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
'Rogue waves' can be 65 feet tall, but they aren't 'freak occurrences,' data from North Sea reveals
Opinion Researchers have used lab models to study how rogue waves form, but these don't always transfer over to the natural world.
Even a slight slowdown of key Atlantic currents poses a 'stunning risk' to rainforests
A slowing Atlantic current could have a devastating impact on the planet's rainforests, a new study warns.
96% of oceans worldwide experienced extreme heatwaves in 2023, new study finds
The extreme marine heatwaves of 2023 may signal a tipping point for Earth's climate, a new study suggests.
Collapse of key Atlantic currents may be held off by newly-discovered back-up system, study finds
Rising temperatures in the North Atlantic are slowing vital currents, but a new process in the Arctic could save the day, scientists say.
Perfect trio of prehistoric atolls shine like tropical gems off Australian coast
Earth from space This 2011 astronaut photo shows the atolls of Rowley Shoals lined up in a near-perfect line off the coast of Australia. The island trio was once part of an ancient barrier reef system that stretched over 1,200 miles.
Mystery behind cold blob in the Atlantic Ocean finally solved
Scientists have determined that slowing ocean currents are responsible for a cold spot south of Greenland.
Why is the Pacific Ocean so big?
Look at any world map and you'll see that the Pacific is the largest ocean. But how did it get so big?
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.
