Islands are inhabited by some endemic species such as rock iguanas and American crocodile. One memorable work of pulp fiction has in its title a geographic feature unique in its way to the islands: Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). The eastern trade winds blow across the region leading to the creation of semi-arid and rainforest climates in the area. Despite the vast ice in the Arctic Ocean, you can find over 5,500 animal species adapted to the cold habitats. More than 90 mammalian species are found in the Caribbean including dolphins, humpback whales, sperm whales, manatees, Solenodons, hutias, etc. There are 500 species of reptiles (94% of which are endemic). At that time the Americas in general were unknown to most Europeans, although they had been visited in the 10th century by the Vikings. Have some feedback for us? 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. 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. Simon Dannhauer . An official website of the United States government. For example, guaiac wood (Guaiacum officinale), the flower of which is the national flower of Jamaica and the Bayahibe rose (Pereskia quisqueyana) which is the national flower of the Dominican Republic and the ceiba which is the national tree of both Puerto Rico and Guatemala. The surface water colour is blue-green to green. While landfalls are infrequent, the resulting loss of life and property damage makes them a significant hazard to life in the Caribbean. 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. We have a lot of devoted fans who follow our explorations closely, Leonardi said. Have a question? 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. Solenodons and hutias are mammals found only in the Caribbean; only one extant species is not endangered. The Caribbean hurricane season as a whole lasts from June through November, with the majority of hurricanes occurring during August and September. The age and size of an ocean influence its depth. Eakins, 2009. These plants provide food for the corals and give them their color. This graphic shows several ocean floor features on a scale from 0-35,000 feet below sea level. With a total area of 106,460,000 sq. When I am not writing, you can find me in front of my TV with a blanket, snacks, and my fur babies. Despite this, the Caribbean Sea is considered a relatively shallow sea in comparison to other bodies of water. 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. 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 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. 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. As part of the Central American Sea, it is presumed to have been connected with the Mediterranean during Paleozoic times (i.e., about 541 to 252 million years ago) and then gradually to have separated from it as the Atlantic Ocean was formed. This is the deep sea. The average depth of this sea is 2,394 m, with its deepest point in Bougainville measuring 9,140 m below sea level. Of the endemic species 48 are threatened with extinction including the Puerto Rican amazon, and the Zapata wren. Antigua Yacht Club Marina depth; can accomodate yachts with draft in excess of 25ft. The Largest Farm in the Entire World Is Bigger Than 11 U.S. States! 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. 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. Our editors will review what youve submitted and determine whether to revise the article. The vegetation of the region is mostly tropical but differences in topography, soil and climatic conditions increase species diversity. Treaty on maritime boundaries between the United States of America and the United Mexican States (Caribbean Sea and Pacific Ocean), . The Caribbean Sea has a diverse and rich ecosystem. Professor of Biology, University of South Florida, Tampa. [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. In brackish water of harbours and estuaries at depths less than 2.5m (8ft 2in) widgeongrass (Ruppia maritima) grows. The Mediterranean Sea formed about 5.9 million years ago when it cut off from the Atlantic Ocean. During the first and second phases the basin was free of deformation. But how deep is the Caribbean Sea, and what mysterious creatures lurk there? It lies between Western and Eastern Europe, Anatolia, North Africa, and the Levant. The majority of our planet's surface is covered in water! Please select which sections you would like to print: Alternate titles: Antillean-Caribbean Sea. 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). Over 42% of corals are completely bleached, and 95% are experiencing some type of whitening. This public engagement improves science literacy and fosters an interest in the sciences among young people perhaps leading to the next generation of ocean explorers.. This sea has a rich history of exploration, especially by Christopher Columbus. The Caribbean Sea is the Atlantic Ocean's second-largest sea and the world's deepest sea, with a maximum depth of 7,686 m below sea level. Since there are multiple large coral reefs in the Caribbean Sea, it is no surprise that marine life is so diverse! In the tropical waters of the Caribbean Sea the average temperature is 27C (81F) and it varies no more than 3C. Surface. (Image credit: NOAA) Download Image During dives that are expected to go as deep as 3.7 miles, a sophisticated unmanned submarine, called a remotely operated vehicle, or ROV, will broadcast live video from the seafloor, allowing anyone with Internet access to watch the expedition as it unfolds. Which Waters Do You Pass Through When You Sail the Seven Seas? depth; 21ft capability; it can accomodate yachts in excess of 380ft. New York: Random House. The Arabian Sea is part of the northern Indian Ocean and sits between the Arabian Peninsula, India, the Gulf of Oman, Pakistan, and Iran. 40m. While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. The sea has shipping routes where about 33.33% of the worlds shipping takes place. Geologists say the Coral Sea began forming 48-58 million years ago. About 600 avian species such as the American yellow warbler, Fernandinas flicker, palmchat, black-fronted piping guan, etc have also been recorded here. Other floral species that are found in the Caribbean region include mahogany, caimito, coconut palms, and mangroves. 