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Southern Ocean

Adapted from Wikipedia · Explorer experience

Animated map showing the world's oceans, including the Pacific, Atlantic, Indian, Arctic, and Southern Oceans.

The Southern Ocean

The Southern Ocean is a big body of water that surrounds Antarctica. It is the second-smallest ocean in the world. It is smaller than the Pacific, Atlantic, and Indian Oceans, but larger than the Arctic Ocean.

People used to wonder if the Southern Ocean was a real, separate ocean. In 2000, a group of experts decided that yes, it is its own special ocean!

The Southern Ocean helps move warm and cold water around the globe. This keeps weather all over the world just right for plants and animals to live.

Why It’s Special

The Southern Ocean has strong currents that flow around Antarctica. These currents are the longest in the world. They carry lots of water and help tiny plants called phytoplankton grow. These plants feed many sea animals like whales, seals, and penguins.

Animals That Live There

The Southern Ocean is full of amazing sea life! You can find big animals like blue whales and smaller ones like Antarctic krill. Penguins, like the emperor penguin, also live here. They are special because they are the only penguins that breed during the dark Antarctic winter.

The ocean floor has many tiny creatures and some bigger animals too. Some fish, called icefish, have special things in their bodies that stop them from freezing in the cold water.

Keeping It Safe

There are special rules to protect the Southern Ocean and its animals. These rules help make sure that fishing and other activities do not harm the ocean. Scientists study the ocean to learn how it is changing and how to keep it healthy for all the animals that live there.

The Southern Ocean is a wonderful place full of life and mystery. It plays an important role in our world, and people work hard to keep it safe.

Images

A map showing how the edge of the Southern Ocean has moved southward from 1928 to 2002, as studied by scientists.
An old world map from 1572 showing early exploration and geography.
Map showing the region of Antarctica and its boundary, the Antarctic Convergence.
An old map from 1700 showing the continents and major features of Africa, including cities, rivers, and mountains.
A historical map showing the official boundaries of the world's oceans and seas, including the Southern Ocean.
A historical map showing the official boundaries of the world's oceans and seas, published in 1937 by the International Hydrographic Organization.
A map showing the official Australian Government's interpretation of ocean and sea names and borders around the country.
An old map of the world showing continents and oceans, from the year 1771.
An old illustration showing ships from an 1823 Antarctic expedition sailing through icy waters.
Portrait of Captain James Cook, the famous explorer and navigator.
A map showing the Pacific Ocean and its official boundaries.
Map of Antarctica showing its geographic features and borders.
Portrait of Admiral Faddey Bellingshausen, the Russian explorer who helped discover Antarctica.
An old map showing early ideas about Antarctica from the 1600s.

Related articles

Antarctica
Arctic Ocean
Phytoplankton
Blue whale
Antarctic krill
Emperor penguin

This article is a child-friendly adaptation of the Wikipedia article on Southern Ocean, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Images from Wikimedia Commons. Tap any image to view credits and license.