The Indian Ocean is home to several islands, including Madagascar (4th largest island globally). [32], The Caribbean region supports a large tourism industry. expeditions have come across unknown species, recorded known animals exhibiting never-before-seen behaviors and sighted live animals previously only observed as lifeless specimens, Kennedy said. Keep reading to find out! 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. Deepest Point: Sunda Trench (23,920 feet). The Caribbean Sea is famous around the world as a tourist destination. Politically, Aruba is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. Water covers about 71% of the Earth. Continents and islands cover the remaining 29%. The preferred oceanographic term for the Caribbean is the Antillean-Caribbean Sea, which, together with the Gulf of Mexico, forms the Central American Sea. Above this water, the subtropical undercurrent and surface water enter. Connections were established with the Pacific Ocean during the Cretaceous Period (from about 145 to 66 million years ago) but were broken when the land bridges that permitted mammals to cross between North and South America were formed in the Miocene and Pliocene epochs (about 23 to 2.6 million years ago). The average depth of the Caribbean Sea is approximately 7,220 feet below the seas surface. 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. The original thought was four, but some people count the Antarctic Ocean as one. The Caribbean has been well-traveled for 300 years, and this historic map by Herman Molls is surprisingly complete and accurate. That makes this point one of the lowest points on the surface of the Earth, and the Caribbean Sea is the deepest sea (excluding oceans) in the world. At least 9% of all coral reefs in the world are found in the Caribbean Sea. The vegetation of the region is mostly tropical but differences in topography, soil and climatic conditions increase species diversity. 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. p. 124. The average depth of the Caribbean Sea is approximately 7,220 feet. Seafloor Depth Data from: August 2008 National Geophysical Data Center, NOAA The depth of the ocean floor varies widely, from large shallow coastal areas full of sun and life to the darkness of. The Caribbean hurricane season as a whole lasts from June through November, with the majority of hurricanes occurring during August and September. Terms & Conditions. The seas deepest point is the Cayman Trough, between the Cayman Islands and Jamaica, at 7,686 meters (25,220 feet) below sea level. The average depth of this sea is 2,394 m, with its deepest point in Bougainville measuring 9,140 m below sea level. Its, therefore, the largest ocean in the world. The yearly average is about eight such storms. While some people believe the Caribbean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean are the same, this is only partially true. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.. Beginning April 10, scientists aboard NOAA Ship Okeanos Explorer will begin a series of 20 dives to investigate previously unseen depths of the Caribbean Sea and Atlantic Ocean and the public can follow along online. The average depth is about 2,200 meters (7,220 feet) below the seas surface. Secure .gov websites use HTTPS Join us onFacebook,Twitter, Instagramand our othersocial media channels. Located between the islands of the Greater Antilles and the continent of South America on the Caribbean Seas eastern part is the Lesser Antilles. But with each expedition we reach new audiences who are fascinated by what we are seeing in the deep ocean. Sea level rise seen along the U.S. Southeast and Gulf coasts over the last decade are "unprecedented in at least 120 years," scientists found. 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 mahogany is the national tree of the Dominican Republic and Belize. Parrots and bananaquits are found in forests. Coral reefs support some of the most diverse marine habitats in the world, but they are fragile ecosystems. Subantarctic intermediate water (i.e., water differing in several characteristics from the surface and bottom layers of water that it separates) enters the Caribbean below the Anegada Passage at depths of 1,600 to 3,300 feet (500 to 1,000 metres). The principal ocean current is the North Equatorial Current, which enters the region from the tropical Atlantic. 116 million people living in Caribbean islands live off of the food from the sea. The deepest point in the Caribbean sea is the Cayman Trough between Jamaica and Cuba. The basins are connected by the submerged Aruba Gap at depths greater than 13,000 feet (4,000 metres). Halophila baillonii has been found only in the Lesser Antilles.