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.
Discover more about rivers and oceans
—The Congo River Basin: Home of the deepest river in the world
Latest about Rivers & Oceans
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.
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.
