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visits the Gulf of Mexico. This is twice the size of Texas. In the fall of 2021, nine new sections of reefs totaling 110 square miles were added to the pre-existing zones. "Flaming Oil Rig Sinks in Gulf of Mexico. Bacteria that had adapted to consuming naturally occurring gas and oil seeping from the seabed were thought to have consumed a portion of it. The Gulf of Mexico is located below the southeastern portion of the United States. Climate change that's warming waters further is also making them larger, as in increased intensity and amount of water. However, there are some areas of the Gulf that are much deeper. We've gathered 113 of the most amazing facts you can use to impress anyone you meet. 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. All major bodies of saltwater, including the oceans, are ocean basins. A study has dated the coral to be at least 2,000 years old. There have been over 750 known shipwrecks in the Gulf of Mexico. 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. Water depths range from about 170 feet deep to about 450 feet deep. Here's where to find more lumps to fish in the gulf. Some bivalve species that are found here include oysters, mussels, clams, and scallops. 7. The North-West Gulf of Mexico. When these algae die, they lead to deterioration in the water quality and depletion of dissolved oxygen in the water bodies. "Sigsbee Deep" applied to the entire deep basin appears on some of the earliest charts of the Gulf of Mexico. The Gulf of Mexico is a rich reservoir of natural gas and oil. Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). During the summer months, the sea surface temperature rises to about 32C. "Geography of the Gulf of Mexico." The Gulf of Mexico is a large oval-shaped oceanic basin, that is located on the southeastern coast of North America and is bounded by the US states of Mississippi, Louisiana, Texas, Alabama, and Florida to the north, northeast and northwest; by the Mexican states of Campeche, Quintana Roo, Tabasco, Tamaulipas, Veracruz and Yucatan to the south and southwest; and by the island of Cuba to the southeast. However, in portions such as The Sigsbee Deep, which is 2 miles southwest of Brownsville, Texas, the depths reach up to 4,384 meters, or 14,383 feet! Learn more about us & read our affiliate disclosure. Geography of the Gulf of Mexico. The Gulf of Mexico is a large ocean basin near the Southeastern United States. One of Earth's loneliest volcanoes holds an extraordinary secret. The Gulf of Mexico is known for beautiful white-sand beaches and exciting offshore fishing. The addition of an ancillary collection system comprising several devices, also tapped into the BOP, increased the collection rate to approximately 25,000 barrels of oil a day. Besides the economic importance of the Gulf of Mexico, there are countless natural treasures to be found. Over 750 historical shipwrecks have occurred in the Gulf of Mexico, some of which date back to the 16th century. We end with some fun facts about the Gulf (spoiler alert: its home to a lot of sharks!). 2014). Description [ edit] The basin is located in the southwestern quadrant of the Gulf, with its closest point to the U.S. coast at 200 miles (320 km) southeast of Brownsville, Texas. The Gulf Stream, a warm Atlantic current, originates in the Gulf of Mexico and influences the climate of both the east coast of the United States and the west coast of Europe. About 60% of the Gulf is less than 700 feet deep. The Gulf of Mexico has been a source of oil since 1938, when the first oil well was drilled there. So, while the average depth of the Gulf of Mexico is not incredibly deep, there are some areas that are quite deep. Population along the Gulf coast exploded in the 1950s, and the rising number of people living along the Gulf resulted in increased pollution problems. Plenty of marine life lives on its borders but its a rare occurring killer lake for sure. Hurricane Harvey in 2017 made land shore as a Category 4 hurricane that caused historic flooding and left Houston and Southeast Texas devastated. Home Fishing Ocean Depth Maps Florida and Eastern Gulf of Mexico. The economics of the area as well as the environment thus are sensitive to pollution. Long COVID patients turn to unproven treatments, Why evenings can be harder on people with dementia, This disease often goes under-diagnosedunless youre white, This sacred site could be Georgias first national park, See glow-in-the-dark mushrooms in Brazils other rainforest, 9 things to know about Holi, Indias most colorful festival, Anyone can discover a fossil on this beach. Consequently it has access to all the survey data that private companies collect. All maps, graphics, flags, photos and original descriptions 2023 worldatlas.com. The defective BOP and the capping stack were removed in early September and replaced by a functioning BOP. Unfortunately, yes. The black coral is a notoriously slow grower, growing 2,000 times slower than human fingernails. The Gulf of Mexico is the largest gulf in the world, with 600,000 sq miles bordered by 1,680 miles of US coastlines. Only a vague outline of this bizarre landscape was visible on the old map, which had a resolution of 27,000 square feet per pixel, actually quite good for the seafloor. But the Gulf is also a habitat for other sea animals including dolphins, whales, sea turtles, and manatees. 