long, while the secondary piers are 338, 335, and 244ft long. It is observed that the lowland areas between Belize and Costa Rica experience a tropical rainforest climate, while the Yucatan Peninsula, Cuba, and Venezuela experience dry tropical savanna climates. As many as 40 scientists ashore are expected to participate remotely in the expedition. 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. The region has a high level of biodiversity and many species are endemic to the Caribbean. Iturralde-Vinent, Manuel (2004), The first inhabitants of the Caribbean, Cuban Science Network . The most common deep Caribbean Sea animals are comb jellies, deep-sea dragonfish, and rattail fish. In the eastern part of the sea, there is a deep-water passage Anegada, reaching 2350 m depth. 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. The Caribbean Sea is also massive, with an area of 1,063,000 square miles. Deepest Point: Wheatley Deep (19,028 feet). The very deepest depth of the ocean is roughly 2,000 meters deeper than Mount Everest is tall36,070 feet deep (10,994 m)! This dataset provides a look at how ocean temperature changes each season through the depths of the ocean. Other areas to be explored include the Muertos Trough, Mona Channel and Virgin Islands Trough. The next Okeanos Explorer expedition will take place from July to September in the Pacific Ocean in and around Papahnaumokukea Marine National MonumentandHawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary. The sea is one of the largest oil production areas in the world, producing approximately 170million tons[clarification needed] per year. 10m. (1991). About 500 reptiles are found in the Caribbean including the blue iguana, rhinoceros iguana, Mona ground iguana, green turtle, loggerhead turtle, Atlantic ridley turtle, leatherback turtle, etc. The average water temperature is around 27C (80F) and varies as little as 3C (37F) throughout the year. It is also well known as the location of the Pirates of the Caribbean films. 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. In the Caribbean 600 species of birds have been recorded of which 163 are endemic. The Pacific Ocean basin covers approximately 1/3 of the Earths surface, making up about 46% of the water surface globally. The shallowest sea is the Sea of Azov, located in Eastern Europe. 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). The sediment beds tend to arch in the middle of the basins and to dip as landmasses are approached. Right now, there is a debate over how many oceans exist. Director, Florida Institute of Oceanography, St. Petersburg. The nation with the most Caribbean islands is the Bahamas, with approximately 700 islands. Several islands dot the Mediterranean Sea, some of which formed through volcanic eruptions. coral caribbean photos. Off the northeastern coast of South America, this current splits into the Caribbean Current, which passes into the Caribbean Sea and through the . There are more than 7000 islands in the Caribbean, and they belong to over 28 distinct nations. In the deep Caribbean Sea are multiple animals with limited vision and glow-in-the-dark scales. Technically, the Caribbean Sea is a suboceanic basin of the Atlantic Ocean. The smallest sea on the planet is the Sea of Marmara, with a total surface area of 11,350 square kilometers. The Mediterranean Sea formed about 5.9 million years ago when it cut off from the Atlantic Ocean. The habitats of almost all members of the toad family, poison dart frogs, tree frogs and leptodactylidae (a type of frog) are limited to only one island. 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. Tropical cyclones are a threat to the nations that rim the Caribbean Sea. without marginal seas 82. It is 27,480 feet deep. The Caribbean's depth in its wider basins and deep-water temperatures are similar to those of the Atlantic. Of the water passing through the Yucatn Channel each second, only about one-fourth represents the deeper Subantarctic intermediate water. Despite the vast ice in the Arctic Ocean, you can find over 5,500 animal species adapted to the cold habitats. National Geophysical Data Center, 1999. Its average depth is 4,280 m, with the deepest point being Challenger Deep, which descends to 10,994 meters (36,070 feet). According to Birdlife International in 2006 in Cuba 29 species of bird are in danger of extinction and two species officially extinct. The islands are further divided into three distinct island groups: the Greater Antilles, the Lesser Antilles, and the Bahamas Archipelago. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Some species are threatened with extinction. Amante, C. and B.W. This arc was formed by the collision of the South American Plate with the Caribbean Plate and includes active and extinct volcanoes such as Mount Pelee, the Quill (volcano) on Sint Eustatius in the Caribbean Netherlands and Morne Trois Pitons on Dominica. 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. Contact us today. In the Caribbean Sea, piracy was very rampant during the 1500s and 1600s. The Southern Ocean basin (Antarctic Ocean) encircles Antarctica and extends to parts of the Atlantic, Pacific, and Indian Oceans. The Cayman Trough, also known as the Bartlett Deep, is an interesting point in the sea because it sits on multiple tectonic plates, including the North American Plate and the Caribbean Plate. 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. 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 Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula in the west; by the Greater Antilles islands in the north; and by the Lesser Antilles islands in the east. 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]. The average depth of this sea is 2,394 m, with its deepest point in Bougainville measuring 9,140 m below sea level. 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. website belongs to an official government organization in the United States. 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. [13] Among them stands out the Belize Barrier Reef, with an area of 963km2 (372sqmi), which was declared a World Heritage Site in 1996. The Cayman Basin, to the south, is partially separated from the Yucatn Basin by Cayman Ridge, an incomplete fingerlike ridge that extends from the southern part of Cuba toward Guatemala, rising above the surface at one point to form the Cayman Islands. Continued destruction of the reefs could severely damage the region's economy. Pollution (in the form of up to 300,000 tonnes of solid garbage dumped into the Caribbean Sea each year) is progressively endangering marine ecosystems, wiping out species, and harming the livelihoods of the local people, which is primarily reliant on tourism and fishing. The green iguana is invasive to Grand Cayman. During dives that are expected to go as deep as 3.7 miles, a sophisticated unmanned submarine, called a remotely operated vehicle, or ROV, will broadcast live video from the seafloor, allowing anyone with Internet access to watch the expedition as it unfolds. Caribbean Sea 4 - Caribbean Sea (Average Depth: 8,685 ft) Wiki: The Caribbean Sea is a sea of the Atlantic Ocean in the tropics of the Western Hemisphere. The shelf gives way at its edge to a slope, which is broken by submarine valleys and is steep in its upper parts. The preferred oceanographic term for the Caribbean is the Antillean-Caribbean Sea, which, together with the Gulf of Mexico, forms the Central American Sea. The Caribbean Sea is nowhere near being the largest sea in the world, but it is still very deep! The entire area of the Caribbean Sea, the numerous islands of the West Indies, and adjacent coasts are collectively known as the Caribbean. Water covers about 71% of the Earth. [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]. As part of the Central American Sea, it is presumed to have been connected with the Mediterranean during Paleozoic times (i.e., about 541 to 252 million years ago) and then gradually to have separated from it as the Atlantic Ocean was formed. area volume average depth. [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. Marine biota in the region have representatives of both the Indian and Pacific oceans which were caught in the Caribbean before the emergence of the Isthmus of Panama four million years ago. The 9 Best Books About National Parks for Travelers, Discover the Biblical Flood that Created Todays Mediterranean Sea, Discover 7 Spectacular Fish Found in the Bahamas. A lock ( As the planets 4th largest ocean, the Southern Ocean has an average depth of 3,270 m. Its deepest point is the Factorian Deep which stretches to 7,434 m below sea level. We dont know exactly what we can expect to see, said Lt. Brian Kennedy, the expeditions coordinator and a member of NOAAs Commissioned Officers Corps. In coastal zones there are coconut palms and in lagoons and estuaries are found thick areas of black mangrove and red mangrove (Rhizophora mangle). Panel Chairman in Marine Biology, Gulf University Research Corporation. It covers about 1/3 of the Earth. Scientific data reveals that over the last 500 years the area has seen a dozen earthquakes above 7.5 magnitude. Other floral species that are found in the Caribbean