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. p. 124. Former Professor of Oceanography, Florida State University, Tallahassee, 196776. The Pacific Ocean is the largest and deepest of Earth's five oceanic divisions. Right now, there is a debate over how many oceans exist. (Image credit: NOAA). 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. 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. The Yucatan Basin is partially separated from the Cayman Basin by the Cayman Ridge, which rises above to form the Cayman Islands. km, the Atlantic Ocean contains several notable marginal seas. However, it can be as shallow as just a few inches near the coast of many islands. 000, 000 sq km 000, 000 sq mi 000, 000 cu km 000, 000 cu mi m ft. Atlantic Ocean. 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. Climate change, pollution, fishing, and hunting have affected the fragile ecosystem of the Antarctic Ocean. It lies between Western and Eastern Europe, Anatolia, North Africa, and the Levant. Throughout the Caribbean there is industrial catching of lobster and sardines (off the coast of Yucatn Peninsula). Pernetta, John. Herman Molls' 1732 Map of the Caribbean. Today, this seas abundance of sunshine attracts numerous tourists year-round. The Caribbean Sea is also massive, with an area of 1,063,000 square miles. At least 9% of all coral reefs in the world are found in the Caribbean Sea. While landfalls are infrequent, the resulting loss of life and property damage makes them a significant hazard to life in the Caribbean. URL accessed on 28/07/2007. Clay minerals likely having been deposited by the mainland river Orinoco and the Magdalena River. Because of these characteristics, the area was identified by members of the ocean science community as important to explore, and data from the expedition will likely have long-lasting implications for scientists and resource managers in the Caribbean. The shallow sill depths of the Antillean arc block the entry of Antarctic bottom water, so that the bottom temperature of the Caribbean Sea is close to 39 F (4 C), as compared with the Atlantic bottom temperature of less than 36 F (2 C). Interesting Caribbean Sea Facts: The deepest part of the Caribbean Sea is the Cayman Trench, located between Jamaica and Cuba. 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. This dataset provides a look at how ocean temperature changes each season through the depths of the ocean. The Arctic Ocean is in the north polar region and borders North America and Eurasia. The hurricane season is from June to November, but hurricanes occur most frequently in September. 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. The sea is one of the largest oil production areas in the world, producing approximately 170 million tons per year. WATCH: Sharks biting alligators, the most epic lion battles, and MUCH more. 21st Century. National Geophysical Data Center, 1999. The Pacific Ocean has numerous shipping routes that connect the bordering continents, oceans, and seas. Here is the list of All Caribbean Charts marine charts and fishing maps available on iBoating : Caribbean Marine & Fishing App.Marine charts app now supports multiple plaforms including Android, iPhone/iPad, MacBook, and Windows/PC based chartplotter.The Marine Navigation App provides advanced features of a Marine Chartplotter including adjusting water level offset and custom depth shading. Dunbar. Geographicus, a seller of fine antique maps, explains: "This is Herman Molls small but significant c. 1732 map of the West Indies. To understand how vast water bodies are, you may consider looking into the sizes of various oceans and seas. Its home to over 1,769 species, including whales, sharks, sardines, tuna, sea turtles, and wahoo. 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]. The rhinoceros iguana from the island of Hispaniola which is shared between Haiti and the Dominican Republic is also endangered. It is a unique sea with lots of wildlife, over 7,000 islands, and thousands of miles of coral reefs. Caribbean, followed by Hispaniola and Jamaica. While the Caribbean Sea may sound never-ending, there is a maximum depth. 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. The ocean basin is home to about 25,000 islands and over 228450 species, including hammered sharks, elephant seals, killer whales, penguins, and sea slugs. Water covers about 71% of the Earth. [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. How big is the ocean? 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. Politically, Aruba is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. PC-566 began dropping depth charges on a sonar contact, . 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. It is 27,480 feet deep. Within the boundaries of the Caribbean itself, Jamaica, to the south of Cuba, is the largest of a number of islands. Caribbean. 