The Southern Ocean is geologically the worlds youngest ocean. The Caribbean coastline has many gulfs and bays: the Gulf of Gonve, Gulf of Venezuela, Gulf of Darin, Golfo de los Mosquitos, Gulf of Paria and Gulf of Honduras. The Panama Canal connects the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean. Thats precisely why we explore.. Keep reading to find out! Guide to the Oceans. In summer, the average monthly temperature everywhere is about +28 C. Cloudiness is 4-5 points. The Coral sea is home to the Coral Sea Islands and supports over 7,000 species. [10] Most recently, a 7.1 earthquake struck Haiti on January 12, 2010. Atlantic Ocean water enters the Caribbean through the Anegada Passage lying between the Lesser Antilles and Virgin Islands and the Windward Passage located between Cuba and Haiti. Of all the five oceans, the Pacific is the largest. Marine biota in the region have representatives of both the Indian and Pacific oceans which were caught in the Caribbean before the emergence of the Isthmus of Panama four million years ago. The Mediterranean is home to over 17,000 marine species, including 712 species of fish. The name Coral came from the numerous coral reefs, including the worlds largest known as the Great Barrier Reef. Ocean is home to over 9,000 species, most are near extinction. The geologic age of the Caribbean is not known with certainty. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. The original thought was four, but some people count the Antarctic Ocean as one. It runs along the Caribbean coasts of Mexico, Belize, Guatemala and Honduras. The Caribbean Sea is also massive, with an area of 1,063,000 square miles. Virtually all temperature extremes were associated with the phenomena of El Nio and La Nia. [31] The black-fronted piping guan is endangered. From the 16th century, Europeans visiting the Caribbean region distinguished the "South Sea" (the Pacific Ocean south of the isthmus of Panama) from the "North Sea" (the Caribbean Sea north of the same isthmus).[4]. Technically, the Caribbean Sea is a suboceanic basin of the Atlantic Ocean. The preferred oceanographic term for the Caribbean is the Antillean-Caribbean Sea, which, together with the Gulf of Mexico, forms the Central American Sea. Deepest Point: Calypso Deep (17,280 feet). The Cayman Basin, to the south, is partially separated from the Yucatn Basin by Cayman Ridge, an incomplete fingerlike ridge that extends from the southern part of Cuba toward Guatemala, rising above the surface at one point to form the Cayman Islands. As many as 40 scientists ashore are expected to participate remotely in the expedition. Off the northeastern coast of South America, this current splits into the Caribbean Current, which passes into the Caribbean Sea and through the . The sea vents in the Cayman Trough reach up to 400 Celsius (752 Fahrenheit). The South China Sea has over 200 islands, some of which stay submerged. Iturralde-Vinent, Manuel (2004), The first inhabitants of the Caribbean, Cuban Science Network . The Caribbean Sea floor also features two deep oceanic trenches namely the Puerto Rico Trench and the Cayman Trench, which makes the entire Caribbean Sea region highly seismically active. The Earths surface comprises about 71% water, with continents and islands covering the remaining part. [33], Human activity in the area also accounts for a significant amount of pollution. The average salinity of 35 0 / 00 is recorded between 10 0 -30 0 latitudes in the southern hemisphere. Professor of Biology, University of South Florida, Tampa. The most-recent estimate of the average ocean depth of 3,682 meters (12,080 feet) was calculated in 2010 by scientists from NOAA and Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution using satellite measurements. The Caribbean Sea region, including islands and adjacent coasts, is known as the Caribbean. This sea has an average depth of 2,200 m, with the deepest point in Cayman Trough descending to 7,686 m. The formation of the Caribbean Sea dates back around 160 and 180 million years. Transport and trading activities across this sea attracted pirates in the 1560s. Located in the northern part of the Caribbean Sea is the Greater Antilles Island group. Its average depth is 1,212 m, and the deepest point in the China Sea Basin descends to around 5,016 m. Below the South China Sea is the submerged continental shelf near the Philippine islands. In order to understand and sustainably manage the oceans resources, we first have to survey what resources exist.. Average depth: 1,615 metres (5,299 ft) Max. NOAAs mission is to understand and predict changes in the Earth's environment, from the depths of the ocean to the surface of the sun, and to conserve and manage our coastal and marine resources. Surface