Muhammad Naeem Abbas Bhatti CSS Aspirant 2013

Dear fellows I have gathered all oceans, continents, and some famous seas, their details with maps in a single document. It will help a lot in your prep and concept clearance. May you succeed in your goals and also pray for me. .

Earths Landmasses and Oceans with maps and descriptions

Surface Area of the Planet: 510,066,000 sq km Land Area on the Planet: 148,647,000 sq km 29.1% Ocean Area: 335,258,000 sq km Total Water Area: 361,419,000 sq km 70.9% Type of Water: (97% salt), (3% fresh)

Oceans by size
#1 Pacific (155,557,000 sq km) larger map #2 Atlantic (76,762,000 sq km) larger map #3 Indian (68,556,000 sq km) larger map #4 Southern (20,327,000 sq km) larger map #5 Arctic (14,056,000 sq km) larger map

Greatest depths in the oceans

Mariana Trench, Pacific 35,827 ft Puerto Rico Trench, Atlantic 30,246 ft Java Trench, Indian 24,460 ft Arctic Basin, Arctic 18,456 ft Southern Ocean, 23,737 ft

Pacific Ocean
The Pacific Ocean is the largest of the Earth's oceans. It extends from the Arctic in the north to the Southern Ocean 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, it 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. Extending approximately 15,500 kilometres (9,600 mi) from the Bering Sea in the Arctic to the northern extent of the circumpolar Southern Ocean at 60 S, the Pacific reaches its greatest east-west width at about 5N latitude, where it stretches approximately 19,800 kilometres (12,300 mi) from Indonesia to the coast of Colombia and Peru halfway across the world, and more than five times the diameter of the Moon. The Pacific Ocean's lowest known point, and the lowest on earth, is the Mariana Trench to the east of the Mariana Island. It is 10,911 metres (35,797 ft) below sea level. The Pacific Ocean's average depth is 4,188metres (14,000 ft). The Pacific Ocean is currently shrinking due to plate tectonics, while the Atlantic Ocean is increasing in size, by roughly an inch per year (23 cm/yr) on 3 sides, roughly averaging 0.2 square miles (0.5 km2) a year.

Atlantic Ocean
The Atlantic Ocean is the second-largest of the world's oceanic divisions. With a total area of about 106,400,000 square kilometres (41,100,000 sq mi), it covers approximately 22% percent of the Earth's surface and about twenty-six percent of its water surface area. The Atlantic Ocean occupies an elongated, S-shaped basin extending longitudinally between the Americas to the west, and Europe and Africa to the east. As one component of the interconnected global ocean, it is connected in the north to the Arctic Ocean (which is sometimes considered a sea of the Atlantic), to the Pacific Ocean in the southwest, the Indian Ocean in the southeast, and the Southern Ocean in the far-south. The decision by the International Hydrographic Organization in the spring of 2000 to delimit a fifth world ocean, the Southern Ocean, removed the portion of the Atlantic Ocean south of 60 degrees south. The average depth of the Atlantic, with its adjacent seas, is 3,339 metres (10,955 ft); without them it is 3,926 metres (12,881 ft). The greatest depth, Milwaukee Deep with 8,605 metres (28,232 ft), is in the Puerto Rico Trench. The Atlantic's width varies from 2,848 kilometres (1,770 mi) between Brazil and Sierra Leone to over 6,400 km (4,000 mi) in the far-south

Indian Ocean
The Indian Ocean is the third largest of the world's oceans, covering approximately 20% of the water on the Earth's surface. It is bounded on the north by the Indian subcontinent; on the west by East Africa; on the east by Indochina, the Sunda Islands, and Australia; and in the far-south by the Southern Ocean. The Indian Ocean is nearly 10,000 kilometres (6,200 mi) wide at the southern tips of Africa and Australia; its area is 73,556,000 square kilometres (28,350,000 sq mi), which includes the Red Sea and the Persian Gulf. The ocean's volume is estimated to be 292,131,000 cubic kilometres. Island nations within the ocean are Madagascar, the world's fourth largest island; Reunion Island; Comoros; Seychelles; Maldives Mauritius; and Sri Lanka. The archipelago of Indonesia borders the ocean in the east. The average depth of the Indian Ocean is measured at 3,890 m (12,762 ft). Its deepest point is the Diamantina Deep in Diamantina Trench, at 8,047 m (26,401 ft) deep.

