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The Southern Ocean comprises the southernmost waters of the World Ocean, generally taken to be south of 60° S latitude and encircling the continent of Antarctica. As such, it is regarded as the fourth-largest of the five principal oceanic divisions: smaller than the Pacific, Atlantic, and Indian Oceans but larger than the Arctic Ocean. This ocean zone is where cold, northward flowing waters from the Antarctic mix with warmer subantarctic waters.

By way of his voyages in the 1770s, Captain James Cook proved that waters encompassed the southern latitudes of the globe. Since then, geographers have disagreed on the Southern Ocean's northern boundary or even existence, considering the waters as various parts of the Pacific, Atlantic, and Indian Oceans, instead. However, according to Commodore John Leech of the International Hydrographic Organization (IHO), recent oceanographic research has discovered the importance of Southern Circulation, and the term "Southern Ocean" has been used to define the body of water which lies south of the northern limit of that circulation.

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In the news

MicroCon 2025 Trivia Night

• 15 Aug - Grand Duke Travis loses to JayJay Robles in the Gleason's International Masters Boxing Tournament.
• 11 Aug - Christopher Watson is appointed Foreign Minister.
• 11 Aug - The Senate of Westarctica vetoes the appointment of the Count of Dorchuck as Foreign Minister.
• 8 Aug - Royal Decree RD-2005-002 expands the areas protected under the Westarctican Parks Service.
• 23 Jul - The Jain affair sends shockwaves through the Foreign Office.
• 27 - 28 Jun - Westarctica's delegation attends MicroCon 2025 in Montreal, Canada.
• 10 Jun - Boyd Glacier National Park is created by the Senate of Westarctica.
• 9 Jun - The Duke of Faulkender becomes the new Chancellor of Kolios.

This month in history The USS Glacier August - While doing research on obscure parts of the world, Travis McHenry discovers that a large slice of Antarctica, known as Marie Byrd Land, is the only piece of the continent not claimed by any world government. Researching the possibilities further, he realizes that the Antarctic Treaty only prevents governments from issuing new claims to Antarctic lands, but does not prevent individuals acting on their own accord from doing such. (2001) 01 August - The Noble Order of Westarctica, Westarctica's first Order of Chivalry is established. (2004) 02 August - The Achaean Civil Code is decreed by the Consul-General and the Chancellery. (2002) 02 - 03 August - The Grand Duke processes over 1,000 citizenship applications in support of GISHWHES: Greatest International Scavenger Hunt the World Has Ever Seen. Citizen's Day is declared a public holiday to commemorate the heroic feat. (2016) 04 August - MicroCon 2022, hosted by Westarctica, begins in Las Vegas, Nevada. (2022) 05 August - The Westarctican Royal Guards participate in Exercise: Westarctic Chill with Slabovia. (2019) 07 August - Grand Duke Travis attended a climate change symposium onboard Greenpeace's icebreaker Arctic Sunrise. (2018) 12 August - Grand Duke Travis attends MicroCon EU 2023 in Ypres, Belgium. (2023) 15 August - The world's first non-profit cryptocurrency, WestarcticaCoin is created by the Royal Blockchain Authority. (2018) 18 August - The Marana Accords are agreed upon with the Principality of Kolios. (2021) 25 August - The first Westarctica Art Expo is concluded. (2018) 27 August - The USS Glacier (pictured), a U.S. Navy icebreaker that explored much of Westarctica's coastline, is launched in Pascagoula, Mississippi. (1954) 31 August - Platinum award-winning recording artist, Griffith Frank is given the title Count of Canisteo for services to the Crown. (2017)

Featured image The Weddell seal is a relatively large and abundant true seal with a circumpolar distribution surrounding Antarctica. Weddell seals have the most southerly distribution of any mammal, with a habitat that extends as far south as McMurdo Sound (at 77°S). Because of its abundance, relative accessibility, and ease of approach by humans, it is the best-studied of the Antarctic seals. An estimated 800,000 individuals remain today. Weddell seals gather in small groups around cracks and holes in the ice. These animals can also be found in large groups on ice attached to the continent. In the winter, they stay in the water to avoid blizzards, with only their heads poking through breathing holes in the ice. These seals are often observed lying on their sides, when on land. They are very docile and placid animals and can be approached easily. Photographer: Changehali (More Images)

Featured Quote "It's not getting to the pole that counts. It's what you learn of scientific value on the way. Plus the fact that you get there and get back without being killed." - Richard E. Byrd

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