Seas
Bays
Africa:
Europe:
North America:
Largest tributaries
Africa:
Europe:
North America:
South America:
Natural lakes
Estuaries
Largest Swamps
Perciformes - Perches
Salmoniformes - Salmons and Trouts
Siluriformes - Catfishes
Centrarchiformes - Basses and sunfishes
Acipenseriformes - Sturgeons and Paddlefish
Gadiformes - Cods
Spariformes - Breams and porgies
Zeiformes - Dories
Carangiformes - Jacks
Labriformes - Wrasses
Acanthuriformes - Surgeonfishes
Scombriformes - Mackerels
Tetraodontiformes - Puffers and filefishes
Mugiliformes - Mullets
Anguilliformes - Eels and morays
Clupeiformes - Herrings
Scorpaeniformes - Mail-cheeked fishes
Istiophoriformes - Barracudas
Mulliformes - Goatfishes
Moroniformes - Temperate basses
Elopiformes - Tarpons and tenpounders
Beloniformes - Needlefishes
Albuliformes - Bonefishes
Blenniiformes - Blennies
Trachiniformes - Weeverfishes
Pleuronectiformes - Flatfishes
Gobiiformes - Gobies
Aulopiformes - Grinners
Gasterosteiformes - Sticklebacks
Acropomatiformes - Oceanic basses
Holocentriformes - Squirrelfishes
Beryciformes - Sawbellies
Syngnathiformes - Pipefishes and Seahorses
Lophiiformes - Anglerfishes
Lampriformes - Lamprids
Kurtiformes - Nurseryfishes & Cardinalfishes
Dactylopteriformes - Flying gurnards
Cyprinodontiformes - Toothcarps
Atheriniformes - Silversides
Osmeriformes - Smelts
Argentiniformes - Marine smelts
Myxiniformes - Hagfishes
Batrachoidiformes - Toadfishes
Callionymiformes - Dragonets
Carcharhiniformes - Ground sharks
Lamniformes - Mackerel sharks
Orectolobiformes - Carpet shark
Hexanchiformes - Six-gill sharks
Squaliformes - Sleeper and dogfish sharks
Chimaeriformes - Chimaeras
Gonorynchiformes - Milkfishes
Myliobatiformes - Stingrays
Ophidiiformes - Cusk-eels
Rajiformes - Skates and rays
Rhinopristiformes - Shovelnose rays
Torpediniformes - Electric rays
Saccopharyngiformes - Swallowers and Gulpers
Myctophiformes - Lanternfishes
Stylephoriformes - Tube-eyes
Notacanthiformes - Spiny eels
Squatiniformes - Angelsharks
The Atlantic Ocean is the second-largest ocean, with an area of about 85,133,000 km2 (32,870,000 sq mi). It covers approximately 20% of Earth’s surface and about 29% of its water surface area.
It is known to separate the Old World of Africa, Europe, and Asia from the New World of the Americas in the European perception of the World.
On average, the Atlantic is the saltiest major ocean; surface water salinity in the open ocean ranges from 33 to 37 parts per thousand (3.3–3.7%) by mass and varies with latitude and season. Evaporation, precipitation, river inflow and sea ice melting influence surface salinity values. Although the lowest salinity values are just north of the equator (because of heavy tropical rainfall), in general, the lowest values are in the high latitudes and along coasts where large rivers enter. Maximum salinity values occur at about 25° north and south, in subtropical regions with low rainfall and high evaporation.
The high surface salinity in the Atlantic, on which the Atlantic thermohaline circulation is dependent, is maintained by two processes: the Agulhas Leakage/Rings, which brings salty Indian Ocean waters into the South Atlantic, and the Atmospheric Bridge, which evaporates subtropical Atlantic waters and exports it to the Pacific.
In the North Atlantic, surface circulation is dominated by three inter-connected currents: the Gulf Stream which flows north-east from the North American coast at Cape Hatteras; the North Atlantic Current, a branch of the Gulf Stream which flows northward from the Grand Banks; and the Subpolar Front, an extension of the North Atlantic Current, a wide, vaguely defined region separating the subtropical gyre from the subpolar gyre. This system of currents transport warm water into the North Atlantic, without which temperatures in the North Atlantic and Europe would plunge dramatically.
