The River in the Sea

Discover the extraordinary hidden life of the Gulf Stream, and why this vast system of Atlantic currents is one of the most important, and least understood, forces on Earth.

Our world is a freak of nature. The stable climate that allowed complex life – and human civilisation – to flourish depends on a vast, largely unseen system of ocean currents. At its heart is the Gulf Stream: a living river in the Atlantic that moves more water than all the Earth’s rivers combined.

Following a raindrop from his home in Wales on its thousand-year journey through the Atlantic and back again, Ben Rawlence uncovers the remarkable web of life carried within this vital and mysterious current. From zooplankton that help regulate the atmosphere to whales that have shaped human history, he reveals how this miraculous system has helped create the conditions for life as we know it. As climate change disrupts the delicate balance on which the Gulf Stream depends, Rawlence explores what is at stake for ecosystems and the future of our planet.

Dazzling, immersive and deeply researched, The River in the Sea is an eye-opening exploration of the extraordinary ocean system that made our world – and an urgent call to protect it.