Shocking but True: 17 Ocean Facts You Won't Believe

 Did you know there are more species living in the ocean than on land? Buckle up, folks, because we're about to blow your minds with some jaw-dropping facts about our planet's seas. As landlubbers living in the American heartland, we had no idea of the wonders - and weirdness - going on in the deep blue. But after diving into some research on the world's oceans, our minds were well and truly blown. From glowing sharks and rainbow-colored coral reefs to ancient living fossils and underwater crop circles, the seas are filled with shocks and surprises. We couldn't believe some of the things we uncovered. So get ready to be amazed and astonished by these 17 ocean facts that will flip your world upside down! The ocean is vast, mysterious, and full of secrets - and we're here to share the coolest ones with you.

The Ocean Covers 70% of the Earth’s Surface

We had no idea how mind-blowing the ocean really is until we started researching these facts. Our jaws dropped at some of these discoveries. Did you know that...

The ocean covers a whopping 70% of the Earth’s surface. That means the vast majority of our planet is underwater! The ocean contains 97% of the Earth's water and produces more than half of the world's oxygen. No wonder it's considered the heart of the planet.

The deepest known part of the ocean is 36,200 feet deep. To put that in perspective, if you dropped Mount Everest into the Mariana Trench, its peak would still be submerged by over a mile! The extreme pressure at these depths means most of the ocean floor remains unexplored.

There are more artifacts and historic items in the ocean than in all of the world's museums combined. Shipwrecks, planes, and other submerged remnants of human civilization have been remarkably well preserved in the deep sea. Some are thousands of years old!

The ocean contains up to 20 million tons of gold. While seawater only contains 0.00000018% gold, the massive volume of water means there is more gold in the ocean than has ever been mined in the history of humanity. Now that's some serious treasure!

Whether you live by the sea or far from its shores, our shared ocean is endlessly fascinating. Its mysteries and secrets continue to astonish us. The more we explore its depths, the more we realize how little we truly know about this underwater world that gives our planet life.

The Ocean Contains 97% of the Earth’s Water

You won't believe how much water is in the ocean! We're talking 97% of all the water on Earth. Our big blue planet should really be called the big blue marble.

The Ocean is Deep, Really Deep

The average depth of the ocean is over 2.5 miles deep. The deepest known part is called the Mariana Trench which is almost 7 miles deep. If you dropped the entire Grand Canyon into the trench there would still be over a mile of water above it. Mind blown!

The Ocean Contains 20 Million Tons of Gold

There are 20 million tons of gold suspended in the ocean. The water is so massive that even though it's super diluted, the total amount of gold is worth over $8 trillion dollars. Someone call a gold prospector!

The Ocean is Loud, Like Really Loud

Even though water is great for muffling sounds, the ocean is actually a noisy place. Things like earthquakes, whales, and storms all contribute to the racket. The loudest was an underwater volcano near Indonesia that could be heard nearly 3,000 miles away. Turn down the volume, ocean!

The Ocean Has Some Weird Creatures

The ocean contains some bizarre animals. From giant tube worms and fangtooth fish with teeth so big they can't close their mouths to blobfish that look like melted jelly beans. The deep ocean in particular seems to spawn some very strange and alien-looking beasts. When you're that deep in the ocean, no one cares how weird you look!

17 Ocean Facts and Mind-Blowing Statistics FAQ

We couldn't believe some of the mind-bending facts we found about our oceans! Here are 17 of the most shocking ocean facts and statistics we discovered:

1. The ocean contains 20 million tons of gold—but it's too diluted to extract.

There's gold in them thar...oceans! But unfortunately, it's dispersed in such small concentrations that it's not economically feasible to mine. Still, pretty amazing that there are millions of tons of gold just floating around in the sea.

2. The ocean's largest wave ever recorded was over 100 feet high.

Off the coast of Portugal in 2020, scientists measured an enormous wave over 100 feet from trough to crest. Can you imagine seeing a 10-story wall of water coming at you?! We'll stick to the kiddie pool, thanks.

3. The ocean is home to millions of undiscovered species.

Scientists estimate there could be up to 2 million undiscovered marine species. The ocean remains largely unexplored, especially in the deep sea. What strange and wonderful creatures are still left to find? The possibilities are as endless as the sea.

4. The total area of oceans is larger than all land areas combined.

The ocean covers a whopping 70.9% of the Earth's surface. There's a whole wide world under the sea, far vaster than the one we walk around on. No wonder it remains largely a mystery.

5. The ocean absorbs more than twice as much heat as the atmosphere.

The ocean acts like a massive heat sink, absorbing over 90% of the increased heat from global warming. Unfortunately, this is changing ocean circulation patterns and sea levels. The ocean may be vast, but it's still fragile. We all must do our part to curb climate change and protect this vital resource.