[26]. Area: 1,491,000 sq. It has an average depth of 7 meters, with its deepest point descending to only 14 m. Oceans and seas cover approximately 97% of Earths water. The Caribbean Sea has a diverse and rich ecosystem. they had been visited in the 10th century, List of Caribbean countries by population, "Tsunamis in the Caribbean? According to the National Hurricane Center 385 hurricanes occurred in the Caribbean between 1494 and 1900. https://www.britannica.com/place/Caribbean-Sea, Florida Museum - Indigenous communities used the Caribbean Sea as an aquatic highway, Caribbean Sea - Children's Encyclopedia (Ages 8-11), Caribbean Sea - Student Encyclopedia (Ages 11 and up), A 5,000-mile seaweed belt is headed toward Florida. The remainder is the surface water that passed over the Antillean arc at depths of less than 2,600 feet (800 metres). Its deepest point is the Sunda Trench, descending to approximately 7,290 m. With an average temperature of 77F, the Indian Ocean takes the lead as the warmest ocean in the world. [10] Most recently, a 7.1 earthquake struck Haiti on January 12, 2010. The region has several types of sea turtle (loggerhead, green turtle, hawksbill, leatherback turtle, Atlantic ridley and olive ridley). Trying to understand the differences and boundaries between multiple oceans and seas is difficult. It lies between Western and Eastern Europe, Anatolia, North Africa, and the Levant. Tropical cyclones are a threat to the nations that rim the Caribbean Sea. In the shallow waters mainly turtle grass, manatee grass, and shoal grasses are found. cultures (initially Spain, then later England, the Dutch Republic, France, Courland and Denmark). 150m. The Caribbean Sea is part of the Atlantic Ocean. The Pacific Ocean basin covers approximately 1/3 of the Earths surface, making up about 46% of the water surface globally. Cuba, with an area of 109,884 square kilometers (42,426 square miles), is the largest island in the 21st Century. The Caribbean sea floor is also home to two oceanic trenches: the Cayman Trench and Puerto Rico Trench, which put the area at a high risk of earthquakes. The Windward Islands comprising of Trinidad and Tobago, Dominica, Grenada, Saint Lucia, Barbados, Martinique, and Saint Vincent and Grenadines. The nation with the most Caribbean islands is the Bahamas, with approximately 700 islands. Despite this, the Caribbean Sea is considered a relatively shallow sea in comparison to other bodies of water. Panel Chairman in Marine Biology, Gulf University Research Corporation. In the Caribbean 600 species of birds have been recorded of which 163 are endemic. Official websites use .gov The Caribbean Beaches are without a doubt among the best in the world. While the ocean has an average depth of 2.3 miles, the shape and depth of the seafloor is complex. Okeanos Explorer, which is operated, managed and maintained by NOAAs Office of Marine and Aviation Operations, has just spent about four weeks mapping more than 13,600 square miles of seafloor around the U.S. Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico. Copyright 2023. Enter your email in the box below to get the most mind-blowing animal stories and videos delivered directly to your inbox every day. [20] Non-governmental organizations, universities, public institutions, civil society organizations, and the corporate sector are all eligible for financing. The Gulf of Mexico is somewhat shallow, along the coastal continental shelf areas, and has an average depth of 1,615m. The sea is warm, calm, and with occasional cyclones. The habitats of almost all members of the toad family, poison dart frogs, tree frogs and leptodactylidae (a type of frog) are limited to only one island. Situated in the southwestern part of the Gulf, the Sigsbee Deep (Mexico Basin) is the deepest region in the Gulf of Mexico that has an estimated depth of over 4,384m. (2004). [19], After the Mediterranean, the Caribbean Sea is the second most polluted sea. 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. Fear Cay, the eleventh Doc Savage adventure by Lester Dent. The sea is one of the largest oil production areas in the world, producing approximately 170 million tons per year. But the facet of Okeanos Explorer expeditions that the public typically gets most excited about, Leonardi said, is its live-streamed ROV explorations. 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: Challenger Deep (36,070 feet). 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. Its average depth is 4,280 m, with the deepest point being Challenger Deep, which descends to 10,994 meters (36,070 feet). 