Seas of the Atlantic Ocean | Seas of the Pacific Ocean | Seas of the Arctic Ocean | Seas of the Indian Ocean | Seas of the Southern Ocean | Land Locked Seas
A 'sea' is a large expansion of salty water which is in some way connected with a particular ocean either naturally or manmade or completely land-locked like the Caspian Sea, Salton Sea and the Dead Sea for example. Large lakes, such as the Great Lakes, are sometimes referred to as inland seas.
Some seas currents are caused by ocean winds whereas others are mediterranean seas, in which currents are caused by differences in salinity and temperature.
The International Hydrographic Organization (IHO) is the world authority when it comes to defining seas. The current defining document is the Special publication S-23, 'Limits of Oceans and Seas', 3rd edition, 1953. The second edition dated back to 1937, and the first to 1928. A fourth edition draft was published in 1986 but so far several naming disputes (such as the one over the Sea of Japan) have prevented its ratification.
Even if the large expansion of water is an ocean, it is regularly referred to as a 'sea'. Such sayings as 'let's go to the seaside' or 'let's go for a walk by the sea shore' are commonly used by us everyday. Many a time have we been on holiday and decided to have a cool, refreshing swim in the 'sea'. Many a time, these large landscapes of water have actually been oceans. However, on occasions we have probably been correct. There are many seas out there and of course, they are just as useful as our large oceans. Below are the seas listed under their connective oceans:
Click on an individual sea to find out more about it!
