Before 2000, there were only four major oceans, consisting of the Atlantic, Pacific, Indian and Arctic Oceans. Now the Antarctic Ocean has gained another ocean, called the Southern Ocean, which is not yet found on the old maps, but has been officially recognized since 2000.
Previously, the area was called the Southern Arctic Ocean and is characterized by zones of very cold water masses. In winter, meter-dense pack ice forms in the Southern Ocean, rising to huge tabular icebergs and creating fragmentary ice shelves in many areas. Among seafarers, the Southern Ocean is considered one of the most stormy and dangerous seas in the world. It has a unique ecosystem in which the shrimp-shaped crustacean krill, in particular, thrives and is an important part of the plankton.