The flora and fauna of the Atlantic Ocean play a fundamental role in its environment and represent an extraordinary and fascinating ecosystem that nourishes its waters. We invite you to continue expanding your knowledge throughout this article!
When and how did the Atlantic Ocean originate?
This ocean arose from the separation of the supercontinent that existed 300 million years ago in the Mesozoic era, called Pangea. This event happened during the Jurassic period, due to the formation of a huge crack in the supercontinent, said crack would go from the ancient ocean called by experts as Thetis to the Pacific (to the west).
This caused the inevitable separation of Pangea, which began dividing what we now know as the African and North American continents. It should be noted that the process of separation of this supercontinent was gradual, forming in the first instance the North zone and later the Central zone.
When the American continent completed its separation process, the Atlantic Ocean covered approximately 90 or 92 million km². It is much smaller than it is today.
Later, in the Cretaceous, the second phase of division of Pangea took place, separating the supercontinent called Gondwana. This continent was made up of several continental masses such as Africa and South America, as well as Antarctica, India and Australia.
As the South American continent drifted westward, separating from the African continent , the South Atlantic Ocean formed in a slow and uneven process. This separation occurred from south to north. Despite being tens of millions of years old, the Atlantic Ocean is the youngest in the world.
Keep in mind that the continental masses are constantly moving apart, this causes the slow but constant width of the Atlantic Ocean. These masses move away about 2 centimeters per year.
Today, the second largest and most extensive in the world after the Pacific and covers a large percentage of the earth's surface (approximately 20%).
What are the characteristics of the Atlantic Ocean?
The Atlantic Ocean has a wealth of characteristics, ranging from its location and size to its importance. Besides possessing one of the largest marine faunas, this ocean is also known for being the second largest and for bordering numerous countries across the continents.
Next we will know the characteristics of the Atlantic:
Location, limits and extension
The Atlantic Ocean is located between the American, African, and European continents. Specifically, the American continent is located to the west of the Atlantic, while the European and African continents are located to the east.
It extends wide from the European and African coasts to the American ones, also its extension starts from the North in the Arctic Ocean to the South, ending in the Antarctic.
Surface and dimensions
Compared to the approximate 90 million km2 in extension that the Atlantic Ocean had a few hundred million years ago, we can see that it has undergone a great change in terms of its amplitude and its shape.
Today this mass of water in the shape of the letter ¨S¨ has an area that represents around 20% of the earth's surface, making it the second largest ocean on the planet after the Pacific, thanks to the fact that it covers approximately 106 million km2.
Its current volume is around 354 million km3 (taking into account its adjacent seas). If we do not take into account its seas, the volume of the Atlantic decreases to about 323 million km3.
In the width of the Atlantic, the space that we find between Liberia and Brazil is approximately 2.848 kilometers, while between the north of the African continent and the US there are approximately 4.830 kilometers. The latter being the widest part of the entire Atlantic Ocean.
Waters that compose it
The Atlantic Ocean is made up of four internal layers of water, which form the different levels that the ocean has.
They are divided as follows:
- The central stage is the main one thanks to the fact that the vast majority of known marine life inhabits it. It is also the shallowest, extending to just over 900 meters into the depths.
- The subantarctic is the intermediate stage, these waters can be found from a depth of one thousand meters.
- The North Atlantic is the second stage or deepest layer, it extends to the depths reaching approximately four thousand meters
- The Antarctic are the deepest, these waters are over four thousand meters in the extreme depth of the Atlantic.
The Atlantic Ocean is also made up of different seas and rivers, which are named after its adjacent seas and are scattered along its cardinal points.
They are distributed as follows:
- west of the ocean (in the American continent): The Caribbean Sea, the Mexican Gulf, the Strait of Magellan, Río de la Plata, Tierra de Hornos and Tierra del Fuego.
- To the East (on the European continent): A variety of seas are found such as the Mediterranean, the Scottish, the Irish and the North Sea. Also the Bristol and English Channels, and the Gulfs of Guinea and Biscay.