area, volume, and average depth of oceans and seas. The project "Sustainable finance methods for marine preservation in the Caribbean" will assist remove solid waste and keep it out of the marine and coastal environment by establishing a new facility under the Caribbean Biodiversity Fund (CBF). Upper sedimentary layers relate to the period from the Mesozoic to the Cenozoic (250million years ago to present) and the lower layers from the Paleozoic to the Mesozoic. Deep sea creatures are still a mystery to most of us since they rarely visit shallow waters. The Caribbean has been well-traveled for 300 years, and this historic map by Herman Molls is surprisingly complete and accurate. [16] A Protocol of the Convention for the Protection and Development of the Marine Environment of the Wider Caribbean Region came in effect in 1986 to protect the various endangered marine life of the Caribbean through forbidding human activities that would advance the continued destruction of such marine life in various areas. A .gov In neither hydrology nor climate, however, does the Caribbean resemble the Mediterranean. The Nicaraguan Rise, a wide triangular ridge with a sill depth of about 4,000 feet (1,200 metres), extends from Honduras and Nicaragua to Hispaniola, bearing the island of Jamaica and separating the Cayman Basin from the Colombian Basin. mi, 3,862,000 sq. 460 41. In the Caribbean, 600 species of birds have been recorded, of which 163 are endemic such as todies, Fernandina's flicker and palmchat. These sills are located below the Anegada Passage, which runs between the Virgin Islands and the Lesser Antilles, and the Windward Passage, which stretches between Cuba and Hispaniola. The Caribbean Sea had been unknown to the populations of Eurasia until 1492, when Christopher Columbus sailed into Caribbean waters on a quest to find a sea route to Asia. Deepest Point: Bougainville (29,986 feet). Analysis of toxic metals and hydrocarbons is based on the investigation of coastal sediments that have accumulated less than 50 meters deep during the last hundred and fifty years. Solenodons and hutias are mammals found only in the Caribbean; only one extant species is not endangered. They are also fairly certain the area contains deepwater snapper populations, deepwater corals and geological features such as seamounts and mud volcanoes. The Caribbean coastline has many gulfs and bays: the Gulf of Gonve, Gulf of Venezuela, Gulf of Darin, Golfo de los Mosquitos, Gulf of Paria and Gulf of Honduras. The Gulf of Mexico is somewhat shallow, along the coastal continental shelf areas, and has an average depth of 1,615m. Director, Florida Institute of Oceanography, St. Petersburg. The Atlantic Ocean is important to the world's weather (as are all oceans) because strong Atlantic hurricanes often develop off the coast of Cape Verde, Africa and move toward the Caribbean Sea . Elder, Danny and Pernetta, John. Surface currents, bearing both high- and low-salinity water depending on the source, enter the Caribbean mainly through the channels and passages of the southern Antilles. During the first and second phases the basin was free of deformation. According to the National Hurricane Center 385 hurricanes occurred in the Caribbean between 1494 and 1900. National Geophysical Data Center, 1999. Atlantic deep water is thought to spill into the Caribbean and contribute to the general deep water of its sea. Forces producing the Panamanian isthmus and the Antillean arc were vertical, resulting in no ultimate horizontal movement. (2004). The Pan American Health Organization estimated in 1993 that only about 10% of the sewage from the Central American and Caribbean Island countries is properly treated before being released into the sea. Parrots and bananaquits are found in forests. Trying to understand the differences and boundaries between multiple oceans and seas is difficult. It is a unique sea with lots of wildlife, over 7,000 islands, and thousands of miles of coral reefs. But, he added, scientists do know a few things about the area: They know that it is tectonically active, with some seismic hazards such as earthquakes and tsunamis. Eakins, 2009. The entire area of the Caribbean Sea, the numerous islands of the West Indies, and adjacent coasts are collectively known as the Caribbean. The climate of the Caribbean generally is tropical, but there are great local variations, depending on mountain elevation, water currents, and the trade winds. The Indian Ocean is home to several islands, including Madagascar (4th largest island globally). Updates? The Gulf of Mexico lies to the northwest. The deepest point in the Caribbean sea is the Cayman Trough between Jamaica and Cuba. In shallow waters, sand or coral . During the Cretaceous the Caribbean acquired