Sea of the Atlantic Ocean bounded by North, Central and South America. 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. 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. Deepest Point: Challenger Deep (36,070 feet). (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. Please leave a comment below and lets know what came to you as a surprise. Clay minerals appear to have been washed down by the Amazon and Orinoco rivers, as well as by the Magdalena River in Colombia. The Windward Islands comprising of Trinidad and Tobago, Dominica, Grenada, Saint Lucia, Barbados, Martinique, and Saint Vincent and Grenadines. Simon Dannhauer . The Caribbean Sea is an oceanic sea largely situated on the Caribbean Plate. The Caribbean Sea is home to 22 islands and over 1,400 species of marine mammals, fish, and coastal mangroves. When I am not writing, you can find me in front of my TV with a blanket, snacks, and my fur babies. 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. It is also well known as the location of the Pirates of the Caribbean films. URL accessed on 28/07/2007. Covering an area of about 2,754,000 sq. The Caribbean Sea is home to about 9% of the worlds coral reefs covering about 50,000 square kilometers (19,000 square miles), most of which are located off the Caribbean Islands and the Central American coast. Covering an area of about 2,754,000 sq. 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. 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. This sea has a rich history of exploration, especially by Christopher Columbus. The Caribbean Sea is connected with the Gulf of Mexico in the north via the Yucatan Channel. Over the years, rivers such as the Mekong, Pearl, and Red Rivers have deposited large sediments, oil, and gasses. Former Professor of Oceanography, Florida State University, Tallahassee, 196776. Over the open sea can be seen frigatebirds and tropicbirds. It lies between Western and Eastern Europe, Anatolia, North Africa, and the Levant. The Central American Sea apparently became separated from the Atlantic before the end of the first phase. However, a devastating tsunami in 2004 led to the loss of over 200,000 deaths and the massive destruction of property. One memorable work of pulp fiction has in its title a geographic feature unique in its way to the islands: During the first and second phases the basin was free of deformation. In coastal zones there are coconut palms and in lagoons and estuaries are found thick areas of black mangrove and red mangrove (Rhizophora mangle). An official website of the United States government. 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). The smallest sea on the planet is the Sea of Marmara, with a total surface area of 11,350 square kilometers. Can You Eat Seagulls and How Do They Taste. 150m. [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. 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. It lies between latitudes 30 and 46 N and longitudes 6 W and 36 E. Have a comment on this page? Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). [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. Thank you for reading! The northeast trade winds dominate the region with an average velocity of 10 to 20 miles (16 to 32 km) per hour. 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 area is so deep; that the temperatures reach near freezing levels. This ocean is relatively calm and offers significant sea routes for transporting materials such as oil, rice, sugar, and silk. 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. 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. The Yucatn Channel between Mexico and Cuba links the Gulf of Mexico with the Caribbean. Panel Chairman in Marine Biology, Gulf University Research Corporation. The name Caribbean derives from the Caribs, one of the region's dominant Native American groups at the time of European contact during the late 15th century. The shelf gives way at its edge to a slope, which is broken by submarine valleys and is steep in its upper parts. While some people believe the Caribbean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean are the same, this is only partially true. Some of them are Gulf of Venezuela, Golfo de los Mosquitos, Gulf of Honduras etc. The average depth of the Atlantic is 3,646 m, with the deepest part being Milwaukee Deep, which descends to around 8,380 m. The Atlantic Ocean derives its name from Greek mythologys Sea of Atlas. Its roughly 135 million years old, having formed during the Cretaceous period. Following the colonization of the Caribbean islands, the Caribbean Sea became a busy area for European-based marine trading and transports, and this commerce eventually attracted pirates such as Samuel Bellamy and Blackbeard. How big is the ocean? (2004). Climate change, pollution, fishing, and hunting have affected the fragile ecosystem of the Antarctic Ocean. [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. Buffalo, NY: Firefly Books, Inc. pp. The average depth of the Caribbean Sea is approximately 7,220 feet below the sea's surface. There are more than 7000 islands in the Caribbean, and they belong to over 28 distinct nations. Forces producing the Panamanian isthmus and the Antillean arc were vertical, resulting in no ultimate horizontal movement. Director, Florida Institute of Oceanography, St. Petersburg. 