average depth of caribbean seaaverage depth of caribbean sea

Omissions? In the eastern part of the sea, there is a deep-water passage Anegada, reaching 2350 m depth. Of the endemic species 48 are threatened with extinction including the Puerto Rican amazon, and the Zapata wren. Despite this, the Caribbean Sea is considered a relatively shallow sea in comparison to other bodies of water. Despite the vast ice in the Arctic Ocean, you can find over 5,500 animal species adapted to the cold habitats. 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. They write new content and verify and edit content received from contributors. [1] [2] The sea's deepest point is the Cayman Trough, between the Cayman Islands and Jamaica, at 7,686 . The northernmost of these, the Yucatn Basin, is separated from the Gulf of Mexico by the Yucatn Channel, which runs between Cuba and the Yucatn Peninsula and has a sill depth (i.e., the depth of the submarine ridge between basins) of about 5,250 feet (1,600 metres). Moll's map covers all of the West Indies . 100 354. Rainfall varies with elevation, size, and water currents (cool upwelling keep the ABC islands arid). Victor Vescovo used his private submersible, the Limiting Factor, to reach the bottom of the trench safely. Marginal seas are large, shallow bodies of water that are positioned along the margins of the continents. 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. This is the deep sea. 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. How Deep Can We Go? 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. 3. The Caribbean region has seen a significant increase in human activity since the colonization period. [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. The northeast trade winds dominate the region with an average velocity of 10 to 20 miles (16 to 32 km) per hour. The mahogany is the national tree of the Dominican Republic and Belize. Professor of Biology, University of South Florida, Tampa. 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. Sea surface temperature monitoring tells us how the ocean and atmosphere interact, as well as providing fundamental data on the global climate system . Thank you for reading! The vegetation of the region is mostly tropical but differences in topography, soil and climatic conditions increase species diversity. This graphic shows several ocean floor features on a scale from 0-35,000 feet below sea level. The average depth is about 4,280 m. The volume of the Pacific Ocean reaches up to some 714 million cubic kilometers. 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). Which is the largest, how deep are they, and how critical are they to the planets sustainability? 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. To understand how vast water bodies are, you may consider looking into the sizes of various oceans and seas. Each zone has a different mix of species adapted to its specific light level, pressure, temperature, and community. Climate change, pollution, fishing, and hunting have affected the fragile ecosystem of the Antarctic Ocean. Treaty on maritime boundaries between the United States of America and the United Mexican States (Caribbean Sea and Pacific Ocean), . Pernetta, John. 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 island has a total area of 193 km 2 (75 sq mi) and a coast line of 68.5 km (42.6 mi). 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]. There are 500 species of reptiles. mi, 3,862,000 sq. It covers about 1/3 of the Earth. 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. Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions. 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 Central American Sea apparently became separated from the Atlantic before the end of the first phase. (2004). Christopher Columbus was the first European to enter the Caribbean Sea and land on the Island of Bahamas in 1492. 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. The sea is home to several islands, including Lakshadweep Islands, Astola Island, Socotra, and Masirah. Interesting Caribbean Sea Facts: The deepest part of the Caribbean Sea is the Cayman Trench, located between Jamaica and Cuba. Contact the AZ Animals editorial team. Solenodons and hutias are mammals found only in the Caribbean; only one extant species is not endangered. 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 Mediterranean is home to over 17,000 marine species, including 712 species of fish. In the deep Caribbean Sea are multiple animals with limited vision and glow-in-the-dark scales. The geological age of the Caribbean Sea is estimated to be between 160 and 180million years and was formed by a horizontal fracture that split the supercontinent called Pangea in the Mesozoic Era. Throughout history, the Arabian Sea served as an essential water body for numerous seaports and trade routes. Annual variations in monthly average water temperatures at the surface do not exceed 3C (5.4F). The average depth of this sea is 2,394 m, with its deepest point in Bougainville measuring 9,140 m below sea level. URL accessed on 28/07/2007. Former Professor of Oceanography, Florida State University, Tallahassee, 196776. The Caribbean Sea is connected with the Gulf of Mexico in the north via the Yucatan Channel. 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. It is a unique sea with lots of wildlife, over 7,000 islands, and thousands of miles of coral reefs. As of 2015[update] the area is home to 22 island territories and borders 12 continental countries. Lake Enriquillo, located in the Dominican Republic is the largest lake in the entire Caribbean region. In the Caribbean, 600 species of birds have been recorded, of which 163 are endemic such as todies, Fernandina's flicker and palmchat. 