The Atlantic Ocean is the second largest of the world's five oceanic divisions. It covers approximately 17% of the Earth's surface and about 24% of its total water surface area, with a total area of roughly 85,133,000 square kilometers (32,870,000 sq mi).
Historically, the Atlantic Ocean was notable during the Age of Discovery for separating the New World of the Americas from the Old World of Afro-Eurasia.