The Trash Vortex

The Great Pacific Garbage Patch, often called the "Trash Vortex," is a large accumulation of plastic debris and other trash floating in the North Pacific Ocean. It forms because ocean currents create a circulating system called a gyre, which traps floating waste. Over time, plastic items break down into tiny particles, harming marine life and polluting ecosystems. While often imagined as a visible island of trash, most of the debris is microscopic or dispersed, making it difficult to see from the surface. The vortex highlights the impact of human trash on the oceans and emphasizes the need for improved waste management and environmental protection.