Cultural Connections to Oceanography
Example from the Polynesians
Hundreds of years before Europeans began significant exploration of the world oceans, the Polynesians had developed a very effective method of ocean navigation passed by oral tradition. Using knowledge of motion of specific stars, weather, directions of swells on the ocean, and migratory patterns of various wildlife species, they were able to travel extensively and accurately throughout the Southern Pacific Ocean without the use of instrumentation.
Example from Nordic Mythology
According to Nordic mythology, the original inhabitant of the Earth was a Giant named Ymir who gave rise to a man and a woman. The man and woman had three sons who sought to gain power over creation, causing them to kill the old Giant. The blood from Ymir's wounds became water, oceans and streams. His flesh became the Earth, and his bones and teeth became rocks and mountains.