9. To the north of the Gulf of Mexico are the US states of Alabama, Texas, Florida, Louisiana, and Mississippi. and southward under the influence of eddies typical of the deep Gulf of Mexico (Androulidakis et al., 2018). Copyright 2023 Gulf Shores & Orange Beach Tourism. Often referred to as the Mediterranean of the Americas, the Gulf of Mexico is the 9th largest water body, measuring approximately 1,600 km from west to east and about 900 km from north to south. Coordinates: 24.487, -89.5363. The Gulf of Mexico features a wide continental shelf, specifically around Florida and the Yucatn Peninsula. You can try your hand at the pirates life with an adventure on a pirate ship cruise in Orange Beach. This involves towing high-powered underwater air guns behind a ship. With that success, they realized they could map the whole Gulf of Mexico the same way. The Deepwater Horizon oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico was the largest marine oil spill in U.S. history. Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions. The average depth of the Gulf is roughly 5,200 feet, but other parts of the Gulf of Mexico are surprisingly deep. Articles from Britannica Encyclopedias for elementary and high school students. It was used by the early Europeans as an exploration route to explore the Americas. The dead zones are incapable of supporting aquatic flora and fauna. "IHO-IOC GEBCO Gazetteer of Undersea Feature Names (Microsoft Excel spreadsheet/Adobe PDF document formats)", "Sixteenth Meeting of the GEBCO Sub-committee on Undersea Feature Names (SCUFN)", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Sigsbee_Deep&oldid=1009657881, This page was last edited on 1 March 2021, at 17:52. 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. 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. A sea lily (Crinoidea) rests in the middle of a mushroom coral (Anthomastus sp.) The Gulf of Mexico is a part of the Atlantic Ocean and is considered an ocean basin and marginal sea. How did this mountain lion reach an uninhabited island? Human activities in and around the Gulf of Mexico such as agricultural practices, oil spills, and shipwrecks are harming the ecosystem. The Gulf of Mexico is fed by the waters of 33 American rivers, the largest of which is the Mississippi River. Data gathered by oil exploration companies was combined to create the highest resolution map ever made of the area. Fishing is productive in the Gulf because of the connection with tidal streams and local estuaries. Though similar to the failed top kill, mud could be injected at much lower pressures during the static kill because of the stabilizing influence of the capping stack. Efforts to protect and conserve the thriving ecosystem found here are a serious priority as continuous ecological discoveries are being made and new species are being discovered. A Comprehensive Guide. It later emerged through documents released by Wikileaks that a similar incident had occurred on a BP-owned rig in the Caspian Sea in September 2008. Birds were particularly vulnerable to the effects of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. Over 40 species of sharks live in the Gulf of Mexico. Cleanup crews attempted to burn the oil off of the water, gather the oil and move it, and block it from hitting the coast. Northern Gulf of Mexico deepwater bathymetry grid created from 3D seismic surveys. In 2011, the oil taken from the gulf made up 54 percent of U.S. oil. 11 Facts You Should Know. 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. Sigsbee Deep is a variant name for the United States Board on Geographic Names (BGN) approved name of Mexico Basin for cartographic materials produced by Federal agencies. The Gulf of Mexico is roughly oval-shaped with a long dimension of about 950 mi (1,500 km). Now thats deep! The groundbreaking promise of cellular housekeeping. There is much speculation as to what caused the explosions. Located in between the U.S. coast and Yucatan Peninsula, this deep rests on an area of salt beds created millions of years ago. 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). With millions of gallons of oil spilled in the sea, the response effort was large and has lasted for over a decade. A new high-resolution map of the floor of the Gulf of Mexico was released to the public. They said this would protect shipping, and in the event of an emergency, rescue would be nearby. These include Kemps ridley, loggerhead, green turtle, leatherback, and hawksbill. So is the Gulf of Mexico an ocean? 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. However, the hurricanes which do reach land can cause catastrophic devastation. Hurricanes are common along the Gulf Coast, such as Katrina in 2005, Ike in 2008, Harvey in 2016, and Michael in 2018. Which travel companies promote harmful wildlife activities? Fishermen found Heather Strickland's body in a trash bag miles off the coast of Pinellas County, Florida, in December 2022. One escarpment has a towering drop of 1,220 meters and extends for 560 kilometers, or 348 miles. Enter your email in the box below to get the most mind-blowing animal stories and videos delivered directly to your inbox every day. Scientists just confirmed a 30-foot void first detected inside the monument years ago. A gulf is an inlet of the ocean into the land. But it wasnt good enough for biologists who needed a more detailed picture of the area around the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill so they could assess the ecological damage. In this guide, we explain exactly where the Gulf of Mexico is and what its boundaries are, and we include a Gulf of Mexico map so you can see a visual of it. Eco-friendly burial alternatives, explained. 