CIA World Factbook – See more information about regions of the world and oceans2<\/a><\/sup> here<\/a> <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n The term \u201cocean,\u201d as defined by Merriam-Webster<\/a>, is \u201dthe whole body of saltwater that covers nearly three-fourths of the surface of the earth.<\/em>\u201d Comprising 1.3 billion cubic kilometers of water, this is the global body of water that covers roughly 71% of the earth. We often hear and speak of the ocean as it\u2019s divided into five components: Arctic, Atlantic, Indian, Pacific and Southern (Antarctic). While these are often referred to as individual oceans <\/strong>(plural), there is no real<\/em> barrier separating them. Because these are all connected, there is truly only one ocean (singular). <\/p>\n\n\n\n Depending on whom you ask, the term \u201csea\u201d could actually mean the same thing as the ocean. When someone \u201ctakes to the sea,\u201d they could be leaving any number of ports in any number of locations. While yes, generally \u201csea\u201d does<\/em> refer to a smaller segment of the ocean, there are different types of seas in geology: marginal and inland. A marginal sea<\/strong> is one that is defined by its proximity to the land that surrounds it, such as the Mediterranean Sea, the Black Sea or even the Gulf of Mexico (more on that in a minute). Alternatively, an inland sea<\/strong>, while also shallow, is\u2014you guessed it\u2014more inland and covers part of a continent. These are also sometimes called epeiric<\/strong> or epicontinental seas. Epeiric or inland seas have changed throughout periods of time as the earth has evolved, but they are typically landlocked and connect to the broader ocean through a very small channel. Modern-day examples of these include the Baltic Sea and the Hudson Bay.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you\u2019re anything like me, you may now be thinking, \u201cHow are the GULF<\/strong> of Mexico and Hudson BAY<\/strong> also seas\u201d? This is one of those \u201cyes, and\u201d situations. Both bays and gulfs are also part of a sea or ocean. A bay is a broad, recessed coastal inlet where the land curves inward. There is a coastline on three sides of a bay. A gulf is a more defined and deeper inlet with the entrance more enclosed than a bay. 3<\/a><\/sup>Megan Montemurno. “Defining the Differences Among the Bay, Gulf, Ocean & Sea<\/a>“. Ocean Conservancy, 22 December 2021, https:\/\/oceanconservancy.org\/blog\/2021\/12\/22\/differences-bay-gulf-ocean-sea\/. Accessed 29 July 2023<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n First, oceans are waters between the continents, such as Atlantic Ocean separating Africa and Europe from North\/South America; Indian Ocean separating India from Africa, Pacific Ocean separating North and South America from Asia. Ocean floor is made up of dense basaltic rock, covered with or by vast continuous body of water, which account for over two-thirds of earth area. The world has seven of these waters:<\/p>\n\n\n\nFrom Megan Montemurno’s article<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
From Quora<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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