Table of Contents
Where is the Sargasso Sea found?
While it is known that the large freighters and barges can steam through this area with ease and the seaweed not a threat to shipping, on the other hand, many derelicts have been found in Sargasso Sea which are mostly the skeletons of sailing ships from earlier days.
Why does the Sargasso Sea not have a coastline?
The only sea in the world that has no land boundary. Named after Sargassum, a species of seaweed that covers the area’s waters, the Sargasso Sea is the only sea without shores or coastlines. These currents form a clockwise-circulating gyre that surrounds the Sargasso Sea much like a terrestrial coastline would.
How do the waters of the Sargasso Sea differ from the waters of the rest of the North Atlantic?
The Sargasso Sea (/sɑːrˈɡæsoʊ/) is a region of the Atlantic Ocean bounded by four currents forming an ocean gyre. It is distinguished from other parts of the Atlantic Ocean by its characteristic brown Sargassum seaweed and often calm blue water.
How Sargasso Sea is formed?
The Sargasso sea lies within the North Atlantic ocean, surrounded by four currents that form an ocean gyre. For the uninitiated, an ocean gyre is a huge system of circulating ocean currents that are formed due to global wind patterns and the effects of Earth’s rotation (Coriolis effect).
When was the Sargasso Sea discovered?
1492
Columbus first documented encounters with Sargassum in his expedition diaries in 1492, and the Sargasso Sea has been documented in scientific publications since 1854.
Can you walk on the Sargasso Sea?
Avoiding exposure is the most important preventive measure. The peak Sargassum season in the Caribbean is January to April. If beaches are covered with brown seaweed, travelers should not walk on the beach—especially if there is a smell of rotten eggs in the air.
Can you burn Sargassum?
Sargassum burns cleaner and does not emit much dust or smoke. It also burns longer, making it perfect for cooking jerk, a traditional Jamaican style of seasoning and preparing meat.
Is it safe to swim in Sargassum?
Sargassum presents risks to human health as well. In the water, it’s harmless to humans, but the trouble begins once it lands on the beach and starts to decompose. Breathing in these toxic gases may cause respiratory, skin and neurocognitive symptoms in people that come in close contact with degrading sargasso.