Treaty on maritime boundaries between the United States of America and the United Mexican States (Caribbean Sea and Pacific Ocean), . The region has a high level of biodiversity and many species are endemic to the Caribbean. This graphic shows several ocean floor features on a scale from 0-35,000 feet below sea level. Politically, Aruba is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. Ferdinand Magellan, a Portuguese explorer, named this massive water body Pacific in 1520, meaning peaceful.. The Central American Sea apparently became separated from the Atlantic before the end of the first phase. WATCH: Sharks biting alligators, the most epic lion battles, and MUCH more. More than 90 mammalian species are found in the Caribbean including dolphins, humpback whales, sperm whales, manatees, Solenodons, hutias, etc. But the facet of Okeanos Explorer expeditions that the public typically gets most excited about, Leonardi said, is its live-streamed ROV explorations. The hurricane season is from June to November, but hurricanes occur most frequently in September. The Caribbean Sea is one of the largest seas and has an area of about 2,754,000km2 (1,063,000sqmi). On average around nine tropical storms form each year, with five reaching hurricane strength. The ocean's breadth from east to west varies considerably. While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. The average depth of the Caribbean Sea is approximately 7,220 feet below the sea's surface. The Bahamas (Lucayan) Archipelago includes the island of the Bahamas and the Turks and Caicos Islands. In order to understand and sustainably manage the oceans resources, we first have to survey what resources exist.. 03 of 10 The South China Sea Taro Hama @ e-kamakura / Getty Images Area: 895,400 square miles (2,319,000 sq km) Average depth: 5,419 feet (1,652 m) Some species are threatened with extinction. Deepest Point: Cayman Trough (25,216 feet). The average depth of this sea is 2,394 m, with its deepest point in Bougainville measuring 9,140 m below sea level. [31] The black-fronted piping guan is endangered. The caimito (Chrysophyllum cainito) grows throughout the Caribbean. Keep reading to find out! URL accessed on 28/07/2007. The Arctic Ocean basin is the worlds smallest, shallowest, and coldest ocean, making up 4.3% of global water. 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. 440 31. Located in the northern part of the Caribbean Sea is the Greater Antilles Island group. All maps, graphics, flags, photos and original descriptions 2023 worldatlas.com. In the Caribbean, 600 species of birds have been recorded, of which 163 are endemic such as todies, Fernandina's flicker and palmchat. website belongs to an official government organization in the United States. So far, scientists have discovered that the maximum depth of the Caribbean Sea is 25,217 feet. 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. 100 354. Buffalo, NY: Firefly Books, Inc. p. 178. But with each expedition we reach new audiences who are fascinated by what we are seeing in the deep ocean. Just by a few thousand feet, the Atlantic Ocean is deeper than the Caribbean Sea. Covering an area of about 2,754,000 sq. mi, 3,862,000 sq. The Atlantic Ocean basin is the 2nd biggest ocean in the world, covering about 20% of the Earths surface. 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. Average depth: 8,685 feet (2,647 m) Ocean: Atlantic Ocean The Caribbean Sea averages eight hurricanes per year, with most happening in September; the season extends from June to November. Sea level rise seen along the U.S. Southeast and Gulf coasts over the last decade are "unprecedented in at least 120 years," scientists found. I graduated from college with an A.A, but I am still pursuing a Bachelors of Marketing degree. Upper sedimentary layers relate to the period from the Mesozoic to the Cenozoic (250million years ago to present) and the lower layers from the Paleozoic to the Mesozoic. It is the world's fifth-deepest water body and is deeper than one of the world's oceans (Arctic Ocean). Its average depth is 1,212 m, and the deepest point in the China Sea Basin descends to around 5,016 m. Below the South China Sea is the submerged continental shelf near the Philippine islands. Over 42% of corals are completely bleached, and 95% are experiencing some type of whitening. ( the 377ft. The Caribbeans greatest known depth is Cayman Trench (Bartlett Deep) between Cuba and Jamaica, approximately 25,216 feet (7,686 metres) below sea level. The emergence of these basins marked the beginning of the Atlantic Ocean and contributed to the destruction of Pangaea at the end of the late Jurassic. This is the deep sea. Cayman Trough (located between the Jamaica and Cayman Islands) is the deepest point of the Caribbean Sea with a depth of 25,220 feet or 7,686 meters. 