Over the open sea can be seen frigatebirds and tropicbirds. The Caribbean Sea is subdivided into five basins that are separated from each other by submerged ranges and ridges. The island of Jamaica is home to seals and manatees. Despite the vast ice in the Arctic Ocean, you can find over 5,500 animal species adapted to the cold habitats. le grand bleu docked there on numerous occasions) the main dock is 380ft. The shelf gives way at its edge to a slope, which is broken by submarine valleys and is steep in its upper parts. 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. 000, 000 sq km 000, 000 sq mi 000, 000 cu km 000, 000 cu mi m ft. Atlantic Ocean. Some species are threatened with extinction. [32], The Caribbean region supports a large tourism industry. 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). website belongs to an official government organization in the United States. Some of these notable endemic floral species include guaiac wood, Bayahibe rose, and ceiba. Did you discover a fact in this list about the largest oceans and seas that surprised you? Sea of the Atlantic Ocean bounded by North, Central and South America. The Yucatn Channel between Mexico and Cuba links the Gulf of Mexico with the Caribbean. The Pacific Ocean has numerous shipping routes that connect the bordering continents, oceans, and seas. 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. 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. Have a question? Its average depth of 1,500 m, with its deepest point in Calypso Deep descending to 5,267 m. The Strait of Gibraltar (a narrow waterway) connects the Mediterranean Sea with the Atlantic Ocean. Above this water, the subtropical undercurrent and surface water enter. The Caribbean Sea is a sea of the Atlantic Ocean in the tropics of the Western Hemisphere. Sea surface temperature monitoring tells us how the ocean and atmosphere interact, as well as providing fundamental data on the global climate system . The 9 Best Books About National Parks for Travelers, Discover the Biblical Flood that Created Todays Mediterranean Sea, Discover 7 Spectacular Fish Found in the Bahamas. While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. The Caribbean hurricane season as a whole lasts from June through November, with the majority of hurricanes occurring during August and September. 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 habitats supported by the reefs are critical to such tourist activities as fishing and diving, and ) or https:// means youve safely connected to the .gov website. 4. [17] Also, several charitable organisations have been formed to preserve the Caribbean marine life, such as Caribbean Conservation Corporation which seeks to study and protect sea turtles while educating others about them. More than 170 species of amphibians are found in the Caribbean including poison dart frogs, tree frogs, etc. Deepest Point: Milwaukee Deep (27,493 feet). The Leeward Antilles comprising of the three Dutch Islands of Aruba, Bonaire, and Curaao. Public can watch seafloor discoveries live online from April 10 to 30, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. 21st Century. The Southern Ocean basin (Antarctic Ocean) encircles Antarctica and extends to parts of the Atlantic, Pacific, and Indian Oceans. 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. 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. Christopher Columbus was the first European to enter the Caribbean Sea and land on the Island of Bahamas in 1492. The emergence of these basins marked the beginning of the Atlantic Ocean and contributed to the destruction of Pangaea at the end of the late Jurassic. The salinity of the Caribbean Sea is about 3.6%. Caribbean, followed by Hispaniola and Jamaica. Iturralde-Vinent, Manuel (2004), The first inhabitants of the Caribbean, Cuban Science Network . The major ocean current greatly influences the areas climate is the North Equatorial Current, which enters the Caribbean Sea region from the tropical Atlantic Ocean. The Mediterranean Sea formed about 5.9 million years ago when it cut off from the Atlantic Ocean. As of 2015[update] the area is home to 22 island territories and borders 12 continental countries. The Caribbean Sea is separated from the ocean by several island arcs of various ages. The Gulf of Mexico lies to the northwest. 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 most common deep Caribbean Sea animals are comb jellies, deep-sea dragonfish, and rattail fish. The Caribbean Sea is also massive, with an area of 1,063,000 square miles. However, it can be as shallow as just a few inches near the coast of many islands. In coastal zones there are coconut palms and in lagoons and estuaries are found thick areas of black mangrove and red mangrove (Rhizophora mangle). The average depth is about 2,200 meters (7,220 feet) below the sea's surface. As many as 40 scientists ashore are expected to participate remotely in the expedition. Below is a list of how weve ranked the worlds most extensive oceans and seas, including their area, average depth, and deepest point. 