Southern Ocean
The Southern Ocean, is also known as the Great Southern Ocean, the Antarctic Ocean and the South Polar Ocean. It comprises the southernmost waters on the planet, and is generally accepted to be south of 60S latitude, and encircling the continent of Antarctica. The Southern Ocean has typical depths of between 4,000 and 5,000 meters (13,000 to 16,000 ft) with only limited areas of shallow water. Its greatest depth is measured at 7,236 meters (23,737 ft) at the southern end of the South Sandwich Trench, at 6000'S, 024W. It is considered the fourth-largest of the planet's five principal oceans. This ocean zone is where cold, northward flowing waters from the Antarctic mix with warmer sub-Antarctic waters. Large icebergs are very common in its waters, as well as countless iceberg fragments and sea ice of varied depths. High winds and large waves in its northern reaches are the norm.

Arctic Ocean
The Arctic Ocean is the smallest, and shallowest of the world's five major oceans. It occupies a roughly circular basin and covers an area of about 14,056,000 km2 (5,427,000 sq mi), almost the size of Russia. The coastline is estimated to be 45,390 km (28,200 mi) long. In general terms it includes Baffin Bay, Barents Sea Beauford Sea Chukchi Sea, East Siberian Sea, Greenland Sea, Hudson Bay, Kara Sea, Laptev Sea, White Sea and other tributary bodies of water. It is connected to the Pacific Ocean by the Bering Strait and to the Atlantic Ocean through the Greenland Sea and Labrador Sea. Surrounded by the land masses of Europe, North America, Greenland, and by several islands, it is partly covered by sea ice throughout the year, and almost completely in the winter months.

The ocean is virtually icelocked from October to June, and ships are subject to superstructure icing from October to May. Before the advent of modern icebreakers, ships sailing the Arctic Ocean risked being trapped or crushed by sea ice.

Africa
The planet's 2nd largest continent and the second most-populous continent (after Asia) includes (54) individual countries, and Western Sahara, a member state of the African Union whose statehood is disputed by Morocco. Note that South Sudan is the continent's newest country. With just over a billion people (a 2010 estimate) it accounts for just over 14% of the world's human population. It also contains the Nile River system, the world's longest, and the massive Sahara Desert, the world's largest. Africa is surrounded by the Mediterranean Sea to the north, both the Suez Canal and the Red Sea along the Sinai Peninsula to the northeast, the Indian Ocean to the east and southeast, and the Atlantic Ocean to the west.

North America
The planets 3rd largest continent, includes (23) countries and dozens of possessions and territories. It contains all Caribbean and Central America countries, Canada, Mexico, the United States of America, as well as Greenland - the worlds largest island. Positioned in the planet's northern and western hemispheres, it's bordered in the north by the Arctic Ocean, in the east by the Atlantic Ocean, in the southeast by the Caribbean Sea and Gulf of Mexico, and in the west by the Pacific Ocean. Additional North American countries (not shown on this map) include: Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Dominica, Grenada, Haiti, St. Kitts & Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Vincent & the Grenadines, Trinidad & Tobago.

South America
The planet's 4th largest continent, includes (12) independent countries and (3) major territories; the Falkland Islands, Galapagos Islands and French Guiana. The continent contains the world's highest waterfall, Angel Falls in Venezuela; the largest river (by volume), the Amazon River; the longest mountain range, the Andes, and the driest place on earth, the Atacama Desert in Chile. In addition, it includes the largest rainforest, the Amazon Rainforest; the highest capital city, La Paz, Bolivia; the highest commercially navigable lake in the world, Lake Titicaca; and, excluding research stations in Antarctica, the world's southernmost permanently inhabited community, Puerto Toro, Chile. Size: 13,209,000 sq km, 5,100,021 sq miles (Varies due to changing ice shelves) Percent of Earth's Land: 8.9%

Antarctica
Almost 98% solid ice was finally considered a continent in 1840, and not just a group of isolated islands. Today it has active territorial claims submitted by Argentina, Australia, Chile, France, New Zealand, Norway and the United Kingdom. (Many of these claims are not recognized by some countries and remain in a constant disputed status) Capital City none Climate Antarctica is the coldest and windiest spot on the planet. In fact, the lowest temperature ever recorded on Earth was recorded in Antarctica (-129.3F) and the mean winter temperatures range from -40 to -94F. Winds are commonly measured at up to 200 miles per hour. The Antarctic (or Antarctica) Circle is one of the five major circles or parallels of latitude that mark maps of the Earth. Shown on the image above with a dashed red line, this parallel of latitude sits at approximately 66.33 south of the Equator. It marks the northern limit of the area within which, for one day or more each year, the sun does not set or rise.

