Water on Earth

About 326 million cubic miles (1,359 cubic kilometers) of water occur on the surface of the Earth. Oceans and inland seas are the largest reservoir of water on Earth. 97.2. % of all the water on Planet Earth is salt water.

Only 2.8 % of all the water on Planet Earth is fresh water. Three-quarters of all fresh water on Earth is frozen in glacier ice. Glacier ice is the second largest reservoir of water on Earth and the largest reservoir of fresh water on Earth!

Using the analogy that 1,000 drops of water represent all of the water on Planet Earth:

972 drops are in the oceans and inland seas
21 drops are in glaciers
6 drops are in ground water and soil moisture
Less than 1 drop is in the atmosphere
Less than 1 drop is in lakes and rivers
Less than 1 drop is in all living plants and animals

For more information visit the USGS Web site Earth's Water Distribution.

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URL: http://www.usgs.gov/global_change/glaciers/water_on_earth.asp
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Page Last Modified: Friday, December 05, 2008