1. The Sargasso Sea Lauren Seyler

2. A Sea Without Shores 1,100 km wide by 3,200 km long – 70°W to 40°W, 25°N to 35°N Bounded by currents: – West: Gulf Stream – North: North Atlantic Current – East: Canary Current – South: North Atlantic Equatorial Current – => North Atlantic Subtropical Gyre Depths of 1,500-7,000 m

4. Characteristics Separation from rest of Atlantic Indigenous currents weak, mostly entropious – What goes in, won’t go out Plus: low ppt, high evaporation, light winds = No mixing! Warm, saline, nutrient-poor water

5. Brown seaweed with small, berry-like bladders Travels with wind and current Not brought in by Gulf Stream Unique ecological niche J. Craig Venter 1800 species, 148 previously unknown bacterial phylotypes Sargassum

6. Deadly Doldrums “Sea of Lost Ships”- contains Bermuda Triangle Dreaded by seafarers for centuries Columbus’s crew feared seaweed Not seaweed, but calms – “Horse Latitudes” Even today, airplanes and cargo ships lost – WHY?