In this article, we will look at 10 facts on the Gulf of Mexico you must know. Contact the AZ Animals editorial team. While the Gulf of Mexico was once the source of colonization and discovery for early explorers, today its known for its four major industries oil and gas, shipping, fishing, and tourism. These banks provide critical habitats for many marine animals including commercially valuable fishes, sharks, rays, and sea turtles. Some of the devastating hurricanes in the Gulf of Mexico region include Hurricane Katrina (2005), Hurricane Ike (2008), Hurricane Harvey (2016), Hurricane Michael (2018), Hurricane Rita, Galveston Hurricane, etc. A new high-resolution map of the floor of the Gulf of Mexico was released to the public. This region consists of about 1,394 miles (2,243 km) of coastline. The area of the Gulf of Mexico is about 615,000 square mi (1.6 million square km). Due to the warm waters, moist air, and strong current of the Gulf Steam when storms originating in the cold waters of the Atlantic Ocean move west and collide it creates the perfect conditions for hurricanes to form. More than 400 species of shellfish are found in the Gulf region. All rights reserved. The College Entrance Examination BoardTM does not endorse, nor is it affiliated in any way with the owner or any content of this site. The Gulf of Mexico encompasses around 617,800 square miles of water and stretches around 932 miles across from east to west. Today, the most serious pollution threats to the Gulf of Mexico come from oil drilling and agricultural runoff. The Gulf of Mexico is roughly oval-shaped with a long dimension of about 950 mi (1,500 km). They are often connected to the ocean by narrow water passages but that is not always observed in all geographical areas. Now that's deep! Most of the basin consists of shallow intertidal areas, but its deepest point is called Sigsbee Deep and has an estimated depth of about 14,383 feet (4,384 m). However, around 300 million years ago, in the late Triassic period, plate tectonics caused rifting within Pangea, and a rich oceanic basin created what is now the worlds largest gulf. Recreation and tourism are also a significant part of the economy of the lands surrounding the Gulf of Mexico. Because salt doesnt compact under the weight of overlying layers like sediment does, it ends up being less dense than the sediment above it. Still, there are, 30A's Ultimate Guide to The Florida Panhandle Shipwreck. MarineMax Panama City Beach | MarineMax Fort Walton Beach | MarineMax Pensacola | Grady-White Boats, Posted by 30A on Wednesday, 2 February 2022. The Mississippi is the largest river that drains into the Gulf of Mexico and carries with it an extraordinary amount of these contaminants into the Gulf. Marc Pagani Photography/Shutterstock.com. South of Cocodrie at 28.09 degrees North and 90.71 degrees West, Diaphus Bank covers about 20 square miles. Photo credit: NOAA Okeanos Explorer Program. n o date, more than $11.6 billion has been paid to Gulf-area T The success of these procedures cleared the way for a bottom kill, considered to be the most likely means of permanently sealing the leak. 9. Regardless of region, the Gulf of Mexico has a striking diversity of flora and fauna which support fish, sharks, dolphins, and countless other marine life. The gulf's peculiar history gave rise to a landscape riddled with domes,. The Gulf of Mexico is the ninth largest body of water in the world at a width of 810 nautical miles (1,500 km). WATCH: Sharks biting alligators, the most epic lion battles, and MUCH more. Geography of the Gulf of Mexico. This year, the Mississippi River flooded for more than 6 months, unprecedented in both length of time and volume of water. A mans world? You can change between miles or km at any time. Florida and Eastern Gulf of Mexico Grids. These include Kemps ridley, loggerhead, green turtle, leatherback, and hawksbill. This cross section has been derived from recently collected deep-penetration seismic reflection profiles collected by industry. The 5 Strategies You Must Be Using to Improve 4+ ACT Points, How to Get a Perfect 36 ACT, by a Perfect Scorer. Because salt also flows easily, it can deform and get squeezed, which results in blobs of salt pushing up into the layers above, making domes and ridges and faults. The volume of water in the basin is roughly 2.4 10 6 cubic kilometers (5.8 10 5 cubic miles). The Gulf formed about 300 million years ago, and in all it encompasses 600,000 square miles. An ocean basin is simply any large area covered with seawater and located below sea level. 