The Pacific Ocean is the world´s largest body of water. It is vast and covers about a third of the Earth's surface. The Pacific contains about 25,000 islands. The islands of the Pacific suffer violent typhoons and hurricanes. Additionally, the Pacific-rim lands are prone to volcanic activity, as well as earthquakes. Tsunamis, caused by underwater quakes, have destroyed many islands and many towns and villages have actually disappeared.

Water temperatures in the Pacific can vary from freezing in the areas of the poles, to 29 degrees centigrade (84 degrees fahrenheit) in areas near the equator. Salinity also varies according to latitud. Water near the equator is less salty than that found in the mid-latitudes because of abundant equatorial precipitation throughout the year.

Only the largest land masses around the Pacific, namely Australia and New Zealand, manage to escape the dramatic climatic influence of the ocean. Different climates exist within the area of the Pacific as it covers such a vast area of earth. There are regions of typhoons and monsoons, as well as trade winds, the ‘westerlies’ winds and also the doldrums, which is an area of calm, centred slightly north of the equator, between two belts of trade winds.

What Can You Find There?

Sea lions, Sea Otters, Seals, Turtles, Dugongs and Whales (categorised as endangered marine life), Fish, Oil & Gas fields, sand and gravel aggregates, placer deposits

Issues of Concern in the Pacific Ocean

- Oil pollution in the South China Sea and Philippine Sea

- Endangered marine life, including the sea lion, sea otter, seals, turtles, whales and the dugong