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 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. While some people believe the Caribbean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean are the same, this is only partially true. 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. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. 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 . Youll also discover their deepest point, the marine life available, their economic purposes, and more. The younger Cenozoic beds (formed during the last 65 million years) are generally horizontal, having been laid down after the deformations occurred. The Coral sea is home to the Coral Sea Islands and supports over 7,000 species. [32] The area also generates a large fishing industry for the surrounding countries, accounting for 500,000 tonnes (490,000 long tons; 550,000 short tons) of fish a year. Pernetta, John. The shelf gives way at its edge to a slope, which is broken by submarine valleys and is steep in its upper parts. The blue iguana, endemic to the island of Grand Cayman, is endangered. Public can watch seafloor discoveries live online from April 10 to 30, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. It runs along the Caribbean coasts of Mexico, Belize, Guatemala and Honduras. The seas deepest point is the Cayman Trough, between the Cayman Islands and Jamaica, at 7,686 meters (25,220 feet) below sea level. 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. These are the Yucatn, Cayman, Colombian, Venezuelan, and Grenada basins. According to the National Hurricane Center 385 hurricanes occurred in the Caribbean between 1494 and 1900. Clay minerals likely having been deposited by the mainland river Orinoco and the Magdalena River. Some features, like canyons and seamounts, might look familiar, while others, such as hydrothermal vents and methane seeps, are unique to the deep. This sea has a rich history of exploration, especially by Christopher Columbus. 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. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. 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. 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. Average monthly air temperatures in winter vary from +23 in the north to +27 C on the southern coast of the sea. Ocean is home to over 9,000 species, most are near extinction. Over the open sea can be seen frigatebirds and tropicbirds. Our editors will review what youve submitted and determine whether to revise the article. The preferred oceanographic term for the Caribbean is the Antillean-Caribbean Sea, which, together with the Gulf of Mexico, forms the Central American Sea. Clay minerals appear to have been washed down by the Amazon and Orinoco rivers, as well as by the Magdalena River in Colombia. Coral reefs fringe most of the islands. The sediment beds tend to arch in the middle of the basins and to dip as landmasses are approached. Papahnaumokukea Marine National Monument, Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary, Scientists discover hydrothermal vent activity in the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, Watch live April 15-26: NOAA expedition to the deep ocean off the U.S. West Coast. Fear Cay, the eleventh Doc Savage adventure by Lester Dent. The climate of the area is tropical, varying from tropical rainforest in some areas to tropical savanna in others. We have a lot of devoted fans who follow our explorations closely, Leonardi said. Parrots and bananaquits are found in forests. 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. [31] The black-fronted piping guan is endangered. According to the National Ocean Service, the oldest rock in this ocean dates back about 200 million years. Have a comment on this page? 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). Rainfall varies from about 10 inches (25 cm) per year on the island of Bonaire off the coast of Venezuela to some 350 inches (900 cm) annually in parts of Dominica. The very deepest depth of the ocean is roughly 2,000 meters deeper than Mount Everest is tall36,070 feet deep (10,994 m)! The depth of the Caribbean Sea depends on where you are since there are thousands of islands and countries in the sea. The age and size of an ocean influence its depth. On the western side is the Gulf of Aden, which connects this sea to the Red Sea. Over the years, rivers such as the Mekong, Pearl, and Red Rivers have deposited large sediments, oil, and gasses. Warm, moist trade winds blow consistently from the east, creating both rainforest and semi-arid climates across the region. Interestingly, the deepest point in the Atlantic Ocean is close to the Cayman Trough. This sea began forming around 45 to 17 million years ago, leaving a V-shaped basin. To tropical savanna in others and Red rivers have deposited large sediments,,... The trench safely in this browser for the next time I comment arid! Countries in the Caribbean sea and the United States of America and the Zapata wren or other sources you! From +23 in the eastern part of the West Indies with its deepest point in Bougainville measuring 9,140 m sea... Red sea bottom of the first phase reach the bottom of the West Indies a increase... Despite this, the marine life available, their economic purposes, and hunting have affected fragile. 9,140 m below sea level valleys and is steep in its upper parts of an Ocean influence its.. 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