- To the north (in Greenland: Davis Strait and Norwegian Sea are located)
The Atlantic, despite being seen oceanographically as a single large mass of water, is divided into 2 zones thanks to the equator. Its divisions are called North Atlantic and South Atlantic. Also the seas that compose it are considered as independent water masses,
its depth
The Atlantic has an average depth of almost 4 meters (3900 to be exact). This is thanks to the fact that on almost the entire sea floor of the ocean there is a huge plateau that is located 3 meters into the depths. 
It should be noted that the Atlantic Ocean also features depressions in its plateaus that extend to extreme depths, some easily exceeding 9 meters. These are located near the island of Puerto Rico.
Name's origin
The name Atlantic comes from Atlas, the titan of Greek mythology. He himself was well known for his story, since mythology illustrated that Atlas held the pillars of heaven on his shoulders.
temperature and salt levels
The Atlantic is the saltiest ocean on planet Earth, since it has an average of 36 g per liter of water and its temperatures vary depending on the area, in the tropical and intertropical regions its temperatures are much warmer while in the vicinity of the poles their temperatures drop considerably being much colder.
Geographic limits of the Atlantic Ocean
Due to the fact that the Atlantic Ocean is divided thanks to the equator, its limits are taken into account as two different regions (South Atlantic and North Atlantic). Next we will see the geographical limits of these regions:
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South Atlantic
This region borders Cape Horn located in Chile, Tierra del Fuego and the Strait of Magellan on its southwestern side. This part makes a route from the southern part of South America passing through the Antarctic area and between Cabos Espíritu Santo and Vírgenes.
To the northwest it limits with the Gulf of Guinea and to the west with Argentina (Río de la Plata). While to the south the Ocean is bordering Antarctica and to the southeast with South Africa, specifically with Cape Needles.
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North Atlantic
To the east it borders the Caribbean Sea , and to the southeast it is bordered by the Gulfs of Mexico and St. Lawrence and by the Bay of Fundy in Canada. From Greenland to Canada (specifically along the Labrador coast) it is bordered by the Davis Strait.
This boundary is also determined by the Norwegian Sea and the Greenland Sea and culminates in the Shetland Islands in the British Kingdom. The Irish Sea, the Mediterranean along with the Scottish Sea border the ocean to the east of it, likewise, they also limit the Spanish coasts (with the Bay of Biscay) and the Bristol Channel.
In the south, the Atlantic Ocean borders the Brazilian coasts (located to the southwest), it also borders the Gulf of Guinea on the southeast side. However, despite being oceanographically a single body of water, it also limits with itself due to the meridian line of the equator drawn in an imaginary way.
Flora and fauna of the Atlantic Ocean
The flora and fauna of the Atlantic Ocean are characterized by great biodiversity. From marine plants that form impressive reefs and fill its waters with color, to the presence of numerous animal species ranging from mollusks to large cetaceans.
Flora
In the Atlantic Ocean we can find a huge number of species ranging from hundreds to millions of different plants. A large portion of these plants inhabit the surface and a few hundred meters deep. This is because they need natural light for photosynthesis.
Among the plant species that live in the Atlantic Ocean, we can find corals, microorganisms, marine plankton, and a large number of algae species, which vary in color and size. We also find numerous corals on many reefs.
There is an interesting fact about the flora and fauna of the Atlantic Ocean : plants preferentially inhabit its surface, taking into account that they need a considerable amount of solar radiation to be able to photosynthesize normally.
In the depths, the rate of species in terms of flora decreases sharply due to many unable to carry out photosynthesis due to the low presence of natural light. This case also occurs in cloudy waters thanks to the violence with which the water moves, bringing sand or mud with it and not allowing light to penetrate.
Fauna
The flora and fauna of the Atlantic Ocean are notable for their abundance of animal species, both invertebrates and vertebrates. A wide variety of birds also fly over the water.