The length of continuous day or night increases southward from the Antarctic Circle, mounting to six months at the South Pole. Highest Point Vinson Massif at 16,066 ft. (4,897 m) (map) Lowest Point Bentley Subglacial Trench, -2,555 m) Latitude/Longitude 90 S, 0.00 E Official Language none Official Currency none Population officially none, but governmental research stations are populated with small groups of scientists at all times. In addition, during the 2009/2010 season, nearly 37,000 tourists visited the continent.

OCEANIA
The smallest continent, is without doubt one of the most diverse and fascinating areas on the planet. A large percentage of geography experts now consider the long-established continent of Australia to be more accurately defined as Australia/Oceania. Collectively it then combines all of Australia, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, as well as the thousands of coral atolls and volcanic islands of the South Pacific Ocean, including the Melanesia and Polynesia groups. Oceania also includes Micronesia, a widely scattered group of islands that run along the northern and southern edges of the Equator.

The Middle East

(or West Asia) sits where Africa, Asia and Europe meet. The countries of the Middle East are all part of Asia, but for clarity reasons we geographically show them here as a separate landmass. As a point-of-interest, Armenia and Azerbaijan have long been associated with the Middle East, but in recent years, some sources now consider them to be more closely aligned with Europe based on their modern economic and political trends. We have moved in that direction, and the same applies for the island country of Cyprus, as it does for Georgia, the former Russian republic. Here we attempt to show the modern definition of the Middle East, but in the world of geography, there are often many answers (or personal or political opinions) to what appears to be a simple question.

Europe
the planet's 6th largest continent, includes 47 countries and assorted dependencies, islands and territories. Europe's recognized surface area covers about 9,938,000 sq km (3,837,083 sq mi) or 2% of the Earth's surface, and about 6.8% of its land area. In exacting geographic definitions, Europe is really not a continent, but part of the peninsula of Eurasia which includes all of Europe and Asia. However, it's still widely referred to as an individual continent. The European continent, bordered by numerous bodies of water, is separated from Asia by Russia's Ural Mountains and by the Caspian and Black Seas. It is separated from Africa by the Mediterranean Sea.

Asia
As the largest and most populous continent in the world with just over 3.8 billion people, Asia is composed of a wide variety of ethnic groups, cultures, environments, economics, historical ties, and governmental systems. Geographically the continent makes up 8.7% of the Earth's total surface area, and 29.5% of its land area. In the west, Asia is bordered by Europe, the eastern coastline of the Mediterranean Sea, as well by the Sea of Marmara, the Bosporus Strait, the Black Sea and the Caspian Sea. In the east, Asia is bordered by the Pacific Ocean, and an almost endless stretch of bays and seas. The Arctic Ocean and a handful of seas front the northern border, while the Bering Sea separates Asia from North America. In the southwest the Red Sea and isthmus of Suez separate the continent from Africa. The Indian Ocean fronts most of Asia's southern borders, along with a series of bays, gulfs and seas, as well as extensive chains of both inhabited and uninhabited islands.

Burma: Military authorities have promoted the name Myanmar since 1989 as the conventional name for their state. That decision was not (and is not) approved by any sitting legislature in Burma, and is not accepted by the U.S. government. However, Myanmar is widely accepted by numerous countries, and by the United Nations. European Russia: The Russian landmass west of the Ural Mountains is commonly referred to as European Russia in most educational atlases, and by the vast majority of geography experts. It is not a separate country, but rather called that because of its political, cultural and geographical blendings with Europe. For reference purposes it is shown above to the west of the dashed-line, however, the entire country (as a whole) is still considered part of the continent of Asia.

Countries considered part of the Middle East (or West Asia) is shown in a lighter shade of gray. Note that they are all still a part of the continent of Asia. Opinions vary as to what countries make up the modern definition of Asia and the Middle East. Historically, Armenia and Azerbaijan have been long associated with the Middle East, but in recent years, some sources now consider them to be more closely aligned with Europe based on their modern economic and political trends. We have moved in that direction, and the same can be said for the island country of Cyprus. Taiwan is still considered by China to be its 23rd province, and not an independent country. Very few other country governments accept China's claims of sovereignty over Taiwan.

Turkey is officially, politically and geographically considered part of both Asia and Europe. The small northwestern portion of Turkey named (Thrace) is a recognized part of Europe, while the largest part (Anatolia) is located in the Middle East, a part of Asia.

Mediterranean Sea
This inland sea is bordered on the north by Europe, the east by Asia, and in the south by Africa. This 969,100 sq. mile body of water is approximately 2,300 miles in length, and has a maximum depth of 16,896 ft. Major subdivisions include the Adriatic Sea, Aegean Sea, Balearic Sea, Tyrrhenian Sea, Ionian Sea and Liguria Sea.

