Tomorrow is the fourth anniversary of World Oceans Day. It follows the 2008 declaration by the United Nations General Assembly that, as of 2009, June 8 would be designated World Oceans Day. Here are five facts about the ocean:
- Around 70 per cent of the Earth’s surface is covered by oceans. They are home to an estimated 50-80 per cent of all life on earth.
- The largest coral reef is the Great Barrier Reef, which spans 1,600 miles off the east coast of Australia. It is so large that it can be seen from space.
- The largest ocean is the Pacific Ocean, which covers around 30 per cent of the Earth’s surface. The deepest known area of the Earth’s oceans, the 36,000-foot Mariana Trench, is located in the western Pacific Ocean.
- The Caribbean’s greatest depth is called the Cayman Trench, between Cuba and Jamaica. It is about 25,216 feet below sea level.
- Marine pollution has damaged or destroyed swathes of ocean life. Among the sources of marine pollution are: agricultural practices, coastal tourism, port and harbour developments, damming of rivers, urban development and construction, mining, fisheries, aquaculture and manufacturing.
Click here for more facts about the ocean from UNESCO.