30A has raised over $3 million for coastal charities, and has given away 4 million of its famous blue 30A stickers. and southward under the influence of eddies typical of the deep Gulf of Mexico (Androulidakis et al., 2018). (April 23, 2010). The Gulf of Mexico today is bordered by 1,680 miles (2,700 km) of U.S. coastline and is fed with water from 33 major rivers that flow out of the United States. Located close to the Continental Shelf, you'll find waters as deep as 600 feet just 10-12 miles from shore. Should You Stay in Gulf Shores or Orange Beach? The Sigsbee Deep, 200 miles southeast of Brownsville, Texas, is estimated to be between 12,300 to 14,383 feet. 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. Unauthorized use is prohibited. Recreation and the tourism sector are important industries in the regions that surround the Gulf of Mexico. 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! How many miles deep is the Gulf of Mexico? When these algae die, they lead to deterioration in the water quality and depletion of dissolved oxygen in the water bodies. The First European Settlement Was at Pensacola Bay, Over 60 Million Americans Live Along the Gulf. Now that youre familiar with the Gulf of Mexico, its time to start planning a beach trip to Gulf Shores and Orange Beach! On April 20, 2010, an explosion on the Deepwater Horizon platform caused the largest oil spill in history. Eco-friendly burial alternatives, explained. About 5 million acres of wetlands border the Gulf of Mexico. How big is the Gulf of Mexico? The Sigsbee Deep, named for the commander and surveyor Charles Dwight Sigsbee, who discovered it, is the deepest point in the Gulf of Mexico averaging between 3,750 and 4,384 meters. Through the process of upwelling, which occurs near the Florida coast of the Gulf, the cooler nutrient-rich water from the deeper parts of the Gulf is brought to the surface. The Gulf State Park Fishing and Education Pier is the second-longest pier in the Gulf of Mexico. Public domain image from the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration Padre Island has its origins in the Gulf of Mexico. Ask questions; get answers. The basin has an area of 600,000 square miles (1.5 million sq km) and most of it consists of shallow intertidal areas but there are some very deep portions. in English from Illinois State University in 2005. 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). With millions of gallons of oil spilled in the sea, the response effort was large and has lasted for over a decade. Breathtaking vistas create an inviting back drop for all-season entertaining.. 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. During the summer months, the sea surface temperature rises to about 32C. Both oceans and gulfs are large bodies of saltwater, but gulfs are smaller and are bordered on three sides by land. In the Sarasota area the Gulf is best known for beautiful white-sand beaches and exciting offshore fishing. They connect a sea/ocean to a landmass and often have narrower openings than bays (although this isnt a hard rule). The shores of the Gulf of Mexico also serve as important habitats for different shorebirds and waterfowls. So, while the average depth of the Gulf of Mexico is not incredibly deep, there are some areas that are quite deep. You may commission us to create customized maps, infographics and stories as well. The Gulf of Mexico is a sea and is part of the Atlantic Ocean. The two reefs the East Flower Garden Bank and the West Flower Garden Bank were designated as a marine sanctuary in 1992. The North-West Gulf of Mexico. In 2005 Hurricane Katrina swept over the Gulf of Mexico and storm surges caused 53 levees to be breached which flooded 80% of New Orleans. How a zoo break-in changed the life of an owl called Flaco, Naked mole rats are fertile until they die, study finds. We've gathered 113 of the most amazing facts you can use to