You never stop learning when you're sailing, as the sea is so incredibly diverse. It never ceasesto amaze me!
The origins of the phrase 'Seven Seas' can be traced to ancient times. In various cultures at different times in history, the Seven Seas has referred to bodies of water along trade routes, regional bodies of water, or exotic and far-away bodies of water.
In Greek literature (which is where the phrase entered Western literature), the Seven Seas were the Aegean, Adriatic, Mediterranean, Black, Red, and Caspian seas, with the Persian Gulf thrown in as a "sea."
In Medieval European literature, the phrase referred to the North Sea, Baltic, Atlantic, Mediterranean, Black, Red, and Arabian seas.
After Europeans 'discovered' North America, the concept of the Seven Seas changed again. Mariners then referred to the Seven Seas as the Arctic, the Atlantic, the Indian, the Pacific, the Mediterranean, the Caribbean, and the Gulf of Mexico.
Not many people use this phrase today, but you could say that the modern Seven Seas include the Arctic, North Atlantic, South Atlantic, North Pacific, South Pacific, Indian, and Southern Oceans.
The Arctic
The name 'Arctic' comes from a Greek word meaning 'bear'.
North Atlantic
There is an underwater mountain range in the North Atlantic Ocean called the Atlantic Ridge. It is twice as wide as the Andes Mountain range and runs approximately 10,000 miles south from Iceland.
South Atlantic
The Atlantic Ocean covers about 21% of our planet’s surface.
North Pacific
Marine Pollution has increased by over 100 times in the Pacific Ocean over the past 40 years. Pollution is most prevalent in the northeast part of the Pacific Ocean. The main culprit for the pollution of the water is small fragments of plastic which float in the water, polluting the surrounding environment and endangering wildlife.
South Pacific
The Pacific Ocean actually shrinks by one inch every year! This is caused by the movement of tectonic plates.
Indian
The Indian Ocean has limited marine animal life which is due to a higher water temperature of this ocean. This ocean is the warmest ocean in the world and offers little scope to plankton and other species for growth.
Southern Oceans
Icebergs will be encountered in the Southern Ocean during any season, but during May to October there are also strong winds which make crossing the ocean even more dangerous.
