50 Interesting Facts About The Pacific Ocean

Last updated on September 4th, 2022

Weather in the Pacific Ocean

41. The Pacific Ocean can be divided into two largely independent regions: the North Pacific in which currents move in a clockwise direction and the South Pacific in which currents move counterclockwise. This is due to the Coriolis Effect.

42. Hurricanes often form south of Mexico from June to December. Typhoons form over the northwestern Pacific affecting Southeast Asia from May to December. Tropical cyclones form in the south Pacific and wreak havoc on smaller island nations.

43. The strongest typhoon ever recorded was 1979’s Typhoon Tip which made landfall at southern Japan. It reached peak sustained winds of 305 kph and a wind diameter of 2,280 km.

44. The Pacific Blob is an area from Baja California to Alaska that experienced a severe marine heat wave between 2014 and 2016. It resulted in the growth of toxic algae which killed fishes and sea birds. Scientists also observed coral bleaching.

45. Oceans absorb of CO2 which makes the water more acidic. There has been a 30% increase of acidity in the last 200 years. This makes it harder to make shells for clams and corals that depend on calcium carbonate.

Marine Life in the Pacific Ocean

46. The giant squid can grow as long as 13 m or 43 ft making it one of the largest invertebrates. It is also among the most elusive creatures of the deep. In 2004, it was finally photographed in the wild off the coast of Tokyo.

47. The Pacific white-sided dolphin has a gray back and a white patch extending from the neck to its belly. Adults can weigh as much as 440 lbs and grow as long as 8.2 ft. Their natural habitat is the Northern Pacific.

48. The Humboldt penguin population is distributed along the pacific coasts of Chile and Peru. They nest on islands and rocky coastal areas. Adults can grow up to 70 cm and weigh almost 6 kg. They largely feed on schools of fish but some may also consume mollusks and crustaceans.

49. The dugong is a marine mammal that closely resembles manatees. It feeds on seagrass communities along warm coastal areas. This endangered species is mostly found in the Indo-West Pacific.

50. The Steller sea lion lives in the northern Pacific region from Russia to Alaska. These amphibians feed on fishes and cephalopods. They congregate on the beaches of isolated islands to avoid predators, reproduce, and raise pups.