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• The Southern Ocean, also known as the Antarctic Ocean, was designated the world's fifth ocean in the year 2000, by the International Hydrographic Organization.Lighthouse Foundation: The Southern Ocean

• Fast Facts

  1. Was not defined until 2000
  2. Surrounds Antarctica
  3. Youngest of the oceans at 30 million years
  4. Over 23,000 feet deep at South Sandwich Trench
  5. Over 7 million square miles
  6. Fed by melting glaciers
  7. Thought to sit above large oil fields

• Backstory

  Comprised of waters that were once officially designated as the southern sections of the Atlantic, Pacific and Indian Oceans, the Southern Ocean surrounds [Antarctica and extends north to the 60°S Parallel. The Southern Ocean is the world's fourth largest ocean, exceeding the area of the Arctic Ocean by over 2,400,000 square miles. Though officially demarcated by the 68-nation IHO, the Southern Ocean is not universally accepted; holdouts include the National Geographic Society and the nation of Argentina.

• Quote

  " The crossing is generally accomplished in two days – sometimes faster, sometimes slower. Smooth seas are known as the ‘Drake Lake’; their opposite is called the ‘Drake Shake, ’ also referred to as ‘paying the Drake Tax.’ Once your ship is in the calm waters of the South Shetlands or the Peninsula, nearly all uncomfortable motion ceases...En route, you’ll experience the open sea circumscribing the horizon, then your first amazing iceberg, then many icebergs, then an island. Finally, the snow-capped peaks of Antarctica itself shimmer ahead on the horizon."Lonely Planet: Introducing Southern Ocean

• Related Mahalo Pages

  Arctic Ocean | Atlantic Ocean | Pacific Ocean | Indian Ocean | Antarctica | Australia | Penguins | Seals | Scuba Diving | Whales | Ross Sea | Waitaha Penguin | Orcas | Weddell Seal | Leopard Seal | How to Become a Marine Biologist

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