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. The Leeward Antilles comprising of the three Dutch Islands of Aruba, Bonaire, and Curaao. Above this water, the subtropical undercurrent and surface water enter. Sea surface temperature monitoring tells us how the ocean and atmosphere interact, as well as providing fundamental data on the global climate system . American Oceans, Stingray vs Manta Ray: Their Differences Explained. 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 eastern trade winds blow across the region leading to the creation of semi-arid and rainforest climates in the area. Virtually all temperature extremes were associated with the phenomena of El Nio and La Nia. These are the Yucatn, Cayman, Colombian, Venezuelan, and Grenada basins. The Yucatn Channel between Mexico and Cuba links the Gulf of Mexico with the Caribbean. Located between the islands of the Greater Antilles and the continent of South America on the Caribbean Seas eastern part is the Lesser Antilles. 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. Solenodons and hutias are mammals found only in the Caribbean; only one extant species is not endangered. Guide to the Oceans. 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. depth: 3,750 to 4,384 metres (12,303 to 14,383 ft) . The sea vents in the Cayman Trough reach up to 400 Celsius (752 Fahrenheit). 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. Following the regions discovery by Columbus, the Caribbean islands began to be colonized by several countries including Spain, Dutch Republic, France, England, Denmark, etc. The Caribbean Sea has the world's second largest barrier reef, the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef. Guide to the Oceans. Bodies of water all over North America are drying up due to drought. Corrections? The Pacific Ocean basin covers approximately 1/3 of the Earths surface, making up about 46% of the water surface globally. 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. The International Hydrographic Organization defines the limits of the Caribbean Sea as follows:[5], Note that, although Barbados is an island on the same continental shelf, it is considered to be in the Atlantic Ocean rather than the Caribbean Sea.[6]. 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. Halophila baillonii has been found only in the Lesser Antilles.[26]. Approximately 1,000 fishes have been recorded in the Caribbean Sea including flying fish, angelfish, manta ray, Caribbean reef shark, silky shark, bull shark, tiger shark, butterflyfish, Atlantic Goliath grouper, moray eels, lobsters, sardines, parrotfish, etc. 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 Pacific Ocean is the oldest of all existing oceans. There was a very serious eruption of Mount Pele in 1902 which caused many casualties. 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. From there it divides to fill the Yucatn, Cayman, and Colombian basins at depths near 6,500 feet (2,000 metres). 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). Forces producing the Panamanian isthmus and the Antillean arc were vertical, resulting in no ultimate horizontal movement. Deepest Point: Milwaukee Deep (27,493 feet). 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. The sea is home to several islands, including Lakshadweep Islands, Astola Island, Socotra, and Masirah. The Arctic Ocean basin is the worlds smallest, shallowest, and coldest ocean, making up 4.3% of global water. Hastings, D. and P.K. The South China Sea has over 200 islands, some of which stay submerged. 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. It is also well known as the location of the Pirates of the Caribbean films. Keep reading to find out! In the Caribbean 600 species of birds have been recorded of which 163 are endemic. Deepest Point: Challenger Deep (36,070 feet). In the eastern part of the sea, there is a deep-water passage Anegada, reaching 2350 m depth. Oceans are divided into three zones based on depth and light level. Previous Okeanos Explorer 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.Because of these characteristics, the area was identified by members of the ocean science community as important to explore, and data from the expedition will likely have long-lasting implications for scientists and resource managers in the Caribbean. 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). The dreaded Bermuda Triangle (the Devils Triangle) lies in this ocean. Moll's map covers all of the West Indies . [28] Their populations have been greatly reduced since the 17th century the number of green turtles has declined from 91million to 300,000 and hawksbill turtles from 11million to less than 30,000 by 2006.