region include mahogany, caimito, coconut palms, and mangroves. The yearly average is about eight such storms. Ocean is home to over 9,000 species, most are near extinction. URL accessed on 28/07/2007. The Lesser Antilles are further divided into three major island groups: the Leeward Islands comprising of Anguilla, British Virgin Islands, Guadeloupe, US Virgin Islands, Antigua and Barbuda, Saint Martins, Saint Kitts, and Nevis, Saint Barthelemy, and Montserrat. The two largest islands, in both area and population, are Sicily and Sardinia . The average depth of the Caribbean Sea is approximately 7,220 feet below the sea's surface. Eakins, 2009. Deep sea creatures are still a mystery to most of us since they rarely visit shallow waters. The Caribbean Sea is a sea of the Atlantic Ocean in the tropics of the Western Hemisphere. Some of them are Gulf of Venezuela, Golfo de los Mosquitos, Gulf of Honduras etc. [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 Caribbean region has seen a significant increase in human activity since the colonization period. The Caribbean Sea is one of the largest seas and has an area of about 2,754,000 km 2 (1,063,000 sq mi). Of the endemic species 48 are threatened with extinction including the Puerto Rican amazon, and the Zapata wren. Simon Dannhauer . Buffalo, NY: Firefly Books, Inc. pp. Forces producing the Panamanian isthmus and the Antillean arc were vertical, resulting in no ultimate horizontal movement. They write new content and verify and edit content received from contributors. p. 124. Parrots and bananaquits are found in forests. Within the boundaries of the Caribbean itself, Jamaica, to the south of Cuba, is the largest of a number of islands. Politically, Aruba is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. 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 younger Cenozoic beds (formed during the last 65 million years) are generally horizontal, having been laid down after the deformations occurred. [31] The black-fronted piping guan is endangered. Situated on the floor of the western Caribbean Sea between the Jamaica and Cayman Islands is the Cayman Trench (Bartlett Deep), which reaches a depth of 7,686m below the sea level and is the deepest point of the Caribbean Sea. The age and size of an ocean influence its depth. The Caribbean Sea is part of the Atlantic Ocean. Ferdinand Magellan, a Portuguese explorer, named this massive water body Pacific in 1520, meaning peaceful.. Halophila baillonii has been found only in the Lesser Antilles.[26]. The geologic age of the Caribbean is not known with certainty. 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 . The dreaded Bermuda Triangle (the Devils Triangle) lies in this ocean. The Caribbean's greatest known depth is Cayman Trench (Bartlett Deep) between Cuba and Jamaica, approximately 25,216 feet (7,686 metres) below sea level . provide an annual economic value to Caribbean nations of $3.1$4.6 billion. North Atlantic deep water enters the Caribbean beneath the Windward Passage and is characterized by its rich oxygen content and by a salinity of slightly less than 35 parts per thousand. But with each expedition we reach new audiences who are fascinated by what we are seeing in the deep ocean. The Caribbean is the setting for countless literary efforts often related to piracy acts and swashbuckling. Moll's map covers all of the West Indies . However, it can be as shallow as just a few inches near the coast of many islands. Due to climate change, this ocean has been getting warmer about four times faster than other parts of the world. Our editors will review what youve submitted and determine whether to revise the article. 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 salinity of the seawater is about 3.6%, and its density is 1,023.51,024.0kg/m3 (63.9063.93lb/cuft). 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. There are more than 7000 islands in the Caribbean, and they belong to over 28 distinct nations. The Arabian Sea is part of the northern Indian Ocean and sits between the Arabian Peninsula, India, the Gulf of Oman, Pakistan, and Iran. 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. [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. (2004). The Caribbean monk seal which lived in the Caribbean is considered extinct. It is estimated that the geological age of the Caribbean Sea is between 160 and 180 million years, and was formed during the Mesozoic Era when a horizontal fracture led to the split of the supercontinent of Pangea. The preferred oceanographic term for the Caribbean is the Antillean-Caribbean Sea, which, together with the Gulf of Mexico, forms the Central American Sea. Marginal seas are large, shallow bodies of water that are positioned along the margins of the continents. The Aves Ridge, incomplete at its southern extremity, separates the Venezuelan Basin from the small Grenada Basin, which is bounded to the east by the Antillean arc of islands. There are also some locations that are arid climates with considerable drought in some years. 