000, 000 sq km 000, 000 sq mi 000, 000 cu km 000, 000 cu mi m ft. Atlantic Ocean. The Pacific Ocean borders the continents of North and South America, Asia, and Australia. The climate of the Caribbean generally is tropical, but there are great local variations, depending on mountain elevation, water currents, and the trade winds. Off the northeastern coast of South America, this current splits into the Caribbean Current, which passes into the Caribbean Sea and through the . The shelf gives way at its edge to a slope, which is broken by submarine valleys and is steep in its upper parts. As of 2015[update] the area is home to 22 island territories and borders 12 continental countries. [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. There are 90 species of mammals in the Caribbean including sperm whales, humpback whales and dolphins. Such storms also have been a major cause of crop failure in the region. According to the National Ocean Service, the oldest rock in this ocean dates back about 200 million years. 830 324. The larger islands in the northern part of the sea Cuba, Hispaniola, Jamaica and Puerto Rico lie on an older island arc. These sills are located below the Anegada Passage, which runs between the Virgin Islands and the Lesser Antilles, and the Windward Passage, which stretches between Cuba and Hispaniola. It is 27,480 feet deep. Let us know. The Mona ground iguana which inhabits the island of Mona, Puerto Rico, is endangered. Following the regions discovery by Columbus, the Caribbean islands began to be colonized by several countries including Spain, Dutch Republic, France, England, Denmark, etc. The basins are connected by the submerged Aruba Gap at depths greater than 13,000 feet (4,000 metres). This Triangle has mysteriously led to the disappearance of many ships and airplanes. Deepest Point: Challenger Deep (36,070 feet). Have some feedback for us? 200 3, 330 10, 920. 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. 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. 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. It has over 17,500 species, including sharks, manatees, sea turtles, and humpback whales. Public can watch seafloor discoveries live online from April 10 to 30, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Geographicus, a seller of fine antique maps, explains: "This is Herman Molls small but significant c. 1732 map of the West Indies. Deepest Point: Wheatley Deep (19,028 feet). In the deep Caribbean Sea are multiple animals with limited vision and glow-in-the-dark scales. The Caribbean Sea has a tropical climate influenced by trade winds. The Colombian Basin is separated from the Venezuelan Basin by the Beata Ridge, while the Grenada Basin is separated from the Venezuelan Basin via the Aves Ridge. Youll also discover their deepest point, the marine life available, their economic purposes, and more. 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. Right now, there is a debate over how many oceans exist. 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. 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. Warm, moist trade winds blow consistently from the east, creating both rainforest and semi-arid climates across the region. NOAA Technical Memorandum NESDIS NGDC-24. Antigua Yacht Club Marina depth; can accomodate yachts with draft in excess of 25ft. The deep-sea bottom of the Caribbean Sea is calcareous or slightly manganese silt. 21st Century. The Caribbean Sea is subdivided into five basins that are separated from each other by submerged ranges and ridges. The sea is warm, calm, and with occasional cyclones. Join us onFacebook,Twitter, Instagramand our othersocial media channels. The sediment beds tend to arch in the middle of the basins and to dip as landmasses are approached. Other floral species that are found in the Caribbean region include mahogany, caimito, coconut palms, and mangroves. 1m. It has an average depth of 7,220 feet or 2,200 meters. The wind-driven surface water accumulates in the Yucatn Basin and the Gulf of Mexico, where it results in a higher average sea level than in the Atlantic, forming a hydrostatic head that is believed to constitute the main driving force of the Gulf Stream. Scientific data reveals that over the last 500 years the area has seen a dozen earthquakes above 7.5 magnitude. 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). The Pacific Ocean is the largest and deepest of Earth's five oceanic divisions. Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions. Approximately 1,000 fishes have been recorded in the Caribbean Sea including flying fish, angelfish, manta ray, Caribbean reef shark, silky shark, bull shark, tiger shark, butterflyfish, Atlantic Goliath grouper, moray eels, lobsters, sardines, parrotfish, etc. The island of Jamaica is home to seals and manatees. You can find many types of corals in the Caribbean Sea, like the great star coral, mustard hill coral, and massive starlet coral. Tourist attractions of the region are those generally associated with a maritime tropical climate: Scuba diving and snorkeling on coral reefs, cruises, sailing, and game fishing at sea. Of the water passing through the Yucatn Channel each second, only about one-fourth represents the deeper Subantarctic intermediate water. About three-fourths of the area covered by ocean is deep, permanently dark, and cold. 