Which ocean is the largest on Earth?

Study for the NAQT Geography Test. Use flashcards and multiple choice questions, each with hints and explanations. Get ready for your geography exam!

The Pacific Ocean is the largest ocean on Earth, covering an area of about 63 million square miles (165 million square kilometers). It extends from the Arctic Ocean in the north to the Southern Ocean in the south and is bordered by Asia and Australia to the west and the Americas to the east. Its vast size encompasses numerous islands and deep-sea trenches, including the Mariana Trench, which is the deepest point in the world's oceans.

This exceptional size makes the Pacific Ocean not only the largest but also the most significant ocean in terms of biodiversity, shipping routes, and climate influence. The other oceans, such as the Atlantic, Indian, and Arctic, while also important and large in their own right, do not reach the sheer expanse of the Pacific Ocean. For instance, the Atlantic Ocean, which is the second-largest, has an area of about 41 million square miles (106 million square kilometers), clearly falling short of the Pacific's dimensions and impact.

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