The Great Pacific Garbage Patch — Passage and Quiz

The Great Pacific Garbage Patch is a massive collection of floating plastic waste located in the North Pacific Ocean. It is estimated to cover an area of 1.6 million square kilometers (620,000 square miles), roughly three times the size of France.

The garbage patch is formed by ocean currents that trap debris in a circular pattern called the North Pacific Gyre. Most of the waste is plastic, including bottles, bags, and microplastics (tiny plastic particles). These materials do not biodegrade but instead break into smaller pieces, harming marine life.

Marine animals, such as turtles and seabirds, often mistake plastic for food, leading to injury or death. Microplastics also enter the food chain, potentially affecting human health.

Efforts to clean up the garbage patch are challenging due to its size and the tiny size of microplastics. Organizations like The Ocean Cleanup are developing technologies to remove plastic waste, but prevention—such as reducing single-use plastics and improving recycling—is key to solving the problem.

Fun fact: Scientists estimate that the Great Pacific Garbage Patch contains over 1.8 trillion pieces of plastic, weighing about 80,000 tons—equivalent to 500 jumbo jets!