No Safe Harbor
Even for a thalassophile, these waterbodies are more fearful than fascinating. Extreme weather, lurking pirates, and dangerous conditions torture those who dare to sail through these waters.
Drake Passage
The Drake Passage is placed between the South Shetland Islands of Antarctica and Cape Horn at the southern tip of South America. This connects the southwestern Atlantic Ocean with the southeastern Pacific Ocean. Here's where things go downhill.
Drake Passage (Cont.)
The three oceans—the Atlantic, Pacific, and Southern Oceans—clash so violently that the monstrous 40-foot waves test even the largest vessels. The Passage is home to the Antarctic Circumpolar Current, which is the most voluminous ocean current ever.
Drake Passage (Cont.)
About 125 to 200 million cubic yards of water per second flow through the passage, which is about 600 times the volume of the Amazon River. In 1525, Spanish sailor Francisco de Hoces found it while traveling south from the Strait of Magellan.
Lewnwdc77, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
Drake Passage (Cont.)
Contrary to popular belief, Sir Francis Drake did not sail through this passage. It was named after him because one of his ships drifted south after passing through the Strait of Magellan (1578). Instead, Dutch explorers Willem Schouten and Jacob Le Maire made the first recorded crossing in 1616.
Bering Sea
The average depth of this one is around 1,600 feet (490 meters), with some areas reaching over 13,000 feet (4,000 meters) in the Aleutian Trench. About 2 million square kilometers, or 770,000 square miles, make up its total area.
GretarssonBase map: © OpenStreetMap contributors, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
Bering Sea (Cont.)
This makes it one of the largest seas in the world. The Bering Sea, located on the edge of the Northern Pacific Ocean, is between Alaska and Russia. This water giant also experiences severe winter temperatures that can drop from -31°F to -49°F.
Bering Sea (Cont.)
Recent studies show that sea ice in the Bering Sea has been declining, mainly during winters. In February 2018, the extent of sea ice was only 42% of the average for that time of year. This marked a considerable drop compared to historical averages.
Benson Poppy, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Wikimedia Commons
Gulf Of Aden
Piracy in the Gulf of Aden has been an issue since the early 2000s. It then got worse during the Somali Civil War of 2006 to 2009. Crime and piracy were common in Somalia because it was unstable. And, these pirates attacked both industrial and fishing boats.
Gulf of Aden witnesses a surge in piracy activities by CGTN Africa
Gulf Of Aden (Cont.)
Based on reports, about 25 attacks linked to piracy have occurred since November 2023, with multiple vessels hijacked or approached by armed groups. Combined Task Force 151 (CTF-151) is said to conduct counter-piracy operations in the region.
Mass Communications Specialist 2nd Class Jason R. Zalasky, USN, Wikimedia Commons
Gulf Of Aden (Cont.)
The Gulf of Aden is basically an essential maritime route for international shipping known for connecting Europe and Asia through the Suez Canal. It covers an area of approximately 1,000 kilometers in length and is about 200 kilometers wide at its narrowest point.
NormanEinstein, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
South China Sea
China, Vietnam, the Philippines, Malaysia, Brunei, and Taiwan are some of the countries that claim different parts of the South China Sea. The disputes are often about islands like the Spratly Islands and Paracel Islands.
Voice of America, Wikimedia Commons
South China Sea (Cont.)
The deepest section, the China Sea Basin, reaches a maximum depth of 16,457 feet. Unfortunately, the area is impacted by nitrogen oxides, sulfur oxides, and hydrocarbons emitted from ships, which affect air quality and climate change.
Rod Waddington, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
South China Sea (Cont.)
On an exciting note, though, the South China Sea has over 30% of the world's coral reefs and supports diverse marine species. As a water body present on the edge of the Western Pacific Ocean, it is one of the busiest maritime routes of oil.
Black Sea
This old ocean has a dangerous secret deep below its surface: it harbors poisonous hydrogen sulfide. Situated in the southeastern extremity of Europe, the Sea is famous for its oxygen-depleted waters, below a level of around 150-200 meters.
anttilipponen, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
Black Sea (Cont.)
Several big rivers, like the Danube, Dnieper, and Dniester, bring fresh water into the Black Sea annually. Since its water layers do not mix well, it is classified as a meromictic basin. Also, the oldest intact shipwreck found is a Greek merchant vessel of 400 BC.
