There is technically only one global ocean covering about 71% of Earth's surface, but it is conventionally divided into five named oceans based on historical, geographical, and scientific distinctions. These five oceans are:
- Pacific Ocean
- Atlantic Ocean
- Indian Ocean
- Arctic Ocean
- Southern Ocean (also called the Antarctic Ocean)
The Southern Ocean is the most recently recognized ocean, acknowledged by many countries including the United States, and is defined as the waters surrounding Antarctica extending to 60 degrees south latitude
. The Pacific, Atlantic, and Indian Oceans are the largest and most commonly known, while the Arctic Ocean is smaller and located around the North Pole
. In summary, while all these oceans are interconnected parts of one global ocean, the world is commonly considered to have five distinct oceans today
