The five oceans cover about 70% of the Earth's surface. The Atlantic Ocean is the second largest ocean after the Pacific accounting for 20% of the planet surface and 29% of the water on earth. The Atlantic stretches from the Arctic Ocean in the north to the Southern Ocean in the south covering an estimated 41,100,000 square miles and holding 74,471,500 cubic miles of water. Apart from the open ocean, it also encompasses the Gulf of Mexico, the Baltic Sea, the Mediterranean Sea, and the Caribbean Sea.  The entire coastline of the ocean stretches for 69,510 miles. It borders North, Central, and South America to the west and Europe, Asia, and Africa to the east. In total, 133 countries and territories border the Atlantic Ocean.

Countries on the Atlantic Ocean

Benefits of the Atlantic to the Bordering States

The Atlantic Ocean contributes significantly to the economy of the neighboring states. Other than providing a median for transoceanic transport, it also holds vast amounts of oil and gas reserves. Much of the goods traveling between North America and Europe traverse through the Atlantic, so do goods between North America and northwest Africa, and South America and Africa.

The ocean also hosts a variety of marine animals including when. Every year it provides millions of tons of fish. The Atlantic affects the global climate including the water streams and winds. It is a significant reservoir of carbon dioxide and helps reduce the gas in the atmosphere and therefore aids in controlling global warming.