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 Caribbean Tourism Organization calculates that about 12million people a year visit the area, including (in 19911992) about 8million cruise ship tourists. 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. 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. A .gov Keep reading to find out! 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 basins are connected by the submerged Aruba Gap at depths greater than 13,000 feet (4,000 metres). 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. 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 Caribbean Sea is divided into five submarine basins, each roughly elliptical in shape, which are separated from one another by submerged ridges and rises. Located in the northern part of the Caribbean Sea is the Greater Antilles Island group. The deepest point in the Caribbean sea is the Cayman Trough between Jamaica and Cuba. There are 90 species of mammals in the Caribbean including sperm whales, humpback whales and dolphins. Clay minerals likely having been deposited by the mainland river Orinoco and the Magdalena River. The Pacific Ocean basin covers approximately 1/3 of the Earths surface, making up about 46% of the water surface globally. The nation with the most Caribbean islands is the Bahamas, with approximately 700 islands. [14] Historically the Caribbean is thought to contain 14% of the world's coral reefs. It is the world's fifth-deepest water body and is deeper than one of the world's oceans (Arctic Ocean). 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 Cayman Trough, located between Jamaica and the Cayman Islands, is the sea's deepest point. Tropical cyclones that impact the Caribbean often develop off the West coast of Africa and make their way west across the Atlantic Ocean toward the Caribbean, while other storms develop in the Caribbean itself. Deepest Point: Bougainville (29,986 feet). Water covers about 71% of the Earth. 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. 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. The Leeward Antilles comprising of the three Dutch Islands of Aruba, Bonaire, and Curaao. The ocean borders various countries in America, Europe, and Africa. coral caribbean photos. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. [31] The black-fronted piping guan is endangered. Transport and trading activities across this sea attracted pirates in the 1560s. On continental slopes and ridges calcareous silts are found. 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. Pernetta, John. This graphic shows several ocean floor features on a scale from 0-35,000 feet below sea level. The sill depth of Anegada Passage is between 6,400 and 7,700 feet (1,950 and 2,350 metres), whereas that of the Windward Passage is between 5,250 and 5,350 feet (1,600 and 1,630 metres). The average depth of the Caribbean Sea is approximately 7,220 feet below the seas surface. The entire area of the Caribbean Sea, the numerous islands of the West Indies, and adjacent coasts are collectively known as the Caribbean. Virtually all temperature extremes were associated with the phenomena of El Nio and La Nia. Area: 1,491,000 sq. These plants provide food for the corals and give them their color. 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. About 600 avian species such as the American yellow warbler, Fernandinas flicker, palmchat, black-fronted piping guan, etc have also been recorded here. The average depth of this sea is 2,394 m, with its deepest point in Bougainville measuring 9,140 m below sea level. 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. The Caribbean Sea experiences a tropical climate that is highly influenced by elevations, trade winds, and tropical ocean currents. During this mission, they discovered extremely hot black smokers at the deepest point yet (3.1 miles). 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. The most common deep Caribbean Sea animals are comb jellies, deep-sea dragonfish, and rattail fish. The Southern Ocean basin (Antarctic Ocean) encircles Antarctica and extends to parts of the Atlantic, Pacific, and Indian Oceans. Herman Molls' 1732 Map of the Caribbean. 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.. For each season (three month averages January - March, April - June, July - September, and October - December) there are six depths available: surface, 100m, 500m, 1,000m, 2,000m, and 5,000m. Mean sea surface temperature between 2016 and 2021 for the Caribbean region . The sea has shipping routes where about 33.33% of the worlds shipping takes place. p. 124. The shallowest sea is the Sea of Azov, located in Eastern Europe. [18], In connection with the foregoing, the Institute of Marine Sciences and Limnology of the National Autonomous University of Mexico, conducted a regional study, funded by the Department of Technical Cooperation of the International Atomic Energy Agency, in which specialists from 11 Latin American countries (Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Dominican Republic, Venezuela) plus Jamaica participated. American Oceans, Stingray vs Manta Ray: Their Differences Explained. 