The United States of America has jurisdiction over 4,382,646 square miles (11.4 million square kilometers) of ocean, which totals more than any other country. The first three miles off a nation’s coast are considered state waters. The next nine miles are sovereign territory, although both military and civilian vessels of other nations are allowed to pass through. Beyond that, extending 200 nautical miles from the coast, is the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ). The EEZ is where a country has control over resources and affairs in the ocean, including fishing and natural resource extraction.
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