impress anyone you meet. When did the Deepwater Horizon oil spill happen? The casual observer would need to watch the coral for many years possibly hundreds to notice any difference in its growth, however. Bats and agaves make tequila possibleand theyre both at risk, This empress was the most dangerous woman in Rome. It has been estimated that these islands were formed about 5,000 - 8,000 years ago. Copyright 1996-2015 National Geographic SocietyCopyright 2015-2023 National Geographic Partners, LLC. All major bodies of saltwater, including the oceans, are ocean basins. The Gulf of Mexico covers roughly 615,000 mi (1.6 million km) and is about 930 miles (1,500 km) wide. The Spanish explorer Tristn de Luna y Arellano landed at Pensacola Bay and established a settlement on August 15, 1559. It is largely surrounded by the continent of North America. Kramer and Shedd report that after the 2010 Deep Water Horizon oil spill, marine biologists wanted a detailed map of the Gulf to help locate ecological communities that might have been impacted. Retrieved from https://www.thoughtco.com/geography-of-the-gulf-of-mexico-1435544. (Weird fact: not all black coral is black.). Because the Gulf of Mexico borders a portion of Mexico, Cuba, and five states Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, and Texas, it is divided into seven regions based on specific geological and geographical factors. The Gulf of Mexico is an ocean basin located close to the southeastern United States. You can spot them and learn more about their life on the Alabama Gulf Coast on a dolphin cruise. First discovered in 1999 by Texas A&M deep-tow data and 3D seismic supplied by WesternGeco LLC, the furrows are expressed for over 200 km along the Sigsbee . Looking for more fun facts? The Gulf of Mexico is somewhat shallow, along the coastal continental shelf areas, and has an average depth of 1,615m. $3,300,000 USD: 140 feet on the Gulf! Cleanupand fines cost BP $65 billion. We have not only provided the answer to the question here but have also explored more interesting facts about the Gulf. In high school she scored in the 99th percentile on the SAT and was named a National Merit Finalist. 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 . This involves towing high-powered underwater air guns behind a ship. ThoughtCo, Sep. 8, 2021, thoughtco.com/geography-of-the-gulf-of-mexico-1435544. "Dude, you have some terrible luck. The surface area of the Gulf of California is about 160,000 km2 (or 62,000 square miles). In addition to being home to so many incredible beaches, it is also a very unique region of the world. Half of the crater is located on land while the other half is under the waters of the Gulf of Mexico. Can we bring a species back from the brink? 7. She has a wonderful poodle-terrier mix named Nelson, and together, they enjoy long walks, outdoor adventures, and playing with his many toys. The groundbreaking promise of cellular housekeeping. The 5 Strategies You Must Be Using to Improve 160+ SAT Points, How to Get a Perfect 1600, by a Perfect Scorer, Free Complete Official SAT Practice Tests. Zoom and drag the map to find the location of marker 2. Please be respectful of copyright. The Gulf is a very accessible body of water. Cuba, crossed some of the deepest parts of the Gulf of Mexico over 100 miles offshore, which therefore increases the . The Gulf of Mexico is the largest Gulf in the world and the tenth biggest body of water in the world. Eighteen percent of the country's oil comes from offshore wells in the Gulf. "Flaming Oil Rig Sinks in Gulf of Mexico. The Gulf of Mexico produces nearly 20% of all U.S. crude oil. 