Across the oceans, plastic waste has clustered into several vast floating accumulations. These megaflaps aren’t a metaphor; they are real, sizable heaps formed by ocean currents that trap debris in specific gyres. Seven major plastic formations have been identified, varying in size and density, spinning in different seas around the globe.
The debris ranges from everyday packaging to microplastics. This pollution creates a soup that can spread far beyond the surface, with evidence suggesting plastic particles also linger on the seafloor. The sheer volume has raised alarms about its spread and persistence in marine environments.
One of the primary ecological concerns is how these plastic masses interact with ocean microorganisms and plankton — the base of the marine food chain. When fish ingest microplastics or larger debris, those particles can enter the broader food web, potentially reaching human tables through seafood consumption. A wide array of marine animals also mistake debris for food or become entangled, affecting biodiversity and ecosystem health.
So what and where are the seven plastic super islands on Earth?
1. Plastic island in the Sargasso Sea
Discovered in the past decade within the North Atlantic, this accumulation was identified during a Greenpeace expedition focused on large-scale waste deposits in the Atlantic. The visible debris includes shampoo bottles, fishing gear, hard containers, bags, and various plastics. A 2018 assessment by the Ocean Cleanup found the island to be larger than initially expected, possibly three times the size of France when fully mapped.
2. Plastic Island in the North Pole
Found in 2013 in the Barents Sea near the Arctic Circle, this is among seven known plastic islands. It contains a staggering number of floating plastic pieces into the hundreds of billions. Research indicates the residue accounts for a significant portion of global plastic waste, with origins traced to Europe and the eastern coast of North America drifting northward along ocean currents toward Norway.
3. Plastic island in the Indian Ocean
While its existence was suspected since 1988, confirmation came in 2010. This island exhibits a moving mosaic of density, with patches of heavy concentrations and more sparse zones. On average, a high density of debris is reported, with density figures reaching thousands of pieces per square kilometer and stretches potentially thousands of kilometers across.
4. Plastic island in the South Atlantic
Spanning over a million square kilometers, it travels with the South Atlantic Current between South America and South Africa. Public data on its exact extent is limited, and it rarely intersects major shipping routes. Estimates place its material at several hundred tons, illustrating the scale without offering a precise footprint.
5. Plastic island in the North Atlantic
First observed in 1972, this mass covers roughly 4 million square kilometers with extremely high debris density in some zones. It rides the North Atlantic Current and extends for many hundreds of kilometers, forming a formidable belt of waste across the ocean surface.
6. Plastic Island of the South Pacific
Located off the coasts of Chile and Peru, this accumulation is vast, surpassing the size of Italy by a wide margin. It spans about 2.6 million square kilometers and consists largely of microplastics that have eroded and dispersed over time due to natural factors and weathering.
7. Big Plastic Island in the Pacific
Situated between the California and Hawaii archipelagos, this mass is driven by the subtropical North Pacific Gyre. It has persisted for decades and continues to be measured in vast scales, with estimates ranging from hundreds of thousands to several million square kilometers. Its exact size depends on the criteria used to define waste density. The maximum concentrations can reach millions of pieces per square kilometer, with total garbage tallied in the tens of millions of tons. Global agencies note the Pacific island is growing rapidly, potentially visible from space as it expands. The seabed beneath is also expected to harbor substantial debris, as recent studies show a large fraction of marine litter sinks below the surface. About seventy percent of marine litter is believed to settle on the ocean floor, leaving a smaller fraction to float on the surface.
……
Contact information for the environmental department is not disclosed in this document.