What is the name of the ocean that completely surrounds Antarctica?

The ocean that completely surrounds Antarctica is the Southern Ocean. It forms a continuous belt around the continent and connects the southern portions of the Atlantic, Indian, and Pacific Oceans.

Unlike the other major oceans, the Southern Ocean’s northern boundary is not defined by a single surrounding landmass. It is commonly described using the Antarctic Circumpolar Current or, in many modern maps, the 60th parallel south. The current flows eastward around Antarctica without being blocked by continents, helping distinguish the region’s water and climate from those of the neighbouring oceans.

The Southern Ocean is geologically young. It formed roughly 30 million years ago when Antarctica and South America separated and the Drake Passage opened. Its powerful circulation influences global ocean currents, climate, and nutrient transport. Cold, nutrient-rich waters support phytoplankton, krill, fish, penguins, seals, whales, and albatrosses. Older maps may label the waters around Antarctica as extensions of the Atlantic, Pacific, and Indian Oceans, which explains why some readers encounter different terminology. The name Southern Ocean is now the standard quiz and geographic answer.