The most prominent animals in the Atlantic Ocean are :
- Orca also known as killer whale
- Bluefin tuna
- sea cow
- Dolphin
- White shark and other species
- Humpback Whale
In addition, the different types of birds that we find in the ocean are:
- atlantic shearwater
- atlantic gannet
- Northern Royal Albatross
- Araocommon
These animals are some of the most widely distributed throughout the Atlantic Ocean and its surroundings. They are also among the most important. In the flora and fauna of the Atlantic Ocean a variety of species are also in danger of extinction. Some of them are:
- Mediterranean monk seal: This animal is one of the most outstanding and has the highest priority because it only has a few hundred specimens (around 500). This makes it one of the most endangered marine species in the world.
- Gray whale: This animal also sets off the alarms of the natural world, since its scandalous decline is such that in the South and North Atlantic this specimen no longer exists.
- Napoleon Fish: This fish has a very slow reproduction process, which added to the fact that it is easy prey for commercial fishermen have made it one of the endangered species.
- Vaquita Marina: This species is prone to disappear, taking into account that there are only about 600 specimens left and that its life cycle is on the verge of extinction.
- Manatee: One of the main threats to this species is pollution, since its main food (algae) becomes toxic food for this animal and as a consequence its number has been reduced to approximately 3 thousand.
Climate in the Atlantic Ocean
The climate in the Atlantic Ocean is particular thanks to the fact that it is influenced by the temperatures presented in more superficial waters, by the effect of the winds and by the different underwater currents. It should be noted that the ocean retains heat and does not show significant changes in the seasons.
The climatic regions of this ocean vary according to latitude, the coldest places are located at high latitudes, specifically where the surface is frozen and the average temperature is about 2 degrees Celsius.
The areas with the greatest presence of heat are located in the North Atlantic, these areas are mostly tropical and have great activity in terms of evaporation thanks to high temperatures.
The Atlantic Ocean , in general, has ocean currents that help regulate global temperatures. This is thanks to the currents and the winds that accompany them, which transport a wide variety of factors such as water of varying temperatures, humidity, and temperature variations.
This adjusts the areas bathed by the coasts on the different continents; the flora and fauna of the Atlantic Ocean are also influenced in choosing habitats due to the climate and the different currents.
These currents help adjust temperatures in the following ways:
- Those responsible for raising the temperature in northeastern Europe and Great Britain, come from the Mexican Gulf.
- Northeastern Canada and Africa remain cloudy thanks to cold currents
Hurricane season in the Atlantic
Hurricanes in the ocean are formed because the surface air is hot, the same as it rises, collides and compacts with the currents of the atmosphere that are very cold. This phenomenon is seen frequently in the months of August and November, thanks to that constancy it was called the hurricane season.
These hurricanes are loud and grow with ocean water. But when they reach land and touch the ground, they lose their strength considerably, this gives rise to tropical storms, which move until they disappear completely. Most of them are generated on the African continent and their journey is made to the Caribbean.
Countries surrounding the Atlantic
Today, the Atlantic Ocean washes the shores of several continents and a large number of countries. These countries also share the Atlantic Ocean's flora and fauna . We will take a tour of the continents and countries reached by the Atlantic:
America
- Venezuela
- Argentina
- Brazil
- Bahamas
- Cuba
- to Canada
- Puerto Rico
- Dominican Republic
- United States
- French Guyana
- Haiti
- Uruguay
- Trinidad and Tobago
- Guyana
- Suriname
Countries in the Caribbean Sea and the Gulf of Mexico
- Mexico
- Barbados
- Belize
- Antigua and Barbuda
- Nicaragua
- Granada
- Colombia
- Jamaica
- Panama
- Saint Kitts and Nevis
- The Grenadines
- Dominica
- Guatemala
- Honduras
- Costa Rica
Europe
- Spain
- United Kingdom
- Portugal
- France
- Ireland
- Iceland
- Norway
Countries in the Mediterranean Sea
- Cyprus
- North Cyprus
- Bosnia
- Slovenia
- Greece
- Italy
- Malta
- Croatia
- Monaco
- Montenegro
- Albania
Countries in the Baltic Sea
- Belgium
- Germany,
- The Netherlands
