Southern Ocean

Antarctica · ocean · extreme environment

Wraps around Antarctica. The Southern Ocean is the water surrounding Antarctica, south of the 60th parallel line. It's the only ocean that goes all the way around the world without hitting any land.

Second smallest ocean. At about 22 million square kilometers, the Southern Ocean is bigger than the Arctic Ocean but smaller than the Pacific, Atlantic, and Indian oceans combined.

Super cold and stormy. This ocean is one of the roughest, most dangerous seas on Earth with massive waves, icebergs, and freezing temperatures that keep it mostly empty of ships.

Amazing animal home. Penguins, seals, whales, and millions of seabirds depend on the Southern Ocean for food and survival in one of the planet's harshest places.

Connected to all oceans. Water from the Southern Ocean flows into the Pacific, Atlantic, and Indian oceans, making it a crucial part of how Earth's oceans mix and move.