Pacific Ocean Borders of the oceans

1 pacific ocean

1.1 north pacific
1.2 south pacific
1.3 notes

pacific ocean

the pacific ocean according cia world factbook (blue area), , defined iho (black outline — excluding marginal waterbodies)

the pacific ocean separates asia , australia americas. may further subdivided equator northern , southern portions.

north pacific

the 3rd edition, in force, of international hydrographic organization s (iho) limits of oceans , seas defines limits of north pacific ocean (excluding seas contains) follows:

on southwest. northeastern limit of east indian archipelago equator luzon island.






on west , northwest. eastern limits of philippine sea , japan sea , southeastern limit of sea of okhotsk.






on north. southern limits of bering sea , gulf of alaska.






on east. western limit of coastal waters of southeast alaska , br. columbia, , southern limit of gulf of california.






on south. equator, excluding islands of gilbert , galàpagos groups lie northward thereof.



south pacific

the 3rd edition, in force, of international hydrographic organization s (iho) limits of oceans , seas defines limits of south pacific ocean (excluding seas contains) follows:

on west. southeast cape, southern point of tasmania, down meridian of 146°55 e antarctic continent.






on southwest , northwest. southern, eastern , northeastern limits of tasman sea, southeastern , northeastern limits of coral sea, southern, eastern , northern limits of solomon , bismark [sic] seas, , northeastern limit of east indian archipelago new guinea equator.






on north. equator, including islands of gilbert , galàpagos groups lie northward thereof.






on east. meridian of cape horn (67°16 w) tierra del fuego antarctic continent; line cape virgins (52°21′s 68°21′w / 52.350°s 68.350°w / -52.350; -68.350) cape espititu santo, tierra del fuego, eastern entrance magellan strait. (these limits have not yet been officially accepted argentina , chile.)






on south. antarctic continent.

note these definitions exclude marginal waterbodies separately defined iho (such gulf of alaska , coral sea), though these considered part of pacific ocean.

in 2002 draft, iho redefined pacific ocean, moving southern limit 60°s, waters south of line identified southern ocean. new definition has not yet been ratified (and, in addition, reservation lodged in 2003 australia.) while name southern ocean used, geographic authorities such 10th edition of world atlas u.s. national geographic society show atlantic, indian, , pacific oceans continuing antarctica. if , when adopted, 2002 definition published in 4th edition of limits of oceans , seas, re-instituting 2nd edition s southern ocean , omitted 3rd edition.

notes