- Latvia
- Lithuania
- Denmark
- Estonia
- Finland
- Sweden
- Russia
- Poland
Asia
In Asia, the Atlantic Ocean reaches through the Mediterranean Sea. Reach countries:
- Israel
- Türkiye
- Palestine
- Syria
- Lebanon
It also reaches certain countries across the Black Sea:
- Romania
- Georgia
- Bulgaria
- Ukraine
- abkhaia
Africa
- Angola
- Cameroon
- Cape Verde
- Benin
- Liberia
- Ghana
- Morocco
- Guinea
- Equatorial Guinea
- Guinea-Bissau
- Gabon
- Ivory Coast
- South Africa
- Gambia
- Mauritania
- Namibia
- Nigeria
- Republic of Congo
- Democratic Republic of the Congo Sao Tome and Principe
- Senegal
- Sao Tome and Principe
- Sierra Leona
- Togo
African countries of the Mediterranean Sea
- Algeria
- Libya
- Tunisia
- Egypt
islands of the atlantic ocean
This ocean has a large number of islands throughout its expanse, grouped across the various continents, with the largest concentrations in Europe and the Americas. The main islands of the Atlantic Ocean are:
- The Svalbard Archipelago
- Islands in the Scandinavian Peninsula
- in the baltic sea
- On the European continental coast
- British islands
- On the Atlantic coast of France
- On the Atlantic coast of Spain
- Islands on the Atlantic coast of Portugal
- island sicily
- Sardinia
- Cyprus
- Corsica
- Mallorca
- Crete
- Rhodes
- Lesbos
- Canary Islands.
- Azores Islands
- Trinidad and Tobago
- Isla Margarita
- The Spanish
- Cuba
- Puerto Rico
- Perez Island
- the florida keys
Contamination
Pollution is a global problem, they have brought numerous consequences throughout the modern era. These have arisen thanks to mass fishing, the exploitation of oil wells and their spillage and toxic material.
The plastics and waste discarded on the beaches along all the coastal extensions have also generated problems. These have been moving thanks to currents and winds.
The consequences of pollution have affected the flora and fauna of the Atlantic Ocean to such an extent that they have driven numerous animal species to the brink of extinction. They have also severely damaged some coral reefs.
Today there are various groups that carry out activities that try to protect these ocean waters and their adjacent seas. They also seek to promote movements for the protection of animals and their preservation.
Importance
This ocean has been of great importance since ancient times. It has played a fundamental role as the stage for geopolitical development. We can consider that the voyage made by Christopher Columbus was one of the great stories developed in this ocean.
It meant the bridge between totally different civilizations, the so-called meeting between the new and the old world. The European countries that were protagonists in this event took advantage of the domination of the West Indies. These countries were France, Portugal, England and Spain.
The Atlantic Ocean was also one of the main theaters in the First World War. The materials and war artillery were transported through it in ships and vessels that came mainly from the United States and were destined for the European continent.
It has also been a great source for the world economy for a few years. Oil and other minerals have been found in the ocean. It is a source for the fishing economy and trade between countries. It is the conveyor belt of multiple resources between Europe, America and Africa.
It should be noted that the flora and fauna of the Atlantic Ocean is one of the most extensive and important marine ecosystems in the world due to its characteristic diversity.
Atlantic Myths
The Atlantic sea also has several myths that are famous throughout the world. Some of them are:
The Bermuda Triangle
It is an equilateral triangle formed between the island of Bermuda, the coast of Florida (United States) and the island of Puerto Rico, it is famous for the numerous shipwrecks that have taken part in this area. They have given him a certain mythical reaction from the world community.
Numerous theories range from extraterrestrial presences to supernatural forces that caused the multiple plane crashes and shipwrecks. Until now science has not been able to verify what actually happens in that place.
Atlantis
Plato, a philosopher from Greece who lived between 427 and 347 BC, was the first to mention this ancient legend in his "Dialogues". Legend has it that it was larger than Asia and Libya combined and that it was located in the center of the North Atlantic.
According to various ancient texts, it was an incredible and powerful civilization and dominant in the military and commercial activities of North Africa and Europe. Legend has it that the Athenians stopped the Atlantians and disappeared some time later due to a huge tsunami.