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Sargasso Sea, Map, Location, Geography, Boundaries

Sargasso Sea

The Sargasso Sea, which is located in the Atlantic Ocean and contains a lot of Sargassum, is a genus of brown macroalgae. It lies in the region designated as the famous “Bermuda Triangle,” the only sea in the world without a land border. Its location is determined by ocean currents, unlike other seas. The Northern Atlantic Subtropical Gyre, a vast network of circling ocean currents, surrounds it.

The Gulf Stream marks the western limit of the Sargasso Sea, the Canary Current the eastern, the North Atlantic Current the northern, and the North Equatorial Current and Antilles Current the southern limit. These boundaries are moving in a clockwise direction. They alter according to the Azores High-Pressure Center from season to season.

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Sargasso Sea Boundaries

The Gulf Stream, the North Atlantic Current, the Canary Current, and the North Atlantic Equatorial Current all serve as boundaries for the anticlockwise-circulating North Atlantic Gyre, which is also known as the North Atlantic Ocean Current System. It is roughly 1,100 km (680 mi) wide and 3,200 km (2,000 mi) long, and it is located between 20° and 35° north and 40° and 70° west. Bermuda is close to the western seaboard.

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.

Sargasso Sea
Sargasso Sea Map

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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. It is located within a clockwise-moving ocean current system, with the Gulf Stream (emanating from the Gulf of Mexico) forming part of the western rim, between the parallels 20° N and 35° N and the meridian 30° W and 70° W. The sea is characterised by weak currents, low precipitation, high evaporation, light winds, warm, saline waters, and depths of 5,000–23,000 feet (1,500–7,000 m). These factors, combined with the lack of thermal mixing, result in a biological desert that is largely devoid of plankton, a primary source of food for fish.

The little yet noticeable bladders of the brown seaweed (gulfweed), which resemble small berries, keep it above the water’s surface. Then, as it moves with the wind and current, it appears to get a little resupplied by coastal plants that are floating in from the southwest. A specialised marine life is supported by seaweed, the majority of which is unique to the coastal zone.

Christopher Columbus first described the Sargasso Sea, which includes the Bermuda islands, when he travelled through it in 1492 on his first journey. Columbus was encouraged to keep on because the seaweed indicated the presence of land nearby, but many early navigators had the fear—which was unfounded—of becoming caught in the mass of floating flora.

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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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Sargasso Sea UPSC

The phrase “Wide Sargasso Sea” refers to a frequently windless region of the northern Atlantic Ocean where it is rumoured that ships can become entangled in seaweed fields. The title is a metaphor for the characters, who are similarly caught between nations and racial heritages, whether in true or possibly imagined ways.

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Indus River System
Climate of India
Rivers of India
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Wildlife Sanctuaries of India
Tiger Reserves in India
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Natural Vegetation in India Earthquakes in India
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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.

Are there sharks in the Sargasso Sea?

Whale sharks, tiger sharks, manta rays, and spotted eagle rays are among the shark and ray species that live in or migrate through the Sargasso Sea.

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