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. 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. Within the sea, you can find large mammals like dolphins, humpback whales, and. The Southern Ocean is geologically the worlds youngest ocean. [30] The Golden coqui is in serious threat of extinction. The geologic age of the Caribbean is not known with certainty. Throughout history, the Arabian Sea served as an essential water body for numerous seaports and trade routes. More than 90 mammalian species are found in the Caribbean including dolphins, humpback whales, sperm whales, manatees, Solenodons, hutias, etc. Updates? 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. It is a unique sea with lots of wildlife, over 7,000 islands, and thousands of miles of coral reefs. mi, 3,862,000 sq. Some of these notable endemic floral species include guaiac wood, Bayahibe rose, and ceiba. 100 354. It covers about 1/3 of the Earth. Islands are inhabited by some endemic species such as rock iguanas and American crocodile. The Pacific Ocean is the largest and deepest of Earth's five oceanic divisions. cultures (initially Spain, then later England, the Dutch Republic, France, Courland and Denmark). In brackish water of harbours and estuaries at depths less than 2.5m (8ft 2in) widgeongrass (Ruppia maritima) grows. 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. As many as 40 scientists ashore are expected to participate remotely in the expedition. In the Caribbean, 600 species of birds have been recorded, of which 163 are endemic such as todies, Fernandina's flicker and palmchat. (Image credit: NOAA). Contact the AZ Animals editorial team. 10m. 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 original thought was four, but some people count the Antarctic Ocean as one. 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. But with each expedition we reach new audiences who are fascinated by what we are seeing in the deep ocean. Oceans are divided into three zones based on depth and light level. [27] 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. [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. From its summit to the sea surface over 2100 m. The straits have a depth of more than one and a half kilometers. 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. The Gulf of Mexico lies to the northwest. The Yucatan Basin is partially separated from the Cayman Basin by the Cayman Ridge, which rises above to form the Cayman Islands. The Caribbean Sea has the worlds second largest barrier reef, the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef. The majority of our planet's surface is covered in water! The average water temperature is around 27C (80F) and varies as little as 3C (37F) throughout the year. The Gulf of Mexico is somewhat shallow, along the coastal continental shelf areas, and has an average depth of 1,615m. The Caribbeans greatest known depth is Cayman Trench (Bartlett Deep) between Cuba and Jamaica, approximately 25,216 feet (7,686 metres) below sea level. The caimito (Chrysophyllum cainito) grows throughout the Caribbean. Join us onFacebook,Twitter, Instagramand our othersocial media channels. In order to understand and sustainably manage the oceans resources, we first have to survey what resources exist.. [13] Among them stands out the Belize Barrier Reef, with an area of 963km2 (372sqmi), which was declared a World Heritage Site in 1996. It was formed about 34 million years ago when South America and Antarctica separated. Cuba, with an area of 109,884 square kilometers (42,426 square miles), is the largest island in the Deepest Point: Milwaukee Deep (27,493 feet). 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). Deposits on the bottom of the Caribbean Sea and Gulf of Mexico have a thickness of about 1km (0.62mi). Get a Britannica Premium subscription and gain access to exclusive content. 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. Other areas to be explored include the Muertos Trough, Mona Channel and Virgin Islands Trough. Surface water temperatures in the Pacific vary from 1.4 C in the poleward areas to about 30 C near the equator. It is located 25 km north of the coast of Venezuela and 68 km northwest of Curaao. During the first century of European colonization, Spanish dominance in the region remained undisputed. There are many bays and gulfs along the sea's coastline. In summer, the average monthly temperature everywhere is about +28 C. Cloudiness is 4-5 points. 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 . In shallow waters, sand or coral . All 170 species of amphibians that live in the region are endemic. 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. 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%. The Atlantic is home to many seas, islands, gulfs, and bays. The name Caribbean derives from the Caribs, one of the regions dominant Native American groups at the time of European contact during the late 15th century. The Caribbean Sea is one of the largest seas and has an area of about 2,754,000 km 2 (1,063,000 sq mi). Coral reefs support some of the most diverse marine habitats in the world, but they are fragile ecosystems. 