GRAND DIVISIONS OF THE OCEAN.
The ocean is subdivided into portions, which are known by different names, viz. the Atlantic, Pacific, Indian, Arctic or Northern, and Antarctic or Southern oceans. The situation of these may be seen by reference to the map of the world.
The Atlantic ocean varies in extent, from seven hundred to four thousand miles in breadth from west to east, and is nine thousand miles in length.
The Pacific ocean extends from north to south about eight thousand miles, and from west to east about eleven thousand miles,—almost half round the globe.
The Indian ocean extends from north to south about four thousand miles, and from west to east varies from twenty-five hundred to six thousand miles.
The Northern ocean is encircled by the coasts of the two continents. Its greatest extent in one direction is computed to be three thousand miles.
The Southern ocean lies south from the Atlantic, Pacific, and Indian oceans, and surrounds the south pole.
The most remarkable phenomenon which occurs throughout the extent of the ocean is the Maelstrom. This is a whirlpool by which a ship or any thing which comes within the reach of the circling current is swallowed up.
THE MAELSTROM.