The ocean that separates the United States from Europe is the Atlantic Ocean. Stretching over 41 million square miles, it serves as a significant body of water for transatlantic trade, transportation, and cultural exchange. The Atlantic has played a key role in the history of both continents, facilitating exploration and immigration. Major cities on its shores, such as New York in the U.S. and London in the U.K., are shaped by this vast ocean, making it one of the most important waterways in the world. Its currents and tides also influence weather patterns on both sides of the ocean.