Black Sea
The Black Sea is an inland sea located between far-southeastern Europe and the farwestern edges of the continent of Asia and the country of Turkey. It's bordered by Turkey, and by the countries of Bulgaria, Romania, Ukraine, Russia and Georgia. It connects to the Mediterranean Sea first through the Bosporus Strait, then through the Sea of Marmara and the Dardanelles Strait, then south through the Aegean Sea and the Sea of Crete. Many rivers flow into the Black Sea but the two most important include the Danube and the Dnipro. Excluding the Sea of Azov, the Black Sea is 436,400 sq. km (168,500 sq. miles) in size, and has a maximum depth of 2200 meters (7,218 ft.). Over many centuries the Black Sea has been of critical importance to regional commerce. Today this body of water serves as a primary highway for the transport of energy to Europe from Russia and western Asia. This valuable economic conduit is one of the world's busiest waterways, and in 2005 over 55,000 ships, including almost 6,000 oil tankers passed through the Bosporus Strait, most carrying Russian oil.

Red Sea
The Red Sea is an extension (or inlet) of the Indian Ocean, located between Africa and Asia. Entrance to the sea in the south is through the Gulf of Aden and the somewhat narrow Bab el Mandeb (strait). In the north the sea is accessed from Middle Eastern countries via the Gulf of Aqaba (or Gulf of Eilat.) The Mediterranean Sea provides a conduit south through the Suez Canal and Gulf of Suez. This salty sea is just over 190 miles (300 km) across at its widest point, and about 1,200 miles (1,900 km) in length. There's a measured maximum depth of 8,200 feet (2,500 m), and an estimated average depth of 1,640 feet (500 m). Much of the immediate shoreline is quite shallow. With hot sunny days, and the lack of any significant rainfall, desert dust storms are known to sweep across the sea. High heat combined with the lack of precipitation facilitates high levels of evaporation - thus the sea's high salinity. Regardless, the consistent sunshine, as well as white sand beaches, pristine coral reefs and a scattering of shipwrecks are major attractions for scuba divers and sun worshipers. Resorts like Sharm al-Sheikh and others in Egypt's "Red Sea Riviera" along the Gulf of Aqaba and Gulf of Suez are fast becoming major tourist destinations.

Caspian Sea
The Caspian Sea, located in western Asia on the eastern edges of Europe, is the largest lake on the planet. History records that it's called a sea because the Romans found it salty, especially in the southern reaches, and the name stuck. The measured surface area is 371,000 sq km (143,244 sq mi), and the maximum depth is at 1025 m (3,363 ft). The sea is bordered by the countries of Azerbaijan, Russia, Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan and Iran. Oil and natural gas production platforms are replete along the edges of the sea. In addition, large quantities of sturgeon live in its waters, and the caviar produced from their eggs is a valuable commodity. Fresh water flows into the sea via the Volga River and Ural River in the north, however, the sea remains somewhat salty, central and south.

Adriatic Sea
The Adriatic Sea is a part of the Mediterranean Sea positioned between the eastern coastline of Italy, and countries of the Balkan Peninsula, from Slovenia, south through Croatia. Montenegro, and on to Albania. The southern boundary of the sea ends in the Strait of Otranto between Albania and Italy's Salento Peninsula. Immediately south of that strait the Ionian Sea begins. The distance from Brindisi to Venice is 685 km (426 mi), and from Ancona to Split is 228 km (142 mi). The sea is about 805 km (500 mi) in length, with an estimated area of 135,250 sq km (52,220 sq mi). Ancona, Bari, Brindisi, Dubrovnik, Rijeka, Split and Venice are its chief ports and the sea is well served by regional ferries.

Persian Gulf
The Persian Gulf is an extension of the Arabian Sea, positioned in the heart of the Middle East. It connects with the Gulf of Oman and the Arabian Sea through the Strait of Hormuz, and it's approximately 615 mi (990 km) long. The Persian Gulf is certainly one of the most vital bodies of water on the planet, as gas and oil from Middle Eastern countries flow through it, supplying much of the world's energy needs. Over many centuries the Persian Gulf has been a flash point for controversy. In 1990, after Iraq invaded Kuwait, an international coalition led by the United States drove Iraq out, but as they left Iraq's military set fire to hundreds of Kuwati oil fields, causing a major environmental disaster in the area. In 2003, tension in the gulf increased again as U.S. and British forces invaded Iraq, and powerful naval forces from both countries remain in its waters, mostly to protect the flow of oil.