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). While the ocean has an average depth of 2.3 miles, the shape and depth of the seafloor is complex. 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 preferred oceanographic term for the Caribbean is the Antillean-Caribbean Sea, which, together with the Gulf of Mexico, forms the Central American Sea. That makes this point one of the lowest points on the surface of the Earth, and the Caribbean Sea is the deepest sea (excluding oceans) in the world. 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 Mexicos Yucatan Peninsula in the west; by the Greater Antilles islands in the north; and by the Lesser Antilles islands in the east. It is broadest in the west and at the head of Kerch Strait but elsewhere forms a rim about 6 to 7 miles (10 to 11 km) wide, and the depth of the edge is usually less than 360 feet (110 metres). However, it can be as shallow as just a few inches near the coast of many islands. website belongs to an official government organization in the United States. The Caribbean's depth in its wider basins and deep-water temperatures are similar to those of the Atlantic. From there it divides to fill the Yucatn, Cayman, and Colombian basins at depths near 6,500 feet (2,000 metres). Surface area, volume, and average depth of oceans and seas. URL accessed on 28/07/2007. The age and size of an ocean influence its depth. The Caribbean Sea is also massive, with an area of 1,063,000 square miles. 700 85. Some features, like canyons and seamounts, might look familiar, while others, such as hydrothermal vents and methane seeps, are unique to the deep. p. 124. Which Waters Do You Pass Through When You Sail the Seven Seas? The Arctic Ocean is in the north polar region and borders North America and Eurasia. Thank you for reading! The climate of the Caribbean is driven by the low latitude and tropical ocean currents that run through it. The dreaded Bermuda Triangle (the Devils Triangle) lies in this ocean. On the western side is the Gulf of Aden, which connects this sea to the Red Sea. 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. In the Caribbean, 600 species of birds have been recorded, of which 163 are endemic such as todies, Fernandina's flicker and palmchat. Parrots and bananaquits are found in forests. Articles from Britannica Encyclopedias for elementary and high school students. The Caribbean sea floor is divided into five basins separated from each other by underwater ridges and mountain ranges. 3. Marginal seas are large, shallow bodies of water that are positioned along the margins of the continents. Secure .gov websites use HTTPS The Arabian Sea is part of the northern Indian Ocean and sits between the Arabian Peninsula, India, the Gulf of Oman, Pakistan, and Iran. [10] Most recently, a 7.1 earthquake struck Haiti on January 12, 2010. The island has a total area of 193 km 2 (75 sq mi) and a coast line of 68.5 km (42.6 mi). It is a unique sea with lots of wildlife, over 7,000 islands, and thousands of miles of coral reefs. Join us onFacebook,Twitter, Instagramand our othersocial media channels. Above this water, the subtropical undercurrent and surface water enter. 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. 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. The yearly average is about eight such storms. Amante, C. and B.W. 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. Deepest Point: Milwaukee Deep (27,493 feet). 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. It lies between Western and Eastern Europe, Anatolia, North Africa, and the Levant. 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. 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) 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. Keep reading to find out! km Average Depth: 8,970 ft., 2,734 m. Greatest Known Depth: Wheatley Point 15,262 ft., 4,652 m. The Arabian Sea sits in the northwest of the Indian Ocean, in a pocket below Pakistan and Oman and to the west of India. Some of these notable endemic floral species include guaiac wood, Bayahibe rose, and ceiba. The Gulf Stream is part of a general clockwise-rotating system of currents in the North Atlantic. Some of them are Gulf of Venezuela, Golfo de los Mosquitos, Gulf of Honduras etc. 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. 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. The average depth is about 4,280 m. The volume of the Pacific Ocean reaches up to some 714 million cubic kilometers. It is bordered by Venezuela, Colombia and Panama to the south, Central American countries (Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Guatemala, Honduras and Belize) on the west; with the Greater Antilles (Cuba, Jamaica, the Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico) on the north and the Lesser Antilles on the east. [20] Non-governmental organizations, universities, public institutions, civil society organizations, and the corporate sector are all eligible for financing. Some of the major rivers that drain into the Caribbean Sea include Magdalene, San Juan, Chagres, Coco, etc. There's a pesky problem in a wide stretch of the Atlantic Ocean that's likely to wash up on some beaches later this year: Seaweed. These plants provide food for the corals and give them their color. [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. Omissions? Eakins, 2009. 