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. Plunge has significant ecological consequences, Conservation International Caribbean Islands, An Overview of Land Based Sources of Marine Pollution, Reefs at Risk in the Caribbean: Economic Valuation Methodology, Guide to Marine Life: Caribbean-Bahamas-Florida, Defying Ocean's End: An Agenda For Action, Center For Advanced Study on Puerto Rico and the Caribbean, Caribbean Basin Trade and Partnership Act, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Caribbean_Sea&oldid=1148478553, Short description is different from Wikidata, Wikipedia indefinitely move-protected pages, Articles using infobox body of water without alt, Articles using infobox body of water without pushpin map alt, Articles using infobox body of water without alt bathymetry, Articles containing Spanish-language text, Articles containing Haitian Creole-language text, Articles containing Jamaican Patois-language text, Articles containing Papiamento-language text, Articles containing potentially dated statements from 2015, All articles containing potentially dated statements, Wikipedia articles needing clarification from June 2017, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, This page was last edited on 6 April 2023, at 12:01. But with each expedition we reach new audiences who are fascinated by what we are seeing in the deep ocean. Terms & Conditions. It's Possible", Status of coral reefs in the Caribbean and Atlantic Ocean, Protocol Concerning Specially Protected Areas and Wildlife to the Convention for the Protection and Development of the Marine Environment of the Wider Caribbean Region (SPAW), Analysis of Contaminants in the Caribbean Sea over the last 150 years, "Pollution in the Mediterranean | UNEPMAP", "Over 200,000 tonnes of plastic leaking into the Mediterranean each year IUCN report", "Marine Pollution Threatens the Caribbean Sea", "NASA NASA Satellites Record a Month for the Hurricane History Books", "Caribbean Sea Turtles Close to Extinction", Historic Caribbean Sea Turtle Population falls 99%. Of all the five oceans, the Pacific is the largest. The Coral Sea is located southwest of the Pacific Ocean and is surrounded by Australia, New Guinea, New Caledonia, Solomon Islands, and New Hebrides. The deepest points of the sea lie in Cayman Trough with depths reaching approximately 7,686m (25,220ft). The salinity of the seawater is about 3.6%, and its density is 1,023.51,024.0kg/m3 (63.9063.93lb/cuft). In order to understand and sustainably manage the oceans resources, we first have to survey what resources exist.. Scientific data reveals that over the last 500 years the area has seen a dozen earthquakes above 7.5 magnitude. The Random House atlas of the oceans. The Caribbean sea floor is divided into five basins separated from each other by underwater ridges and mountain ranges. Interesting Caribbean Sea Facts: The deepest part of the Caribbean Sea is the Cayman Trench, located between Jamaica and Cuba. Youll also discover their deepest point, the marine life available, their economic purposes, and more. After Christopher Columbus landed in the Bahamas 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. depth; 21ft capability; it can accomodate yachts in excess of 380ft. Parrots and bananaquits are found in forests. (Image credit: NOAA). This dataset provides a look at how ocean temperature changes each season through the depths of the ocean. Representatives of three species belonging to the genus Halophila, (Halophila baillonii, Halophila engelmannii and Halophila decipiens) are found at depths of up to 30m (98ft) except for Halophila engelmani which does not grow below 5m (16ft) and is confined to the Bahamas, Florida, the Greater Antilles and the western part of the Caribbean. The Central American Sea apparently became separated from the Atlantic before the end of the first phase. Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree. The next stage of the Caribbean Sea's formation began in the Triassic. Leeward side of lagoons provide areas of growth for sea grasses. About 600 avian species such as the American yellow warbler, Fernandinas flicker, palmchat, black-fronted piping guan, etc have also been recorded here. 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. cultures (initially Spain, then later England, the Dutch Republic, France, Courland and Denmark). Please select which sections you would like to print: Alternate titles: Antillean-Caribbean Sea. 460 41. Our editors will review what youve submitted and determine whether to revise the article. Many James Bond adventures were set there. Deposits on the bottom of the Caribbean Sea and Gulf of Mexico have a thickness of about 1km (0.62mi). 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 average depth is about 2,200 meters (7,220 feet) below the seas surface. Well be exploring an area of the United States Exclusive Economic Zone that science knows very little about, said Alan Leonardi, Ph.D, director of NOAAs Office of Ocean Exploration and Research, the federal program responsible for coordinating this expedition. The Arctic Ocean is in the north polar region and borders North America and Eurasia. Some of the major rivers that drain into the Caribbean Sea include Magdalene, San Juan, Chagres, Coco, etc. 