440 31. Sea surface temperature monitoring tells us how the ocean and atmosphere interact, as well as providing fundamental data on the global climate system . The average salinity of 35 0 / 00 is recorded between 10 0 -30 0 latitudes in the southern hemisphere. The Random House atlas of the oceans. The Caribbean Sea mostly occupies the Caribbean Plate and features many island arcs which separate it from the ocean. There are more than 7,000 islands including 12 countries and 22 island territories in the Caribbean Sea. The Colombian Basin is partly separated from the Venezuelan Basin by the Beata Ridge. A lock ( In the shallow waters mainly turtle grass, manatee grass, and shoal grasses are found. The Caribbean Sea is a sea of the Atlantic Ocean in the tropics of the Western Hemisphere. [19], After the Mediterranean, the Caribbean Sea is the second most polluted sea. The rainfall varies with the elevation and water current and ranging from less than 12 inches a year on the Bonaire Island to about 350 inches a year in the areas around Dominica. He also traveled to the deepest point in the world, Marianas trench. 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. Technically, the Caribbean Sea is a suboceanic basin of the Atlantic Ocean. Please leave a comment below and lets know what came to you as a surprise. Interestingly, the deepest point in the Atlantic Ocean is close to the Cayman Trough. The Caribbean Sea is nowhere near being the largest sea in the world, but it is still very deep! The Caribbean is the setting for countless literary efforts often related to piracy acts and swashbuckling. The Caribbean monk seal which lived in the Caribbean is considered extinct. Some of the major rivers that drain into the Caribbean Sea include Magdalene, San Juan, Chagres, Coco, etc. Leeward side of lagoons provide areas of growth for sea grasses. Parrots and bananaquits are found in forests. Deepest Point: Calypso Deep (17,280 feet). Its also home to over 3,000 fish species and 600 types of coral reefs. The mahogany is the national tree of the Dominican Republic and Belize. 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. 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 Pacific is the deepest basin of the global ocean. While the ocean has an average depth of 2.3 miles, the shape and depth of the seafloor is complex. The tropical rainforest climates include lowland areas near the Caribbean Sea from Costa Rica north to Belize, as well as the Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico, while the more seasonal dry tropical savanna climates are found in Cuba, northern Venezuela, and southern Yucatn, Mexico. The original thought was four, but some people count the Antarctic Ocean as one. The entire area of the Caribbean Sea, the numerous islands of the West Indies, and adjacent coasts are collectively known as the Caribbean. Islands are inhabited by some endemic species such as rock iguanas and American crocodile. Language links are at the top of the page across from the title. Thats precisely why we explore.. Continents and islands cover the remaining 29%. During this session, the public can pose their questions directly to the three experts, who also include Andrea Quattrini, Ph.D., a biologist with U.S. Geological Survey; and Mike Cheadle, Ph.D., a geologist with the University of Wyoming. 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). [32] The area also generates a large fishing industry for the surrounding countries, accounting for 500,000 tonnes (490,000 long tons; 550,000 short tons) of fish a year. 116 million people living in Caribbean islands live off of the food from the sea. This Triangle has mysteriously led to the disappearance of many ships and airplanes. The climate of the Caribbean is driven by the low latitude and tropical ocean currents that run through it. 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 coral reef in Caribbean Sea is threatened due to the increased temperature of the sea because of global warming effect. [30] The Golden coqui is in serious threat of extinction. Just by a few thousand feet, the Atlantic Ocean is deeper than the Caribbean Sea. However, a devastating tsunami in 2004 led to the loss of over 200,000 deaths and the massive destruction of property. Such storms also have been a major cause of crop failure in the region. It runs along the Caribbean coasts of Mexico, Belize, Guatemala and Honduras. The 15 Deepest Lakes in the United States, Meet the 10 Largest Land Owners in Montana. [1][2] The sea's deepest point is the Cayman Trough, between the Cayman Islands and Jamaica, at 7,686m (25,217ft) below sea level. Deposits on the bottom of the Caribbean Sea and Gulf of Mexico have a thickness of about 1km (0.62mi). It runs 1,000 kilometers (620 miles) along the coasts of Mexico, Belize, Guatemala, and Honduras. The sea is warm, calm, and with occasional cyclones. It is observed that the lowland areas between Belize and Costa Rica experience a tropical rainforest climate, while the Yucatan Peninsula, Cuba, and Venezuela experience dry tropical savanna climates. This arc was formed by the collision of the South American Plate with the Caribbean Plate and includes active and extinct volcanoes such as Mount Pelee, the Quill (volcano) on Sint Eustatius in the Caribbean Netherlands and Morne Trois Pitons on Dominica. Terms & Conditions. The sea is one of the largest oil production areas in the world, producing approximately 170million tons[clarification needed] per year. The Southern Ocean basin (Antarctic Ocean) encircles Antarctica and extends to parts of the Atlantic, Pacific, and Indian Oceans. The Indian Ocean is home to several islands, including Madagascar (4th largest island globally). Underwater earthquakes pose a threat of generating tsunamis which could have a devastating effect on the Caribbean islands. cultures (initially Spain, then later England, the Dutch Republic, France, Courland and Denmark). The average depth of this ocean is 3,741 m, deeper than the Atlantic Ocean. The pressure of the South American Plate to the east of the Caribbean causes the region of the Lesser Antilles to have high volcanic activity. 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. Since 2005 unusually warm Caribbean waters have been increasingly threatening Caribbean coral reefs. The NOAA Ship Okeanos Explorer is the only federally funded US ship assigned to systematically explore our largely unknown ocean for the purpose of discovery and the advancement of knowledge. 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 region has several types of sea turtle (loggerhead, green turtle, hawksbill, leatherback turtle, Atlantic ridley and olive ridley). 830 324. 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