Although there is only one ocean on the planet as a whole, it is geographically divided into a number of named regions. The ocean encompasses 71 percent of the planet. For a variety of historical, cultural, geographical, and scientific reasons, these areas' borders have changed over time. The Atlantic, Pacific, Indian, and Arctic seas are the four that have been given names historically. The Southern (Antarctic) Ocean is now regarded as the fifth ocean by the majority of nations, including the United States. The most well-known are the Pacific, Atlantic, and Indian oceans. The 'newest' designated ocean is the Southern Ocean. The distribution of oceanic surface area in 5° latitude steps demonstrates how the division of land and water on the surface of the Earth differs noticeably between the Northern and Southern hemispheres. While the Northern Hemisphere is the hemisphere of the land, the Southern Hemisphere is sometimes referred to as the hemisphere of the ocean. In the temperate latitudes, this is particularly true.