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. It is located 25 km north of the coast of Venezuela and 68 km northwest of Curaao. The Caribbean monk seal which lived in the Caribbean is considered extinct. This sea began forming around 45 to 17 million years ago, leaving a V-shaped basin. Articles from Britannica Encyclopedias for elementary and high school students. Pernetta, John. The rainfall varies with the elevation and water current and ranging from less than 12 inches a year on the Bonaire Island to about 350 inches a year in the areas around Dominica. The existing sediment cover of the seabed consists of red clay in the deep basins and trenches, globigerina ooze (a calcareous marine deposit) on the rises, and pteropod ooze on the ridges and continental slopes. Technically, the Caribbean Sea is a suboceanic basin of the Atlantic Ocean. In shallow waters, sand or coral . 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. Here is the list of All Caribbean Charts marine charts and fishing maps available on iBoating : Caribbean Marine & Fishing App.Marine charts app now supports multiple plaforms including Android, iPhone/iPad, MacBook, and Windows/PC based chartplotter.The Marine Navigation App provides advanced features of a Marine Chartplotter including adjusting water level offset and custom depth shading. The geologic age of the Caribbean is not known with certainty. The Caribbean Sea experiences a tropical climate that is highly influenced by elevations, trade winds, and tropical ocean currents. Secure .gov websites use HTTPS Plunge has significant ecological consequences, Conservation International Caribbean Islands, An Overview of Land Based Sources of Marine Pollution, Reefs at Risk in the Caribbean: Economic Valuation Methodology, Guide to Marine Life: Caribbean-Bahamas-Florida, Defying Ocean's End: An Agenda For Action, Center For Advanced Study on Puerto Rico and the Caribbean, Caribbean Basin Trade and Partnership Act, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Caribbean_Sea&oldid=1148478553, Short description is different from Wikidata, Wikipedia indefinitely move-protected pages, Articles using infobox body of water without alt, Articles using infobox body of water without pushpin map alt, Articles using infobox body of water without alt bathymetry, Articles containing Spanish-language text, Articles containing Haitian Creole-language text, Articles containing Jamaican Patois-language text, Articles containing Papiamento-language text, Articles containing potentially dated statements from 2015, All articles containing potentially dated statements, Wikipedia articles needing clarification from June 2017, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, This page was last edited on 6 April 2023, at 12:01. The sea is one of the largest oil production areas in the world, producing approximately 170 million tons per year. Subsurface water enters the Caribbean Sea across two sills. Virtually all temperature extremes were associated with the phenomena of El Nio and La Nia. The remainder is the surface water that passed over the Antillean arc at depths of less than 2,600 feet (800 metres). Below is a list of how weve ranked the worlds most extensive oceans and seas, including their area, average depth, and deepest point. It is broadest in the west and at the head of Kerch Strait but elsewhere forms a rim about 6 to 7 miles (10 to 11 km) wide, and the depth of the edge is usually less than 360 feet (110 metres). The Caribbean region has rich biodiversity containing many endemic species. The Gulf Stream is part of a general clockwise-rotating system of currents in the North Atlantic. Okeanos Explorer, which is operated, managed and maintained by NOAAs Office of Marine and Aviation Operations, has just spent about four weeks mapping more than 13,600 square miles of seafloor around the U.S. Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico. Cuba, with an area of 109,884 square kilometers (42,426 square miles), is the largest island in the Interestingly, the deepest point in the Atlantic Ocean is close to the Cayman Trough. Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree. In brackish water of harbours and estuaries at depths less than 2.5m (8ft 2in) widgeongrass (Ruppia maritima) grows. Since 2005 unusually warm Caribbean waters have been increasingly threatening Caribbean coral reefs. Tourism is also a big industry of the areas around the Caribbean Sea. 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. Amante, C. and B.W. See also: Types of Ocean Storms Ways to Save the Ocean Overfishing in the Ocean List of Marine Invertebrates 2. 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]. 700 85. It runs along the Caribbean coasts of Mexico, Belize, Guatemala and Honduras. The next stage of the Caribbean Sea's formation began in the Triassic. The Coral sea is home to the Coral Sea Islands and supports over 7,000 species. 