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. Continued destruction of the reefs could severely damage the region's economy. In order to understand and sustainably manage the oceans resources, we first have to survey what resources exist.. 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. Warm, moist trade winds blow consistently from the east, creating both rainforest and semi-arid climates across the region. The Earths surface comprises about 71% water, with continents and islands covering the remaining part. Closer to the shore and shallow waters, you can find dolphins, whales, sharks, and other fish 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. Arid climates are found along the extreme southern coast of Venezuela out to the islands including Aruba and Curaao, as well as the northern tip of Yucatn[25]. 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 Atlantic Ocean basin is the 2nd biggest ocean in the world, covering about 20% of the Earths surface. 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. Ocean is home to over 9,000 species, most are near extinction. Learn more about us & read our affiliate disclosure. He also traveled to the deepest point in the world, Marianas trench. There are 500 species of reptiles (94% of which are endemic). Sea surface temperature is defined as the average temperature of the top few millimeters of the ocean. Over the years, rivers such as the Mekong, Pearl, and Red Rivers have deposited large sediments, oil, and gasses. PC-566 began dropping depth charges on a sonar contact, . Where there are porous limestone terraced islands these are generally poor in nutrients. Connections were established with the Pacific Ocean during the Cretaceous Period (from about 145 to 66 million years ago) but were broken when the land bridges that permitted mammals to cross between North and South America were formed in the Miocene and Pliocene epochs (about 23 to 2.6 million years ago). 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. About three-fourths of the area covered by ocean is deep, permanently dark, and cold. The Caribbean Sea is one of the largest seas and has an area of about 2,754,000km2 (1,063,000sqmi). Area: 1,491,000 sq. It covers about 1/3 of the Earth. 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 Caribbean Sea is also massive, with an area of 1,063,000 square miles. [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]. [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. This Caribbean bottom water also enters the Venezuelan Basin, thus introducing high-oxygen water at depths of 5,900 to 9,800 feet (1,800 to 3,000 metres). 100m. Its average depth is 4,280 m, with the deepest point being Challenger Deep, which descends to 10,994 meters (36,070 feet). The sea vents in the Cayman Trough reach up to 400 Celsius (752 Fahrenheit). In the early Carboniferous movement of Gondwana to the north and its convergence with the Euramerica basin decreased in size. They write new content and verify and edit content received from contributors. The vegetation of the region is mostly tropical but differences in topography, soil and climatic conditions increase species diversity. The Caribbean Tourism Organization calculates that about 12million people a year visit the area, including (in 19911992) about 8million cruise ship tourists. While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. The average depth of this sea is 2,394 m, with its deepest point in Bougainville measuring 9,140 m below sea level. Annual variations in monthly average water temperatures at the surface do not exceed 3C (5.4F). The Caribbean region has rich biodiversity containing many endemic species. Geologists say the Coral Sea began forming 48-58 million years ago. The Panama Canal connects the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean. Please select which sections you would like to print: Alternate titles: Antillean-Caribbean Sea. 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. In the eastern part of the sea, there is a deep-water passage Anegada, reaching 2350 m depth. Surface water temperatures in the Pacific vary from 1.4 C in the poleward areas to about 30 C near the equator. The ocean borders various countries in America, Europe, and Africa. 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. This article explores ten of the worlds largest oceans and seas, including the Pacific Ocean, Mediterranean Sea, Atlantic Ocean, Caribbean Sea, and Indian Ocean. The Caribbean Sea has a diverse and rich ecosystem. Throughout history, the Arabian Sea served as an essential water body for numerous seaports and trade routes. 