DID YOU KNOW?
Some fascinating statistics about the world's oceans:
*The ocean occupies about 362-million square kilometers, or nearly 71 percent of the earth's surface.
*The average depth of the ocean is 3 720 metres.
*More than 97 percent of all our planet's water is contained in the ocean.
*The deepest point is 11033m in the Marina Trench in the western Pacific.
*There are 4 000 coral fish species worldwide - a quarter of all marine fish species.
*Ninety percent of trade between countries is carried by ships across the world's oceans.
*The oceans provides 99 percent of the earth's living space-the largest space in our universe known to be inhabited by living organisms.
*More than 90 percent of this habitat exists in the deep sea known as the abyss.
*Less than 10 percent of this living space has been explored by humans.
*The Monterey Bay Submarine Canyon is deeper and larger in volume than the Grand Canyon.
*The Antarctic ice sheet that forms and melts over the ocean each year is nearly twice the size of the United States.
*Eighty percent of all pollution in the sea comes from land-based activities.
*Fish supply the greatest percentage of the world's protein consumed by humans.
*Less than one half of the one percent of marine habitats is protected.
*The Grand Banks, the pride of New England fishing for centuries are closed due to over fishing.
*The world's oceans contain 20 million tons of gold.
*The largest continuous mountain chain known to exist in the universe lies in the ocean. IT is more than 64 000 kilometers long.
*The average temperature of the ecean is two degrees Celsius.
*Unintentional catches, caused by the use of non-selective fishing gear, such as trawl nets, long lines and gill nets, cause destruction of 20-million tons of marine life a year.
*The Grey whale migrates more than 10 000 km's each year, the longest migration of any mammal.
*Most of the world's major fisheries are being fished above their maximum yield.
*South Coast locals believe that the Sardine Run starts when the last aloes bloom.
*Bottlenose dolphins are friendly creatures who love frolicking in the surf and wave-riding. It's incredible to watch them compete with surfers for a wave. In winter, they travel in their thousands up the coast from the Cape, their migration co-incide with the annual Sardine Run.
*In 1922 an extraordianry battle was witnessed just off Margate beach. Two whales and a mysterious marine animal covered in white fur battled it out for hours. The whales won however, and the body of the unidentified creature was washed up on the beach. Measuring over 47 feet, with a 10 foot tail, the animal was covered in 8 inch fur. Instead of a distinct head it had a 5 foot long trunk-like appendage and wad was nicknamed Trunko. Nobody came in any official capacity to identify the creature. After ten days, the tides washed Trunko back to sea, never to be seen again.
*Cape gannets fly up the coast from their colonies in the Cape during the Sardine Run. Huge flocks plunge out of the sky,
dive-bombing the silvery shoals. After gorging themselves, the gannets float in groups on the water overnight, much too full to fly.
*Way back, while the Umzimkhulu River bridge (between Umtentweni and Port Shepstone) was under construction, there were so many sharks in the river mouth that locals formed groups, climbed on the pilons and attempted to shoot as many as possible. Fortunately nowadays, shark sightings on beaches and in lagoons are extremely rare and scuba divers specifically visit our shores to dive with sharks.
*Humpbacked and Southern Right whales are frequently sighted close to shore, mainly between June and November, as they make their way north to their breeding grounds off Mozambique, before returning to the nutrientrich waters of Antarctica. Many visitors miss this amazing spectacle, as one has to patiently scan the water for the telltale water spout, which is inevitably followed by a breaching whale. Whale and dolphin watching trips launch frequently in season, where one can see these gentle giants close up.
Some fascinating statistics about the world's oceans:
*The ocean occupies about 362-million square kilometers, or nearly 71 percent of the earth's surface.
*The average depth of the ocean is 3 720 metres.
*More than 97 percent of all our planet's water is contained in the ocean.
*The deepest point is 11033m in the Marina Trench in the western Pacific.
*There are 4 000 coral fish species worldwide - a quarter of all marine fish species.
*Ninety percent of trade between countries is carried by ships across the world's oceans.
*The oceans provides 99 percent of the earth's living space-the largest space in our universe known to be inhabited by living organisms.
*More than 90 percent of this habitat exists in the deep sea known as the abyss.
*Less than 10 percent of this living space has been explored by humans.
*The Monterey Bay Submarine Canyon is deeper and larger in volume than the Grand Canyon.
*The Antarctic ice sheet that forms and melts over the ocean each year is nearly twice the size of the United States.
*Eighty percent of all pollution in the sea comes from land-based activities.
*Fish supply the greatest percentage of the world's protein consumed by humans.
*Less than one half of the one percent of marine habitats is protected.
*The Grand Banks, the pride of New England fishing for centuries are closed due to over fishing.
*The world's oceans contain 20 million tons of gold.
*The largest continuous mountain chain known to exist in the universe lies in the ocean. IT is more than 64 000 kilometers long.
*The average temperature of the ecean is two degrees Celsius.
*Unintentional catches, caused by the use of non-selective fishing gear, such as trawl nets, long lines and gill nets, cause destruction of 20-million tons of marine life a year.
*The Grey whale migrates more than 10 000 km's each year, the longest migration of any mammal.
*Most of the world's major fisheries are being fished above their maximum yield.
*South Coast locals believe that the Sardine Run starts when the last aloes bloom.
*Bottlenose dolphins are friendly creatures who love frolicking in the surf and wave-riding. It's incredible to watch them compete with surfers for a wave. In winter, they travel in their thousands up the coast from the Cape, their migration co-incide with the annual Sardine Run.
*In 1922 an extraordianry battle was witnessed just off Margate beach. Two whales and a mysterious marine animal covered in white fur battled it out for hours. The whales won however, and the body of the unidentified creature was washed up on the beach. Measuring over 47 feet, with a 10 foot tail, the animal was covered in 8 inch fur. Instead of a distinct head it had a 5 foot long trunk-like appendage and wad was nicknamed Trunko. Nobody came in any official capacity to identify the creature. After ten days, the tides washed Trunko back to sea, never to be seen again.
*Cape gannets fly up the coast from their colonies in the Cape during the Sardine Run. Huge flocks plunge out of the sky,
dive-bombing the silvery shoals. After gorging themselves, the gannets float in groups on the water overnight, much too full to fly.
*Way back, while the Umzimkhulu River bridge (between Umtentweni and Port Shepstone) was under construction, there were so many sharks in the river mouth that locals formed groups, climbed on the pilons and attempted to shoot as many as possible. Fortunately nowadays, shark sightings on beaches and in lagoons are extremely rare and scuba divers specifically visit our shores to dive with sharks.
*Humpbacked and Southern Right whales are frequently sighted close to shore, mainly between June and November, as they make their way north to their breeding grounds off Mozambique, before returning to the nutrientrich waters of Antarctica. Many visitors miss this amazing spectacle, as one has to patiently scan the water for the telltale water spout, which is inevitably followed by a breaching whale. Whale and dolphin watching trips launch frequently in season, where one can see these gentle giants close up.
