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Where Do Oceans Meet?

Published in Oceanography 1 min read

The Atlantic and Pacific oceans meet in the Drake Passage.

The Meeting Point of Two Great Oceans

The Drake Passage is the place where the Atlantic and Pacific oceans converge. This passage is not a wide, open expanse. Instead, it's a relatively narrow waterway found between South America and Antarctica. The reference states it is a 528-mile-wide (850-kilometer-wide) area, creating a bottleneck for the flowing currents.

Characteristics of the Drake Passage:

  • Location: Situated between the southern tip of South America (Cape Horn) and the Antarctic Peninsula.
  • Width: Approximately 528 miles (850 kilometers) wide.
  • Turbulence: Notorious for its rough seas and strong currents, posing challenges to navigation.
  • Historical Significance: Feared by sailors due to its treacherous conditions since its discovery in the 1500s.

The Drake Passage is important not just because it's where two oceans meet, but because it plays a critical role in global ocean currents and climate.

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