how deep is the gulf of mexico in miles
Some of these Gulf of Mexico sharks include bull sharks, hammerhead sharks, and lemon sharks. [2] As described below there is some confusion of names that apply to the basin or a particular point in the basin with both being found in technical and popular literature applying to both basin and the coordinates. The Gulf of Mexico contains seven barrier islands located along the Gulfs northwestern part. A few hundred years ago, our beaches were home to pirates who hid in Perdido Pass and Perdido Bay while waiting to raid ships in the Gulf. Fishermen found Heather Strickland's body in a trash bag miles off the coast of Pinellas County, Florida, in December 2022. These four industries produce nearly $234 billion annually. The Deepwater Horizon oil spill in pictures, The Perils of Industry: 10 Notable Accidents and Catastrophes, https://www.britannica.com/event/Deepwater-Horizon-oil-spill, National Ocean Service - Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill, Deepwater Horizon oil spill of 2010 - Student Encyclopedia (Ages 11 and up), Deepwater Horizon oil spill: debris and oil, Deepwater Horizon oil spill of 2010: path of the oil, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Not according to biology or history. The Gulf of Mexico is the largest gulf in the world, as well as the worlds 9th largest body of water. 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. Although Native Americans living in the region used the Gulf of Mexico for centuries as a source of food and building materials, the first European to explore the Gulf was Italian Amerigo Vespucci in 1497. On April 20, 2010, BP's mobile offshore drilling unit Deepwater Horizon exploded, burned, and subsequently sank in the Gulf of Mexico 52 miles southeast of Venice, Louisiana. He was a research editor with Encyclopaedia Britannica, Inc. from 2008 to 2016 and worked on Britannica Blog from 2010 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. The plan would mainly limit drilling to the Gulf of Mexico, with one proposed lease sale in waters off Alaska. These banks provide critical habitats for many marine animals including commercially valuable fishes, sharks, rays, and sea turtles. Get a Britannica Premium subscription and gain access to exclusive content. The Gulf of Mexico is a large ocean basin near the Southeastern United States. The Gulf of Mexico is believed to contain over 660 quadrillion gallons of water. Oceans, the largest bodies of water in the world, have no exact boundaries, and they are bordered by seas (the Caribbean Sea separates the Gulf of Mexico from the Atlantic Ocean). 30A is the #1 Guide to Floridas Scenic Highway 30-A. 10. They said this would protect shipping, and in the event of an emergency, rescue would be nearby. Both are partially detailed in a lengthy 1975 National Academy of Sciences report on ocean contaminants. The Deepwater Horizon rig, owned and operated by offshore-oil-drilling company Transocean and leased by oil company BP, was situated in the Macondo oil prospect in the Mississippi Canyon, a valley in the continental shelf. It is a part of the Atlantic Ocean and is bounded by Mexico to the southwest, Cuba to the southeast, and the Gulf Coast of the United States on the north, which includes the states of Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, and Texas (map). The surface area of the Gulf of California is about 160,000 km2 (or 62,000 square miles). Here are 11 facts about the Gulf. Bats and agaves make tequila possibleand theyre both at risk, This empress was the most dangerous woman in Rome. 2. 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 mans world? These animals can sniff it out. Ask questions; get answers. 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. Scientists warn that the "dead zone" wreaking havoc on marine life in the Gulf of Mexico will cover almost 9,000 square miles this summer. Endangered sea turtles also use the coast as their nursery and require the Sargassum, seaweed that floats on the surface of the water, to feed, along with fish, seahorses, and other marine life. http://articles.latimes.com/2010/apr/23/nation/la-na-oil-rig-20100423, http://www.nytimes.com/2010/04/29/us/29spill.html, http://www.epa.gov/gmpo/about/facts.html#resources, M.A., Geography, California State University - East Bay, B.A., English and Geography, California State University - Sacramento, Fausset, Richard. coastline, at least 1,200 square miles of the deep ocean floor, and 68,000 square miles of surface water. The Gulf of Mexico is roughly oval-shaped with a long dimension of about 950 mi (1,500 km). The Deepwater Horizon oil spill occurred after a surge of natural gas blasted through a concrete core recently installed to seal an oil well for later use. 4. They die when they enter and are preserved by the high salt content, pickled in their tracks! 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. While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions. The Gulf is about 1, 000 miles wide, as much as 14, 000 feet deep, and receives runoff from vast areas of the continent. 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). Natural gas is also extracted. Its considered one of the worst natural disasters in history, and efforts to reverse some of the damage that was caused are still ongoing. Red tide algae blooms in the Gulf have led to large die-offs of marine species, and the Gulf of Mexico is reported to contain one of the highest levels of microplastics in the world. 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). 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 College Entrance Examination BoardTM does not endorse, nor is it affiliated in any way with the owner or any content of this site. To its north, northeast, and northwest, the Gulf of Mexico is bordered by the Gulf Coast of the United States (Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, and Florida). 