The Baltic Sea has been an important waterway since ancient times. The European Union's GDP estimated to be around $16.6 trillion (nominal) in 2022 bordering the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean with a 2,800 km (1,700 mi) long coastline. The South China Sea is a marginal sea of the Western Pacific Ocean.It is bounded in the north by the shores of South China (hence the name), in the west by the Indochinese Peninsula, in the east by the islands of Taiwan and northwestern Philippines (mainly Luzon, Mindoro and Palawan), and in the south by Borneo, eastern Sumatra and the Bangka Belitung Islands, encompassing an The first to name it the Baltic Sea (Latin: Mare Balticum) was 11th century German chronicler Adam of Bremen.. Denotation. The Netherlands (Dutch: Nederland [nedrlnt] ()), informally Holland, is a country located in Northwestern Europe with overseas territories in the Caribbean.It is the largest of four constituent countries of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. The Baltic Sea is an arm of the Atlantic Ocean that is enclosed by Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Germany, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Russia, Sweden and the North and Central European Plain.. A marginal sea of the Atlantic, with limited water exchange between the two water bodies, the Baltic Sea drains Countries which border on multiple oceans because of discontiguous regions are excluded here but included in the list of In terms of shape, Europe is a collection of connected peninsulas and nearby islands. The island is 37 km (23 mi) long, with gazelles roaming freely on it. The Mediterranean Sea is a sea connected to the Atlantic Ocean, surrounded by the Mediterranean Basin and almost completely enclosed by land: on the north by Western and Southern Europe and Anatolia, on the south by North Africa, and on the east by the Levant.The Sea has played a central role in the history of Western civilization.Although the Mediterranean Countries which border on multiple oceans because of discontiguous regions are excluded here but included in the list of With 1.4 billion people as of 2021, it accounts for about 18% of the world's human population.Africa's population is the youngest amongst all With 1.4 billion people as of 2021, it accounts for about 18% of the world's human population.Africa's population is the youngest amongst all Formally, a string is a finite, ordered sequence of characters such as letters, digits or spaces. Expedia's Hotel Search makes booking easy. Since the last Russian troops left in 1994, Estonia has been free to promote economic and political ties with the West. Pick the perfect hotel deal & save! The first to name it the Baltic Sea (Latin: Mare Balticum) was 11th century German chronicler Adam of Bremen.. Denotation. There are nine countries with a shoreline at the Baltic Sea: Choose from thousands of hotel discounts & cheap hotel rooms. Choose from thousands of hotel discounts & cheap hotel rooms. Password requirements: 6 to 30 characters long; ASCII characters only (characters found on a standard US keyboard); must contain at least 4 different symbols; Pan American Games, Caribbean Games, proposed to be held first in June 2009 for countries in the Caribbean Sea, was scheduled in Netherlands Antiles in Russians in the Baltic states describes self-identifying ethnic Russians and other primary Russian-speaking communities in Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania, collectively.As of 2017, there were ca 1 million ethnic Russians in the three Baltic countries, having declined from ca 1.7 million in 1989, the year of the last census during the Soviet era. Malaysia (/ m l e z i ,- / m-LAY-zee-, -zh; Malay: ) is a country in Southeast Asia.The federal constitutional monarchy consists of thirteen states and three federal territories, separated by the South China Sea into two regions, Peninsular Malaysia and Borneo's East Malaysia.Peninsular Malaysia shares a land and maritime border with Thailand and maritime The island is 37 km (23 mi) long, with gazelles roaming freely on it. The Netherlands consists of twelve provinces; it borders Germany to the east, Belgium to the south, with a North Sea coastline to the north and The sea stretches from 53N to 66N latitude and from 10E to 30E longitude. The sea stretches from 53N to 66N latitude and from 10E to 30E longitude. The Convention on the Protection of the Marine Environment of the Baltic Sea Area also known as the Helsinki Convention was originally signed in 1974 by all Baltic Sea coastal countries, seeking to address the increasing environmental challenges from industrialisation and other human activities and that were having a severe impact on the marine environment. The climate of the Caspian Sea is variable, Pick the perfect hotel deal & save! The coast is a popular destination for recreation and tourism in bordering countries, and the sea. Denmarks total land area is 42,430 sq. Formally, a string is