Trygve W Nodeland, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
Tasman Sea
The sea was named after the Dutch sailor Abel Tasman, who first navigated it in 1642. It was later explored by British mariner Captain James Cook in the 1770s. The Tasman Sea is also a trade route for shipping between Australia and New Zealand.
Jacob Gerritsz, Wikimedia Commons
Tasman Sea (Cont.)
There are times when it is quiet here and times when 30-foot waves hit ships from all sides. The Tasman Sea is often affected by strong winds and waves due to its position in the "Roaring Forties." This is a belt of westerly winds that produce stormy weather.
Akos Kokai, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
Tasman Sea (Cont.)
Additionally, significant maritime heatwaves have occurred in the Tasman Sea, particularly during the unusual event of the 2015/16 austral summer. This was linked to climate change and the heatwave lasted 251 days in total.
Wirestock Creators, Shutterstock
Bay Of Biscay
This infamous bay extends from Point Penmarc'h in France to Cape Ortegal in Spain. People often call the southern part of the bay the "Cantabrian Sea." Nearly a thousand shipwrecks are thought to be lying on the bottom of this bay.
NormanEinstein, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
Bay Of Biscay (Cont.)
The area literally became known as the "Valley of Death" due to the high number of Allied ships sunk by U-boats. The SS Afrique, for instance, sank in 1920 after losing power and drifting onto a reef during a storm. Around 575 lives were lost.
Retirage photographique par Jean-Louis Venet, Wikimedia Commons
Gulf Of Alaska
The subarctic climate of the Gulf of Alaska is marked by high precipitation and chilly temperatures. Basically, the Aleutian Low, a semi-permanent low-pressure system that produces storms and copious amounts of rainfall, seems to have an impact on it.
Gulf Of Alaska (Cont.)
Interestingly, the Gulf houses two of Alaska's largest glaciers. One is the Bering Glacier and the other, Malaspina Glacier, both of which contribute freshwater runoff and icebergs. These icebergs calved from the glaciers are carried out to the sea by strong currents.
Gulf Of Alaska (Cont.)
Along Cook Inlet and beneath places like Controller Bay, oil reserves have also been found. Valdez is where the Trans-Alaska Pipeline ends, and it's situated along the Gulf. This location is roughly 1,533,000 square kilometers in size.
Cowals, Dennis, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
East China Sea
One of nature's wonders witnesses ongoing territorial disputes over islands such as the Senkaku Islands in Japan and the Diaoyu Islands in China. Another additional problem is Socotra Rock, which is claimed by China and South Korea.
East China Sea (Cont.)
Anyway, this waterbody is linked to the South China Sea via the Taiwan Strait and to the Sea of Japan through the Korea Strait. Most of it is shallow, with nearly three-fourths of it being less than 200 meters (660 feet) deep. The average depth is said to be about 350 meters.
Yug, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
East China Sea (Cont.)
So, the East China Sea's typhoon season normally occurs from July to September, which also happens to be the warmest months of the year. The typhoon formation is made more hazardous by the rise in sea surface temperatures during this period.
NOAA / National Climatic Data Center, Wikimedia Commons
North Sea
A number of nations border the North Sea: Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium, and France to the south; Norway and Denmark to the east; and Scotland and England to the west. It is recognized as one of the most productive fishing areas in the world.
Halava, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
North Sea (Cont.)
Foggy conditions are pretty common in the North Sea, especially in the spring and summer. Coastal fog, called haar or sea fret, is produced when warm, humid air passes over the North Sea's colder waters. This results in condensation and fog production.
Cmagowan, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
North Sea (Cont.)
What is even more dangerous here is the storm surges brought on by extratropical cyclones. Coastal flooding can occur when these surges cause water levels to rise sharply, sometimes by more than 5 meters (17 feet) above normal tidal levels.
Agency for International Development, Wikimedia Commons
Persian Gulf
The only maritime outlet from the Persian Gulf is through the narrow Strait of Hormuz, which joins it to the Gulf of Oman and the Indian Ocean. This strait is therefore important, as it is one of the world's most important shipping lanes for oil transport.
Hégésippe Cormier, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
Persian Gulf (Cont.)