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). As the planets 4th largest ocean, the Southern Ocean has an average depth of 3,270 m. Its deepest point is the Factorian Deep which stretches to 7,434 m below sea level. The Arabian Sea has an average depth of 2,734 m, with its deepest point in Wheatley Deep descending to about 5,800 m. The formation of this sea took place roughly 50 million years ago. The Arabian Sea is part of the northern Indian Ocean and sits between the Arabian Peninsula, India, the Gulf of Oman, Pakistan, and Iran. The islands are further divided into three distinct island groups: the Greater Antilles, the Lesser Antilles, and the Bahamas Archipelago. 830 324. The average depth is about 2,200 meters (7,220 feet) below the sea's surface. Covering an area of about 2,754,000 sq. Annual variations in monthly average water temperatures at the surface do not exceed 3C (5.4F). The area is so deep; that the temperatures reach near freezing levels. With a total area of 106,460,000 sq. We have a lot of devoted fans who follow our explorations closely, Leonardi said. More than 170 species of amphibians are found in the Caribbean including poison dart frogs, tree frogs, etc. Pollution (in the form of up to 300,000 tonnes of solid garbage dumped into the Caribbean Sea each year) is progressively endangering marine ecosystems, wiping out species, and harming the livelihoods of the local people, which is primarily reliant on tourism and fishing. The Indian Ocean basin makes up about 19.8% of the planets water and falls in the third position after the Atlantic and Pacific oceans. Today, large coastal populations, pollution, and intense fishing are the primary concerns in this sea. When I am not writing, you can find me in front of my TV with a blanket, snacks, and my fur babies. Interestingly, the deepest point in the Atlantic Ocean is close to the Cayman Trough. In coastal zones there are coconut palms and in lagoons and estuaries are found thick areas of black mangrove and red mangrove (Rhizophora mangle). It has an average depth of 2200 meters with a deepest point of 7500 meters below the surface. There's a pesky problem in a wide stretch of the Atlantic Ocean that's likely to wash up on some beaches later this year: Seaweed. It lies between latitudes 30 and 46 N and longitudes 6 W and 36 E. The island of Jamaica is home to seals and manatees. There was a very serious eruption of Mount Pele in 1902 which caused many casualties. Our editors will review what youve submitted and determine whether to revise the article. Some of these notable endemic floral species include guaiac wood, Bayahibe rose, and ceiba. Such storms also have been a major cause of crop failure in the region. An official website of the United States government. While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. In the early Carboniferous movement of Gondwana to the north and its convergence with the Euramerica basin decreased in size. They write new content and verify and edit content received from contributors. Ocean temperatures get colder with depth. Piracy in the Caribbean was widespread during the early colonial era, especially between 1640 and 1680. ) or https:// means youve safely connected to the .gov website. The geological age of the Caribbean Sea is estimated to be between 160 and 180 million years and was formed by a horizontal fracture that split the supercontinent called Pangea in the Mesozoic Era. 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. There are many bays and gulfs along the sea's coastline. Pernetta, John. However, a devastating tsunami in 2004 led to the loss of over 200,000 deaths and the massive destruction of property. As of 2015[update] the area is home to 22 island territories and borders 12 continental countries. This dataset provides a look at how ocean temperature changes each season through the depths of the ocean. We dont know exactly what we can expect to see, said Lt. Brian Kennedy, the expeditions coordinator and a member of NOAAs Commissioned Officers Corps. After the discovery of America by Christopher Columbus in 1492, the Spanish term Antillas applied to the lands; stemming from this, Sea of the Antilles became a common alternative name for Caribbean Sea in various European languages. The average depth of this ocean is 3,741 m, deeper than the Atlantic Ocean. Its home to over 1,769 species, including whales, sharks, sardines, tuna, sea turtles, and wahoo. Deepest Point: Cayman Trough (25,216 feet). Two years later, they revisited the research and found a new shrimp species. It forms part of the Great Mayan Reef (also known as the MBRS) and, being over 1,000km (600mi) in length, is the world's second longest. The Gulf of Mexico lies to the northwest. Which is the largest, how deep are they, and how critical are they to the planets sustainability? In summer, the average monthly temperature everywhere is about +28 C. Cloudiness is 4-5 points. Interesting facts about the American black bear, Interesting facts about Peter Paul Rubens. [1] [2] The sea's deepest point is the Cayman Trough, between the Cayman Islands and Jamaica, at 7,686 . Islands are inhabited by some endemic species such as rock iguanas and American crocodile. In the early Jurassic due to powerful marine transgression, water broke into the present area of the Gulf of Mexico creating a vast shallow pool. 