a finite, ordered sequence of characters such as letters, digits or spaces. The sea stretches from 53N to 66N latitude and from 10E to 30E longitude. The Kingdom of Denmark consists of the Jutland Peninsula, which lies on Germanys northern border, and an archipelago of 440 islands.The countrys capital, Copenhagen, is situated on the east coast of one of the archipelagos larger islands, known as Zealand. Africa is the world's second-largest and second-most populous continent, after Asia in both cases. Countries The Baltic Sea (including the Gulf of Bothnia and the Gulf of Finland) covers an area of 377,000 km2 (146,000 sq mi), making it somewhat larger than Germany or slightly smaller than the US state of Montana.Approximately 85 million people live in the larger Baltic Sea region and use the sea for various purposes []. The group of countries that are members of Depending on the context the Baltic Sea Region might stand for: . The countries that have shorelines along the Baltic Sea: Denmark, Estonia, Latvia, Finland, Germany, Lithuania, Poland, Russia, and Sweden. The northern region of Europe has several definitions. Latvia's foreign policy priorities include co-operation in the Baltic Sea region, European integration, active involvement in international organisations, Nordic-Baltic Six (NB-6), comprising Nordic-Baltic countries that are European Union member states, is a framework for meetings on EU-related issues. The Philippine Sea is a marginal sea of the Western Pacific Ocean east of the Philippine archipelago (hence the name), the largest in the world, occupying an estimated surface area of 5 million square kilometers (2 10 ^ 6 sq mi). In terms of shape, Europe is a collection of connected peninsulas and nearby islands. In terms of shape, Europe is a collection of connected peninsulas and nearby islands. Pan American Games, Caribbean Games, proposed to be held first in June 2009 for countries in the Caribbean Sea, was scheduled in Netherlands Antiles in Password requirements: 6 to 30 characters long; ASCII characters only (characters found on a standard US keyboard); must contain at least 4 different symbols; Since the last Russian troops left in 1994, Estonia has been free to promote economic and political ties with the West. The countries that have shorelines along the Baltic Sea: Denmark, Estonia, Latvia, Finland, Germany, Lithuania, Poland, Russia, and Sweden. The coastline of Denmark comprises a total of 7,300 km. The Netherlands (Dutch: Nederland [nedrlnt] ()), informally Holland, is a country located in Northwestern Europe with overseas territories in the Caribbean.It is the largest of four constituent countries of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. Africa is the world's second-largest and second-most populous continent, after Asia in both cases. Its western border is the first island chain to the west, comprising the Ryukyu Islands in the The Kingdom of Denmark consists of the Jutland Peninsula, which lies on Germanys northern border, and an archipelago of 440 islands.The countrys capital, Copenhagen, is situated on the east coast of one of the archipelagos larger islands, known as Zealand. North Sea, shallow, northeastern arm of the Atlantic Ocean, located between the British Isles and the mainland of northwestern Europe and covering an area of 220,000 square miles (570,000 square km). Depending on the context the Baltic Sea Region might stand for: . Pensions, property and more. The coast is a popular destination for recreation and tourism in bordering countries, and the sea. The coast is a popular destination for recreation and tourism in bordering countries, and the sea. Pensions, property and more. The Baltic Sea has been an important waterway since ancient times. Africa is the world's second-largest and second-most populous continent, after Asia in both cases. A marginal sea of the Atlantic, with limited water exchange between the two water bodies, the Baltic Sea drains Password requirements: 6 to 30 characters long; ASCII characters only (characters found on a standard US keyboard); must contain at least 4 different symbols; Latvia's foreign policy priorities include co-operation in the Baltic Sea region, European integration, active involvement in international organisations, Nordic-Baltic Six (NB-6), comprising Nordic-Baltic countries that are European Union member states, is a framework for meetings on EU-related issues. Red Sea is a direct translation of the Greek Erythra Thalassa ( ).The sea itself was once referred to as the Erythraean Sea by Europeans. As well as Mare Rubrum in Latin (alternatively Sinus Arabicus, literally "Arabian Gulf"), the Romans called it Pontus Herculis (Sea of Hercules). It is the third largest economy in the world in nominal terms, after the United States and China, and the third one in purchasing power parity (PPP) terms, after China and the United States. The Caspian Sea has numerous islands near the coasts, but none in the deeper parts of the sea. The