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
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.
Atlantic ocean currents are weakening — and it could make the climate in some regions unrecognizable
A cold blob of water in the North Atlantic is an ominous sign that a system of currents that regulate the planet's climate could be weakening.
The Earth's oceans used to be green — and could one day turn purple, scientists say
Earth's oceans could one day turn purple.
Scientists say these North American rivers 'shouldn't exist.' Here's why they do.
At first glance, these waterways make no sense. A new review article details why they are the way they are.
Global sea levels rose a whopping 125 feet after the last ice age
After the last ice age, sea levels rose rapidly over a period of about 8,000 years, new research reveals.
Drake Passage: The 'most dreaded bit of ocean on the globe' — where waves reach up to 80 feet
The Drake Passage off the West Antarctic Peninsula is a notoriously dangerous channel that connects the Atlantic, Pacific and Southern oceans.
