The Atlantic Ocean, or Atlantic for short, is the second largest sea on earth. It lies between America and Europe/Africa. The northern and southern borders are formed by the polar circles. The Atlantic Ocean is home to numerous islands, such as the Caribbean Islands, the Azores, the Canary Islands and the Cape Verde Islands. Secondary seas include the North Sea, the Baltic Sea, the Mediterranean Sea, the English Channel and many more. For the connection to the Pacific Ocean, artificial connections have been built in addition to the natural ones. These include the Panama Canal and the Suez Canal.