Sargasso Sea Facts: Its Climate, Marine Life, And Much More

Nidhi Sahai
Mar 17, 2023 By Nidhi Sahai
Originally Published on Mar 17, 2023
Fact-checked by Spandana Kantam
Sargasso Sea facts are fascinating to read about.

The famous Sargasso Sea is like a big water patch in the ocean that is surrounded by water on all of its sides.

This sea is located in the North Atlantic subtropical gyre, and the presence of strong currents can be seen here. This is the only sea in the world with no land boundaries.

The thermohaline circulation, sometimes known as the ocean conveyor belt, moves ocean water across the globe in part due to the movement of the world's major ocean gyres. The control of salinity, temperature, and nutrient flow throughout the world's seas depends on this circulation.

There can be calm winds here at times, but again due to variance in the ocean currents, the wind direction can be confusing for the voyagers.

Sargasso Sea is an exception to the rule since it is entirely defined by ocean currents, whereas every other ocean in the world is delimited, at least in part, by land borders.

It is surrounded by the Gulf Stream in the west, the Canary Current in the east, the North Atlantic Current in the north, and the North Atlantic Equatorial Current in the south.

It is 2,000 mi (3,200 km) long and 680 mi (1,100 km) wide.

Bermuda is close to the western seaboard of this sea. The 15th century saw some of the earliest mariners from Portugal come across this area.

Strange Phenomena Of Sargasso Sea

As was already established, its distinctive geographic location is the most obvious feature of its existence. It stands out among the seas since it is the only sea that is surrounded by water on all sides.

Sargasso Sea is also renowned for its extraordinarily tranquil, turquoise, and crystalline waters and diverse marine life.

You can see more than 164 ft (50 m) down in the sea because of how transparent the water is! Sargasso Sea is distinct in that its waters are warm and tranquil for the majority of the year, in addition to its high concentrations of seaweed and general mystique.

Animals In Sargasso Sea

There are several marine species in Sargasso Sea. Many marine species, including porbeagle sharks, white marlin, dolphin fish, and threatened and endangered eels, use it as their preferred reproductive ground. When migrating through Sargasso Sea, humpback whales, tuna, and even birds rely heavily on it for sustenance.

The migration and life cycle of the American and European eel species are significantly influenced by Sargasso Sea. These are the only species whose larvae hatch there and travel to Europe or North America's East Coast.

They attempt to return to Sargasso Sea later in life to deposit eggs. Juvenile loggerhead sea turtles utilize currents like the Gulf Stream to migrate to Sargasso Sea after hatching and use the sargassum seaweed there as protection from predators until they are fully grown.

Algae And Plants In Sargasso Sea

Sargassum genus of free-floating seaweed is from where Sargasso Sea derives its name. Numerous species of marine algae and plants that thrive in the waters (both macroscopic and microscopic) are together referred to as seaweed.

A variety of brown (and occasionally dark green) macroalgae called sargassum can be found in temperate and tropical waters. Sargassum genus is well-recognized for living in shallow waters and coral reefs, and it is particularly well-known for its species of free-floating marine plants.

The vegetative reproduction of this algae is seen on the high seas of Sargasso Sea, unlike others that reproduce at the ocean floor.

Despite its peculiar characteristics, Sargasso Sea is important to the larger North Atlantic ecosystem and is recognized as such by marine scientists and oceanographers worldwide. Sargasso Sea is referred to as the golden floating rain forest of the Atlantic ocean by renowned oceanographer Sylvia Earle.

FAQs

What is the Sargasso Sea for kids?
Sargasso Sea is like any other sea but with no coastline, clear waters, and varying weather conditions.

What is the only sea on Earth with no coastline?
Sargasso Sea is the only sea on Earth that has no coastline.

What and where is Sargasso Sea?
Sargasso Sea is in the North Atlantic Ocean and is a famous sea with no land boundaries.

Who is the narrator in Wide Sargasso Sea?
This novel has three parts, and all three parts have three different narrators. The narrator of the first part is Antoinette, the person who narrates the second part is Rochester, and Antoinette is the narrator of the third part.

Why did Jean Rhys write Wide Sargasso Sea?
This novel is like a creative response to Charlotte Bronte's 'Jane Eyre', a 19th-century classical English literature work about love. Jean Rhys also addresses the issues of racial, cultural, and gender identity in this work.

How is Sargasso Sea defined?
It is a region in the Atlantic Ocean, covered by four ocean currents that form an ocean gyre.

What is Wide Sargasso Sea about?
It is a novel by the Dominican-British author Jean Rhys, which came out in 1966.

What is Sargasso Sea famous for?
The sea is well known for its geographic location between the many ocean currents

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Sources

https://oceanservice.noaa.gov/facts/sargassosea.html

https://www.scienceabc.com/nature/what-is-the-sargasso-sea-where-located-sargassum.html

https://www.americanoceans.org/facts/sargasso-sea-guide/

https://wiki.kidzsearch.com/wiki/Sargasso_Sea

https://www.bermuda-attractions.com/bermuda2_000142.htm

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Written by Nidhi Sahai

Bachelor of Arts in Journalism and Mass Communication

Nidhi Sahai picture

Nidhi SahaiBachelor of Arts in Journalism and Mass Communication

Dedicated and experienced, Nidhi is a professional content writer with a strong reputation for delivering high-quality work. She has contributed her expertise to esteemed organizations, including Network 18 Media and Investment Ltd. Driven by her insatiable curiosity and love for journalism and mass communication, Nidhi pursued a Bachelor of Arts degree from Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University, graduating with distinction in 2021. During her college years, she discovered her passion for Video Journalism, showcasing her skills as a videographer for her institution. Nidhi's commitment to making a positive impact extends beyond her professional pursuits. Actively engaging in volunteer work, she has contributed to various events and initiatives throughout her academic career.

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Fact-checked by Spandana Kantam

Bachelor of Arts specializing in Political Science and Sociology

Spandana Kantam picture

Spandana KantamBachelor of Arts specializing in Political Science and Sociology

Spandana holds a Bachelor's degree in Political Science from Acharya Nagarjuna University. She has a passion for writing and enjoys reading crime and thriller novels while listening to RnB music in her free time.

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