- It is roughly the size of Texas
- About 100 million tons of plastic is created each year
- Approximately 10% of that plastic ends up in the ocean
- 70% of plastic thrown in to the ocean sinks to the bottom meaning only 30% can be seen by the common observer on a boat
- Scientists have collected 750,000 small pieces of plastic in 1 kilometer of the Great Garbage Patch
- The bigger pieces of trash that are found are sometimes consumed by birds and marine animals who mistake them for prey
- Animals also become entangled in the discarded nets, ropes, and pieces of plastic
- Pieces of plastic also absorb chemicals so if ingested by animals, the animals are ingesting highly dangerous and undigestable, chemically soaked plastic
- No nation currently takes responsibility for this patch of garbage and all refuse to put money forth to clean it up
http://www.greenpeace.org/international/en/campaigns/oceans/pollution/trash-vortex/
http://education.nationalgeographic.com/education/encyclopedia/great-pacific-garbage-patch/?ar_a=1
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