It’s the annual World Oceans Day on 8 June, designed to celebrate our blue planet and highlight ways to support ocean conservation and sustainability. Oceans make up around 70% of the Earth’s surface so it should come as no surprise there’s a few hidden gems and quirky creatures lying below the surface! Check out below these six exciting ocean facts.
Jellyfish are the oldest animals in the ocean
Jellyfish have been swimming on our planet for more than half a billion years, making them the oldest animals in the ocean. There are hundreds of different species of jellyfish and the elegant creatures can be found in both cold and warm waters.
The longest mountain range in the world is found underwater
Stretching for 65,000km, the Mid-Oceanic Ridge is the longest mountain range in the world. Formed through the movement of tectonic plates, it runs through all of the Earth’s oceans and reaches 4,200m at its tallest point.
It’s estimated that around 90% of the ocean’s species remain undiscovered
The sheer scale and depth of the world’s oceans means that many marine species remain undiscovered. Currently, we are aware of around 226,000 different ocean species but it’s estimated that there are hundreds of thousands more that are still unknown. Corals are animals themselves and their unique reef structure provides a home to a huge range of marine life.
The hottest water on Earth can be found in the Atlantic Ocean
Scientists have recorded the hottest water on Earth deep within the Atlantic Ocean. Laying 3km beneath the surface, the water exists in a ‘supercritical’ state between gas and liquid and can reach temperatures as high as 467 degrees Celsius.
There’s a species of fish called a Blobfish named for its unusual appearance
The Blobfish (Psychrolutes marcidus) is a deepwater fish found off the coasts of Australia, New Zealand and Tasmania. It has very little muscle, which allows it to live just above the ocean floor. The Blobfish earned its name due to its jelly-like appearance when out of water but in its natural habitat the Blobfish looks much more like a regular fish.
The Great Barrier Reef can be seen from space
Located along Australia’s east coast, the Great Barrier Reef is the world’s largest coral reef system, comprising over 3,000 individual reefs and coral cays. Stretching for 2,300km, the reef is large enough to be visible from space; the only living thing on Earth to hold this accolade.
It’s easy to see why, here at The Reef-World Foundation, we’re so passionate about protecting our oceans and educating others to ensure best practice when underwater. If you’d like to get involved and help us on our journey, check out our donation page!