Pacific Ocean

The Pacific Ocean's name originates from the Latin phrase "Mare Pacificum", which translates to "peaceful sea". It was coined by Portuguese explorer Ferdinand Magellan who, in 1521, became one of the first Europeans to navigate the ocean's turbulent waters during his circumnavigation of the globe. The Pacific Ocean is colossal. Covering more than 63 million square miles, it's larger than all of the Earth's land area combined. The Pacific extends from the Arctic in the north to the Southern Ocean in the south and is bordered by Asia and Australia in the west, and the Americas in the east. The Pacific is dotted with thousands of islands, each with unique cultures. These include the diverse ...View all