Covering approximately 155 million square kilometers (59 million square miles) and containing more than half of the free water on Earth, the Pacific is by far the largest of the world's ocean basins.

As sea level rises, more and more saltwater encroaches on the land. Along the world’s coasts and estuaries, invading seawater advances and overtakes the fresh water that deciduous trees rely upon for ...

Eel grass, a type of submerged aquatic vegetation, supports the life cycle of many fish and shellfish. The health of submerged aquatic vegetation is an important environmental indicator of overall ...

Whether you’re dealing with humans or horseshoe crabs, it’s important to mind your manners. Being respectful of ocean life is vital to protecting endangered species, federally-protected species, and ...

Fascinating, elegant, and mysterious to watch in the water, take a jellyfish out of the water, and it becomes a much less fascinating blob. This is because jellyfish are about 95 percent water.

"Seaweed" is the common name for countless species of marine plants and algae that grow in the ocean as well as in rivers, lakes, and other water bodies. Kelp forest in the Channel Islands National ...

Soundings, or water depth measurements, are represented by numbers on nautical charts. Water depths are measured by soundings usually acquired by hydrographic surveys. The depths may be in either feet ...

Hurricane Laura rapidly strengthened on August 26 in the Gulf of Mexico. By the time Laura reached southwest Louisiana early on August 27, maximum sustained winds reached 150 mph. This part of the ...

Watch sea turtle hatchlings journey to the ocean during the 2013 nesting season in Dry Tortugas National Park, Florida. This video was captured by a National Park Service professional. Please stay ...

Shoreline armoring along Wells Beach, Maine. Coastal managers and property owners often attempt to stabilize coastal land and protect residential and commercial infrastructure along the coast by ...

Satellite photograph of the Great Barrier Reef situated off the northeastern coast of Australia. Stretching for 1,429 miles over an area of approximately 133,000 square miles , the Great Barrier Reef ...

Despite their tremendous size and intimidating appearance, whale sharks are commonly docile and approachable. Please keep your distance, giving them the respect and space they deserve. Whale sharks ...