Fascinating Underwater Facts

The ocean serves as the lifeblood of the planet, covering well over 70% of the Earth's surface.

The sea is also responsible for regulating temperatures, driving weather changes, and supporting life on Earth.

Throughout the existence of the planet, the ocean has played an important role in sustenance, commerce, growth, and transportation.

However, even today, around 80% of the deep sea remains unexplored, unmapped, and observed.

The following section of this article lists some facts that will surely fascinate the reader's mind.
 

1. The Majority Of Life On Earth Is Found Under The Deep Sea

There is an entirely new world under the sea which easily makes people forget the abundance of life under the sea.

It is estimated that around 95% of life on Earth is ocean sea animals.

Living beings found on the surface of the Earth constituted a very small portion of the ecological diversity.
 

2. There Is An Abundance Of Gold Under The Ocean

According to researchers, there are about 20 million tons of gold spread across the ocean bed.

However, at present, it is diluted to form a pulp-like consistency.

Also, the concentration of gold is very less.

The ocean seafloor comprises embedded gold, but the mining cost is not economical. 

3. The Longest Mountain Range On Earth Is Buried And Deep Into The Sea

The longest mountain range on the surface of the Earth is the Andes that stretches for about 4300 miles.

However, in reality, the longest mountain range on Earth is the mid-oceanic range that is spread across 40350 miles inside the ocean.

4. Icebergs Can Provide Drinking Water To Around 1 Million People For 5 Years

Icebergs in the Antarctic region comprise more than 20 billion gallons of water.

As per estimates, this can provide drinking water to a population of more than 1 million people for around five years.

These facts help the average individual to understand the massiveness of the iceberg. 

5. The Pacific Ocean Is Wider Than The Moon

The widest point of the Pacific Ocean is between Indonesia and Colombia.

Here it is even wider than the moon spanning over 12300 miles.

The length is five times larger than the diameter of the moon.
 

6. There Exists An Ice Sheet Larger Than The United States

At present, there are only two remains of ice sheets from the last ice age on the planet: the Antarctic ice sheet and the Greenland ice sheet.

The Antarctic has a staggering size of 5.4 million square miles.

According to estimates of the National Snow and Ice Data Centre, it's almost the size of the continental United States. 
 

7. The Waters Deep Into The Sea Is Incredibly Hot

In the deepest parts of the ocean, the water temperature ranges from 2 to 4 degrees Celsius.

But those coming out of the hydrothermal vents in the seafloor have temperatures that can go up to 400 degrees Celsius.

The pressure of this water is extremely high and can easily crush an individual. 
 

8. The Loudest Ocean Sound Is Recorded From In Ice Quake

The loudest ocean sounds were recorded in 1997 that were termed as the bloop.

The sound was so loud that sensors located 3,000 miles away captured it. Initially, it was believed that sound came from some kind of ocean life.

But then NOAA concluded it was from an ice quake.

Seismic activities result in the breaking of the frozen ground.
 

9. There Are Underwater Lakes Rivers And Waterfalls

Under the water, there is a completely different world consisting of mountains, volcanoes, rivers, lakes, and trenches.

As the seawater passes through layers of salt, little depressions are formed on the floor.

The high concentration of salt in this water resulted in the formation of small briny pools. 

10. The Sea Ice Is Suitable For Drinking

Seawater contains a high concentration of salt and is not suitable for drinking.

However, fresh sea ice is suitable for drinking.

It still has small amounts of brine trapped in between the crystals as the eyes start to age the salt grains out and become suitable for drinking.
 

11. Most Of The Volcanic Activities On Earth Occur Under The Ocean

The ocean floor experiences more volcanic activity.

As per researchers, around 90% of volcanic activities on planet Earth take place deep into the sea. 

The South Pacific is known for having the highest concentration of active volcanoes.

The oceans on Earth are responsible for the creation of ecological diversity.

It is the largest ecosystem in the universe that is inhabited by marine biomes.

However, even today a lot of the ocean facts are still unknown.

Exploring the world under the sea will surely bring breakthroughs across various domains.