Major Ocean Currents of the World and where they flow - World Geography

1. Canary Current: It is a cold current flowing in North Atlantic Ocean. It flow off the north-western coast of Africa. In reality, Canary Current is the extended southern part of North Atlantic Drift. Its impact has created the Sahara Desert. 

2. Labrador Current: It is a cold current flowing in North Atlantic Ocean, which starts merging into Gulf Stream at 52 degree west longitude. It brings along with it big icebergs, which increase the possibility of ship accidents. Due to its influence, north-eastern part of Canada remains frozen for most part of the year. 

3. Benguela Current: It is a cold current which flows in South Atlantic Ocean along the western coast of Africa. Due to its impact, Namib and Kalahari Desert have been created in the south-western part of Africa. Because of this, Seal fishes are found in coastal parts of Namib Desert, despite they being creatures of cold regions of high latitudes. It merges with the warm Equatorial Current at 15 degree south latitude resulting into foggy condition along the coast of Angola. 

4. Agulhas Current: It is a warm current flowing upto south-eastern end of South Africa. It is formed by a branch of combining Mozambique and South Equatorial Currents. It is a narrow current which flows at a distance of 50 miles from the coast. It merges with the warm Equatorial Current at 15 degree south latitude, resulting into foggy condition along the coast of South Africa. Moving southward up to the southern tip of Africa till cape of Agulhas, it is finally gets diverted to toward east. It carries the tropical warm water to the southernmost part of Africa. 

5. Humboldt (Peru) Current: It is a cold current flowing in South Pacific Ocean along the western coast of South America from south to north direction. Its temperature and salinity, both are less. Its velocity is 2 miles per day. Due to this, Atacama Desert has originated. It was identified for the first time by Alexander Von Humboldt when he visited Colombia and Ecuador in 1802. 

6. Kuroshio Current: North Equatorial Current, after turning to its right near Philippines and flowing towards north, gives birth to Kuroshio Current, which is a warm current. Its temperature is 8oc and salinity is 35%. After moving further, Kuroshio Current meets the cold Oyashio Current coming from the north. This develops fishing ground. 

7. Oyashio Current: It is also called Kurile Current, which flows in North Pacific Ocean. It brings cold water of Arctic Ocean into Pacific Ocean, where Oyashio Current meets Kuroshio Current. Merging with the Kuroshio Current it leads to heavy foggy condition. 

8. El-Nino Current: El-Nino is also known as counter current, which flow 180 km away from the western coast of Peru in South America, from north to south direction in Pacific Ocean. El-Nino increases the temperature by 3-4o c. Due to its impact, Peru coast gets more than normal rainfall. Fishes die because planktons burn due to its arrival. It also affects Indian Monsoon. 

9. Tsushima Current: A branch of Kuroshio Current goes into Japan Sea and flows along the western coast of Japan. Due to its high temperature and salinity, Tsushima Current has great impact on the vegetation and climate of the coastal areas. 

10. California Current: It is a cold current flowing in North Pacific Ocean, which resembles Canary Current. This current is infact, an extension of North Pacific Current. Due to its impact desert have been created in the western part of United States of America and Mexico, like-Mojave, Arizona in U.S.A. and Sonoran in Mexico. 

11. Falkland Current: The cold water of Antarctic Ocean comes in the form of Falkland Current along the eastern coast of South America and flows upto Argentina. This current brings icebergs from Antarctica region to South America coast and creates thick fog when it joins the warm water. Due to its impact Patagonia Desert have been created in the south-eastern part of Argentina. 

12. Gulf Stream: Gulf Stream was discovered by Pons de Leon in 1513. Lying The Gulf Stream is the largest and longest current in the North Atlantic Ocean. Near 40 degree N latitude, cold Labrador Current meets Gulf Stream. This current gives birth to West European type of climate. Due to this, Europe is comparatively warmer in winters. It helps in keeping the European ports at high latitudes ice free during the winters. Near Newfoundland it result into heavy fog after coming into contact with the cold water of Labrador Current. 

13. Florida Current: The Florida Current flowing in North Atlantic Ocean is an extension of North Equatorial Current, which flows between Florida and Cuba. This current has high temperature and salinity. Its average speed is 25 nautical miles per day. 

14. Antarctic Circumpolar Current: This current flows all along the Antarctic Continental from west to east direction. It is the only current in Southern Ocean between 40 degree south to 60 degree south latitudes that circumnavigates the whole globe, because there are no continental boundaries to stop it. It connects the basins of Atlantic, Pacific and Indian Ocean. It is a cold current.