Pacific Ocean

Table of Contents

References & Edit History Related Topics

Images, Videos & Interactives

The Pacific Ocean, with depth contours and submarine features

Dive deep into the depths of the ocean.

Palau: rock islands

Manganese nodules

Solomon Islands

Golden Gate Bridge, San Francisco

For Students

Big Sur

Pacific Ocean summary

Read Next

Sailboat against a beautiful landscape

Which Waters Do You Pass Through When You “Sail the Seven Seas”?

World map. Continents. Oceans. Mendel thumb ok

Just How Many Oceans Are There?

Small canyon underwater carved by the swell into the fore reef with sunlight through water surface, Huahine island, Pacific ocean, French Polynesia.

A Tale of Two Submerged Continents

New Zealand. Political/Physical map. Includes locator.

Where Is “Old Zealand”?

World Data Locator Map: Australia

Is Australia an Island?

Discover

Rural Irish landscape, Sligo, Ireland.

Why Is Ireland Two Countries?

Small, white rat (genus Rattus) on a glass table. (rodent, laboratory, experiment)

Cruel and Unusual Punishments: 15 Types of Torture

African Americans demonstrating for voting rights in front of the White House as police and others watch, March 12, 1965. One sign reads, "We demand the right to vote everywhere." Voting Rights Act, civil rights.

Timeline of the American Civil Rights Movement

Easter Procession of Maria Santisima del Sacromonte in Granada, Spain. This statue is known as Virgen de los Gitanos or The Virgin of the Gypsies.

What is Holy Week?

Marriage. A couple getting married during a church wedding ceremony. (religion, ceremony, bride, groom)

The Seven Sacraments of the Roman Catholic church

Lusitania sinking, illustration from The War of the Nations (New York), December 31, 1919. World War I, WWI. This image is one of three on the page. (See source file for the other two.)

7 of the World’s Deadliest Shipwrecks

King Cobra snake in Malaysia. (reptile)

9 of the World’s Deadliest Snakes

Pacific Ocean: Related Content

Written and fact-checked by The Information Architects of Encyclopaedia Britannica

News •

This remote Pacific island nation just got its first ATMs • Apr. 18, 2025, 3:45 AM ET (CNN)

Pacific island nation gains access to electronic banking for first time ever • Apr. 17, 2025, 4:35 AM ET (ABC News (Australia))

New Zealand announces easier visa access for Pacific Islanders • Apr. 14, 2025, 5:41 AM ET (ABC News (Australia))

Australian data shows Pacific migrants live in lower income areas • Apr. 14, 2025, 3:04 AM ET (ABC News (Australia))

Neutral conditions to prevail in Pacific Ocean till October: US weather monitor • Apr. 13, 2025, 5:00 AM ET (The Indian Express)

Photos and Videos

The Pacific Ocean, with depth contours and submarine features

Palau: rock islands

Manganese nodules

Solomon Islands

Golden Gate Bridge, San Francisco

“Supertyphoon” Chaba

The video thumbnail image shows a graphic of the Earth with two tidal bulges. Blue arrows point to the bulges against a white background.

The impact of plastic waste on marine life

Oceanic voyages of Ferdinand Magellan and his crew, 1519–22

Follow researchers into the waters off Vancouver Island in search of the giant Pacific octopus

Sharks and their essential roles in coral reefs

See All Videos, Images and Interactives →

Topics

Indian Ocean Atlantic Ocean Arctic Ocean Southern Ocean

Quiz

Cross section of Earth showing the core, mantle, and crust

Everything Earth

wave. ocean. Cresting ocean wave. Large sea waves. storm, hurricane, tropical cyclone

All About Oceans and Seas Quiz

water glass on white background. (drink; clear; clean water; liquid)

Water and its Varying Forms

Demystified

World map. Continents. Oceans. Mendel thumb ok

Just How Many Oceans Are There?

Sailboat against a beautiful landscape

Which Waters Do You Pass Through When You “Sail the Seven Seas”?