the shape close to that seen today. The Caribbean Sea is one of the largest seas and has an area of about 2,754,000km2 (1,063,000sqmi). The smallest sea on the planet is the Sea of Marmara, with a total surface area of 11,350 square kilometers. Most hurricanes form in the eastern Atlantic near the Cape Verde Islands and follow the path of the trade winds into the Caribbean and the Gulf of Mexico, although the exact path of any hurricane is unpredictable. The green iguana is invasive to Grand Cayman. The surface water colour is blue-green to green. The Caribbean Tourism Organization calculates that about 12million people a year visit the area, including (in 19911992) about 8million cruise ship tourists. [19], After the Mediterranean, the Caribbean Sea is the second most polluted sea. It is bordered by Venezuela, Colombia and Panama to the south, Central American countries (Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Guatemala, Honduras and Belize) on the west; with the Greater Antilles (Cuba, Jamaica, the Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico) on the north and the Lesser Antilles on the east. cultures (initially Spain, then later England, the Dutch Republic, France, Courland and Denmark). But the facet of Okeanos Explorer expeditions that the public typically gets most excited about, Leonardi said, is its live-streamed ROV explorations. Leeward side of lagoons provide areas of growth for sea grasses. Over the past 50years, the Caribbean has gone through three stages: cooling until 1974, a cold phase with peaks during 19741976 and 19841986, and finally a warming phase with an increase in temperature of 0.6C (1.1F) per year. About 600 avian species such as the American yellow warbler, Fernandinas flicker, palmchat, black-fronted piping guan, etc have also been recorded here. The average depth of this ocean is 3,741 m, deeper than the Atlantic Ocean. There are many bays and gulfs along the sea's coastline. The mahogany is the national tree of the Dominican Republic and Belize. These waters are then forced by the trade winds through the narrow Yucatn Channel into the Gulf of Mexico. The deepest part of the Caribbean Sea, the Cayman Trench, has an average depth of 2,200 meters, with the deepest point being 7,500 meters below the surface. Throughout history, the Arabian Sea served as an essential water body for numerous seaports and trade routes. ADDITIONAL FACTS. Caribbean Basin and Western Atlantic Elevation highest point: sea level lowest point: Puerto Rico Trench -8,605 m mean depth: -3,646 m ocean zones: Composed of water and in a fluid state, the oceans are delimited differently than the solid continents. The Caribbean Sea is one of the largest seas and has an area of about 2,754,000 km 2 (1,063,000 sq mi). On the western side of the sea, the trade winds influence a northerly current which causes an upwelling and a rich fishery near Yucatn.[12]. Surface water temperatures in the Pacific vary from 1.4 C in the poleward areas to about 30 C near the equator. The sediment beds tend to arch in the middle of the basins and to dip as landmasses are approached. The Gulf Stream is part of a general clockwise-rotating system of currents in the North Atlantic. The majority of our planet's surface is covered in water! Victor Vescovo used his private submersible, the Limiting Factor, to reach the bottom of the trench safely. The average depth of the Atlantic Ocean is 12,880 feet (3,926 meters) and the deepest point is the Puerto Rico Trench at -28,231 feet (-8,605 meters). But how deep is the Caribbean Sea, and what mysterious creatures lurk there? On continental slopes and ridges calcareous silts are found. Today, this seas abundance of sunshine attracts numerous tourists year-round. This ocean is relatively calm and offers significant sea routes for transporting materials such as oil, rice, sugar, and silk. Following the discovery of the islands by Columbus, the area was quickly colonized by several Western cultures (initially Spain, then later England, the Dutch Republic, France, Courland and Denmark). Where there are porous limestone terraced islands these are generally poor in nutrients. km, the Caribbean Sea is bordered by the countries of Colombia, Panama, and Venezuela in the south; by Belize, Costa Rica, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, and Mexicos Yucatan Peninsula in the west; by the Greater Antilles islands in the north; and by the Lesser Antilles islands in the east. In the Caribbean Sea there are around 1,000 documented species of fish, including sharks (bull shark, tiger shark, silky shark and Caribbean reef shark), flying fish, giant oceanic manta ray, angel fish, spotfin butterflyfish, parrotfish, Atlantic Goliath grouper, tarpon and moray eels. Tropical storms