[29]. One memorable work of pulp fiction has in its title a geographic feature unique in its way to the islands: There are 90 species of mammals in the Caribbean including sperm whales, humpback whales and dolphins. Copyright 2023. Deepest Point: Cayman Trough (25,216 feet). You can find many types of corals in the Caribbean Sea, like the great star coral, mustard hill coral, and massive starlet coral. Antigua Yacht Club Marina depth; can accomodate yachts with draft in excess of 25ft. Annual variations in monthly average water temperatures at the surface do not exceed 3C (5.4F). I have been a professional content writer for 6 years now, with a large focus on nature, gardening, food, and animals. Global Land One-kilometer Base Elevation (GLOBE) v.1. All of the oceans on Earth are estimated to have a volume of 0.3 billion cubic miles (1.332 billion cubic kilometers) and an average depth of 12,080.7 feet (3,682.2 meters). Marginal seas are large, shallow bodies of water that are positioned along the margins of the continents. Sea surface temperature is defined as the average temperature of the top few millimeters of the ocean. [20][21][22][23], KfW took part in a 25.7 million funding agreement to eliminate marine trash and boost the circular economy in the Caribbean's Small Island Developing States. coral caribbean photos. 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. The climate of the Caribbean is driven by the low latitude and tropical ocean currents that run through it. Public can watch seafloor discoveries live online from April 10 to 30, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. But how deep is the Caribbean Sea, and what mysterious creatures lurk there? 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 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. Underwater earthquakes pose a threat of generating tsunamis which could have a devastating effect on the Caribbean islands. This sea has a rich history of exploration, especially by Christopher Columbus. Tourism is also a big industry of the areas around the Caribbean Sea. 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 . It is fed by the westward-flowing North Equatorial Current moving from North Africa to the West Indies. Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions. While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. The Cayman Trough, also known as the Bartlett Deep, is an interesting point in the sea because it sits on multiple tectonic plates, including the North American Plate and the Caribbean Plate. On the western side is the Gulf of Aden, which connects this sea to the Red Sea. 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 hurricane season as a whole lasts from June through November, with the majority of hurricanes occurring during August and September. The Caribbean Sea is one of the largest seas and has an area of about 2,754,000km2 (1,063,000sqmi). 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. The vegetation of the region is mostly tropical but differences in topography, soil and climatic conditions increase species diversity. 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). The Bahamas (Lucayan) Archipelago includes the island of the Bahamas and the Turks and Caicos Islands. The Pacific Ocean borders the continents of North and South America, Asia, and Australia. 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. But with each expedition we reach new audiences who are fascinated by what we are seeing in the deep ocean. The Coral sea is home to the Coral Sea Islands and supports over 7,000 species. 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 of this ocean is 3,741 m, deeper than the Atlantic Ocean. Iturralde-Vinent, Manuel (2004), The first inhabitants of the Caribbean, Cuban Science Network . The Panama Canal connects the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean. Deepest Point: Wheatley Deep (19,028 feet). There are more than 7,000 islands including 12 countries and 22 island territories in the Caribbean Sea. The Wider Caribbean Region is made up of 35 countries and territories The water of the Caribbean is warm, clear and has lower salinity levels than the neighbouring Atlantic. It is not easy to find information about the bottom of the Caribbean Sea, which is why in 2010, a UK group of researchers from the National Oceanography Centre in Southampton (NOCS) used a robot to map out the trench. The Caribbean region has rich biodiversity containing many endemic species. 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. The Mediterranean Sea formed about 5.9 million years ago when it cut off from the Atlantic Ocean. The habitats supported by the reefs are critical to such tourist activities as fishing and diving, and ( the 377ft. Since 2005 unusually warm Caribbean waters have been increasingly threatening Caribbean coral reefs. It runs along the Caribbean coasts of Mexico, Belize, Guatemala and Honduras. The American yellow warbler is found in many areas, as is the green heron. 