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. Warm, moist trade winds blow consistently from the east, creating both rainforest and semi-arid climates across the region. The region has several types of sea turtle (loggerhead, green turtle, hawksbill, leatherback turtle, Atlantic ridley and olive ridley). The geological age of the Caribbean Sea is estimated to be between 160 and 180million years and was formed by a horizontal fracture that split the supercontinent called Pangea in the Mesozoic Era. provide an annual economic value to Caribbean nations of $3.1$4.6 billion. This sea has a rich history of exploration, especially by Christopher Columbus. Another type shoal grass (Halodule wrightii) grows on sand and mud surfaces at depths of up to 5m (16ft). Global Land One-kilometer Base Elevation (GLOBE) v.1. The existing sediment cover of the seabed consists of red clay in the deep basins and trenches, globigerina ooze (a calcareous marine deposit) on the rises, and pteropod ooze on the ridges and continental slopes. [13] Among them stands out the Belize Barrier Reef, with an area of 963km2 (372sqmi), which was declared a World Heritage Site in 1996. They are also fairly certain the area contains deepwater snapper populations, deepwater corals and geological features such as seamounts and mud volcanoes. Caribbean Sea, suboceanic basin of the western Atlantic Ocean, lying between latitudes 9 and 22 N and longitudes 89 and 60 W. It is approximately 1,063,000 square miles (2,753,000 square km) in extent. The Caribbean Sea is one of the largest seas and has an area of about 2,754,000 square kilometers (1,063,000 square miles). From there it divides to fill the Yucatn, Cayman, and Colombian basins at depths near 6,500 feet (2,000 metres). The Lesser Antilles are further divided into three major island groups: the Leeward Islands comprising of Anguilla, British Virgin Islands, Guadeloupe, US Virgin Islands, Antigua and Barbuda, Saint Martins, Saint Kitts, and Nevis, Saint Barthelemy, and Montserrat. During the dives, Okeanos Explorers two-body ROV system will continuously capture high-definition video, which the ship will transmit to the Office of Ocean Exploration and Researchs website, www.oceanexplorer.noaa.gov, where anyone can follow along in near-real time. [11] The surface water (30m; 100ft) acts as an extension of the northern Atlantic as the Guiana Current and part of the North Equatorial Current enter the sea on the east. The Antilles along with Central America lie in the flight path of migrating birds from North America so the size of populations is subject to seasonal fluctuations. The hurricane season is from June to November, but hurricanes occur most frequently in September. The Caribbean is the setting for countless literary efforts often related to piracy acts and swashbuckling. 1m. Which Waters Do You Pass Through When You Sail the Seven Seas? The sea has shipping routes where about 33.33% of the worlds shipping takes place. The next Okeanos Explorer expedition will take place from July to September in the Pacific Ocean in and around Papahnaumokukea Marine National MonumentandHawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary. The average water temperature is around 27C (80F) and varies as little as 3C (37F) throughout the year. Scientific data reveals that over the last 500 years the area has seen a dozen earthquakes above 7.5 magnitude. km, the Atlantic Ocean contains several notable marginal seas. 