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. Efforts in May to place a containment dome over the largest leak in the broken riser were thwarted by the buoyant action of gas hydratesgas molecules in an ice matrixformed by the reaction of natural gas and cold water. Both cores were likely too weak to withstand the pressure because they were composed of a concrete mixture that used nitrogen gas to accelerate curing. Which travel companies promote harmful wildlife activities? The Gulf of Mexico is the ninth largest body of water in the world. It has grown to become one of the worlds most important offshore petroleum production sites, and about 17% of the USs oil comes from there. Look forBeach Happy magazine at Barnes & Noble, Books-A-Million, Publix, Kroger and other major outlets. The average depth of the Gulf of Mexico is approximately 1,600 meters, or 5,200 feet. Plenty of marine life lives on its borders but its a rare occurring killer lake for sure. The distance will be displayed below the map in miles or kilometers. The Gulf of Mexico basin appears to have formed ~200 million years ago as the result of rifting within North . From April through October 2022, NOAA and a diverse set of collaborators embarked on a set of eight scientific cruises in some of the Gulf of Mexico . Besides the economic importance of the Gulf of Mexico, there are countless natural treasures to be found. Shrimp and oysters are the most common fish products harvested from the Gulf. 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. Here's where to find more lumps to fish in the gulf. Before the Gulf of Mexico exists the landscape was a continuous mountain range that spanned from Central Mexico up to West Texas, Oklahoma, and Alabama where it connected to the Appalachia Mountains. Once released, the natural gas traveled up a riser to the platform of the Deepwater Horizon oil rig that was over the well, where it ignited, killing 11 workers and injuring 17. 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! On August 3 BP conducted a static kill, a procedure in which drilling mud was pumped into the well through the BOP. Off the sands in Florida lies a 360-mile stretch of coral Reefs which developed 10,000 years ago during the last Ice Age. The western end of the island of Cuba forms a partial barrier to the eastern Gulf of Mexico, where it joins the Caribbean Sea. key transcendentalist beliefs, an overview of the movement's history, and key players. The marine flora in the Gulf of Mexico includes seagrasses, mangroves, marine algae, and marsh grasses. Additional explorers, such as Francisco Hernndez de Crdoba Pnfilo de Narvez later explored the area, often capturing and enslaving local people as they did so. 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 . Boasting some of the worlds most diverse coral reef ecosystems in the Caribbean and Florida, the Gulf of Mexico also is home to black coral, which is the oldest living marine organism currently known. How many miles deep is the Gulf of Mexico? Over the next 150 million years the gulf continued to deepen and enlarge with the movements of the earth. . Interested in early American history? A second disposal location roughly 125 miles south of Galveston, Texas, is known as Site A, and the Mississippi Canyon area is known as Site B. The Interior Department's five-year offshore leasing plan is required by law. Fishing is productive in the Gulf because of the connection with tidal streams and local estuaries. The average depth of the Gulf is roughly 5,200 feet, but other parts of the Gulf of Mexico are surprisingly deep. Black coral that grows in the Gulf of Mexico is thought to be one of the oldest living organisms on Earth. at about 7,000-8,000 feet deep in the Gulf of Mexico. The First European Settlement Was at Pensacola Bay, Over 60 Million Americans Live Along the Gulf. She holds a Certificate of Advanced Study in Geographic Information Systems (GIS) from California State University. 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. Eighteen percent of the country's oil comes from offshore wells in the Gulf. South of Cocodrie at 28.09 degrees North and 90.71 degrees West, Diaphus Bank covers about 20 square miles. 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. The Deepwater Horizon oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico was the largest marine oil spill in U.S. history. The largest of these rivers is the Mississippi River. ", Robertson, Campbell and Leslie Kaufman. The Brydes whale has recently been declared as an endemic species. The US States that border the Gulf of Mexico are famous for their beautiful beaches. Shrimp and oysters are among the largest fish products that come from the Gulf. 2014). The average depth of the Gulf of Mexico is approximately 1,600 meters, or 5,200 feet. "A recent forecast of the size of the 'Dead ZoneR The position of the West Florida Escarpment is shown . Our area is home to the largest fleet of charter fishing boats on the Gulf of Mexico, with over 100 in the destination. What is wind chill, and how does it affect your body? Monster Mahi Mahi, Grouper, Snapper, Cobia, and . The area of the Gulf of Mexico is about 615,000 square mi (1.6 million square km). The Gulf of Mexico is the ninth largest body of water in the world at a width of 810 nautical miles (1,500 km). The basin is roughly circular in shape and approximately 810 nautical miles (1,500 km) wide. It doesnt hurt that a large part of the Gulf is right over the North American Continental Shelves, which means the water is fairly shallow. Today, the most serious pollution threats to the Gulf of Mexico come from oil drilling and agricultural runoff. Despite what we know, there is much to be discovered in the depths of the Sigsbee Deep as there has been little exploration since its discovery. We end with some fun facts about the Gulf (spoiler alert: its home to a lot of sharks!). Home Fishing Ocean Depth Maps Florida and Eastern Gulf of Mexico. nutrient-enriched waters from the deep by a process known as upwelling, which stimulates plankton growth in the euphotic zone. 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. Cleanupand fines cost BP $65 billion. There are also several ships sunk in deep water off the mouth of the Mississippi River by German U-boats during World War II, as well as the only German U-boat sunk in the Northern Gulf by Allied forces, the U-166. Facts About Marine Life in the Gulf of Mexico, 10 Facts About the Geography of Baja California. One of Earth's loneliest volcanoes holds an extraordinary secret. Some of the important fishes include Albacore tuna, Red snapper, greater amberjack, tarpon, grouper, Atlantic spadefish, king mackerel, Gulf flounder, bluefish, etc. How big is the Gulf of Mexico? The Gulf of Mexico is shallower, saltier, and warmer than the Atlantic Ocean.
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