Philippine Sea Plate forms the floor of the sea. The South China Sea is a marginal sea of the Western Pacific Ocean.It is bounded in the north by the shores of South China (hence the name), in the west by the Indochinese Peninsula, in the east by the islands of Taiwan and northwestern Philippines (mainly Luzon, Mindoro and Palawan), and in the south by Borneo, eastern Sumatra and the Bangka Belitung Islands, encompassing an The climate of the Caspian Sea is variable, Climate. The Philippine Sea Plate forms the floor of the sea. Forcibly incorporated into the USSR in 1940 - an action never recognized by the US and many other countries - it regained its freedom in 1991 with the collapse of the Soviet Union. There are nine countries with a shoreline at the Baltic Sea: At about 30.3 million km 2 (11.7 million square miles) including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of Earth's total surface area and 20% of its land area. As well as Mare Rubrum in Latin (alternatively Sinus Arabicus, literally "Arabian Gulf"), the Romans called it Pontus Herculis (Sea of Hercules). Germany (German: Deutschland, pronounced [dtlant] ()), officially the Federal Republic of Germany, is a country in Central Europe.It is the second most populous country in Europe after Russia, and the most populous member state of the European Union.Germany is situated between the Baltic and North seas to the north, and the Alps to the south; it covers an area of 357,022 The coastline of Denmark comprises a total of 7,300 km. Choose from thousands of hotel discounts & cheap hotel rooms. The Caspian Sea has numerous islands near the coasts, but none in the deeper parts of the sea. However, recent developments around the Baltic Sea have further facilitated trade between the bordering countries and the rest of the world. Russians in the Baltic states describes self-identifying ethnic Russians and other primary Russian-speaking communities in Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania, collectively.As of 2017, there were ca 1 million ethnic Russians in the three Baltic countries, having declined from ca 1.7 million in 1989, the year of the last census during the Soviet era. At about 30.3 million km 2 (11.7 million square miles) including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of Earth's total surface area and 20% of its land area. Ogurja Ada is the largest island. The Baltic Sea is an arm of the Atlantic Ocean that is enclosed by Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Germany, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Russia, Sweden and the North and Central European Plain.. It is the third largest economy in the world in nominal terms, after the United States and China, and the third one in purchasing power parity (PPP) terms, after China and the United States. Latest news, expert advice and information on money. Some geographical texts refer to a Eurasian continent given that Europe is not surrounded by sea and its southeastern border has always been variously defined for centuries.. Sea of Japan is the dominant term used in English for the sea, and the name in most European languages is equivalent, but it is sometimes called by different names in surrounding countries.. Norse merchants established several trade empires and controlled trade activities in and around the sea for centuries. Malaysia (/ m l e z i ,- / m-LAY-zee-, -zh; Malay: ) is a country in Southeast Asia.The federal constitutional monarchy consists of thirteen states and three federal territories, separated by the South China Sea into two regions, Peninsular Malaysia and Borneo's East Malaysia.Peninsular Malaysia shares a land and maritime border with Thailand and maritime Formal theory. In the North Caspian, the majority of the islands are small and uninhabited, like the Tyuleniy Archipelago, an Important Bird Area (IBA).. At about 30.3 million km 2 (11.7 million square miles) including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of Earth's total surface area and 20% of its land area. bordering the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean with a 2,800 km (1,700 mi) long coastline. Countries The Baltic Sea (including the Gulf of Bothnia and the Gulf of Finland) covers an area of 377,000 km2 (146,000 sq mi), making it somewhat larger than Germany or slightly smaller than the US state of Montana.Approximately 85 million people live in the larger Baltic Sea region and use the sea for various purposes []. Sea of Japan is the dominant term used in English for the sea, and the name in most European languages is equivalent, but it is sometimes called by different names in surrounding countries.. The two largest peninsulas are mainland Europe and Scandinavia to the north, divided from each other by the Baltic Sea. Latvia's foreign policy priorities include co-operation in the Baltic Sea region, European integration, active involvement in international organisations, Nordic-Baltic Six (NB-6), comprising Nordic-Baltic countries that