Pacific Ocean
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[[Image:imagename.jpg|frame|right|The Pacific Ocean]] | [[Image:imagename.jpg|frame|right|The Pacific Ocean]] | ||
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+ | The Pacific Ocean is the largest of the Earth's oceanic divisions. It extends from the Arctic in the north to the Southern Ocean (or, depending on definition, to Antarctica) in the south, bounded by Asia and Australia in the west, and the Americas in the east. | ||
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+ | At 165.2 million square kilometres (63.8 million square miles) in area, this largest division of the World Ocean – and, in turn, the hydrosphere – covers about 46% of the Earth's water surface and about one-third of its total surface area, making it larger than all of the Earth's land area combined. The equator subdivides it into the North Pacific Ocean and South Pacific Ocean, with two exceptions: the Galápagos and Gilbert Islands, while straddling the equator, are deemed wholly within the South Pacific. The Mariana Trench in the western North Pacific is the deepest point in the world, reaching a depth of 10,911 metres (35,797 ft). | ||
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+ | The Pacific Ocean was sighted by Europeans early in the 16th century, first by the Spanish explorer Vasco Núñez de Balboa, who crossed the Isthmus of Panama in 1513 and named it Mar del Sur (South Sea). Its current name was given by Portuguese explorer Ferdinand Magellan during the Spanish expedition of world circumnavigation in 1521, who encountered favourable winds as he reached the ocean and called it Mar Pacifico in Portuguese, meaning "peaceful sea". | ||
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==Pacific Ocean Sectors== | ==Pacific Ocean Sectors== | ||
* [[East Pacific]] | * [[East Pacific]] |
Revision as of 01:35, 4 October 2011
Pacific Ocean Cruising Guide
An online cruising guide for sailing in the Pacific Ocean.
Background
The Pacific Ocean is the largest of the Earth's oceanic divisions. It extends from the Arctic in the north to the Southern Ocean (or, depending on definition, to Antarctica) in the south, bounded by Asia and Australia in the west, and the Americas in the east.
At 165.2 million square kilometres (63.8 million square miles) in area, this largest division of the World Ocean – and, in turn, the hydrosphere – covers about 46% of the Earth's water surface and about one-third of its total surface area, making it larger than all of the Earth's land area combined. The equator subdivides it into the North Pacific Ocean and South Pacific Ocean, with two exceptions: the Galápagos and Gilbert Islands, while straddling the equator, are deemed wholly within the South Pacific. The Mariana Trench in the western North Pacific is the deepest point in the world, reaching a depth of 10,911 metres (35,797 ft).
The Pacific Ocean was sighted by Europeans early in the 16th century, first by the Spanish explorer Vasco Núñez de Balboa, who crossed the Isthmus of Panama in 1513 and named it Mar del Sur (South Sea). Its current name was given by Portuguese explorer Ferdinand Magellan during the Spanish expedition of world circumnavigation in 1521, who encountered favourable winds as he reached the ocean and called it Mar Pacifico in Portuguese, meaning "peaceful sea".
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Pacific Ocean Sectors
Trans-Pacific Passages
Climate & Weather
Charts
- Source
- Chart
Any navigation notes here.
Local Radio Nets
- Pacific Seafarer's Net 14.300MHz @ 0300 UTC.
Also see World Cruiser's Nets
Crossing Notes
Crossing details?
References & Publications
Books, Guides, etc.
Links to Forum Discussions
List links to discussion threads on partnering forums. (see link for requirements)
External Links
Personal Notes
Personal experiences?
Contributors to this page |
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Names: |
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| HOMEPAGE | Wiki Contents | Pacific Ocean | |
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