The Atlantic Ocean is shaped roughly like the letter:

The Atlantic Ocean has a distinctive S-shape, as it stretches from the Arctic in the north to the Southern Ocean near Antarctica, between the Americas on the west and Europe and Africa on the east.

Why it is S-shaped:

The Atlantic Ocean formed when the supercontinent broke apart and the Americas drifted away from Europe and Africa.

The bulge of north-eastern South America (Brazil) fits into the curve of the Gulf of Guinea in West Africa. The outlines of the two coastlines therefore follow each other, producing the S-shape.

Key facts about the Atlantic Ocean:

• It is the second largest ocean, covering about 20 percent of the Earth's surface (about 106 million square km).
• Its average depth is about 3,600 metres.
• It is the youngest of the major oceans; it began forming about 180 million years ago.
• It is still widening by a few centimetres every year.

The Mid-Atlantic Ridge:

• A huge underwater mountain range runs down the middle of the Atlantic, following the S-shape, from Iceland to near Antarctica.
• It is part of the global mid-ocean ridge system and marks the boundary where plates are moving apart.
• Iceland is one of the few places where this ridge rises above sea level.

Importance of the Atlantic:

• It is the busiest ocean for international trade and shipping, especially between Europe and North America.
• It has many marginal seas, such as the Caribbean Sea and the Baltic Sea.
• Its continental shelves, such as the Grand Banks off Newfoundland, are among the richest fishing grounds in the world.

Highest salinity:

The Atlantic is the saltiest of the major oceans on average.

Why not the other options?

• ✗The Atlantic is not V-shaped, O-shaped or T-shaped.
• ✗The Pacific Ocean is roughly triangular, and the Indian Ocean is sometimes described as M-shaped or as a large triangle closed in the north.