The Persian Gulf witnessed oil spills during the Gulf War in 1991 when Iraqi forces intentionally released barrels of crude oil into the sea. This spill has gone down in history as it had devastating effects on marine life and coastal ecosystems.
1991: Gulf War: Persian Gulf Oil Spill by ITN Archive
Persian Gulf (Cont.)
Hence, oil pollution remains a persistent issue here due to ongoing industrial activities and natural seepages. The region's waters are heavily contaminated with petroleum hydrocarbons. This poses dangers to marine biodiversity and ecosystem health.
1991: Gulf War: Persian Gulf Oil Spill by ITN Archive
Strait Of Malacca
This strait is traversed by around 25% of the world's commercial goods, which includes a sizable amount of oil. It carried an estimated 15.2 million barrels of oil per day in 2011, mostly from suppliers in the Middle East to customers in Asia.
dronepicr, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
Strait Of Malacca (Cont.)
The International Maritime Bureau (IMB), between 2001 and 2007, recorded 258 pirate attacks in the Strait of Malacca and surrounding waters. A surge like this marked a troubling trend in maritime security for this critical shipping lane.
Chief Information Systems Technician Kenneth Anderson, Wikimedia Commons
Strait Of Malacca (Cont.)
It has varying depths, mainly around 25 meters (82 feet) at its shallowest points, which makes navigation a real challenge for larger vessels. The Strait's narrowest point, known as the Phillip Channel, is only about 2.8 kilometers (1.5 nautical miles) wide.
Peter Hermes Furian, Shutterstock
Mozambique Channel
A warm ocean current known as the Mozambique Current flows southward through the channel. It merges into the Agulhas Current off the eastern coast of Southern Africa. This current plays an important role in influencing climate patterns in the region.
Kikos, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
Mozambique Channel (Cont.)
Between Madagascar, a country in southeast Africa, and the Mozambican mainland lies this Mozambique Channel. Sadly, this place is witnessing a potential rise in piracy. Some reports even say that armed robbery at sea has already occurred.
BEST-BACKGROUNDS, Shutterstock
Somali Coast
Here are the world's most pirate-infested waters. Piracy off the coast of Somalia became an international issue between 2005 and 2012. During this time, Somali pirates hijacked numerous vessels, leading to economic losses and risks to maritime safety.
Earth Science and Remote Sensing Unit, NASA Johnson Space Center, Wikimedia Commons
Somali Coast (Cont.)
Reports from December 2023 mention that there was a successful hijacking of a cargo vessel after years of relative calm in the area. The goal of operations like Operation Atalanta by the EU is to stop pirates from stealing ships and keep trade lanes safe.
Mass Communications Specialist 2nd Class Jason R. Zalasky, USN, Wikimedia Commons
Cape Horn
Of course, Cape Horn, located at the southern tip of South America, is recognized for its "Furious Fifties," a belt of strong westerly winds that frequently pass through. Additionally, the area features harsh waves, which can grow as high as 30 meters (98 feet).
W. Bulach, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
Bermuda Triangle
Thought we could end this list without this one? Between Florida, Bermuda, and Puerto Rico lies this legendarily mysterious zone. The Bermuda Triangle, or the "Devil's Triangle," measures about 500,000 to 1,510,000 square miles of ocean.
Bermuda Triangle (Cont.)
In March 1918, the USS Cyclops, a Navy cargo ship with more than 300 men on board, went missing while going from Barbados to Baltimore. This still is a very familiar event to all, mainly because nothing was ever found of the wreck.
United States Naval History and Heritage Command, Photo #: NH 101063, Wikimedia Commons
Bermuda Triangle (Cont.)
Then, in December 1945, five TBM Avenger torpedo bombers, known as Flight 19, disappeared during a training flight. Even after extensive search efforts, no wreckage or bodies were recovered. It was this incident that largely added to the Bermuda Triangle's mystique.
Lt. Comdr. Horace Bristol, U.S. Navy photo 80-G-427475, Wikimedia Commons
Bermuda Triangle (Cont.)
Methane hydrate eruptions that can produce sinkholes or gas bubbles that could sink ships are among the natural explanations for the Bermuda Triangle's happenings. These are still being investigated, but experts believe that such events are quite unlikely.
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