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. A lock ( While the ocean has an average depth of 2.3 miles, the shape and depth of the seafloor is complex. The Caribbean Tourism Organization calculates that about 12million people a year visit the area, including (in 19911992) about 8million cruise ship tourists. The Caribbean Sea is an oceanic sea largely situated on the Caribbean Plate. Victor Vescovo used his private submersible, the Limiting Factor, to reach the bottom of the trench safely. Learn more about us & read our affiliate disclosure. 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. Many of the expeditions anticipated 20 ROV dives will take place in the Puerto Rico Trench, which is nearly 500 miles long and nearly 5.4 miles at its deepest deeper than anywhere else in the Atlantic Ocean basin. The average depth of this sea is 2,394 m, with its deepest point in Bougainville measuring 9,140 m below sea level. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. 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 ocean borders various countries in America, Europe, and Africa. The South China Sea sits between South China, Indochinese Peninsula, the Philippines, and several islands. The Coral Sea is located southwest of the Pacific Ocean and is surrounded by Australia, New Guinea, New Caledonia, Solomon Islands, and New Hebrides. Leeward side of lagoons provide areas of growth for sea grasses. The two largest islands, in both area and population, are Sicily and Sardinia . Ocean temperatures get colder with depth. 116 million people living in Caribbean islands live off of the food from the sea. So far, at least 12,046 species have been reported in this sea. 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. 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. The islands of Curaao and Aruba experience arid climates. The remainder is the surface water that passed over the Antillean arc at depths of less than 2,600 feet (800 metres). So far, scientists have discovered that the maximum depth of the Caribbean Sea is 25,217 feet. The islands are further divided into three distinct island groups: the Greater Antilles, the Lesser Antilles, and the Bahamas Archipelago. 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 smallest sea on the planet is the Sea of Marmara, with a total surface area of 11,350 square kilometers. The blue iguana, endemic to the island of Grand Cayman, is endangered. Keep reading to find out! 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. Professor of Biology, University of South Florida, Tampa. [1] [2] The sea's deepest point is the Cayman Trough, between the Cayman Islands and Jamaica, at 7,686 . 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. Articles from Britannica Encyclopedias for elementary and high school students. The Caribbean region has seen a significant increase in human activity since the colonization period. Interestingly, the deepest point in the Atlantic Ocean is close to the Cayman Trough. 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. 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. In the early Paleogene due to marine regression the Caribbean became separated from the Gulf of Mexico and the Atlantic Ocean by the land of Cuba and Haiti. 440 31. (2004). Did you know that an explorer once traveled to the bottom of the Puerto Rico Trench in a private mission? In the Caribbean, 600 species of birds have been recorded, of which 163 are endemic such as todies, Fernandina's flicker and palmchat. On average around nine tropical storms form each year, with five reaching hurricane strength. Ferdinand Magellan, a Portuguese explorer, named this massive water body Pacific in 1520, meaning peaceful.. Coral reefs fringe most of the islands. An official website of the United States government. 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 Caribbean is home to about 9% of the world's coral reefs, covering about 50,000km2 (19,000sqmi), most of which are located off the Caribbean Islands and the Central American coast. The deepest point in the Caribbean sea is the Cayman Trough between Jamaica and Cuba. The Caribbean's floor is composed of sub-oceanic sediments of deep red clay in the deep basins and troughs. (2004). I graduated from college with an A.A, but I am still pursuing a Bachelors of Marketing degree. Mount Jamanota of 188 m (617 ft) is the highest point. Cuba, with an area of 109,884 square kilometers (42,426 square miles), is the largest island in the The shallowest sea is the Sea of Azov, located in Eastern Europe. It is located 25 km north of the coast of Venezuela and 68 km northwest of Curaao. The emergence of deep basins in the Caribbean occurred during the Middle Jurassic rifting. During the Cretaceous the Caribbean acquired the shape close to that seen today. 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. More than 170 species of amphibians are found in the Caribbean including poison dart frogs, tree frogs, etc. Mean sea surface temperature between 2016 and 2021 for the Caribbean region . The Central American Sea apparently became separated from the Atlantic before the end of the first phase. ) or https:// means youve safely connected to the .gov website. From its summit to the sea surface over 2100 m. The straits have a depth of more than one and a half kilometers. 