| Porthole 10 Jun 21

THE Southern Ocean is well-known to Australians, particularly those who have ventured to Antarctica, but now thanks to National Geographic, it will be well-known to the rest of the word also.

Prior to Tue, Nat Geo had recognised four oceans since it began making maps more than a century ago: the Arctic, Atlantic, Indian and Pacific.

However, on World Oceans Day, National Geographic cartographers proclaimed the swift current circling Antarctica keeps the waters there distinct, and therefore worthy of their own name on its maps.

The original four oceans will now be joined by the Southern – an almost arrogant admission, but Nat Geo Society Geographer Alex Tait explains.

“The Southern Ocean has long been recognised by scientists, but because there was never agreement internationally, we never officially recognised it”.