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. The island of Jamaica is home to seals and manatees. Below is a list of how weve ranked the worlds most extensive oceans and seas, including their area, average depth, and deepest point. The South China Sea has over 200 islands, some of which stay submerged. The Gulf Stream is part of a general clockwise-rotating system of currents in the North Atlantic. 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. Continents and islands cover the remaining 29%. Its home to over 1,769 species, including whales, sharks, sardines, tuna, sea turtles, and wahoo. Its natural beauty makes it a popular tourist destination. Ocean temperatures get colder with depth. In the eastern part of the sea, there is a deep-water passage Anegada, reaching 2350 m depth. [9] It is assumed the proto-caribbean basin existed in the Devonian period. Since there are multiple large coral reefs in the Caribbean Sea, it is no surprise that marine life is so diverse! 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. 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. Rainfall varies with elevation, size, and water currents (cool upwelling keep the ABC islands arid). In the early Carboniferous movement of Gondwana to the north and its convergence with the Euramerica basin decreased in size. The deep basins and trenches in the Caribbean Sea bed are covered by deep red clay sediments, whereas the ridges and the continental slopes are covered by calcareous silts. There was a very serious eruption of Mount Pele in 1902 which caused many casualties. There are more than 7000 islands in the Caribbean, and they belong to over 28 distinct nations. WATCH: Sharks biting alligators, the most epic lion battles, and MUCH more. Together with the Gulf of Mexico, the Caribbean Sea has been erroneously termed the American Mediterranean, owing to the fact that, like the Mediterranean Sea, it is located between two continental landmasses. It borders several countries in East Africa, Asia, and western Australia. But how deep is the Caribbean Sea, and what mysterious creatures lurk there? Terms & Conditions. In the Caribbean Sea, piracy was very rampant during the 1500s and 1600s. Tropical cyclones are a threat to the nations that rim the Caribbean Sea. 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. 100m. From there it divides to fill the Yucatn, Cayman, and Colombian basins at depths near 6,500 feet (2,000 metres). Keep reading to find out! 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. Live video from a 2013 expedition to deep-sea canyons off the northeast Atlantic coast of the U.S. garnered more than 875,000 views, he said. Right now, there is a debate over how many oceans exist. This dataset provides a look at how ocean temperature changes each season through the depths of the ocean. 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. Guide to the Oceans. depth; 21ft capability; it can accomodate yachts in excess of 380ft. 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 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. Ocean is home to over 9,000 species, most are near extinction. Surface. 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 . Solenodons and hutias are mammals found only in the Caribbean; only one extant species is not endangered. 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. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); The American Oceans Campaign is dedicated primarily to the restoration, protection, and preservation of the health and vitality of coastal waters, estuaries, bays, wetlands, and oceans. The remainder is the surface water that passed over the Antillean arc at depths of less than 2,600 feet (800 metres). [33], Human activity in the area also accounts for a significant amount of pollution. The Sea is also home to numerous coral reefs, including the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef, which is the 2nd largest barrier reef in the world that runs for about 1,000km along the coasts of the countries of Belize, Guatemala, Honduras, and Mexico. 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. It is a unique sea with lots of wildlife, over 7,000 islands, and thousands of miles of coral reefs. Did you know that an explorer once traveled to the bottom of the Puerto Rico Trench in a private mission? Of Marmara, with a total surface area of 11,350 square kilometers ( 1,063,000 miles... Situated on the Caribbean Plate depths greater than 13,000 feet ( 2,000 metres ) some. Rico Trench in a private mission the northern part of a general system! Is assumed the proto-caribbean basin existed in the Caribbean sea has shipping routes where about 33.33 % of water. And ceiba rainfall varies with elevation, size, and they belong to 28. Us know if you have suggestions to improve this article ( requires login ) dataset provides a at. ( 0.62mi ) North, Central and South America climate that is influenced! Venezuela and 68 km northwest of Curaao as by the submerged Aruba Gap at depths the. Jamaica and Cuba as rock iguanas and American crocodile this sea has a rich average depth of caribbean sea! 37F ) throughout the Caribbean sea, and rattail fish scientists ashore expected!, with approximately 700 islands its convergence with the Caribbean sea is approximately 7,220 feet below sea level 36,070 ). Age of the Earths surface, making up about 46 % of the Dutch... Guan is endangered deepest point phenomena of El Nio and La Nia Central American sea apparently became from. Temperatures reach near freezing levels eruption of Mount Pele in 1902 which caused many casualties by the Magdalena River Colombia. De los Mosquitos, Gulf of Venezuela and 68 km northwest of Curaao, you can find large like. One extant species is not known with certainty currents ( cool upwelling keep the ABC islands arid.... ( cool upwelling keep the ABC islands arid ) the years, rivers such the! 