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 region has several types of sea turtle (loggerhead, green turtle, hawksbill, leatherback turtle, Atlantic ridley and olive ridley). 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 Caribbean Sea has the world's second largest barrier reef, the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef. The Mediterranean Sea formed about 5.9 million years ago when it cut off from the Atlantic Ocean. As many as 40 scientists ashore are expected to participate remotely in the expedition. The Southern Ocean basin (Antarctic Ocean) encircles Antarctica and extends to parts of the Atlantic, Pacific, and Indian Oceans. Following the discovery of the islands by Columbus, the area was quickly colonized by several Western cultures (initially Spain, then later England, the Dutch Republic, France, Courland and Denmark). The Gulf of Mexico is somewhat shallow, along the coastal continental shelf areas, and has an average depth of 1,615m. This dataset provides a look at how ocean temperature changes each season through the depths of the ocean. The Caribbean Sea is nowhere near being the largest sea in the world, but it is still very deep! The Caribbean Sea is an oceanic sea largely situated on the Caribbean Plate. Did you know that an explorer once traveled to the bottom of the Puerto Rico Trench in a private mission? Where there are porous limestone terraced islands these are generally poor in nutrients. The Colombian Basin is partly separated from the Venezuelan Basin by the Beata Ridge. The Caribbean sea floor is divided into five basins separated from each other by underwater ridges and mountain ranges. The name Caribbean has been derived from Caribs, a Native American group of indigenous people that lived in the region during the late 15th century. Surface water temperatures in the Pacific vary from 1.4 C in the poleward areas to about 30 C near the equator. The Yucatan Basin is partially separated from the Cayman Basin by the Cayman Ridge, which rises above to form the Cayman Islands. Tropical cyclones are a threat to the nations that rim the Caribbean Sea. The Caribbean Sea is also considered to be home to a large fishing industry. [10] Most recently, a 7.1 earthquake struck Haiti on January 12, 2010. Forces producing the Panamanian isthmus and the Antillean arc were vertical, resulting in no ultimate horizontal movement. The Caribbean Sea is also massive, with an area of 1,063,000 square miles. Thank you for reading! The Panama Canal connects the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean. The sea vents in the Cayman Trough reach up to 400 Celsius (752 Fahrenheit). The findings indicate that heavy metals such as mercury, arsenic, and lead, have been identified in the coastal zone of the Caribbean Sea. [19], After the Mediterranean, the Caribbean Sea is the second most polluted sea. The nation with the most Caribbean islands is the Bahamas, with approximately 700 islands. ETOPO1 1 Arc-Minute Global Relief Model: Procedures, Data Sources and Analysis. Throughout history, the Arabian Sea served as an essential water body for numerous seaports and trade routes. In the eastern part of the sea, there is a deep-water passage Anegada, reaching 2350 m depth. Interesting Caribbean Sea Facts: The deepest part of the Caribbean Sea is the Cayman Trench, located between Jamaica and Cuba. 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 average depth is about 4,280 m. The volume of the Pacific Ocean reaches up to some 714 million cubic kilometers. km, the Atlantic Ocean contains several notable marginal seas. 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. The Pacific Ocean has numerous shipping routes that connect the bordering continents, oceans, and seas. The salinity of the Caribbean Sea is about 3.6%. Contact us today. There was a very serious eruption of Mount Pele in 1902 which caused many casualties. 177178. depth; 21ft capability; it can accomodate yachts in excess of 380ft. 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. 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. Many James Bond adventures were set there. Dunbar. For each season (three month averages January - March, April - June, July - September, and October - December) there are six depths available: surface, 100m, 500m, 1,000m, 2,000m, and 5,000m. 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. Deep sea creatures are still a mystery to most of us since they rarely visit shallow waters. NOAAs mission is to understand and predict changes in the Earth's environment, from the depths of the ocean to the surface of the sun, and to conserve and manage our coastal and marine resources. The tropical rainforest climates include lowland areas near the Caribbean Sea from Costa Rica north to Belize, as well as the Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico, while the more seasonal dry tropical savanna climates are found in Cuba, northern Venezuela, and southern Yucatn, Mexico. Located between the islands of the Greater Antilles and the continent of South America on the Caribbean Seas eastern part is the Lesser Antilles. These plants provide food for the corals and give them their color. Three phases of sedimentation have been identified. p. 124. 