Many of us thought the world had four oceans - the Atlantic, Indian, Pacific and Arctic Oceans. That's what we were taught school. However, a search the Internet will show that there is also a "Southern Ocean" the South Pole and Antarctica. The National Geographic Society has now officially accepted that this body water around Antarctica is a real ocean. Geography teachers will now have to teach their students that the world has five oceans. Alex Tait, a geographer and cartographer National Geographic, said: "We think it's really important an educational [viewpoint], as well as a map-labelling standpoint, to bring attention the Southern Ocean as a fifth ocean."
National Geographic said its recognition the world having a fifth ocean would have an impact how children see the world. Mr Tait said: "Students learn information the...world through what oceans they're studying. If you don't include the Southern Ocean, then they don't learn...how important it is." He said that recognising the Southern Ocean would help students understand more climate change. He wrote: "Antarctica forms a distinct ecological region defined ocean currents and temperatures." National Geographic said: "The Southern Ocean [has] unique and fragile marine ecosystems that are home wonderful marine life such as whales, penguins and seals."
