How Much of Earth Is Really Water?
It might surprise you — very little. While oceans cover about 70% of Earth’s surface, they are relatively shallow compared to Earth’s size.
Scientists have illustrated this by imagining all of Earth’s water gathered into a single sphere. The result? A ball with a radius of just 700 kilometers — less than half the size of our Moon, and even slightly smaller than Saturn’s moon Rhea, which is mostly water ice.
To put it in perspective:
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The largest sphere represents all water on or near Earth’s surface.
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A smaller sphere represents all of Earth’s liquid fresh water.
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The tiny sphere shows the total water found in rivers and lakes.
The origins of Earth’s water — and how much might be hidden deep underground — remain active areas of scientific research.
💧 Water is actually a precious and limited resource.
