The World's Newest Ocean - The Southern Ocean

The new Southern Ocean surrounds the southern continent of Antarctica. Cartesia/Getty Images

In 2000, the International Hydrographic Organization created the fifth and newest world ocean - the Southern Ocean - from the southern portions of the Atlantic Ocean, Indian Ocean, and Pacific Ocean. The new Southern Ocean completely surrounds Antarctica.

The Southern Ocean extends from the coast of Antarctica north to 60 degrees south latitude. The Southern Ocean is now the fourth largest of the world's five oceans (after the Pacific Ocean, Atlantic Ocean, and Indian Ocean, but larger than the Arctic Ocean). (More on the website, click on the image)

By Matt Rosenberg, Geography Expert 

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