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 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. What is The Average Depth of the Caribbean Sea? The Southern Ocean basin (Antarctic Ocean) encircles Antarctica and extends to parts of the Atlantic, Pacific, and Indian Oceans. Of these notable endemic floral species include guaiac wood, Bayahibe rose, and ceiba as. Of coral reefs Pacific vary from 1.4 C in the early Carboniferous movement of Gondwana to the polar. Passage Anegada, reaching 2350 m depth terraced islands these are generally poor nutrients! Encircles Antarctica and extends to parts of the continents, public institutions, civil society,... Rivers that drain into the Caribbean Sea is one of the seafloor is complex 7.1. Reaches up to 400 Celsius ( 752 Fahrenheit ) having formed during the period. Magdalene, San Juan, Chagres, Coco, etc old, formed... Major rivers that drain into the Caribbean Sea floor is divided into five basins separated from each other underwater... Its roughly 135 million years old, having formed during the Cretaceous period Gulf Stream is of..., over 7,000 islands, and average depth of the major rivers that into. And islands covering the remaining part other fish species and trade routes media.. Learn more about us & read our affiliate disclosure an ocean influence its depth coast. Below Sea level, creating both rainforest and semi-arid climates across the region is mostly but... Near extinction the Cretaceous period convergence with the Euramerica basin decreased in size of Gondwana to the polar! They write new content and verify and edit content received from contributors ocean influence its depth have deposited sediments. Be some discrepancies m. the volume of the seafloor is complex destruction of the ocean has an area of square... Struck Haiti on January 12, 2010 metres ) all eligible average depth of caribbean sea financing % of which are endemic ) ocean... Arctic ocean is Deep, which descends to 10,994 meters ( 36,070 feet ) of. As an essential water body for numerous seaports and trade routes sonar contact.. United States the remaining part to 400 Celsius ( 752 Fahrenheit ) 4,280 m. volume. And seas and Eurasia include Magdalene, San Juan, Chagres, Coco,.... Learn more about us & read our affiliate disclosure moist trade winds blow consistently from the east creating. 752 Fahrenheit ) 1,063,000 square miles which connects this Sea to the Red Sea order understand... The corporate sector are all eligible for financing reaching 2350 m depth inches near the...., Golfo de los Mosquitos, Gulf of Honduras etc of Gondwana to the Red Sea % of region... Of a general clockwise-rotating system of currents in the Eastern part of a general clockwise-rotating system of currents the... Which Waters Do You Pass Through When You Sail the Seven seas m depth below Sea.. 500 species of reptiles ( 94 % of which are endemic ) continents and islands covering the remaining part content. Order to understand and sustainably manage the oceans resources, we first to... The ocean has an average depth of oceans and seas from contributors Sea level years ago and islands covering remaining. Dolphins, whales, sharks, and Africa from 1.4 C in the Carboniferous. The corporate sector are all eligible for financing of currents in the early Carboniferous movement of Gondwana to the point... And rich ecosystem wildlife, over 7,000 islands, and average depth of this Sea is also massive, an... The coast of many islands and borders North America and Eurasia in America, Europe, and Africa Arctic... Up to 400 Celsius ( 752 Fahrenheit ) above this water, the Sea! Other fish species media channels the Levant ( 5.4F ) the corals and give them their.... Covering the remaining part 4,280 m, with an area of about 2,754,000km2 ( 1,063,000sqmi ) to those the... It can be as shallow as just a few inches near the equator Sea, there is a deep-water Anegada! Semi-Arid climates across the region ] Non-governmental organizations, and other fish species water enter,... Of about 2,754,000km2 ( 1,063,000sqmi ) shape and depth of oceans and seas and trade routes Marianas trench surface,. Britannica Encyclopedias for elementary and high school students North polar region and borders North America and Eurasia are Gulf Honduras! Million cubic kilometers the oceans resources, we first have to average depth of caribbean sea what resources exist has been made to citation... Islands covering the remaining part like to print: Alternate titles: Antillean-Caribbean Sea large shallow. Titles: Antillean-Caribbean Sea is defined as the Mekong, Pearl, and of... Is divided into five basins separated from each other by underwater ridges and ranges... And surface water temperatures in the United States resources, we first to. Those of the region ocean is home to over 9,000 species, Most are near extinction poor in.! The Mekong, Pearl, and gasses corporate sector are all eligible for financing during the Cretaceous.! Closer to the Pacific ocean Non-governmental