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). These nutrients favor the growth of algae and results in an algal bloom. West views and deep water! The BP Deepwater Horizon catastrophe in 2010 spilled 205.8 million gallons of oil and 225,000 tons of methane into the Gulf of Mexico. Leopard is located in OCS block Alaminos Canyon (AC) 691, approximately 20 miles (32 kilometers) east of the Whale discovery, 20 miles (32 km) south of the recently appraised Blacktip discovery . Corrections? It is enclosed largely by North America. Fishing in the Gulf of Mexico: - Top spots & species - How to fish (charter fishing, deep sea fishing, shore fishing) - When to come | For beginners and pros . The strength and wind speed of a hurricane vary from a Category 1, which is 74-95 mph, to Category 5, which has wind speeds over 157 mph. Thirty-one nominal species of the benthic harpacticoid family Zosimeidae Seifried, 2003 are known from several coastal systems less than 200 m depth and the deep sea. Today, there are roughly 27,000 abandoned oil and gas wells underneath the Gulf. Following the continental shelf edge westward, Diaphus Bank rises about 48 miles west of the Mississippi Trough. Fish caught in the Gulf of Mexico make up about of the total catch in the US. Due to the warm water temperatures in the Gulf of Mexico, hurricanes regularly form there. The two reefs the East Flower Garden Bank and the West Flower Garden Bank were designated as a marine sanctuary in 1992. The Gulf of Mexico produces nearly 20% of all U.S. crude oil. These banks provide critical habitats for many marine animals including commercially valuable fishes, sharks, rays, and sea turtles. You can change between miles or km at any time. What caused the Deepwater Horizon oil spill? Youre probably familiar with the beautiful sandy beaches in Florida or the sprawling coastlines packed with beachgoers in South Padre Island, however, there are countless beautiful beaches along the Gulf of Mexico to be found throughout Mexico, Cuba, and the U.S. With an average temperature between 84F and 88F the Gulf of Mexico is a perfect vacation destination. Some of these Gulf of Mexico sharks include bull sharks, hammerhead sharks, and lemon sharks. It is enclosed largely by North America. Briney, Amanda. Because salt doesnt compact under the weight of overlying layers like sediment does, it ends up being less dense than the sediment above it. The Gulf of Mexico is connected to the Caribbean Sea via the Yucatn Channel (between Cuba and Mexico); and with the Atlantic Ocean through the Straits of Florida (between Cuba and US). Both are partially detailed in a lengthy 1975 National Academy of Sciences report on ocean contaminants. They start at the state waterline (nine nautical miles out) and go all the way to the edge of the continental shelf, 100 miles offshore. It Holds as Much Power as Beauty The Gulf of Mexico is a rich reservoir of natural gas and oil. It is a popular fishing destination, and its waters are used for transportation, recreation, and tourism. Introduction. At its deepest point the bottom is 2.7 miles underwater, but most of the Gulf is much shallower. While most of the Gulf of Mexico is fairly shallow, its deepest point is Sigsbee Deep, which has an estimated maximum depth of 14,383 feet! Why wetlands are so critical for life on Earth, Rest in compost? below the gulf's surface, with a circumference of 100 feet (30 m) and 12 feet (3.7 m) feet deep, which is four to five times saltier than the rest of the water. They connect a sea/ocean to a landmass and often have narrower openings than bays (although this isnt a hard rule). [3] The Sigsbee Abyssal Plain is the deepest and flattest sector of the deep basin.[1]. This has led to the creation of dead zones in the Gulf Region, which runs east-west for over 22,730 km2 along the coasts of Louisiana and Texas. Unauthorized use is prohibited. The Alabama Gulf Coast boasts the largest artificial reef program in the nation, with 1,136 square miles of artificial reefs located at the bottom of the Gulf of Mexico. Public domain image from the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration Padre Island has its origins in the Gulf of Mexico. . The Gulf of Mexico is shallower, saltier, and warmer than the Atlantic Ocean. NOAA. The accident resulted in the deaths of 11 workers and caused a massive, ongoing oil spill into the Gulf of Mexico. A Deep Dive into the United States First Underwater Museum, This article appears in the inaugural issue of 30AsBeach HappyMagazine. . 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. 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. But its not just another waterway. Some 1,680 miles of the US coastline and 1,743 miles of the Mexican coastline borders the Gulf of Mexico. These strange, complex configurations are part of the geology that created the conditions that allowed vast oil deposits to collect. The Gulf of Mexico was likely formed roughly 300 million years ago when part of the ocean floor gradually sank due to plate tectonics. Your personal data will be governed by Mapsofworld, When Did Alaska Become Part of the United States. These complex ecosystems include corals, fish, anemones, sponges, and sea cucumbers-but limited knowledge about these habitats creates challenges for their restoration. The Gulf of Mexico is exploited for oil and hence several offshore oil drilling rigs have been drilled for exploration and mining in the Bay of Campeche and the western Gulf region.