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. The Gulf of Mexico is an inlet connecting Mexico and the United States to the ocean and is a marginal sea of the Atlantic Ocean. You can try your hand at the pirates life with an adventure on a pirate ship cruise in Orange Beach. The deepest part of the Gulf of Mexico, Sigsbee Deep, is estimated to be around 14,383 feet deep while the average depth is around 5,300 feet. How deep is the Gulf of Mexico? https://www.thoughtco.com/geography-of-the-gulf-of-mexico-1435544 (accessed March 4, 2023). What caused the Deepwater Horizon oil spill? Some of the notable species include Blacktip shark, Bonnethead shark, Bull shark, Great hammerhead shark, Lemon shark, Nurse shark, and Sand Tiger Shark. Get Free Guides to Boost Your SAT/ACT Score. As you can clearly see in the image below, this data is much higher resolution than the best available map, which was made in the 1990s. These hurricanes are either formed or make their way into the Gulf and eventually make landfall in the areas surrounding the Gulf of Mexico. The Padre Island is the worlds longest barrier island. The strange geology of the floor of the Gulf is mostly caused by thick underlying layers of salt. The narrow subtropical sea is 1,130km (700 miles) long and 80-209km (50-130 miles) wide. Currently, there are about 27,000 wells, both oil and gas, that have been drilled and abandoned in the Gulf. 7. This surpassed the 3.3 million barrels that spilled into the Bay of Campeche by the Mexican rig Ixtoc I in 1979. The new year once started in Marchhere's why, Jimmy Carter on the greatest challenges of the 21st century, This ancient Greek warship ruled the Mediterranean, How cosmic rays helped find a tunnel in Egypt's Great Pyramid, Who first rode horses? Consequently it has access to all the survey data that private companies collect. How did the Deepwater Horizon oil spill affect birds? Updates? Roughly 4.9 million barrels worth of oil spilled into the Gulf of Mexico, causing massive damage to marine, wildlife, and fishing habitats. The Interior Department's five-year offshore leasing plan is required by law. The average depth of the Gulf is roughly 5,200 feet, but other parts of the Gulf of Mexico are surprisingly deep. There have been over 750 known shipwrecks in the Gulf of Mexico. nutrient-enriched waters from the deep by a process known as upwelling, which stimulates plankton growth in the euphotic zone. Along the south and southwest, the Gulf of Mexico is bordered by the Mexican states of Tamaulipas, Veracruz, Tabasco, Campeche,and Yucatn. Tourism accounts for $100 billion annually and in 2008 the fishing harvest from five Gulf states totaled $661 million. environmental disaster, Gulf of Mexico [2010]. With that success, they realized they could map the whole Gulf of Mexico the same way. The United States' proposal to rename the 23 52 N 91 35 W point "Mexico basin was rejected while the ACUF Mexico basin with "Sigsbee deep" as an alternate name is given in the NGA database as 25 N 92 W.[4][5], There are other features with BGN approved names in the region in recognition of this pioneer in deep ocean sounding and commander of the first true bathymetric survey of the Gulf of Mexico conducted while commanding USC&GS George S. Blake:[4][6], Coordinates: .mw-parser-output .geo-default,.mw-parser-output .geo-dms,.mw-parser-output .geo-dec{display:inline}.mw-parser-output .geo-nondefault,.mw-parser-output .geo-multi-punct{display:none}.mw-parser-output .longitude,.mw-parser-output .latitude{white-space:nowrap}2352N 9135W / 23.867N 91.583W / 23.867; -91.583, The name "Sigsbee Deep" has sometimes been applied to. An ocean basin, it is bounded on the northeast, . The Ultimate Guide to Campgrounds in Gulf Shores & Orange Beach, How to Plan a Budget-Friendly Beach Vacation, 10 Fun Family Activities in Gulf Shores & Orange Beach, 10 Cheap & Free Things To Do in Gulf Shores & Orange Beach, Take The Kids On A Catch & Release Crabbing Adventure On Alabama's Gulf Coast, The Best Restaurants for Fine Dining on Alabama Beaches, The Four Best Coffee Shops in Gulf Shores & Orange Beach, 4 Beach Restaurants Perfect for Date-Night, 10 Things to Know Before Your Gulf Shores & Orange Beach Vacation, 5 Things I Learned From My Alabama Beach Vacation, Easy Options for a Pet-Friendly Beach Vacation, Bike-Sharing at Gulf State Park: Share the Trails, Share the Wheels, 10 Things to do with Teens in Gulf Shores & Orange Beach, 5 Thrilling Amusement Parks Gulf Shores Orange Beach, The Gulf State Park Fishing and Education Pier. Only about 25 percent of the oil was recovered, leaving more than 154 million gallons of oil at sea. The Gulf of Mexico is located below the southeastern portion of the United States. The Gulf of Mexico itself and the regions surrounding it are highly biodiverse and feature large fishing economies.