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
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.
Ocean's 'heart' is slowing down — and it will affect the entire planet's circulation
Melting ice could weaken Earth's strongest ocean current 20% by 2050, study reveals.
Ancient seafloor spreading 15 million years ago caused sea levels to plummet
Between 15 million and 6 million years ago, a drop in ocean crust production may have lowered sea level by 26 to 32 meters.
Rare 'sunglint' transforms the Mediterranean Sea into a swirling, silver mirror
Earth from space This 2022 astronaut photo reveals a menagerie of hidden oceanographic features surrounding a pair of Greek islands, including giant spinning currents and rarely seen "internal waves."
Strange corkscrew burrows and other unexpected structures discovered 4.7 miles deep in the Japan Trench
New scans of the bottom of the Japan Trench reveal extensive burrow structures and evidence of regular "reset" events that help sea creatures survive in the ocean's deepest reaches.
A mysterious 'black hole' in Pacific Ocean that sparked wild rumors online
Earth from space This Google Maps image captured in 2021 revealed a mysterious, triangular dark patch in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, sparking bizarre rumors about its origin. However, it turned out to be a small island with incredibly dense tree coverage.
