The Gulf of Mexico is roughly oval-shaped with a long dimension of about 950 mi (1,500 km). The floor of the Gulf of Mexico is one of the most geologically interesting stretches of the Earth's surface. So is the Gulf of Mexico an ocean? Gulf of Mexico | gulf, North America | Britannica The Gulf of Mexico basin appears to have formed ~200 million years ago as the result of rifting within North . The average depth of the Gulf of Mexico is 5,299 feet (1,615 meters) and the maximum depth is estimated to be 14,383 feet (4,384 meters). The Gulf of Mexico is a part of the Atlantic Ocean and is considered an ocean basin and marginal sea. The narrow subtropical sea is 1,130km (700 miles) long and 80-209km (50-130 miles) wide. The Gulf of Mexico is somewhat shallow, along the coastal continental shelf areas, and has an average depth of 1,615m. Fishing Regulations and Seasonal Closures - Gulf of Mexico Heres why each season begins twice. Updates? Endangered sea turtles also use the coast as their nursery and require the Sargassum, seaweed that floats on the surface of the water, to feed, along with fish, seahorses, and other marine life. The Western Gulf of Mexico, and. 9. (2021, September 8). There have been over 750 known shipwrecks in the Gulf of Mexico. Briney, Amanda. The position of the West Florida Escarpment is shown . Fish caught in the Gulf of Mexico make up about of the total catch in the US. She holds a Certificate of Advanced Study in Geographic Information Systems (GIS) from California State University. Additionally, the storm surge for each Category increases with severity, a Category 1 is 4 5 feet, while a Category 5 is 19 feet or more! In this article, we will look at 10 facts on the Gulf of Mexico you must know. Our new student and parent forum, at ExpertHub.PrepScholar.com, allow you to interact with your peers and the PrepScholar staff. Nearly half of the basin is compromised of shallow continental-shelf waters and due to the separation from the Atlantic Ocean, there are minimal tidal ranges. . The volume of water in the basin is roughly 2.4 10 6 cubic kilometers (5.8 10 5 cubic miles). These animals can sniff it out. They are often connected to the ocean by narrow water passages but that is not always observed in all geographical areas. "By clicking OK or by using this Website, you consent to the use of cookies. The distance will be displayed below the map in miles or kilometers. The Gulf is a very accessible body of water. We had been planning a trip to run deep into the Gulf, but . They said this would protect shipping, and in the event of an emergency, rescue would be nearby. 2,000 Year-old Deep-sea Black Corals call Gulf of Mexico Home Corrections? They are known to be one of the smartest creatures in the animal kingdom. Check out our guide on the 13 colonies for everything you need to know about the colonies and how the US came to be. It borders the coasts of Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and Florida as well as the island of Cuba and parts of Mexico. GMZ001-280215- Synopsis for the Gulf of Mexico 901 AM EST Mon Feb 27 2023 .SYNOPSIS.A ridge will continue to dominate the Gulf waters through Wed night. Its four times as salty as the nearby seawater and is warmer as well. 5. Unauthorized use is prohibited. Which travel companies promote harmful wildlife activities? When does spring start? The average depth of the Gulf is roughly 5,200 feet, but other parts of the Gulf of Mexico are surprisingly deep. Copyright 2023 Gulf Shores & Orange Beach Tourism. Houston, New Orleans, Cancun, Tampa, Key West, Havana, San Francisco de Campeche, Mobile, Gulfport, Tampico, Veracruz, Ciudad del Carmen, Coatzacoalcos, Corpus Christi are some of the major urban settlements along the Gulf. 600000 surface area (sq mi) 17070 max. Now that's deep! Lets look at some unique facts about this body of water. Once released by the fracture of the core, the natural gas traveled up the Deepwater rigs riser to the platform, where it ignited, killing 11 workers and injuring 17. . The seawater from the Caribbean Sea that enters the Gulf of Mexico via the Yucatn Channel, quickly circulates in a clockwise loop current before exiting the Gulf through the Florida Straits, eventually forming the Gulf Stream. They found the Gulf is home to 2,000 year-old deep-sea black corals, many of which are only a few feet tall. 7 Things You Didn't Know About the Gulf of Mexico - 30A Retrieved from https://www.thoughtco.com/geography-of-the-gulf-of-mexico-1435544. The Gulf of Mexico supports different species of flora and fauna and is widely recognized for its diversity and productivity. Once released, the natural gas traveled up a riser to the platform of the Deepwater Horizon oil rig that was over the well, where it ignited, killing 11 workers and injuring 17. Gulf Of Mexico (TX, FL) nautical chart and water depth map Public domain image from the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration Padre Island has its origins in the Gulf of Mexico. Claims by several research groups that subsurface plumes of dispersed hydrocarbons had been detected in May were initially dismissed by BP and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). With the damaged riser shorn from the LMRPthe top segment of the BOPthe cap was lowered into place. Can we bring a species back from the brink?, Video Story, Copyright 1996-2015 National Geographic Society, Copyright 2015-2023 National Geographic Partners, LLC. Eleven of the 126 workers on the rig were killed and, over the following 87 days, an estimated 3.19 million barrels (~134 million gallons) of oil spilled into the Gulf . Gulf of Mexico Info & Fun Facts | Gulf Shore & Orange Beach 1. For over 10 years, scientists and researchers have come a long way in restoring, recovering, and researching the . The explosion 2014). The Annual John L. Borom Alabama Coastal Birdfest is a fantastic opportunity to witness these birds in action. It is surrounded by the Mexican states of Baja California, Baja California Sur, Sonora, Sinaloa and Nayarit. Observe fireboat responding to crews battling the fire during the Deepwater Horizon oil spill of 2010, See how wire entanglement inside a well bore mitigates the effects of blowout preventer failure in an oil well. How many miles deep is the Gulf of Mexico? Check out these interesting facts to learn more about the Gulf of Mexico. Please select which sections you would like to print: Richard Pallardy received a B.A. Enter your email in the box below to get the most mind-blowing animal stories and videos delivered directly to your inbox every day. Bacteria that had adapted to consuming naturally occurring gas and oil seeping from the seabed were thought to have consumed a portion of it. Have some feedback for us? Not sure where the Gulf of Mexico is? Looking at a map you may not realize that the Gulf of Mexico is the ninth largest body of water in the world. Climate change that's warming waters further is also making them larger, as in increased intensity and amount of water. In the fall of 2021, nine new sections of reefs totaling 110 square miles were added to the pre-existing zones. To its north, northeast, and northwest, the Gulf of Mexico is bordered by the Gulf Coast of the United States (Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, and Florida). These plants provide a safe habitat for numerous fishes, planktons, bivalves, shrimps, manatees, and other marine animals. 03 Shaded Relief Images. It is one of the largest bodies of water in the world and it is a part of the Atlantic Ocean. 2022 Gulf of Mexico Deep Sea Cruise Season, By the Numbers Lines of underwater microphones pulled along the surface behind the ship record how long it takes the reflected waves to reach them, data that can then be translated into topography. Our editors will review what youve submitted and determine whether to revise the article. A Deep Dive into the United States First Underwater Museum, This article appears in the inaugural issue of 30AsBeach HappyMagazine. Shrimp and oysters are the most common fish products harvested from the Gulf. The feature known as Horseshoe Basin in the western Gulf of Mexico shows up far more clearly on the new high-resolution map (right). The Gulf of Mexico is an important economic region for all the three countries (Cuba, Mexico, and United States) that border it. It is estimated that around 10,000 bottlenose dolphins live in the coastal waters of the Gulf of Mexico. Geography of the Gulf of Mexico Border States - ThoughtCo These are not coastal dead zones, like the one that sprawls across the Gulf of Mexico, but great swaths of deep water that can reach thousands of miles offshore. We've gathered 113 of the most amazing facts you can use to impress anyone you meet. All major bodies of saltwater, including the oceans, are ocean basins. The wetlands along the Gulf of Mexico cover around 5 million acres (2.02 million hectares). Go the Distance. Clear Map How To Use Zoom and drag the map to find the location of marker 1 Click to place marker 1. These islands are Galveston, Follets, Matagorda, St. Josephs (San Jos), Mustang, Padre, and Brazos. NGDC Coastal Relief Model Vol. MarineMax Panama City Beach | MarineMax Fort Walton Beach | MarineMax Pensacola | Grady-White Boats, Posted by 30A on Wednesday, 2 February 2022. In Florida, for example, Florida state waters are from shore to 9 nautical miles on the Gulf . The Padre Island is the worlds longest barrier island. More than 400 species of shellfish are found in the Gulf region. With so much marine life dependent upon the delicate ecosystem the future of the Gulf of Mexico depends on the