Discover which ocean lies to the West of Africa and learn interesting facts about the Atlantic Ocean, the second-largest ocean in the world.
The Atlantic Ocean lies in the West of Africa. It is the world’s second-largest ocean and covers an area of approximately 82,000,000 square km. The ocean is bounded by North and South America in the West and Europe and Africa in the East.
The Atlantic Ocean makes up 1/6th of the geographical area of the globe and is roughly half the size of the Pacific Ocean. The ocean’s name comes from the ancient Greek god Atlas, who was said to hold the heavens on his shoulders.
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It was formed due to the separation of the Americas from Europe and Africa due to plate tectonics.
Today, the ocean is home to diverse marine life, including whales, dolphins, sharks, and many fish species. The Atlantic Ocean is also vital to global trade and transportation, with numerous shipping routes and ports connecting North America, Europe, and Africa.