Pacific

Pacif ic commonly refers to the Pacific Ocean, the largest and deepest oceanic division of the planet. It covers about 165.2 million square kilometers (63.8 million square miles) and extends from the Arctic Ocean in the north to the Southern Ocean in the south. It is bounded by Asia and Australia on the west and by the Americas on the east. The average depth is around 4,280 meters (14,040 feet), and the deepest point, the Challenger Deep in the Mariana Trench, reaches about 10,972 meters (36,000 feet). The sea was named Mar Pacífico, or peaceful sea, by Ferdinand Magellan in 1521 after its calm crossing.

Geology and geography: The Pacific is defined by tectonic activity and sits atop the Pacific Plate and surrounding plates such as the Nazca, Cocos, and Indo-Australian plates. The Ring of Fire encircles the basin, producing frequent earthquakes and volcanic eruptions. The ocean contains thousands of islands and archipelagos, including Polynesia, Micronesia, Japan, the Philippines, Indonesia, New Zealand, and Hawaii.

Ecology and human context: The Pacific hosts immense marine biodiversity, from coral reefs to large pelagic species. It contains major shipping routes and extensive fisheries that support many economies and communities around its rim. The region faces environmental pressures such as climate change, ocean warming and acidification, overfishing, and plastic pollution, prompting conservation and sustainable-management efforts.