Although the world ocean covers more than seventy percent of Earth, over eighty percent of it remains unexplored. Due to its sheer size, the ocean impacts numerous aspects of our lives from the climate to our food supply. Humankind has also impacted the ocean; of the known 226,000 marine species, many are threatened by pollution and rising extinction rates. The more we discover about the ocean, the more we can protect marine life and preserve these important, but fragile, ecosystems. Explore objects found across the Print and Picture Collection, the Children’s Literature Research Collection, and the Map Collection, to learn more about this vital part of our world.