<P> Though generally described as several separate oceans, the global, interconnected body of salt water is sometimes referred to as the World Ocean or global ocean . The concept of a continuous body of water with relatively free interchange among its parts is of fundamental importance to oceanography . </P> <P> The major oceanic divisions--listed below in descending order of area and volume--are defined in part by the continents, various archipelagos, and other criteria . </P> <Table> <Tr> <Th> #</Th> <Th> Ocean </Th> <Th> Location </Th> <Th> Area (km) (%) </Th> <Th> Volume (km) (%) </Th> <Th> Avg . depth (m) </Th> <Th> Coastline (km) </Th> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> </Td> <Td> Pacific Ocean </Td> <Td> Separates Asia and Oceania from the Americas </Td> <Td> 7008168723000000000 ♠ 168,723,000 46.6 </Td> <Td> 7008669880000000000 ♠ 669,880,000 50.1 </Td> <Td> 7003397000000000000 ♠ 3,970 </Td> <Td> 7005135663000000000 ♠ 135,663 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> </Td> <Td> Atlantic Ocean </Td> <Td> Separates the Americas from Europe and Africa </Td> <Td> 7007851330000000000 ♠ 85,133,000 23.5 </Td> <Td> 7008310410900000000 ♠ 310,410,900 23.3 </Td> <Td> 7003364600000000000 ♠ 3,646 </Td> <Td> 7005111866000000000 ♠ 111,866 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> </Td> <Td> Indian Ocean </Td> <Td> Washes upon southern Asia and separates Africa and Australia </Td> <Td> 7007705600000000000 ♠ 70,560,000 19.5 </Td> <Td> 7008264000000000000 ♠ 264,000,000 19.8 </Td> <Td> 7003374100000000000 ♠ 3,741 </Td> <Td> 7004665260000000000 ♠ 66,526 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> </Td> <Td> Southern Ocean </Td> <Td> Sometimes considered an extension of the Pacific, Atlantic and Indian Oceans, which encircles Antarctica </Td> <Td> 7007219600000000000 ♠ 21,960,000 6.1 </Td> <Td> 7007718000000000000 ♠ 71,800,000 5.4 </Td> <Td> 7003327000000000000 ♠ 3,270 </Td> <Td> 7004179680000000000 ♠ 17,968 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 5 </Td> <Td> Arctic Ocean </Td> <Td> Sometimes considered a sea or estuary of the Atlantic, which covers much of the Arctic and washes upon northern North America and Eurasia </Td> <Td> 7007155580000000000 ♠ 15,558,000 4.3 </Td> <Td> 7007187500000000000 ♠ 18,750,000 1.4 </Td> <Td> 7003120500000000000 ♠ 1,205 </Td> <Td> 7004453890000000000 ♠ 45,389 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th_colspan="3"> Total--World Ocean </Th> <Th> 7008361900000000000 ♠ 361,900,000 100 </Th> <Th> 7009133500000000000 ♠ 1,335,000,000 100 </Th> <Th> 7003368800000000000 ♠ 3,688 </Th> <Th> 7005377412000000000 ♠ 377,412 </Th> </Tr> </Table> <Tr> <Th> #</Th> <Th> Ocean </Th> <Th> Location </Th> <Th> Area (km) (%) </Th> <Th> Volume (km) (%) </Th> <Th> Avg . depth (m) </Th> <Th> Coastline (km) </Th> </Tr>

Which ocean is the biggest ocean in the world