Which ocean is the smallest of the five major oceans?

The Arctic Ocean is the smallest of the five major oceans. It surrounds the North Pole and is bordered by northern parts of Eurasia and North America, including Greenland.

The ocean is also the shallowest of the major oceans, with an average depth of roughly 1,200 meters. Much of its central area is covered by sea ice that expands during winter and contracts during summer, although long-term warming has reduced the extent and thickness of Arctic ice. The Arctic Ocean is connected to the Atlantic through the Greenland and Norwegian seas and to the Pacific through the Bering Strait.

Its marine environment supports species such as polar bears, walruses, narwhals, seals, and several kinds of whales. The region is also important to Indigenous peoples whose communities have adapted to Arctic environments over thousands of years. The term “Arctic” derives from the Greek word arktos, meaning “bear,” referring to the northern constellations Ursa Major and Ursa Minor.