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Sargasso Sea, Map, Location, Geography, Boundaries

The Sargasso Sea is located in the Atlantic Ocean. Know all about the Sargasso Sea, its Geography, Boundaries, Formation & Map in this article for the UPSC exam.

manishsiq Published On October 5th, 2024 Leave a comment

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Sargasso Sea

The Sargasso Sea is located in the Atlantic Ocean and it is named after the golden Sargassum seaweed that floats there which is a genus of brown macroalgae. The Sargasso Sea is a large ocean area of about two million square miles surrounded by the North Atlantic Gyre’s currents. This unique ecosystem supports ten special species and serves as a nursery for many fish and sea turtles. It’s also the only known breeding ground for two endangered eel species that move between the ocean and freshwater. Also, it is a migration route for sharks, rays, and whales.

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Sargasso Sea Boundaries

The North Atlantic Gyre also called the North Atlantic Ocean Current System, is a large, circular current. It is bounded by the Gulf Stream, North Atlantic Current, Canary Current, and North Atlantic Equatorial Current. The gyre is about 1100 km wide and 3200 km long, located between 20° and 35° north latitude and 40° and 70° west longitude. Bermuda is near its western edge.

The Sargasso Sea is not a sea in the traditional sense but is instead defined by ocean currents that form a gyre and trap the seaweed and other floating debris in its centre.

Sargasso Sea Map

It lies in the North Atlantic Ocean in between the Canary Islands, the east coast of the United States and the Caribbean Sea.

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Sargasso Sea Facts

The Sargasso Sea is a region of the North Atlantic Ocean that is elliptical in shape, calm, and covered in free-floating seaweed from the species Sargassum.

Part of a clockwise ocean current system, with the Gulf Stream on its western edge
Located between 20° N and 35° N latitude and 30° W and 70° W longitude
Weak currents, low rainfall, high evaporation, light winds, warm, salty waters
Depths range from 5000 to 23000 feet
Few plankton, creating a “biological desert”
Brown seaweed (gulfweed) floats on the surface, supporting unique marine life
First described by Christopher Columbus in 1492

Sargasso Sea Significance

Shrimp, crabs, fish, and other marine species that have tailored their habitats to this floating algae can also depend on sargassum for vital habitat. White marlin, porbeagle sharks, dolphins, and threatened and endangered eels all reproduce in the Sargasso Sea. The Sargasso Sea is known for its unique ecosystem and is home to a variety of endemic species, such as the Sargassum fish and the juvenile eels known as “leptocephali”.

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FAQs

What is the Sargasso Sea famous for?

There are many various kinds of algae that float in the water all over the world, but the Sargasso Sea is special because it is home to sargassum species that are "holopelagic," which means they not only float freely in the ocean but also reproduce vegetatively on the open seas.

What country is the Sargasso Sea?

The Sargasso Sea, a region of the North Atlantic Ocean near the eastern coast of the United States of America, is bordered to the west by the Gulf Stream. It got its name from the remains of the seaweed known as Sargassum, which was found by European explorers in the 16th century.

Why did sailors fear the Sargasso Sea?

Columbus wrote extensively in his journals about his terror of the Sargasso Sea and how he thought its seaweed beds concealed perilous coral reefs that could capsize unwary ships.

Can you swim in Sargasso?

Yes, you can swim in the Sargasso Sea, but it may not be a typical swimming experience due to the concentration of seaweed and other floating debris in the area. The calm waters and the dense mats of seaweed can make swimming and navigation difficult. In addition, some species of Sargassum may produce irritants or contain harmful bacteria.

How warm is the Sargasso Sea?

The North Atlantic Central Water that makes up the warm, salty Sargasso Sea has a temperature range of 8 to 19 °C (46.4 to 66.2 °F) and a salinity range of 35.10 to 36.70 parts per thousand (ppt).

Who eats Sargassum?

Sea birds and larger fish are the major predators of sargassum fish. By leaping out of the water and onto the seaweed that is floating, they can avoid undersea predators.