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. Near the end of the second phase, gentle warping and faulting occurred, forming the Aves and Beata ridges. 40m. 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 nation with the most Caribbean islands is the Bahamas, with approximately 700 islands. 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. Deepest Point: China Sea Basin (16,456 feet). The Cayman Trough, located between Jamaica and the Cayman Islands, is the sea's deepest point. The deepest point in the Caribbean sea is the Cayman Trough between Jamaica and Cuba. There are 500 species of reptiles (94% of which are endemic). From its summit to the sea surface over 2100 m. The straits have a depth of more than one and a half kilometers. They write new content and verify and edit content received from contributors. 100m. Can You Eat Seagulls and How Do They Taste. 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. Its natural beauty makes it a popular tourist destination. [33], Human activity in the area also accounts for a significant amount of pollution. Average depth: 8,685 feet (2,647 m) Ocean: Atlantic Ocean The Caribbean Sea averages eight hurricanes per year, with most happening in September; the season extends from June to November. The zone between 40 0 -60 0 latitudes in both the hemispheres records low salinity where it is 31 0 / 00 and 33 0 / 00 in the northern and the southern hemispheres respectively. 03 of 10 The South China Sea Taro Hama @ e-kamakura / Getty Images Area: 895,400 square miles (2,319,000 sq km) Average depth: 5,419 feet (1,652 m) The Caribbean's depth in its wider basins and deep-water temperatures are similar to those of the Atlantic. As part of the expedition, Kennedy and the two lead scientists aboard the ship will be leading a Reddit Ask Us Anything, or AUA, session on April 16, from 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm EDT. 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. Interestingly, the deepest point in the Atlantic Ocean is close to the Cayman Trough. Warm, moist trade winds blow consistently from the east, creating both rainforest and semi-arid climates across the region. The position of the Hallucigenia's head puzzled scientists for several years. The caimito (Chrysophyllum cainito) grows throughout the Caribbean. You can find many types of corals in the Caribbean Sea, like the great star coral, mustard hill coral, and massive starlet coral. The Mona ground iguana which inhabits the island of Mona, Puerto Rico, is endangered. The region has several types of sea turtle (loggerhead, green turtle, hawksbill, leatherback turtle, Atlantic ridley and olive ridley). NOAA Technical Memorandum NESDIS NGDC-24. Marginal seas are large, shallow bodies of water that are positioned along the margins of the continents. The Gulf Stream is part of a general clockwise-rotating system of currents in the North Atlantic. coral caribbean photos. It is a unique sea with lots of wildlife, over 7,000 islands, and thousands of miles of coral reefs. [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. How big is the ocean? When tropical waters become unusually warm for extended periods of time, microscopic plants called zooxanthellae, which are symbiotic partners living within the coral polyp tissues, die off. It has an average depth of 2200 meters with a deepest point of 7500 meters below the surface. Director, Florida Institute of Oceanography, St. Petersburg. The Caribbean Sea has the worlds second largest barrier reef, the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef. Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). Water covers about 71% of the Earth. The remainder is the surface water that passed over the Antillean arc at depths of less than 2,600 feet (800 metres). The Caribbean Sea is connected with the Gulf of Mexico in the north via the Yucatan Channel. The average depth of the Caribbean Sea is approximately 7,220 feet below the seas surface. 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. Subsurface water enters the Caribbean Sea across two sills. However, a devastating tsunami in 2004 led to the loss of over 200,000 deaths and the massive destruction of property. Islands are inhabited by some endemic species such as rock iguanas and American crocodile. 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. At least 9% of all coral reefs in the world are found in the Caribbean Sea. All 170 species of amphibians that live in the region are endemic. Get a Britannica Premium subscription and gain access to exclusive content. Technically, the Caribbean Sea is a suboceanic basin of the Atlantic Ocean. 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. Click the numbers to find out more. The Pacific is the deepest basin of the global ocean. The Caribbean monk seal which lived in the Caribbean is considered extinct. [20] Non-governmental organizations, universities, public institutions, civil society organizations, and the corporate sector are all eligible for financing. The region has several types of sea turtle (loggerhead, green turtle, hawksbill, leatherback turtle, Atlantic ridley and olive ridley). Deepest Point: Bougainville (29,986 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. About three-fourths of the area covered by ocean is deep, permanently dark, and cold. 