A Sea of Plastic
The plastic vortex, also referred to as Great Eastern Pacific Garbage Patch, North Pacific Gyre, Eighth Continent or Great Garbage Patch is just a giant patch of garbage in the ocean whose size is unknown. Some estimate the extension of the floating debris to be the size of the state of Texas or more. This giant dump contains mostly plastics: bags, nets, shoes, flip flops, bottles, caps, etc.
The reason this floating garbage patch exists has to do with the fact that rivers lead to the ocean and that garbage dumped in waterways is taken out by currents. The clockwise current in the North Pacific traps the debris. More information from wikipedia about the plastic vortex.
Plastic, a petroleum derived product, is not degradable and only breaks down into smaller and smaller particles. These particles end up on beaches and in many fish and bird stomachs. The smaller particles resemble plankton, krill and fish eggs that are the main food source of marine animals.
This video on youtube talks about the plastic soup located between San Francisco and Hawaii.
