The Arctic Ocean is the smallest (5th largest) and shallowest of the world's five oceanic divisions, comprising about 4 percent of the total ocean surface area. However some oceanographers see it as the northernmost part of the all-encompassing world ocean. This ocean includes the North Pole region and extends south to about 60° N latitude. It is mostly covered by sea ice throughout the year and almost completely in winter. Further, the Arctic ocean contains large areas of continental shelf areas, which contributes to its overall shallowness.

The Arctic Ocean spans an area of about 542,860 square miles and because it is covered in sea ice most all of the year, it is considered to be the coldest ocean on the earth.

Although the International Hydrographic Organization (IHO) does recognize the Arctic area as an ocean, many oceanographers call it the Arctic Mediterranean Sea and some refer to the Arctic area an estuary of the Atlantic Ocean. Futhermore, the Arctic ocean are is also seen as the northernmost area of the world ocean.

The Arctic Ocean includes the North Pole and a long list of islands which span several continents and many countries.

The Arctic Ocean includes the islands:

A large number of island groups in extreme Northern Canada

Hudson Island, Monumental Island

Crescent Island

Largest Arctic island, most landmass within Arctic, with several shore islands.

A Nordic island nation known for its glaciers and active volcanoes.

a remote island with the northernmost active volcano.

Significant human population and research facilities.

Southernmost island of the Svalbard Archipelago

Largest island within Svalbard archipelago

North west coast of Spitsbergen

archipelago with 192 islands

Bering Sea near Alaskan Little Diomede Island (US)

An archipelago of 15 or more islands.

Archipelago, northern Russia: Severny, Yuzhny and two other islands.

Archipelago, northcentral Russia with seventy four islands

a national park north of eastern Russia

Mollow Hole (79.136667, 2.816667)