reaching a hurricane velocity of more than 75 miles (120 km) per hour are seasonally common in the northern Caribbean as well as in the Gulf of Mexico; they are almost nonexistent in the far south. From its summit to the sea surface over 2100 m. The straits have a depth of more than one and a half kilometers. Hastings, D. and P.K. This sea began forming around 45 to 17 million years ago, leaving a V-shaped basin. Copyright 2023. (1991). The area's importance largely results from one-third of the world's shipping sailing through its waters and that it is believed to hold huge oil and gas reserves beneath its seabed. During this mission, they discovered extremely hot black smokers at the deepest point yet (3.1 miles). Since 2005 unusually warm Caribbean waters have been increasingly threatening Caribbean coral reefs. It is located 25 km north of the coast of Venezuela and 68 km northwest of Curaao. Learn more about us & read our affiliate disclosure. The Caribbean Sea is also massive, with an area of 1,063,000 square miles. As many as 40 scientists ashore are expected to participate remotely in the expedition. Its average depth is 1,038 m, with Molloy Deep (its deepest point) descending to about 5,550 m. The Arctic Ocean formed during the Cretaceous Period, about 145-65 million years ago. The Puerto Rico Trench, located just north of Puerto Rico, is the deepest point in the Atlantic Ocean. It is also well known as the location of the Pirates of the Caribbean films. Powerful rifting led to the formation of narrow troughs, stretching from modern Newfoundland to the west coast of the Gulf of Mexico which formed siliciclastic sedimentary rocks. In brackish water of harbours and estuaries at depths less than 2.5m (8ft 2in) widgeongrass (Ruppia maritima) grows. The Caribbean Sea is nowhere near being the largest sea in the world, but it is still very deep! The average water temperature is around 27C (80F) and varies as little as 3C (37F) throughout the year. The ancient sediments overlying the seafloor of the Caribbean, as well as of the Gulf of Mexico, are about a half mile (about one kilometre) in thickness, with the upper strata representing sediments from the Mesozoic and Cenozoic eras (from about 252 million years ago to the present) and the lower strata presumably representing sediments of the Paleozoic and Mesozoic eras (from about 541 to 66 million years ago). long, while the secondary piers are 338, 335, and 244ft long. Geologists say the Coral Sea began forming 48-58 million years ago. Former Professor of Oceanography, Florida State University, Tallahassee, 196776. km, the Caribbean Sea is bordered by the countries of Colombia, Panama, and Venezuela in the south; by Belize, Costa Rica, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, and Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula in the west; by the Greater Antilles islands in the north; and by the Lesser Antilles islands in the east. In 1963 one of the deadliest hurricanes on record, Flora, caused the loss of more than 7,000 lives and extensive property damage in the Caribbean alone. The Caribbean Beaches are without a doubt among the best in the world. Despite the vast ice in the Arctic Ocean, you can find over 5,500 animal species adapted to the cold habitats. The Pacific is the deepest basin of the global ocean. In the Caribbean Sea, piracy was very rampant during the 1500s and 1600s. The yearly average is about eight such storms. 100m. 21st Century. The Arctic Ocean basin is the worlds smallest, shallowest, and coldest ocean, making up 4.3% of global water. The Aves Ridge, incomplete at its southern extremity, separates the Venezuelan Basin from the small Grenada Basin, which is bounded to the east by the Antillean arc of islands. Islands are inhabited by some endemic species such as rock iguanas and American crocodile. Tourist attractions of the region are those generally associated with a maritime tropical climate: Scuba diving and snorkeling on coral reefs, cruises, sailing, and game fishing at sea. Below is a list of how weve ranked the worlds most extensive oceans and seas, including their area, average depth, and deepest point. Corrections? From there it divides to fill the Yucatn, Cayman, and Colombian basins at depths near 6,500 feet (2,000 metres). The nations that surround the Caribbean Sea are also prone to tropical cyclones and the Caribbean hurricane season lasts from June to November, with most of the hurricanes occurring between August and September. More than 170 species of amphibians are found in the Caribbean including poison dart frogs, tree frogs, etc. Caribbean, followed by Hispaniola and Jamaica. It borders several countries in East Africa, Asia, and western Australia. 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