percent of the weight of seawater comes from dissolved salts, which come mainly from rocks on land and openings in the seafloor.
About Half of Earth's Oxygen Comes From the Ocean
Scientists estimate that roughly half of the oxygen production on Earth comes from the ocean, mostly from tiny photosynthetic plankton.
The Great Barrier Reef Is the Largest Living Structure on Earth
The Great Barrier Reef is the largest living structure on Earth, stretching for 1,429 miles over an area of approximately 133,000 square miles.
The Deepest Known Point in the Ocean Is Nearly 11 Kilometers Down
The deepest known part of the ocean, the Challenger Deep in the Mariana Trench, is approximately 10,935 meters (35,876 feet) deep.