The Pacific is known as the largest and most important ocean on planet Earth, the most abundant body of water on the entire globe, covering a third of its total. Located between the continents of America on one side and Asia and Australia on the other, the Pacific also connects the North Pole with the South Pole. Starting from the Equator line, the Pacific Ocean can be divided into two major sections: the North Pacific and the South Pacific. The total area of this ocean is more than 179 million square kilometers.
Although human contact with the Pacific Ocean has existed since time immemorial, it is curious to know that the European (the most navigator of all men) only got to know it in the 16th century when Nuñez de Balboa crossed the Isthmus of Panama. Later, Magellan would give it his name when crossing the southern part of the American continent and observing that, unlike the waters of the Atlantic Ocean, those of the Pacific were much calmer and easier to navigate.
In its extension, the Pacific Ocean contains more than 25 thousand islands, most of them being in the southern region and, more specifically, in the area of Southeast Asia. In addition, it is interesting to remember that many seas of different types are located in the waters of the Pacific: the Philippine Sea, the Chinese Sea, the Tasmanian Sea, the Yellow Sea, the Coral Sea and some others. While to the north the Bering Strait is the one that connects it with the Arctic Ocean, the Strait of Magellan does the same with the Atlantic Ocean and the Strait of Malacca with the Indian Ocean.
Due to the connection that this ocean has with many tectonic plate junction zones, its waters normally suffer many earthquakes and tsunamis, which has nothing to do with how peaceful its waters are compared to other oceans. Due to its great extension, its waters can also be extremely cold near the poles and warm at the equator.
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