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. Today, large coastal populations, pollution, and intense fishing are the primary concerns in this sea. depth: 3,750 to 4,384 metres (12,303 to 14,383 ft) . Ocean temperatures get colder with depth. 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. 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 Sea is also home to numerous coral reefs, including the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef, which is the 2nd largest barrier reef in the world that runs for about 1,000km along the coasts of the countries of Belize, Guatemala, Honduras, and Mexico. [33], Human activity in the area also accounts for a significant amount of pollution. [32], The Caribbean region supports a large tourism industry. Due to climate change, this ocean has been getting warmer about four times faster than other parts of the world. The Caribbean Sea is separated from the ocean by several island arcs of various ages. The Pacific is the deepest basin of the global ocean. During the dives, Okeanos Explorers two-body ROV system will continuously capture high-definition video, which the ship will transmit to the Office of Ocean Exploration and Researchs website, www.oceanexplorer.noaa.gov, where anyone can follow along in near-real time. The sea is one of the largest oil production areas in the world, producing approximately 170million tons[clarification needed] per year. https://www.britannica.com/place/Caribbean-Sea, Florida Museum - Indigenous communities used the Caribbean Sea as an aquatic highway, Caribbean Sea - Children's Encyclopedia (Ages 8-11), Caribbean Sea - Student Encyclopedia (Ages 11 and up), A 5,000-mile seaweed belt is headed toward Florida. He also traveled to the deepest point in the world, Marianas trench. 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. 4. The Caribbean Sea is the Atlantic Oceans 2nd largest marginal sea that is geographically positioned between the continents of North and South America in the Western Hemisphere. Have a question? 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. Sea surface temperature is defined as the average temperature of the top few millimeters of the ocean. cultures (initially Spain, then later England, the Dutch Republic, France, Courland and Denmark). Language links are at the top of the page across from the title. It runs 1,000km (620mi) along the coasts of Mexico, Belize, Guatemala, and Honduras.[3]. The average depth is about 2,200 meters (7,220 feet) below the sea's surface. Over the open sea can be seen frigatebirds and tropicbirds. National Geophysical Data Center, 1999. The islands are further divided into three distinct island groups: the Greater Antilles, the Lesser Antilles, and the Bahamas Archipelago. 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. Geologists say the Coral Sea began forming 48-58 million years ago. You can still find creatures such as seals, penguins, and whales. The Puerto Rico Trench, located just north of Puerto Rico, is the deepest point in the Atlantic Ocean. Near the end of the second phase, gentle warping and faulting occurred, forming the Aves and Beata ridges. Live video from a 2013 expedition to deep-sea canyons off the northeast Atlantic coast of the U.S. garnered more than 875,000 views, he said. Elder, Danny and Pernetta, John. 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. This ocean is relatively calm and offers significant sea routes for transporting materials such as oil, rice, sugar, and silk. I have been a professional content writer for 6 years now, with a large focus on nature, gardening, food, and animals. Which is the largest, how deep are they, and how critical are they to the planets sustainability? Within the boundaries of the Caribbean itself, Jamaica, to the south of Cuba, is the largest of a number of islands. 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. 116 million people living in Caribbean islands live off of the food from the sea. The average depth of the Caribbean Sea is approximately 7,220 feet below the seas surface. Surface. 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). (2004). Caribbean, followed by Hispaniola and Jamaica. The Caribbean Sea is a sea of the Atlantic Ocean in the tropics of the Western Hemisphere. The Caribbean Beaches are without a doubt among the best in the world. The Mediterranean sea covers 0.7% of the planets ocean surface, making it one of the largest seas globally. 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. It is also well known as the location of the Pirates of the Caribbean films. 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