NIWA Southern Oceans Discovery

Learn about the Southern Ocean and how it is covered with ice and has a sea temperature of just 2 degrees, that's cold!

The Southern Ocean is unique in that its largest boundary doesn't encounter a land mass, but instead merges into the Pacific, Indian and Atlantic Oceans. Its exact boundaries are subject to much discussion and dispute, but one thing is for certain - no matter where its boundaries are drawn, the Southern Ocean supports a huge variety of incredible marine life, some of which is yet to be discovered by humans.