are European Union member states, is a framework for meetings on EU-related issues. The Caspian Sea has numerous islands near the coasts, but none in the deeper parts of the sea. Pick the perfect hotel deal & save! A restrictive definition may describe Northern Europe as being roughly north of the southern coast of the Baltic Sea, which is about 54N, or may be based on other geographical factors such as climate and ecology.. During the Early Middle Ages, the Roman Catholic Church expanded into Northern Europe and spread Denmarks total land area is 42,430 sq. Baltic Sea; Black Sea No waiting: Turkey, Russia to act on Putins gas hub offer bordering Greece and Bulgaria, appeared to be the best spot. The northern region of Europe has several definitions. The Netherlands consists of twelve provinces; it borders Germany to the east, Belgium to the south, with a North Sea coastline to the north and km. The Convention on the Protection of the Marine Environment of the Baltic Sea Area also known as the Helsinki Convention was originally signed in 1974 by all Baltic Sea coastal countries, seeking to address the increasing environmental challenges from industrialisation and other human activities and that were having a severe impact on the marine environment. Climate. The list is sorted by countries in order of the size of their area, from the largest countries to the smallest nations, including dependencies and territories. Pan American Games, Caribbean Games, proposed to be held first in June 2009 for countries in the Caribbean Sea, was scheduled in Netherlands Antiles in The Philippine Sea is a marginal sea of the Western Pacific Ocean east of the Philippine archipelago (hence the name), the largest in the world, occupying an estimated surface area of 5 million square kilometers (2 10 ^ 6 sq mi). In the North Caspian, the majority of the islands are small and uninhabited, like the Tyuleniy Archipelago, an Important Bird Area (IBA).. Baltic Sea; Black Sea No waiting: Turkey, Russia to act on Putins gas hub offer bordering Greece and Bulgaria, appeared to be the best spot. A restrictive definition may describe Northern Europe as being roughly north of the southern coast of the Baltic Sea, which is about 54N, or may be based on other geographical factors such as climate and ecology.. During the Early Middle Ages, the Roman Catholic Church expanded into Northern Europe and spread The European Union's GDP estimated to be around $16.6 trillion (nominal) in 2022 The sea is bordered by the island of Great Britain to the southwest and west, the Orkney and Shetland islands to the northwest, Norway to the northeast, Denmark to the east, Its western border is the first island chain to the west, comprising the Ryukyu Islands in the Since the last Russian troops left in 1994, Estonia has been free to promote economic and political ties with the West. Latest news, expert advice and information on money. The economy of the European Union is the joint economy of the member states of the European Union (EU). The Philippine Sea Plate forms the floor of the sea. The northern region of Europe has several definitions. The two largest peninsulas are mainland Europe and Scandinavia to the north, divided from each other by the Baltic Sea. In the North Caspian, the majority of the islands are small and uninhabited, like the Tyuleniy Archipelago, an Important Bird Area (IBA).. Malaysia (/ m l e z i ,- / m-LAY-zee-, -zh; Malay: ) is a country in Southeast Asia.The federal constitutional monarchy consists of thirteen states and three federal territories, separated by the South China Sea into two regions, Peninsular Malaysia and Borneo's East Malaysia.Peninsular Malaysia shares a land and maritime border with Thailand and maritime Depending on the context the Baltic Sea Region might stand for: . The empty string is the special case where the sequence has length zero, so there are no symbols in the string. Red Sea is a direct translation of the Greek Erythra Thalassa ( ).The sea itself was once referred to as the Erythraean Sea by Europeans. This list of countries which border two or more oceans includes both sovereign states and dependencies, provided the same contiguous territory borders on more than one of the five named oceans, the Pacific, Atlantic, Indian, Southern, and Arctic. Its western border is the first island chain to the west, comprising the Ryukyu Islands in the Latest news, expert advice and information on money. The climate of the Caspian Sea is variable, Formal theory. Expedia's Hotel Search makes booking easy. Baltic Sea Games, for all nations bordering Baltic Sea, first held in Estonia 1993, then in Lithuania 1997. Germany (German: Deutschland, pronounced [dtlant] ()), officially the Federal Republic of Germany, is a country in Central Europe.It is the second most populous country in Europe after Russia, and the most populous member state of the European Union.Germany is situated between the Baltic and North seas to the north, and the Alps to the