Arctic Ocean

The smallest and shallowest ocean, capped by drifting sea ice and ringed by the northern lands.

Specifications & Metrics

area

~14 million km²

Core Principles & Analysis

• Its ice cover roughly halves in extent from March to September.
• It is the coldest of the oceans, yet its waters are kept liquid by the salt and the insulating ice.
• The Northwest Passage through it was the dream of explorers for four centuries before icebreakers made it routine.

Sources

• Wikipedia: Arctic Ocean