Southern Ocean now recognized as world’s fifth ocean by National Geographic
More than 70 percent of the world is covered by water. It is divided into four oceans from the point of view of geography. But National Geographic has announced a fifth ocean. The people of National Geographic have named the Southern Ocean as the fifth ocean on World Ocean Day, which is actually the ocean area around Antarctica. It has been a matter of dispute for a long time whether this area should be given a different name or not. That is why it has not yet been declared a separate ocean at the international level.
Long running debate
Nat Geo says that ever since the maps began to be made in 1915, only four oceans are being recognized in the world. These oceans are the Atlantic, Pacific, Indian and Arctic Oceans. This topic was being debated for a long time and now from World Ocean Day on 8 June, the Southern Ocean will be called the fifth ocean.
Consent could not be reached
Geographer Alex Tait of the National Geographic Society said that the Southern Ocean was recognized by scientists for a long time. But this matter was never agreed at the international level, so it was never officially recognized.
The Southern Ocean has always been a subject of controversy, as some geographers wondered whether these oceans had the special properties that made it a separate ocean. So far it is just a cold extension of the Indian, Pacific and Atlantic oceans.
In 1999, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOA) also recognized the Southern Ocean as the fifth ocean. But in the year 2000, the International Hydrographic Organization (IHO) did not agree to this. ISO itself maps all the seas, oceans and operating waters after properly surveying them.
Now satisfied that the ocean should have its own name, Nat Geo has decided that it will call the area around Antarctica up to 60 degrees south latitude as the Southern Ocean. It will not include Dark Passage and Scotia Sea.