south; it covers an area of 357,022 Forcibly incorporated into the USSR in 1940 - an action never recognized by the US and many other countries - it regained its freedom in 1991 with the collapse of the Soviet Union. km. The Baltic Sea is an arm of the Atlantic Ocean that is enclosed by Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Germany, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Russia, Sweden and the North and Central European Plain.. The list is sorted by countries in order of the size of their area, from the largest countries to the smallest nations, including dependencies and territories. The sea is bordered by the island of Great Britain to the southwest and west, the Orkney and Shetland islands to the northwest, Norway to the northeast, Denmark to the east, The Kingdom of Denmark consists of the Jutland Peninsula, which lies on Germanys northern border, and an archipelago of 440 islands.The countrys capital, Copenhagen, is situated on the east coast of one of the archipelagos larger islands, known as Zealand. Expedia's Hotel Search makes booking easy. A marginal sea of the Atlantic, with limited water exchange between the two water bodies, the Baltic Sea drains The Swedish coast guard said ships, divers, fishing vessels and underwater vehicles, among others, are banned from approaching within 9.3 kilometers (5.8 miles) of the two leaks off Sweden. The Kiel Canal, connecting the North Sea with the Baltic Sea, is the most heavily used artificial seaway in the world reporting an average of 89 ships per day not including sporting boats and other small watercraft in 2009. The Baltic Sea has been an important waterway since ancient times. The Netherlands consists of twelve provinces; it borders Germany to the east, Belgium to the south, with a North Sea coastline to the north and The empty string is the special case where the sequence has length zero, so there are no symbols in the string. Denmarks total land area is 42,430 sq. The coastline of Denmark comprises a total of 7,300 km. The economy of the European Union is the joint economy of the member states of the European Union (EU). With 1.4 billion people as of 2021, it accounts for about 18% of the world's human population.Africa's population is the youngest amongst all The Kiel Canal, connecting the North Sea with the Baltic Sea, is the most heavily used artificial seaway in the world reporting an average of 89 ships per day not including sporting boats and other small watercraft in 2009. Norse merchants established several trade empires and controlled trade activities in and around the sea for centuries. This list of countries which border two or more oceans includes both sovereign states and dependencies, provided the same contiguous territory borders on more than one of the five named oceans, the Pacific, Atlantic, Indian, Southern, and Arctic. A restrictive definition may describe Northern Europe as being roughly north of the southern coast of the Baltic Sea, which is about 54N, or may be based on other geographical factors such as climate and ecology.. During the Early Middle Ages, the Roman Catholic Church expanded into Northern Europe and spread Countries which border on multiple oceans because of discontiguous regions are excluded here but included in the list of Ogurja Ada is the largest island. Sea of Japan is the dominant term used in English for the sea, and the name in most European languages is equivalent, but it is sometimes called by different names in surrounding countries.. This list of countries which border two or more oceans includes both sovereign states and dependencies, provided the same contiguous territory borders on more than one of the five named oceans, the Pacific, Atlantic, Indian, Southern, and Arctic. Baltic Sea Games, for all nations bordering Baltic Sea, first held in Estonia 1993, then in Lithuania 1997. The group of countries that are members of The list is sorted by countries in order of the size of their area, from the largest countries to the smallest nations, including dependencies and territories. The group of countries that are members of The Mediterranean Sea is a sea connected to the Atlantic Ocean, surrounded by the Mediterranean Basin and almost completely enclosed by land: on the north by Western and Southern Europe and Anatolia, on the south by North Africa, and on the east by the Levant.The Sea has played a central role in the history of Western civilization.Although the Mediterranean Norse merchants established several trade empires and controlled trade activities in and around the sea for centuries. North Sea, shallow, northeastern arm of the Atlantic Ocean, located between the British Isles and the mainland of northwestern Europe and covering an area of 220,000 square miles (570,000 square km). Baltic Sea; Black Sea No waiting: Turkey, Russia to act on Putins gas hub offer bordering Greece and Bulgaria, appeared to be the best spot. Baltic Sea Games, for all nations bordering Baltic Sea, first held in Estonia 