At that time the Americas in general were unknown to most Europeans, although they had been visited in the 10th century by the Vikings. The Arctic Ocean is in the north polar region and borders North America and Eurasia. The most-recent estimate of the average ocean depth of 3,682 meters (12,080 feet) was calculated in 2010 by scientists from NOAA and Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution using satellite measurements. 000, 000 sq km 000, 000 sq mi 000, 000 cu km 000, 000 cu mi m ft. Atlantic Ocean. Deepest Point: Challenger Deep (36,070 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. While the Caribbean Sea may sound never-ending, there is a maximum depth. While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. The Caribbean Sea region, including islands and adjacent coasts, is known as the Caribbean. This sea has an average depth of 2,200 m, with the deepest point in Cayman Trough descending to 7,686 m. The formation of the Caribbean Sea dates back around 160 and 180 million years. From there it divides to fill the Yucatn, Cayman, and Colombian basins at depths near 6,500 feet (2,000 metres). Articles from Britannica Encyclopedias for elementary and high school students. As of 2015[update] the area is home to 22 island territories and borders 12 continental countries. As many as 40 scientists ashore are expected to participate remotely in the expedition. Public can watch seafloor discoveries live online from April 10 to 30, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. provide an annual economic value to Caribbean nations of $3.1$4.6 billion. It is 27,480 feet deep. km, the Atlantic Ocean contains several notable marginal seas. From the 16th century, Europeans visiting the Caribbean region distinguished the "South Sea" (the Pacific Ocean south of the isthmus of Panama) from the "North Sea" (the Caribbean Sea north of the same isthmus).[4]. It is fed by the westward-flowing North Equatorial Current moving from North Africa to the West Indies. [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. On average around nine tropical storms form each year, with five reaching hurricane strength. There are 500 species of reptiles (94% of which are endemic). (2004). Contact us today. Average depth: 1,615 metres (5,299 ft) Max. But how deep is the Caribbean Sea, and what mysterious creatures lurk there? Deepest Point: Sunda Trench (23,920 feet). Sea surface temperature is defined as the average temperature of the top few millimeters of the ocean. [31] The black-fronted piping guan is endangered. The position of the Hallucigenia's head puzzled scientists for several years. The hydrology of the sea has a high level of homogeneity. Deepest Point: Wheatley Deep (19,028 feet). The Mediterranean Sea has an average depth of 1,500 m (4,900 ft) and the deepest recorded point is 5,109 m (16,762 ft) 1 m (3 ft) in the Calypso Deep in the Ionian Sea. Caribbean Basin and Western Atlantic Elevation highest point: sea level lowest point: Puerto Rico Trench -8,605 m mean depth: -3,646 m ocean zones: Composed of water and in a fluid state, the oceans are delimited differently than the solid continents. Victor Vescovo used his private submersible, the Limiting Factor, to reach the bottom of the trench safely. It runs 1,000 kilometers (620 miles) along the coasts of Mexico, Belize, Guatemala, and Honduras. Halophila baillonii has been found only in the Lesser Antilles.[26]. The sea has shipping routes where about 33.33% of the worlds shipping takes place. [33], Human activity in the area also accounts for a significant amount of pollution. [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. Underwater earthquakes pose a threat of generating tsunamis which could have a devastating effect on the Caribbean islands. 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]. 460 41. The climate of the Caribbean generally is tropical, but there are great local variations, depending on mountain elevation, water currents, and the trade winds. Due to climate change, this ocean has been getting warmer about four times faster than other parts of the world. 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. coral caribbean photos. 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. 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. 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. Its average depth is 4,280 m, with the deepest point being Challenger Deep, which descends to 10,994 meters (36,070 feet). There are more than 7,000 islands including 12 countries and 22 island territories in the Caribbean Sea. The salinity of the Caribbean Sea is about 3.6%. The Caribbean has been well-traveled for 300 years, and this historic map by Herman Molls is surprisingly complete and accurate. The Caribbean Sea has the worlds second largest barrier reef, the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef. The island of Jamaica is home to seals and manatees. 3. The Largest Farm in the Entire World Is Bigger Than 11 U.S. States! 200 3, 330 10, 920. Have some feedback for us? The project results were presented in Vienna in the forum "Water Matters", and the 2011 General Conference of said multilateral organization. Its, therefore, the largest ocean in the world. [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. 100 354. p. 124. On continental slopes and ridges calcareous silts are found. Where there are porous limestone terraced islands these are generally poor in nutrients. Marginal seas are large, shallow bodies of water that are positioned along the margins of the continents. 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. The Gulf of Mexico lies to the northwest. Tourism is also a big industry of the areas around the Caribbean Sea. 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 . There are 90 species of mammals in the Caribbean including sperm whales, humpback whales and dolphins. The average depth of the Caribbean Sea is approximately 7,220 feet below the sea's surface. Ocean temperatures get colder with depth. The Caribbean region has seen a significant increase in human activity since the colonization period. When I am not writing, you can find me in front of my TV with a blanket, snacks, and my fur babies. In the Caribbean, 600 species of birds have been recorded, of which 163 are endemic such as todies, Fernandina's flicker and palmchat. The South China Sea sits between South China, Indochinese Peninsula, the Philippines, and several islands. 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. The Pan American Health Organization estimated in 1993 that only about 10% of the sewage from the Central American and Caribbean Island countries is properly treated before being released into the sea. 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. How big is the ocean? Since 2005 unusually warm Caribbean waters have been increasingly threatening Caribbean coral reefs. The Pacific Ocean has numerous shipping routes that connect the bordering continents, oceans, and seas. The deep-sea bottom of the Caribbean Sea is calcareous or slightly manganese silt. Many James Bond adventures were set there. 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. Dunbar. The Caribbean is the setting for countless literary efforts often related to piracy acts and swashbuckling. There are 90 species of mammals in the Caribbean including sperm whales, humpback whales and dolphins. 4. Because the ocean is a big place and difficult to study, if you search online to find the depth of the ocean, you may end up with a range of results. The seas deepest point is the Cayman Trough, between the Cayman Islands and Jamaica, at 7,686 meters (25,220 feet) below sea level. Above this water, the subtropical undercurrent and surface water enter. 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). The mahogany is the national tree of the Dominican Republic and Belize. While landfalls are infrequent, the resulting loss of life and property damage makes them a significant hazard to life in the Caribbean. 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). 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. 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. 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