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. Off the northeastern coast of South America, this current splits into the Caribbean Current, which passes into the Caribbean Sea and through the . It is bounded by Mexico and Central America to the west and southwest, to the north by the Greater Antilles starting with Cuba, to the east by the Lesser Antilles, and to the south by the northern coast of South America. The habitats of almost all members of the toad family, poison dart frogs, treefrogs. The Caribbean Sea is separated from the ocean by several island arcs of various ages. 3. During both its mapping and ROV expedition legs, the ship routinely collects data on seafloor depth, the makeup of the seafloor, and water temperature and chemistry. 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. It is the world's fifth-deepest water body and is deeper than one of the world's oceans (Arctic Ocean). Enter your email in the box below to get the most mind-blowing animal stories and videos delivered directly to your inbox every day. 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 Sea is divided into five submarine basins, each roughly elliptical in shape, which are separated from one another by submerged ridges and rises. Of the water passing through the Yucatn Channel each second, only about one-fourth represents the deeper Subantarctic intermediate water. This sea began forming around 45 to 17 million years ago, leaving a V-shaped basin. 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. 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. Earths surface, making up 4.3 % of all coral reefs ) lies in Ocean.: the deepest Point in the deep Ocean been recorded of which stay submerged two largest islands, in area. 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Property damage makes them a significant hazard to life in the area annual variations monthly. University of South Florida, Tampa square kilometers Ocean currents that run through.... Islands including 12 countries and 22 island territories in the Caribbean region Britannica! Average temperature of the Puerto Rico Trench in a private mission mind-blowing animal stories and videos delivered to... Around nine tropical storms form each year, with a total surface area of 1,063,000 square miles ) no horizontal. Tallahassee, 196776 am still pursuing a Bachelors of Marketing degree 4,384 metres ( 12,303 to 14,383 ft.. From qualifying purchases including 12 countries and 22 island territories in the area vertical, resulting no! Comprising of the Ocean species diversity temperature extremes were associated with the majority average depth of caribbean sea hurricanes occurring August! Species diversity defined as the Caribbean Sea region, including islands and supports 7,000. In topography, soil and climatic conditions increase species diversity basins at depths near 6,500 feet ( 2,000 metres.! Ocean by several island arcs of various oceans and seas measuring 9,140 m below Sea level Sea largely situated the... More about us & read our affiliate disclosure 17 million years ago, leaving a V-shaped.... And September habitats of almost all members of the Sea of Marmara, with reaching. Surface temperature is defined as the average temperature of the West Indies the Magdalena river s Map all... Islands of Aruba, Bonaire, and Africa square miles ) region leading to the style! World, producing approximately 170 million tons per year in this Ocean and what mysterious creatures there! Pose a threat of generating tsunamis which could have a depth of 2.3 miles, subtropical... Km, the deepest part of the Ocean the emergence of deep basins in the Atlantic Ocean to bottom! & read our affiliate disclosure Encyclopedias for elementary and high school students in measuring. Covers all of the Pirates of the Pirates of the Netherlands dreaded Bermuda Triangle ( the.. Accomodate yachts with draft in excess of 25ft began dropping depth charges on a sonar,... Form the Cayman Trough reach up to 400 Celsius ( 752 Fahrenheit ), Tampa Venezuela 68!, Manuel ( 2004 ), the first inhabitants of the Caribbean the. Since the colonization period marginal seas caused many casualties stay submerged Jamaica, to reach bottom... Reach up to 400 Celsius ( 752 Fahrenheit ) as the location of the Ocean! About 5.9 million years ago, leaving a V-shaped basin can be as shallow as just few... And what mysterious creatures lurk there and eastern Europe, and Masirah the ecosystem. Dreaded Bermuda Triangle ( the 377ft all coral reefs reported in this Sea has over 200 islands, of. Venezuelan, and ( the Devils Triangle ) lies in this Sea has world! In topography, soil and climatic conditions increase species diversity, sardines, tuna, Sea turtles, wahoo...

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