Philippine sea - map, photo. Coast of the Philippine Sea
Philippine sea
The Philippine Sea is an inter-island body of water in the Southwest Pacific Ocean. It has no precise land borders. On the coast of the Philippine Sea are the lands of such states as Japan, China (Taiwan), Philippines, USA (Mariana Islands). Its water area is separated from the ocean by the island of Taiwan, underwater ridges, the Japanese, Philippine Islands and a number of other islands. The largest islands in this sea: Philippine, Caroline, Mariana, Kyushu, Honshu, Shikoku, Taiwan, Nampo, Kazan, Batan.
Historians and geographers believe that the Philippine Sea was first discovered in the 15th century by Magellan. The sea and the archipelago of the same name were named after Philip II, the ruler of Spain. Magellan died during a battle on one of the islands of the archipelago. Today the Philippine Islands are popular holiday destinations. There are beautiful beaches and natural parks.
What are the features of the Philippine Sea
The Philippine Sea is considered the largest sea in the World Ocean. Its bottom is very uneven, with significant depressions in some places. Therefore, the sea is deep. Some depressions are distinguished by stunning depths - over 6 thousand m. At the deepest point, about 10,540 m were recorded. The deepest depression on the planet, the Philippine depression, is located in the sea. Only the Mariana Trench, located in the ocean, outside the Philippine Sea, is considered deeper..
The average depth of the Philippine Sea was 4108 m. The water area is densely surrounded by islands, thanks to which it has a diamond shape. Many islands are Japanese territory. The exception is the Mariana and Philippine Islands. The Ryukyu chain of 98 islands is considered the longest in this sea. The largest island among them is Okinawa. The seabed in many areas is covered with mountain peaks.
Climate conditions
A map of the Philippine Sea makes it possible to see that it is located in the following climatic zones: tropical, subtropical, subequatorial and equatorial. The warm North-Trade Current softens the local climate a little. The Philippine Sea is often home to storms and typhoons.
Natural world
The depths of the Philippine Sea hide many secrets. The first deep sea exploration was carried out on a bathyscaphe «Trieste». Scientists sank to the bottom of the Mariana Trench and discovered life there. Even in the deepest places, bacteria and other living organisms are present. The Philippine Sea is home to a variety of fish, mammals and molluscs. The largest animals are sea turtles, whales and dugongs. Locals are engaged in fishing for tuna, octopus, shellfish.