proper management of resources and conservation of marine life. Construction of two such wells had begun in May. in English from Illinois State University in 2005. What caused the Deepwater Horizon oil spill? About 5 million acres of wetlands border the Gulf of Mexico. In the United States the population of the coastal regions surrounding the Gulf of Mexico is estimated to number more than 60 million people by 2025, as states such as Texas (the second most populous state) and Florida (the third most populous state) are growing quickly. On August 3 BP conducted a static kill, a procedure in which drilling mud was pumped into the well through the BOP. It has grown to become one of the worlds most important offshore petroleum production sites, and about 17% of the USs oil comes from there. The Gulf of Mexico is somewhat shallow, along the coastal continental shelf areas, and has an average depth of 1,615m. 2. It contains about 2,500 quadrillion liters of saltwater. Hurricane Harvey in 2017 made land shore as a Category 4 hurricane that caused historic flooding and left Houston and Southeast Texas devastated. The Gulf of Mexico, under ordinary conditions, has tides of two feet or less, but on the wide and shallow shelf such a variation is quite noticeable. A Coral Reef Sanctuary in the Gulf of Mexico Could Triple in Size A sea lily (Crinoidea) rests in the middle of a mushroom coral (Anthomastus sp.) West views and deep water! Geography of the Gulf of Mexico. The first . Some of these beaches are Malaquite Beach (Texas), Crystal Sands Beach (Florida), Biloxi Beach (Mississippi), Grand Isle State Park (Louisiana), East Beach (Texas), Dauphin Island Beach (Alabama), and Orange Beach (Alabama). The groundbreaking promise of cellular housekeeping. With millions of gallons of oil spilled in the sea, the response effort was large and has lasted for over a decade. The entire coastline felt the effects of Hurricane Katrina: 1,800 lives were lost and damages caused by the storm totaled $125 billion. The biota of the Gulf includes different chemosynthetic and non-chemosynthetic organisms ranging from microorganisms like benthos, meiofauna to other macro-organisms like crabs, sea pens, crinoids, and other marine fauna. The lake gets its foreboding name because of how salty the water is and how most things dont survive it. The College Entrance Examination BoardTM does not endorse, nor is it affiliated in any way with the owner or any content of this site. Monster Mahi Mahi, Grouper, Snapper, Cobia, and . environmental disaster, Gulf of Mexico [2010]. Fishing is also an important industry and the economies of many states that lie along the Gulf of Mexico are driven by the fishing industry. Oceans, the largest bodies of water in the world, have no exact boundaries, and they are bordered by seas (the Caribbean Sea separates the Gulf of Mexico from the Atlantic Ocean). Although Native Americans living in the region used the Gulf of Mexico for centuries as a source of food and building materials, the first European to explore the Gulf was Italian Amerigo Vespucci in 1497. They took all the best survey data from more than 200 individual maps made by exploration companies of parts of the Gulf and combined them into a map of the whole region with resolution of around 1,600 square feet per pixel about the size of the average American family home. From April through October 2022, NOAA and a diverse set of collaborators embarked on a set of eight scientific cruises in some of the Gulf of Mexico . Population along the Gulf coast exploded in the 1950s, and the rising number of people living along the Gulf resulted in increased pollution problems. Over 750 historical shipwrecks have occurred in the Gulf of Mexico, some of which date back to the 16th century. A second disposal location roughly 125 miles south of Galveston, Texas, is known as Site A, and the Mississippi Canyon area is known as Site B. SANTA CRUZ, Calif. For the first time, scientists have been able to validate the age of deep-sea black corals in the Gulf of Mexico. Recreational fishing is popular, as are water sports and tourism along the coastal regions. and southward under the influence of eddies typical of the deep Gulf of Mexico (Androulidakis et al., 2018). The effect of the microscopic oil droplets on the ecosystem was unknown, though their presence, along with that of a layer of oil several inches thick discovered on portions of the seafloor in September, cast doubt on earlier predictions about the speed with which the discharged oil would dissipate. Endangered marine species such as sperm whales and West Indian manatees are found in the gulf along with nearly 50 shark species like tiger and bull sharks. The Gulf of Mexico produces nearly 20% of all U.S. crude oil.
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