The Gulf of Mexico is the 9th largest body of water in the world. Despite being considered its own entity, it is not an isolated body of water. Rather, the Gulf of Mexico is an extension of the Atlantic Ocean. It borders much of the southern portion of North America as well as the eastern portion of Central America.
Geographic features
The Gulf of Mexico is an oval-shaped basin that is known for its shallower depths and warmer temperatures than the Atlantic Ocean. Its coastal placement also makes it the source of some of the strongest ocean currents in the world, including the Gulf Stream current.
Hurricane territory
The gulf's warm temperatures and proximity to much colder waters makes it prone to generating Hurricanes on a relatively regular basis. Most notably, the Gulf of Mexico produced Hurricane Katrina, which devastated New Orleans and many other cities in 2005.
Hurricane Season
For the Atlantic, Caribbean Sea and Gulf of Mexico hurricane season technically begins on June 1st and ends November 30th.http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/
2010 Gulf of Mexico Oil Spill
On April 20, 2010 British Petroleum's (BP) Deepwater Horizon drilling oil rig exploded, resulting in the immediate death of 11 BP workers and an unstoppable stream of oil, estimated at 20,000-40,000 barrels of crude oil per day, pouring into the Gulf of Mexico. To date, this is the largest oil spill in U.S. history.
The Gulf of Mexico marine and wildlife habitats have been greatly effected due to the spread of the oil on the ocean surface, as well as huge plumes of oil beneath the water. The spill has also caused damage to the areas fishing and tourist industries, affecting the local economies.
The Gulf of Mexico Loop Current
The ocean currents flow in a clockwise direction, up from Central America northward into the Gulf of Mexico and continue along the eastern coast of the United States. These currents join the Yucatan Current and the Florida Current to form "The Loop Current."
Featured Video
Gulf of Mexico Travel
- TripAdvisor: Central Mexico and Gulf Coast Tourism
References
Fast Facts
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Golfo de México in Spanish
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9th Largest body of water
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Consider a smaller part of the Atlantic Ocean
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Shape of it's basin is roughly oval
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Surrounded by the United States, Mexico and Cuba
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Covers 615 million square miles
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Provides 1,680 miles of coastline
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Deepest point is Sigsbee Deep, at over 14,000 feet
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Amerigo Vespucci is believed to be the first European to visit in 1497
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Present Gulf of Mexico basin is believed to have its origin in Late Triassic time