1993, then in Lithuania 1997. As well as Mare Rubrum in Latin (alternatively Sinus Arabicus, literally "Arabian Gulf"), the Romans called it Pontus Herculis (Sea of Hercules). Climate. The European Union's GDP estimated to be around $16.6 trillion (nominal) in 2022 The empty string is the special case where the sequence has length zero, so there are no symbols in the string. Names. The Convention on the Protection of the Marine Environment of the Baltic Sea Area also known as the Helsinki Convention was originally signed in 1974 by all Baltic Sea coastal countries, seeking to address the increasing environmental challenges from industrialisation and other human activities and that were having a severe impact on the marine environment. Germany (German: Deutschland, pronounced [dtlant] ()), officially the Federal Republic of Germany, is a country in Central Europe.It is the second most populous country in Europe after Russia, and the most populous member state of the European Union.Germany is situated between the Baltic and North seas to the north, and the Alps to the south; it covers an area of 357,022 The South China Sea is a marginal sea of the Western Pacific Ocean.It is bounded in the north by the shores of South China (hence the name), in the west by the Indochinese Peninsula, in the east by the islands of Taiwan and northwestern Philippines (mainly Luzon, Mindoro and Palawan), and in the south by Borneo, eastern Sumatra and the Bangka Belitung Islands, encompassing an However, recent developments around the Baltic Sea have further facilitated trade between the bordering countries and the rest of the world. Names. It is the third largest economy in the world in nominal terms, after the United States and China, and the third one in purchasing power parity (PPP) terms, after China and the United States. Some geographical texts refer to a Eurasian continent given that Europe is not surrounded by sea and its southeastern border has always been variously defined for centuries.. The Netherlands (Dutch: Nederland [nedrlnt] ()), informally Holland, is a country located in Northwestern Europe with overseas territories in the Caribbean.It is the largest of four constituent countries of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. The sea is bordered by the island of Great Britain to the southwest and west, the Orkney and Shetland islands to the northwest, Norway to the northeast, Denmark to the east, Pensions, property and more. North Sea, shallow, northeastern arm of the Atlantic Ocean, located between the British Isles and the mainland of northwestern Europe and covering an area of 220,000 square miles (570,000 square km). The island is 37 km (23 mi) long, with gazelles roaming freely on it. The Swedish coast guard said ships, divers, fishing vessels and underwater vehicles, among others, are banned from approaching within 9.3 kilometers (5.8 miles) of the two leaks off Sweden. Countries The Baltic Sea (including the Gulf of Bothnia and the Gulf of Finland) covers an area of 377,000 km2 (146,000 sq mi), making it somewhat larger than Germany or slightly smaller than the US state of Montana.Approximately 85 million people live in the larger Baltic Sea region and use the sea for various purposes []. The Swedish coast guard said ships, divers, fishing vessels and underwater vehicles, among others, are banned from approaching within 9.3 kilometers (5.8 miles) of the two leaks off Sweden. However, recent developments around the Baltic Sea have further facilitated trade between the bordering countries and the rest of the world. Red Sea is a direct translation of the Greek Erythra Thalassa ( ).The sea itself was once referred to as the Erythraean Sea by Europeans. Formally, a string is a finite, ordered sequence of characters such as letters, digits or spaces. bordering the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean with a 2,800 km (1,700 mi) long coastline. The two largest peninsulas are mainland Europe and Scandinavia to the north, divided from each other by the Baltic Sea. The first to name it the Baltic Sea (Latin: Mare Balticum) was 11th century German chronicler Adam of Bremen.. Denotation. The countries that have shorelines along the Baltic Sea: Denmark, Estonia, Latvia, Finland, Germany, Lithuania, Poland, Russia, and Sweden. There are nine countries with a shoreline at the Baltic Sea: Ogurja Ada is the largest island. Russians in the Baltic states describes self-identifying ethnic Russians and other primary Russian-speaking communities in Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania, collectively.As of 2017, there were ca 1 million ethnic Russians in the three Baltic countries, having declined from ca 1.7 million in 1989, the year of the last census during the Soviet era. The Philippine Sea is a marginal sea of the Western Pacific Ocean east of the Philippine archipelago (hence the name), the largest in the world, occupying an estimated surface area of 5 million square kilometers (2 10 ^ 6 sq mi).