No beach or ports in sight: This is the only sea in the world that doesn’t touch any land at all

Some might call it an oceanic anomaly. The Sargasso Sea, which is found in the Atlantic Ocean, meets all the characteristics of a sea, but lacks one that may strike some as odd: it doesn’t wash up on a beach... it doesn’t even touch land.

Rather than a land barrier, which is common around other seas, the Sargasso Sea is framed by four ocean currents that determine its boundaries. These currents also form what is known as an ocean gyre, which is a fancy way to describe an area where currents form a circular movement on the ocean’s surface.

These currents create a sanctuary for some animals, whose reproductive cycles, at least in part, occur within the Sargasso Sea. Three types of eels, the American, American conger, and the European, hatch within the sea, and return later in their lives to spawn in the same area.

Voyagers have long written about their travels across the Sargasso Sea, which one recognizes by the large amounts of Sargassum seaweed that cover the sea’s surface.

The seaweed that could ruin a beach vacation

The sea sits above what scientists refer to as the Great Atlantic Sargassum Belt, which runs from the coast of West Africa into the Gulf of Mexico. If you never ventured out into it, you might not know it is there. However, those who have been exposed to this particular type of seaweed know of its destructive and foul qualities.

In 2023, beaches in Miami were covered in the stuff, with beachgoers, reporting that it made the coast smell of rotten eggs, a by-product of the plant created after it dies and releases hydrogen sulfide. Public health authorities warned that those with “asthma or other respiratory illnesses” might be “more sensitive to hydrogen sulfide” which can “irritate the eyes, nose, and throat.”

Get your game on! Whether you’re into NFL touchdowns, NBA buzzer-beaters, world-class soccer goals, or MLB home runs, our app has it all. Dive into live coverage, expert insights, breaking news, exclusive videos, and more – plus, stay updated on the latest in current affairs and entertainment. Download now for all-access coverage, right at your fingertips – anytime, anywhere.