From the mightiest river to the deepest spots in Earth's oceans, our aquatic ecosystems hold many secrets waiting for us to dive in and discover. Live Science keeps you updated on the latest underwater research and delivers extraordinary facts and images from our planet's rivers and oceans, past and present. So if you want to discover the largest ocean that's ever existed on Earth, the mysterious "dark river" that may flow hundreds of miles beneath Greenland or breathtaking images from our oceans, Live Science's expert writers and editors are here for you with the latest news, features and articles about rivers and oceans.
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—The Congo River Basin: Home of the deepest river in the world
Latest about Rivers & Oceans
Groundwater in the Colorado River basin won't run out — but eventually we won’t be able to get at it, scientists warn
The Colorado River basin has lost a Lake Mead’s worth of water in the last 20 years — and scientists say we’re passing a "critical point" where pumping groundwater will become too expensive.
Earth's oceans are a 'ticking time bomb' as acidity levels enter 'danger zone,' study suggests
Researchers have found that ocean acidification entered a "danger zone" in 2020, suggesting increased carbon dioxide levels have caused Earth to breach another planetary boundary.
Russian scientists discover a new island in the Caspian Sea — the world's largest inland body of water
Researchers have confirmed the existence of a new island in the northern part of the Caspian Sea, but they haven't managed to land on it yet.
Record-breaking piles of sargassum seaweed wash up on Caribbean beaches, with more on the way
Record amounts of sargassum are floating in the Caribbean Sea and ending up on beaches from Puerto Rico to Guyana — but scientists aren't sure why there's so much of it in the first place.
Dinosaur age tsunami revealed from tiny chunks of Japanese amber, study finds
Amber deposits in Japan show unique deformations that suggest trees were swept out to sea during a tsunami about 115 million years ago, giving paleontologists a new way to identify past tsunamis.
Jellyfish Lake: Palau's saltwater pool with a toxic bottom and surface waters brimming with millions of jellyfish
Palau's Jellyfish Lake is home to millions of endemic golden jellies that live in the lake's top layer but never venture below 50 feet, where the water is saturated with poisonous gas.
Mysterious substance spotted swirling across the surface of the Baltic Sea
Earth from space This 2018 satellite photo shows an unknown substance swirling across the Gulf of Gdańsk in Poland. Scientists were shocked to later discover what it really was.
Corryvreckan whirlpool: Scotland's 'raging cauldron' that is named after a Norse king and said to house a witch
The Corryvreckan whirlpool is one of the largest whirlpools in the world, reaching speeds of 8.5 knots and producing a roaring sound that can be heard 10 miles away.