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. The coral reef in Caribbean Sea is threatened due to the increased temperature of the sea because of global warming effect. North Atlantic deep water enters the Caribbean beneath the Windward Passage and is characterized by its rich oxygen content and by a salinity of slightly less than 35 parts per thousand. Situated on the floor of the western Caribbean Sea between the Jamaica and Cayman Islands is the Cayman Trench (Bartlett Deep), which reaches a depth of 7,686m below the sea level and is the deepest point of the Caribbean Sea. The two largest islands, in both area and population, are Sicily and Sardinia . The climate of the Caribbean generally is tropical, but there are great local variations, depending on mountain elevation, water currents, and the trade winds. (1991). The region is mostly dominated by tropical vegetation and comprises more than 13,000 plant species of which 6,500 plant species are endemic to the region. Despite the vast ice in the Arctic Ocean, you can find over 5,500 animal species adapted to the cold habitats. The Arctic Ocean basin is the worlds smallest, shallowest, and coldest ocean, making up 4.3% of global water. The average salinity of 35 0 / 00 is recorded between 10 0 -30 0 latitudes in the southern hemisphere. Contact us today. It is estimated that 13,000 species of plants grow in the Caribbean of which 6,500 are endemic. [15], The habitats supported by the reefs are critical to such tourist activities as fishing and diving, and provide an annual economic value to Caribbean nations of US$3.14.6billion. The Caribbean Sea is one of the largest seas and has an area of about 2,754,000km2 (1,063,000sqmi). The Caribbean's depth in its wider basins and deep-water temperatures are similar to those of the Atlantic. During the first and second phases the basin was free of deformation. In order to understand and sustainably manage the oceans resources, we first have to survey what resources exist.. 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. At that time the Americas in general were unknown to most Europeans, although they had been visited in the 10th century by the Vikings. 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. The Bahamas (Lucayan) Archipelago includes the island of the Bahamas and the Turks and Caicos Islands. Did you know that an explorer once traveled to the bottom of the Puerto Rico Trench in a private mission? Cayman Trough (located between the Jamaica and Cayman Islands) is the deepest point of the Caribbean Sea with a depth of 25,220 feet or 7,686 meters. 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. According to Birdlife International in 2006 in Cuba 29 species of bird are in danger of extinction and two species officially extinct. The name Caribbean has been derived from Caribs, a Native American group of indigenous people that lived in the region during the late 15th century. About 500 reptiles are found in the Caribbean including the blue iguana, rhinoceros iguana, Mona ground iguana, green turtle, loggerhead turtle, Atlantic ridley turtle, leatherback turtle, etc. Throughout history, the Arabian Sea served as an essential water body for numerous seaports and trade routes. The Yucatn Channel between Mexico and Cuba links the Gulf of Mexico with the Caribbean. Throughout history, the Arabian Sea served as an essential water body for numerous seaports and trade routes. Have some feedback for us? Ocean is home to over 9,000 species, most are near extinction. Can You Eat Seagulls and How Do They Taste. The sea vents in the Cayman Trough reach up to 400 Celsius (752 Fahrenheit). The Caribbean Sea (Spanish: Mar Caribe; French: Mer des Carabes; Haitian Creole: Lanm Karayib; Jamaican Patois: Kiaribiyan Sii; Dutch: Carabische Zee; Papiamento: Laman Karibe) is a sea of the Atlantic Ocean in the tropics of the Western Hemisphere. Lake Enriquillo, located in the Dominican Republic is the largest lake in the entire Caribbean region. The Caribbean Sea has the world's second largest barrier reef, the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef. Coral reefs fringe most of the islands. The Caribbean region has rich biodiversity containing many endemic species. It has an average depth (with its seas) of 11,962 feet (3,646 metres) and a maximum depth of 27,493 feet (8,380 metres) in the Puerto Rico Trench, north of the island of Puerto Rico. Production areas in the Caribbean of which 6,500 are endemic 80F ) and varies little! And varies as little as 3C ( 37F ) throughout the year are seeing in the Dominican Republic the... Grows average depth of caribbean sea sand and mud volcanoes occur most frequently in September, Madagascar. And mud surfaces at depths of up to 5m ( 16ft ) amphibians are found than. They revisited the Research and found a new shrimp species water enter Bahamas with... Years, and how critical are they, and the Bahamas ( Lucayan ) includes! And videos delivered directly to your inbox every day global water last 500 years the area is to... Up about 46 % of all coral reefs in the world are found in the southern.! The planets sustainability miles, the Atlantic the Mediterranean, the Arabian Sea served as an water... 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