Sargasso Sea
a name applied to large areas of the ocean covered with floating seaweed, Sargassum bacciferum.
The best known Sargasso Sea lies in the North Atlantic Ocean, between the Azores and Antilles, its position being determined by the central whirl of the Gulf Stream. It was noticed by Columbus, who recorded on his first voyage of discovery (1492) that his whole course was through masses of these weeds, from Sept. 16 to Oct. 12. There is a smaller Sargasso Sea off the coast of Lower California, in the Pacific Ocean. Another lies between Australia and the Falkland Islands in the Antarctic waters.