Question:
Which of the following oceans has the shape of the English letter 'S'?
Which of the following oceans has the shape of the English letter 'S'?
Show Hint
Look at how the bulge of Brazil fits into the hollow of West Africa, and follow the basin north.
Updated On: Jul 17, 2026
- Atlantic
- Pacific
- Indian
- Arctic
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Verified By Collegedunia
The Correct Option is A
Solution and Explanation
Step 1: Understanding the Question:
The question asks which ocean looks like the letter S on a world map. It is really a question about the outline of each ocean basin.
Step 2: Key Formula or Approach:
Picture each ocean on the map and trace its outline, then match it to the curve of an S.
Step 3: Detailed Explanation:
The Atlantic Ocean is a long, narrow ocean stretching from the Arctic in the north to the Southern Ocean in the south. In the north it bends one way between North America and Europe, and in the south it bends the other way between South America and Africa. Those two opposite curves together give the basin its classic S shape. The bulge of Brazil fitting the hollow of the Gulf of Guinea sharpens the effect. The Atlantic is also the second largest ocean and the one that holds the Mid Atlantic Ridge.
Why the other options fail:
The Pacific is the largest ocean and is roughly a huge oval or triangle spread between Asia, Australia and the Americas, not an S.
The Indian Ocean is closed in the north by Asia and opens out to the south, so it looks more like the letter M or a broad triangle.
The Arctic Ocean is a small, nearly circular basin ringed by land around the North Pole.
Step 4: Final Answer:
The Atlantic Ocean has the S shape, so option (A) is correct.
The question asks which ocean looks like the letter S on a world map. It is really a question about the outline of each ocean basin.
Step 2: Key Formula or Approach:
Picture each ocean on the map and trace its outline, then match it to the curve of an S.
Step 3: Detailed Explanation:
The Atlantic Ocean is a long, narrow ocean stretching from the Arctic in the north to the Southern Ocean in the south. In the north it bends one way between North America and Europe, and in the south it bends the other way between South America and Africa. Those two opposite curves together give the basin its classic S shape. The bulge of Brazil fitting the hollow of the Gulf of Guinea sharpens the effect. The Atlantic is also the second largest ocean and the one that holds the Mid Atlantic Ridge.
Why the other options fail:
The Pacific is the largest ocean and is roughly a huge oval or triangle spread between Asia, Australia and the Americas, not an S.
The Indian Ocean is closed in the north by Asia and opens out to the south, so it looks more like the letter M or a broad triangle.
The Arctic Ocean is a small, nearly circular basin ringed by land around the North Pole.
Step 4: Final Answer:
The Atlantic Ocean has the S shape, so option (A) is correct.
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