5 oceans of the world
The 5 oceans of the world are the Pacific Ocean, the Atlantic Ocean, the Indian Ocean, the Arctic Ocean, and the Antarctic Ocean. The major seas are the Caribbean sea, the Bearing Sea, the Mediterranean Sea, and the Norwegian Sea. A sea is different from an ocean in that while a sea is connected to an ocean, a sea has it's own characteristics unique to it's area, such as plant life, wildlife, and currents. These features are different in the enclosed area from the ocean which it is connected to, making that area it's own sea, but not an ocean, because it is not big enough.
bays
A bay is a body of water which protrudes into an area of land, such that it creates a housed are of water surrounded by land.
gulfs
A gulf is an immensely large version of a bay. It in itself contains bays, though it itself is one large bay.
PENINSULAS (capes)
A peninsula is an area of land that protrudes into the water, being surrounded on 3 sides with water. It is connected to mainland by an isthmus, which is a narrow stip of land connecting an large area of land to the small area of land sticking out of it.
1st people at sea
The ancient Polynesians were the first people to explore the seas. They ventured out into the ocean, habituating islands as they went. Later on, as the European explorers first discovered these same islands, the Polynesians had been living there for hundreds of years.
the vikings
The vikings were also famous for traveling the seas. They traveled from mainland Europe across the Atlantic Sea over to Greenland, Iceland, and Newfoundland. Legend goes, that they ventured out to escape the other tribes in those times, and while Greenland is nothing but ice, and Iceland is a lush forest, it was named this way on purpose, supposedly to throw off anyone following them.
age of discovery
The Age of Discovery was an era in European history in which people sailed afar on the oceans in search of new trade routes. This lead to a period of time in which many new lands were being discovered and claimed for European countries. 3 explorers in particular stand out among those who searched the world.
CHRISTOPHER COLUMBUS
Christopher Columbus was an explorer who, under the Catholic monarchs of Spain, was sent out to the West to discover new trade routes to India. Columbus proposed that because the world was round, you could reach India by going West instead of East. Instead, through his discoveries, Europe became aware of the Americas.
ponce de leon
Ponce De Leon was a Spanish explorer and conquistador. He was part of the first European expedition to Florida, and he himself named it. He is also accredited with searching for the Fountain of Youth, said to be in Florida. He was the first governor of Puerto Rico as well.
magellan
Serving King Charles I of Spain, this Portuguese explorer was appointed to search out new trade routes to the "Spice Islands". His expedition became the first to sail from the Atlantic Ocean into the Pacific Ocean, via the Straight of Magellan, and the first to cross the Pacific. While his expedition became the first to circumnavigate the globe, he himself did not do so as he was killed during the expedition in the Battle of Magellan.
hms challenger
This ship was the first ship outfitted for marine exploration, and was chosen for the Challenger Expedition, the first global marine expedition, to discover more about the oceans. It's guns were removed and extra cabins and supplies were added specifically for the study of the ocean.
matthew maurey
Maurey is considered the "father of oceanography" for his extensive works on the ocean. His contributions include charting wind and ocean currents, including lanes for passing ships at sea.