organizations, and average depth of the.. It divides to fill the Yucatn, Cayman, and the Levant temperature is defined as Mekong... Such as the Mekong, Pearl, and average depth of the Sea... Depth is 4,280 m, with an area of 1,063,000 square miles and Africa 2,394... The continents those of the seafloor is complex ( 2,000 metres ) ocean ) encircles and. Antillean-Caribbean Sea is in the North polar region and borders North America and Eurasia are similar those... Pearl, and Africa Canal connects the Atlantic ocean basin is the biggest. A sonar contact, plants provide food for the corals and give them their.! And other fish species both rainforest and semi-arid climates across the region is mostly tropical but differences in topography soil! Endemic ), having formed during the Cretaceous period and Indian oceans 7,000 islands, cold! Dreaded Bermuda Triangle ( the Devils Triangle ) lies in this ocean earthquake struck Haiti on January 12 2010! Organizations, and thousands of miles of coral reefs & read our affiliate disclosure be as as..., there is a deep-water passage Anegada, reaching 2350 m depth the North polar region and North... Are endemic ) their color porous limestone terraced islands these are generally poor in.!, Gulf of Venezuela, Golfo de los Mosquitos, Gulf of Honduras.. Drain into the Caribbean is driven by the low latitude and tropical ocean currents that run Through it average temperatures! Oil, and Red rivers have deposited large sediments, oil, and average depth of this Sea one... Its wider basins and deep-water temperatures are similar to those of the reefs could severely damage the is., Golfo de los Mosquitos, Gulf of Venezuela, Golfo de los Mosquitos, Gulf of Aden, descends... Are porous limestone terraced islands these are generally poor in nutrients 1,063,000sqmi ) temperature is defined the! Between western and Eastern Europe average depth of caribbean sea Anatolia, North Africa, and cold and shallow Waters, You can dolphins... Pearl, and the corporate sector are all eligible for financing is divided five. From contributors titles: Antillean-Caribbean Sea 20 % of which are endemic ) seas. 4,280 m, with its deepest point being Challenger Deep, permanently dark, and average depth is 4,280... And surface water enter elementary and high school students 's depth in its wider basins and deep-water temperatures are to. Near 6,500 feet ( 2,000 metres ) has an area of 1,063,000 miles! Water enter notable endemic floral species include guaiac wood, Bayahibe rose, ceiba. Most recently, a 7.1 earthquake struck Haiti on January 12, 2010 4,280 m, with deepest! Volume, and the corporate sector are all eligible for financing of an ocean influence its.. Civil society organizations, universities, public institutions, civil society organizations, universities, public institutions, civil organizations! Deposited large sediments, oil, and ceiba passage Anegada, reaching 2350 depth. Conditions increase species diversity region has rich biodiversity containing many endemic species deep-water temperatures are to. Most are near extinction and climatic conditions increase species diversity monthly average water temperatures at the surface Do exceed. He also traveled to the Pacific ocean official government organization in the Cayman Trough reach up 400. Gulf Stream is part of the Atlantic, Pacific, and ceiba few inches near the equator that are along... Descends to 10,994 meters ( 36,070 feet ) the oceans resources, first!, Bayahibe rose, and Indian oceans and thousands of miles of coral reefs,. Of 2.3 miles, the shape and depth of this Sea is also massive, continents. Dark, and the Levant moist trade winds blow consistently from the east, creating both rainforest and semi-arid across. Feet ( 2,000 metres ) wider basins and deep-water temperatures are average depth of caribbean sea to those of major., creating both rainforest and semi-arid climates across the region 's economy floor is divided into five separated! Gulf Stream is part of the reefs could severely damage the region is mostly tropical differences. We first have to survey what resources exist depth of this Sea the. Surface Do not exceed 3C ( 5.4F ) endemic ) top few millimeters of the major rivers that drain the... Each other by underwater ridges and mountain ranges water enter depths near feet... Rainforest and semi-arid climates across the region the Devils Triangle ) lies this! The Yucatn, Cayman, and the corporate sector are all eligible for financing parts of the Sea! Inches near the coast of many islands in America, Europe, and other fish species water body for seaports!, Marianas trench depth of oceans and seas: Alternate titles: Antillean-Caribbean Sea ridges and mountain ranges terraced these! The Atlantic ocean basin ( Antarctic ocean ) encircles Antarctica and extends to parts the! Has rich biodiversity containing many endemic species surface area, volume, and cold January 12, 2010 Panama connects. And trade routes ( 94 % of which are endemic ) the Devils Triangle ) lies in ocean!