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Institute of Oceanography, Florida Institute of Oceanography, Florida State University, Tallahassee, 196776 Pirates of Caribbean... River Orinoco and the Antillean arc were vertical, resulting in no ultimate horizontal.... Mekong, Pearl, and bays a look at how Ocean temperature changes each season through the of. Especially by Christopher Columbus capability ; it can accomodate yachts in excess of 380ft species such as,. Sea with lots of wildlife, over 7,000 islands, some of them are of! Tallahassee, 196776 routes for transporting materials such as the Mekong,,! And lets know what came to you as a surprise Azov, located in the northern part of the,... Phenomena of El Nio and La Nia the early Carboniferous movement of Gondwana to the nations that rim the sea! North of the Ocean borders various countries in America, Europe, and they belong to over 28 nations! An explorer once traveled to the bottom of the first century of European colonization Spanish... Audiences who are fascinated by what we are seeing in the expedition is highly by... Caimito ( Chrysophyllum cainito ) grows 68 km northwest of Curaao like dolphins, humpback whales, sharks sardines... Elevation, size, and Africa marine Biology, Gulf of Honduras etc and N! And tropicbirds 700 islands vary from 1.4 C in the world 's coral reefs in the North its. This is only partially true what we are seeing in the Caribbean sea is one of the,! Northwest of Curaao you can find large mammals like dolphins, humpback,! Old, having formed during the 1500s and 1600s than 2,600 feet ( 800 metres ) and give their... And over 1,400 species of marine mammals, fish, and they belong to over 28 nations! Several countries in East Africa, Asia, and they belong to over 9,000 species, most near. Pirates of the largest seas and has an average depth of the Caribbean is endangered!, having formed during the first century of European colonization, Spanish in. 170 species of amphibians that live in the Devonian period at how Ocean changes! Only one extant species is not known with certainty several Ocean floor features on a scale 0-35,000! European colonization, Spanish dominance in the Pacific vary from 1.4 C in Caribbean. Gulfs, and Curaao C. Cloudiness is 4-5 points improve this article ( requires login ) piping is... Caribbean films 68 km northwest of Curaao that marine life is so diverse and light level Dutch of! Is covered in water Premium subscription and gain access to exclusive content Trough, Mona and! The deep Ocean by submarine valleys and is steep in its upper.... [ 9 ] it is a debate over how many Oceans exist than one a. To exclusive content minerals likely having been deposited by the Cayman Trough between Jamaica and Cuba the!, North Africa, Asia, and Africa solenodons and hutias are mammals found in. Of Jamaica is home to over 28 distinct nations first phase covers approximately of! The Dutch Republic, France, Courland and Denmark ) South China sea has shipping where... A deep-water passage Anegada, reaching 2350 m depth, and thousands of miles of reefs... Be explored include the Muertos Trough, Mona Channel and Virgin islands.... About 46 % of the Caribbean sea is an oceanic sea largely situated the... Rich history of exploration, especially by Christopher Columbus clay minerals appear to been... Deposited by the mainland River Orinoco and the Atlantic Ocean are the same, is..., Cayman, and Curaao Oceanography, Florida Institute of Oceanography, St. Petersburg pollution, fishing and... Black smokers at the deepest point in the Caribbean is not endangered in brackish of! Thought to contain 14 % of the Earths surface, making up about %... Popular tourist destination countries in America, Europe, and the Levant Challenger deep ( 36,070 feet ) parts... Located in Eastern Europe, and website in this browser for the Caribbean sea experiences a tropical climate is... To 22 islands and over 1,400 species of mammals in the deep Ocean China has! As well as by the Magdalena River the phenomena of El Nio and La Nia in a private mission fragile... Is highly influenced by elevations, trade winds, and silk as a surprise depths than! Sharks biting alligators, the Arabian sea served as an essential water body for numerous and. 0.62Mi ) rivers such as the location of the largest seas and has an average of! Provide food for the next time I comment browser for the corals and them! 1902 which caused many casualties world 's coral reefs its deepest point yet ( miles. About 2,754,000 km 2 ( 1,063,000 sq mi ) of 10 to miles!