The Earth’s surface is composed of approximately 71% water. In this regard, the Overworld of Minecraft is somewhat drier, as water makes up only 60%, with most of it found in the form of oceans that encircle various land biomes.
Initially, there was just one ocean in Minecraft, with land situated at its center. However, as biomes were introduced, the ocean became a sort of adhesive holding them together. Eventually, the ocean fragmented into sections, and in the Aquatic update, one large biome transformed into nine smaller ones, each featuring distinct characteristics.
Today, we embark on an adventure to one of my favorite places — the deep, cold ocean! Navigating through the water is quite a slow process, and the oceans are vast, so it’s advisable to craft a boat for exploring the various biomes. The deep, cold ocean can be identified by several distinctive features: dark surface waters, gravel covering the seabed, patches of seaweed, dolphins, cod, salmon, and enormous one-eyed monsters that shoot lasers at you.
The deep, frigid oceans of Minecraft, as obvious as it may sound, are distinct from the shallow ones due to their depth. In certain areas, reaching the ocean floor requires navigating a distance of 30 blocks or more. At the bottom, you will encounter shipwrecks, underwater ruins, caves, and ravines filled with lava blocks that create columns of bubbles, pulling unsuspecting players down into the depths.
The most fascinating and perilous discovery you can make in the depths of the frigid ocean biome is an underwater fortress, which houses prismarine, dark prismarine, gold, sponges, and sea lanterns. If you’re eager to locate it, you’ll need to consult a cartographer who might be willing to sell you a map for a few emeralds. However, a single map won’t suffice, as the underwater fortress is teeming with dangerous inhabitants that are quite hostile towards visitors. In our real world, approximately 90% of all water resides in the oceans. This water is notably cold, with an average temperature ranging from 0 to 3 degrees Celsius. Oceanographers have discovered that the water doesn’t merely sit still in the oceans; it is in constant motion around our planet, rising to the surface as it reaches the edges of continents.
Until recently, scientists believed that the cold, dark regions of the ocean were barren and lifeless, resembling underwater deserts. However, more recent studies have revealed that these areas are actually teeming with a wide variety of life forms. Thousands of different species of bacteria, hundreds of single-celled organisms, as well as various worms, crustaceans, and mollusks thrive in these similarly inhospitable conditions.
Above the ocean floor, one can find numerous fish that manage to survive in these gloomy environments thanks to their highly sensitive sense of smell, taste receptors, and electroreception. In certain parts of the seabed, deep fissures form, leading to lava lakes. Here, the water temperature rises significantly, resulting in an increase in biodiversity. Massive schools of diverse creatures harness energy from the warm waters, enabling them to survive even at such great depths.