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
Acanthuriformes - Surgeonfishes
Labriformes - Wrasses
Scorpaeniformes - Mail-cheeked fishes
Tetraodontiformes - Puffers and filefishes
Clupeiformes - Herrings
Carangiformes - Jacks
Beloniformes - Needlefishes
Mugiliformes - Mullets
Anguilliformes - Eels and morays
Scombriformes - Mackerels
Moroniformes - Temperate basses
Mulliformes - Goatfishes
Istiophoriformes - Barracudas
Albuliformes - Bonefishes
Elopiformes - Tarpons and tenpounders
Pleuronectiformes - Flatfishes
Blenniiformes - Blennies
Trachiniformes - Weeverfishes
Gobiiformes - Gobies
Gasterosteiformes - Sticklebacks
Aulopiformes - Grinners
Holocentriformes - Squirrelfishes
Beryciformes - Sawbellies
Acropomatiformes - Oceanic basses
Syngnathiformes - Pipefishes and Seahorses
Lophiiformes - Anglerfishes
Lampriformes - Lamprids
Dactylopteriformes - Flying gurnards
Kurtiformes - Nurseryfishes & Cardinalfishes
Cyprinodontiformes - Toothcarps
Atheriniformes - Silversides
Argentiniformes - Marine smelts
Osmeriformes - Smelts
Batrachoidiformes - Toadfishes
Myxiniformes - Hagfishes
Gobiesociformes - Clingfishes
Callionymiformes - Dragonets
Carcharhiniformes - Ground sharks
Hexanchiformes - Six-gill sharks
Orectolobiformes - Carpet shark
Lamniformes - Mackerel sharks
Squaliformes - Sleeper and dogfish sharks
Chimaeriformes - Chimaeras
Gonorynchiformes - Milkfishes
Ophidiiformes - Cusk-eels
Rajiformes - Skates and rays
Myliobatiformes - Stingrays
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.