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. 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. The Pacific is the deepest basin of the global ocean. As many as 40 scientists ashore are expected to participate remotely in the expedition. they had been visited in the 10th century, List of Caribbean countries by population, "Tsunamis in the Caribbean? Surface currents, bearing both high- and low-salinity water depending on the source, enter the Caribbean mainly through the channels and passages of the southern Antilles. ) or https:// means youve safely connected to the .gov website. The Mediterranean sea covers 0.7% of the planets ocean surface, making it one of the largest seas globally. Public can watch seafloor discoveries live online from April 10 to 30, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. [11] The surface water (30m; 100ft) acts as an extension of the northern Atlantic as the Guiana Current and part of the North Equatorial Current enter the sea on the east. It runs 1,000km (620mi) along the coasts of Mexico, Belize, Guatemala, and Honduras.[3]. About three-fourths of the area covered by ocean is deep, permanently dark, and cold. The Caribbean Sea mostly occupies the Caribbean Plate and features many island arcs which separate it from the ocean. Each zone has a different mix of species adapted to its specific light level, pressure, temperature, and community. Many of the expeditions anticipated 20 ROV dives will take place in the Puerto Rico Trench, which is nearly 500 miles long and nearly 5.4 miles at its deepest deeper than anywhere else in the Atlantic Ocean basin. The sea has shipping routes where about 33.33% of the worlds shipping takes place. The project "Sustainable finance methods for marine preservation in the Caribbean" will assist remove solid waste and keep it out of the marine and coastal environment by establishing a new facility under the Caribbean Biodiversity Fund (CBF). The Caribbean's floor is composed of sub-oceanic sediments of deep red clay in the deep basins and troughs. The Indian Ocean is home to several islands, including Madagascar (4th largest island globally). WATCH: Sharks biting alligators, the most epic lion battles, and MUCH more. According to the National Hurricane Center 385 hurricanes occurred in the Caribbean between 1494 and 1900. So far, scientists have discovered that the maximum depth of the Caribbean Sea is 25,217 feet. Throughout history, the Arabian Sea served as an essential water body for numerous seaports and trade routes. 21st Century. The major ocean current greatly influences the areas climate is the North Equatorial Current, which enters the Caribbean Sea region from the tropical Atlantic Ocean. The islands of Curaao and Aruba experience arid climates. While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. depth: 3,750 to 4,384 metres (12,303 to 14,383 ft) . The caimito (Chrysophyllum cainito) grows throughout the Caribbean. Let us know. He also traveled to the deepest point in the world, Marianas trench. It runs along the Caribbean coasts of Mexico, Belize, Guatemala and Honduras. Over 42% of corals are completely bleached, and 95% are experiencing some type of whitening. Sea surface temperature monitoring tells us how the ocean and atmosphere interact, as well as providing fundamental data on the global climate system . While some people believe the Caribbean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean are the same, this is only partially true. The emergence of deep basins in the Caribbean occurred during the Middle Jurassic rifting. The pressure of the South American Plate to the east of the Caribbean causes the region of the Lesser Antilles to have high volcanic activity. It has an average depth (with its seas) of 11,962 feet (3,646 metres) and a maximum depth of 27,493 feet (8,380 metres) in the Puerto Rico Trench, north of the island of Puerto Rico. The Caribbean Sea is divided into five submarine basins, each roughly elliptical in shape, which are separated from one another by submerged ridges and rises. The Random House atlas of the oceans. 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average depth of caribbean sea