Not only is the Sargasso Sea a strange body of water surrounded by four ocean currents, but it has also been continuously mentioned due to its connection to the mysterious disappearances of many ships passing through this area.
There are many mysterious and strange locations around the world, with the ocean being one of the most intriguing places that scientists yearn to explore. The Sargasso Sea is one such area. What people hear about this sea are truly remarkable stories. The Sargasso Sea is even compared to the Bermuda Triangle, as this area is windless yet has the ability to cause many ships to vanish without a trace.
The Borderless Sea
The Sargasso Sea is referred to as the “sea within the ocean”; it is entirely different from other seas. While most seas are located at the edges of oceans and adjacent to land, the Sargasso Sea is not. The Sargasso Sea is a body of water in the middle of the North Atlantic Ocean, formed not by surrounding land but by four ocean currents. Therefore, it is the only sea in the world without a shore and clear boundaries.
The Sargasso Sea is located in the ocean and surrounded by four ocean currents. (Photo: Britannica)
The four currents surrounding the Sargasso Sea include the North Atlantic Current to the north, the Canary Current to the east, the Gulf Stream to the west, and the North Equatorial Current to the south. These waters circulate in an elliptical pattern clockwise within the Atlantic Ocean, creating the continuously changing boundaries of the Sargasso Sea. This uniqueness makes this sea a pivot of the ocean.
The Sargasso Sea stretches up to 1,126 km wide and approximately 3,219 km long. Being a part of the Atlantic Ocean, Sargasso is closely tied to its formation.
The reason is due to the different geological processes that occurred in the crust of the now-extinct Tethys Ocean. The ocean formed between Cimmeria and Gondwana. During the Jurassic period (150 million years ago), Cimmeria eventually collided with Laurasia. Where it came to rest, the ocean floor beneath it buckled, forming the Tethys Trench. Water levels rose, and the western part of Tethys covered significant portions of Europe. Around the same time, Laurasia and Gondwana began drifting apart, forming the Atlantic Ocean between them. Thus, the Sargasso Sea has existed for at least 100 million years.
The Sargasso Sea is believed to have formed 100 million years ago. (Photo: Britannica)
“The Sea of Evil”
Not only is it the only borderless sea, but the Sargasso Sea also instills fear in many captains and sailors who hear its name. Although the Sargasso Sea is surrounded by powerful currents, it is completely calm with no waves or wind. However, many ships have mysteriously disappeared when entering the Sargasso Sea. These oddities have led to the Sargasso Sea being nicknamed “the Sea of Evil.”
The Sargasso Sea is also believed to be related to many mysterious disappearances of ships that inadvertently entered this area. (Photo: Britannica)
According to some records, in 1492, the fleet led by explorer Christopher Columbus accidentally entered the Sargasso Sea. They became lost there for many months. During their wandering in this area, his crew encountered many ghost ships. These ships were all very old and abandoned. However, when they went to inspect them, they found that the ships still had plenty of fuel and food… Later, after navigating out of Sargasso, Christopher Columbus published his findings about this sea.
By 1840, the London Times reported that a French merchant ship, Rosalie, had passed through the Sargasso Sea and disappeared without leaving a trace. When it reappeared, there was no sign of life aboard. In 1881, seeking to discover the cause of this mysterious disappearance, American scholar Ellen Austin sent a crew of 50 aboard. Surprisingly, as soon as the 50 young sailors stepped aboard, the ship vanished before Ellen Austin’s astonished eyes. After one night, the ship reappeared, but the 50 crew members had disappeared in an inexplicable manner.
The fleet led by Christopher Columbus also became lost in the Sargasso Sea for many months. (Photo: Britannica)
Between the years 1960 and 1980, numerous unmanned drifting ships were found in the Sargasso Sea. The most famous among them was the Connemara 4, which disappeared and was found in 1955. These unexplained disappearances have led many to compare the Sargasso Sea with the Bermuda Triangle. What secrets does Sargasso hold, and why do ships and boats entering this area encounter such dangers?
What Is the Truth?
The stories of strange disappearances in the Sargasso Sea have captured the attention of scientists. They have formed numerous research teams to explore the mysteries of Sargasso.
One such team, led by Professor Richard Sylvester from the University of Western Australia, has proposed a reasonable hypothesis for the puzzling disappearances in the Sargasso Sea. According to experts, the Sargasso Sea is famous for a type of algae called Sargassum. This algae grows densely here and is a characteristic that sailors recognize as they arrive in the Sargasso Sea. Scientists propose the first hypothesis that large amounts of Sargassum algae accumulate in the Sargasso Sea and get caught in the propellers, making it difficult for ships to maneuver. This leads to many ships becoming lost.
Scientists hypothesize that the dense growth of Sargassum algae here is the cause of the mysterious disappearances. (Photo: Britannica).
The second hypothesis is that the strong ocean currents flowing in the Sargasso Sea create a massive whirlpool. This whirlpool acts like a centrifuge, generating smaller whirlpools throughout the area. These whirlpools can pull ships into them, causing the mysterious disappearances.
Additionally, the final hypothesis is that this sea is too calm and lacks strong winds. Specifically, vessels without engine assistance that inadvertently enter this sea may find themselves stranded here. However, while these three hypotheses are quite reasonable, no conclusive explanation has been made regarding the anomalies of the Sargasso Sea. To this day, this sea remains one of the most intriguing mysteries in the world.
Strange Facts About the Sargasso Sea
The Sargasso Sea is also known as one of the clearest bodies of water in the world. This is because it is very far from river mouths, resulting in fewer pollutants, and the water is so clear that one can see down to 66.5 meters; in some places, visibility can reach 72 meters.
Sargasso is one of the clearest seas in the world, with visibility exceeding 60m. (Photo: Britannica)
The Sargasso Sea is also home to the most diverse and rich ecosystems in the world. The area is covered with dense seaweed, forming a vast carpet over the water. It is home to over 60 species of marine life, including shrimp, crabs, fish, turtle hatchlings, and rare eels. Consequently, larger marine creatures like whales and sharks often come here to feed on this seaweed.
Another strange phenomenon is that, unlike the harsh, cold climate of the North Atlantic, the Sargasso Sea is surprisingly warm. Scientists have measured the water temperature inside the Sargasso Sea, which is much higher than that of the surrounding water.
The Sargasso Sea is home to many different marine species, both small and large. (Photo: Britannica)
The Sargasso Sea has many unique characteristics compared to the rest of the ocean, resulting in a fascinating biodiversity. This sea has a very high salinity and low nutrient content. Rainfall is scarce here, making Sargasso one of the saltiest seas in the Atlantic Ocean.
