Can you hear under the water?

When we venture into underwater, none of our senses seem to work very well. We certainly can’t see or hear clearly. The ability to detect sound is reduced underwater, where the speed of sound is faster than in air.

Can you find feathers, daisies and plates in the ocean?

Seals cannot live underwater all the time. Though they have adapted greatly for water life, seals spend a good deal of their time on land. They like to sun themselves on beaches or ice floes, and move about on land by wriggling on their tummies. Their babies are born on land and must be taught to swim by their mothers. So, seals are leally half land animal, and half sea mammal!

Can you drink seawater?

As seawater is salty, it cannot be drunk. But for countries such as Saudi Arabia and Libya, it is the only source of water. Therefore they convert salty seawater into water fit for drinking in desalination plants, using a process called reverse osmosis. Some plants boil and distill the water and the salt is evaporated.

Can seals live underwater?

Seals cannot live underwater all the time. Though they have adapted greatly for water life, seals spend a good deal of their time on land. They like to sun themselves on beaches or ice floes, and move about on land by wriggling on their tummies. Their babies are born on land and must be taught to swim by their mothers. So, seals are leally half land animal, and half sea mammal!

Are there snakes in the ocean?

About 70 species of sea snakes exist, mainly in the tropical waters of the Pacific and Indian Oceans. Many are found in shallow water near coral reefs, mangroves and estuaries. They are highly venomous, and hunt for fish along the ocean floor, exploring crevices in rocks or coral reefs.
The venom contains neurotoxins, which paralyses the prey. The beaked sea snake, responsible for many human deaths, maintains enough venom to kill more than 50 people. Although almost all sea snakes are lethal to humans, must do not bite unless provoked.

Are there rivers in the sea?

You always thinck of rivers flowing through the land. But did you know that there are giant bands of warm and cold water that flow through the sea like rivers, blown by the wind? These “rivers” of the sea are known as currents. As they flow around the earth, they help to heat and cool the earth. The biggest current is the West Wind Drift around Antarctica, which carries 2000 times more water than the river Amazon!

Are there really sea monsters?

There are many stories about huge sea monsters that can easily overturn ships. It was said that the monsters looked like octopuses. In reality, they were probably giant squids that can weigh up to two tons and are over15 metres long.

Are there oceans highways?

Once upon a time, oceans were barriers that separated lands. Now they serve as roads and highways that enable passengers and goods to be carried around the world. From ancient days, man has tried to develop methods to carry him over the seas. But it is only since the last century that safe and speedy ships could be built.
Today, we have vessels and supertankers that are fitted with the most modern and efficient technology. Cargo ships carry huge quantities of oil, minerals, food products etc. from one part of the world to the other. To a large extent, our life is made comfortable by these ships that ply across the highways of the ocean.

Are there mountains and volcanoes under the sea?

There are thousands of mountains under the sea. All of them are volcanoes but some of them do not erupt anymore. There is a long chain of undersea mountains all the way down the Atlantic Ocean. It is called the Mid-Atlantic ridge, and is the longest chain of mountains in the world. The highest sea mountains are over 10, 000 metres tall!

Are there forests in the sea?

In some parts of the ocean, a type of seaweed called Kelp grows in forests. They are brown and can grow to about 60 metres in height. Just as trees in land grow together to form a forest, groups of kelp plants also grow to form a forest in the sea. These forests provide food and shelter for many types of marine creatures.

Are there farms under the sea?

Yes. But there are no farmers or animals. Instead, some kinds of fish and shellfish and raised in special enclosures under the sea. As they are fed specially, they grow faster and bigger than normal. The Japanese have seaweed farms as it is used in their cooking.

Are currents dangerous?

Yes. Underwater currents cause many deaths each year. The water often looks calm on the surface, but the swimmers can be pulled away from the shore by strong currents underneath. Once trapped in the pull of a current, the swimmer becomes exhausted and may even drown.