This description provides an overview of the Arctic Ocean, the northernmost body of water on Earth. It is the smallest and shallowest of the world's five major oceans, and is located entirely within the Arctic Circle. The Arctic Ocean is home to a wide variety of marine life, including
The Arctic Ocean is the smallest and shallowest of the world's five oceanic divisions. It spans an area of approximately 14,060,000 km2 (5,430,000 sq mi) and is the coldest of the world's oceans. The International Hydrographic Organization (IHO) recognizes it as an ocean, although some oceanographers call it the Arctic Mediterranean Sea or North Polar Sea. It has also been described as an estuary of the Atlantic Ocean. It is also seen as the northernmost part of the all-encompassing world ocean.