Arctic Ocean Ocean n of the Arctic Circle, between North America and Eurasia. Almost totally landlocked and the Earth's smallest ocean, it is bordered by Greenland, Canada, Alaska, Russia, and Norway. Connected to the Pacific Ocean by the Bering Strait, and to the Atlantic Ocean by the Davis Strait and Greenland Sea, it includes the Barents, Beaufort, Chukchi, Greenland, and Norwegian seas. There is animal life (plankton) in all Arctic water. Polar bears, seals, and gulls live up to c.88° n. Area: 14 million sq km (5.4 million sq mi).

Arctic Ocean The smallest and shallowest of the major oceanic areas, the shallowness being caused by the surrounding wide continental shelves (up to 1700 km wide). For much of the year the surface is covered by floating pack ice.

Arctic Ocean Smallest and shallowest of the major oceanic areas, the shallowness being caused by the surrounding wide continental shelves (up to 1700 km wide). For much of the year the surface is covered by floating pack-ice.