When the Earth is seen from space, it looks blue. This is because 71 per cent of the planet is covered by water. Most of it is in the four great oceans- the Atlantic, the Pacific, the Indian Ocean and the Arctic Ocean.

Ocean currents change the weather. These currrents carry warm wather from the equador to the poles. For example,in the Atlantic warm water is carried up the European side. The weather is chaged by the ocean currents.
Winters in western Europe are much warmer than on the estern coast of North America.

Millions of people spend their holidays on the beach. every year more and more hotels are built on the coast.

We catch fish in the oceans. Over 10 million tonnes of fish are taken from the oceans every year. MOst of these fish are caught by large fishing boats with long nets.