Difference Between Ocean and Bay

Ocean vs Bay

Oceans and bays are large water bodies. Oceans, as every one knows, are the largest water bodies in the globe. A bay is a water body that is surrounded or demarcated by land. As a bay is big and comes in with almost the same characteristics as that of the Ocean, it is difficult to make a difference between the two.

Normally, a bay is a water body that is surrounded by land on three sides. On the other hand, oceans have no specific demarcations of land. Oceans cover about three fourths of the surface of the earth.

Bays can be an inlet in a lake or a larger water body. As the bay is surrounded by land, one can come across calmer waters than the oceans. The waves in a bay could be smaller when compared to the oceans that come with higher waves. Moreover, the oceans can also be rough.

Large bays can be called as sea, gulf, bight or sound. The smaller bays can be called as fjord. Then there are coves that have oval shaped inlets with small entrances.

When comparing the depths, the oceans have more depths than the bay. The average depth of ocean can be about 13,000 feet and the maximum could be above 35,000 feet.

Pacific, Atlantic, Indian and Arctic are the four oceans. On the other hand, there are several bays and some of the known bays are Hudson Bay and the Bay of Bengal.

In flora and fauna, one cannot make out much difference between the two.

Summary
Bays are water bodies that are surrounded or demarcated by land on three sides.
Oceans have no specific demarcations of land. Oceans cover about three fourths of the surface of the earth.
The waves in bays could be small when compared to the oceans that come with higher waves. Moreover, the oceans can also be rough.
Pacific, Atlantic, Indian and Arctic are the four oceans. On the other hand, there are several bays and some of the known bays are Hudson Bay and the Bay of Bengal.
When comparing the depths, the oceans have more depths than the bay. The average depth of ocean can be about 13,000 feet and the maximum could be above 35,000 feet.

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