Student Article
Is It True That the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans Don’t Mix?
Currents (noun): The continuous movement of water in a particular direction.
Fresh water (noun): Water, like the water in rivers and lakes, that is not salty.
The Pacific Ocean is the biggest and deepest ocean in the world. It is between the Americas, Oceania, and Asia. The Atlantic Ocean is the second biggest and is between Europe, Africa, and the Americas.
How do the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans mix?
Some people think that the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans do not mix, but they do! There is no real border between them, and their waters flow and mix together. They meet at a place called Cape Horn, which is at the southern tip of South America. Here, strong currents carry water from the Pacific into the Atlantic.
What makes each ocean unique?
Each ocean has its own special features. For example, the Atlantic Ocean has saltier water than the Pacific Ocean.
Why do videos show two different colored bodies of water?
Sometimes, you might see videos online showing two different colored waters meeting. These videos are usually showing fresh water from melted glaciers meeting salty ocean water, not the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans.
So, even though the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans have different names and features, they do mix and are not separate.
© Alexandra Franklin-Cheung / Our Media
Currents (noun): The continuous movement of water in a particular direction.
Fresh water (noun): Water, like the water in rivers and lakes, that is not salty.