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 . To the south it is bounded by the coasts of Venezuela, Colombia, and Panama; to the west by Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Honduras, Guatemala, Belize, and the Yucatn Peninsula of Mexico; to the north by the Greater Antilles islands of Cuba, Hispaniola, Jamaica, and Puerto Rico; and to the east by the north-south chain of the Lesser Antilles, consisting of the island arc that extends from the Virgin Islands in the northeast to Trinidad, off the Venezuelan coast, in the southeast. The larger islands in the northern part of the sea Cuba, Hispaniola, Jamaica and Puerto Rico lie on an older island arc. The depth of the Caribbean Sea depends on where you are since there are thousands of islands and countries in the sea. The dreaded Bermuda Triangle (the Devils Triangle) lies in this ocean. What is the Maximum Depth of the Caribbean Sea? The average depth of the Caribbean Sea is approximately 7,220 feet below the sea's surface. It extends from the Arctic Ocean in the north to the Southern Ocean (or, depending on definition, to Antarctica) in the south, and is bounded by the continents of Asia and Oceania in the west and the Americas in the east.. At 165,250,000 square kilometers (63,800,000 square miles) in area (as defined with a . Did you know that an explorer once traveled to the bottom of the Puerto Rico Trench in a private mission? There are 90 species of mammals in the Caribbean including sperm whales, humpback whales and dolphins. The maps show the seafloor in detail, making them useful for biologists, geologists, oceanographers and geophysicists. The youngest stretches from the Lesser Antilles to the Virgin Islands to the north east of Trinidad and Tobago off the coast of Venezuela. Today, large coastal populations, pollution, and intense fishing are the primary concerns in this sea. New York: Random House. 116 million people living in Caribbean islands live off of the food from the sea. 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. 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. The Caribbean region has seen a significant increase in human activity since the colonization period. In the shallow waters mainly turtle grass, manatee grass, and shoal grasses are found. The sea vents in the Cayman Trough reach up to 400 Celsius (752 Fahrenheit). On average around nine tropical storms form each year, with five reaching hurricane strength. 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. The surface water colour is blue-green to green. The Earths surface comprises about 71% water, with continents and islands covering the remaining part. The Caribbean monk seal which lived in the Caribbean is considered extinct. Deepest Point: Sunda Trench (23,920 feet). The Coral sea is home to the Coral Sea Islands and supports over 7,000 species. 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. Cuba, with an area of 109,884 square kilometers (42,426 square miles), is the largest island in the Panel Chairman in Marine Biology, Gulf University Research Corporation. To understand how vast water bodies are, you may consider looking into the sizes of various oceans and seas. The islands of Curaao and Aruba experience arid climates. Join us onFacebook,Twitter, Instagramand our othersocial media channels. So far, scientists have discovered that the maximum depth of the Caribbean Sea is 25,217 feet. This sea was an important trade route for merchants in ancient times. Over the years, rivers such as the Mekong, Pearl, and Red Rivers have deposited large sediments, oil, and gasses. The sea is one of the largest oil production areas in the world, producing approximately 170million tons[clarification needed] per year. PC-566 began dropping depth charges on a sonar contact, . Official websites use .gov Privacy Policy. The Caribbean Sea has a diverse and rich ecosystem. In the Caribbean Sea, piracy was very rampant during the 1500s and 1600s. Have some feedback for us? Ocean is home to over 9,000 species, most are near extinction. depth: 3,750 to 4,384 metres (12,303 to 14,383 ft) . It was formed about 34 million years ago when South America and Antarctica separated. without marginal seas 82. The wind-driven surface water accumulates in the Yucatn Basin and the Gulf of Mexico, where it results in a higher average sea level than in the Atlantic, forming a hydrostatic head that is believed to constitute the main driving force of the Gulf Stream. 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 findings indicate that heavy metals such as mercury, arsenic, and lead, have been identified in the coastal zone of the Caribbean Sea. Coral reefs support some of the most diverse marine habitats in the world, but they are fragile ecosystems. Because the ocean is a big place and difficult to study, if you search online to find the depth of the ocean, you may end up with a range of results. It runs along the Caribbean coasts of Mexico, Belize, Guatemala and Honduras. 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