Moll's map covers all of the West Indies . Its, therefore, the largest ocean in the world. The entire area of the Caribbean Sea, the numerous islands of the West Indies, and adjacent coasts are collectively known as the Caribbean. 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. Which is the largest, how deep are they, and how critical are they to the planets sustainability? [1] [2] The sea's deepest point is the Cayman Trough, between the Cayman Islands and Jamaica, at 7,686 . Ocean is home to over 9,000 species, most are near extinction. 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. Leeward side of lagoons provide areas of growth for sea grasses. Interestingly, the deepest point in the Atlantic Ocean is close to the Cayman Trough. The position of the Hallucigenia's head puzzled scientists for several years. Following the discovery of the islands by Columbus, the area was quickly colonised by several Western depth: 3,750 to 4,384 metres (12,303 to 14,383 ft) . The next stage of the Caribbean Sea's formation began in the Triassic. 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. [15], The habitats supported by the reefs are critical to such tourist activities as fishing and diving, and provide an annual economic value to Caribbean nations of US$3.14.6billion. With a total area of 106,460,000 sq. The Mediterranean Sea formed about 5.9 million years ago when it cut off from the Atlantic Ocean. Have a question? 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. Of the endemic species 48 are threatened with extinction including the Puerto Rican amazon, and the Zapata wren. The sea is one of the largest oil production areas in the world, producing approximately 170 million tons per year. Its natural beauty makes it a popular tourist destination. 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). Our editors will review what youve submitted and determine whether to revise the article. Average monthly air temperatures in winter vary from +23 in the north to +27 C on the southern coast of the sea. (Image credit: NOAA). Off the northeastern coast of South America, this current splits into the Caribbean Current, which passes into the Caribbean Sea and through the . The Caribbean Sea mostly occupies the Caribbean Plate and features many island arcs which separate it from the ocean. Previous Okeanos Explorer expeditions have come across unknown species, recorded known animals exhibiting never-before-seen behaviors and sighted live animals previously only observed as lifeless specimens, Kennedy said.Because of these characteristics, the area was identified by members of the ocean science community as important to explore, and data from the expedition will likely have long-lasting implications for scientists and resource managers in the Caribbean. Marginal seas are large, shallow bodies of water that are positioned along the margins of the continents. This Triangle has mysteriously led to the disappearance of many ships and airplanes. Since 2005 unusually warm Caribbean waters have been increasingly threatening Caribbean coral reefs. 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 eastern trade winds blow across the region leading to the creation of semi-arid and rainforest climates in the area. The Pacific Ocean basin covers approximately 1/3 of the Earths surface, making up about 46% of the water surface globally. 700 85. Deepest Point: Wheatley Deep (19,028 feet). 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). The sea is one of the largest oil production areas in the world, producing approximately 170million tons[clarification needed] per year. 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. 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). Clay minerals appear to have been washed down by the Amazon and Orinoco rivers, as well as by the Magdalena River in Colombia. 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. In the deep Caribbean Sea are multiple animals with limited vision and glow-in-the-dark scales. Forces producing the Panamanian isthmus and the Antillean arc were vertical, resulting in no ultimate horizontal movement. Guide to the Oceans. Rainfall varies from about 10 inches (25 cm) per year on the island of Bonaire off the coast of Venezuela to some 350 inches (900 cm) annually in parts of Dominica. 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. The Caribbean Sea is an oceanic sea largely situated on the Caribbean Plate. Of all the five oceans, the Pacific is the largest. He also traveled to the deepest point in the world, Marianas trench. You can still find creatures such as seals, penguins, and whales. Have a comment on this page? Public can watch seafloor discoveries live online from April 10 to 30, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. This sea began forming around 45 to 17 million years ago, leaving a V-shaped basin. The Southern Ocean basin (Antarctic Ocean) encircles Antarctica and extends to parts of the Atlantic, Pacific, and Indian Oceans. Mount Jamanota of 188 m (617 ft) is the highest point. Located in the northern part of the Caribbean Sea is the Greater Antilles Island group. 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). Contact us today. While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. The Mediterranean is home to over 17,000 marine species, including 712 species of fish. 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 Caribbean Sea (Spanish: Mar Caribe; French: Mer des Carabes; Haitian Creole: Lanm Karayib; Jamaican Patois: Kiaribiyan Sii; Dutch: Carabische Zee; Papiamento: Laman Karibe) is a sea of the Atlantic Ocean in the tropics of the Western Hemisphere. According to the National Hurricane Center 385 hurricanes occurred in the Caribbean between 1494 and 1900. For example, guaiac wood (Guaiacum officinale), the flower of which is the national flower of Jamaica and the Bayahibe rose (Pereskia quisqueyana) which is the national flower of the Dominican Republic and the ceiba which is the national tree of both Puerto Rico and Guatemala. The northeast trade winds dominate the region with an average velocity of 10 to 20 miles (16 to 32 km) per hour. The average depth of the Caribbean Sea is approximately 7,220 feet below the sea's surface. The preferred oceanographic term for the Caribbean is the Antillean-Caribbean Sea, which, together with the Gulf of Mexico, forms the Central American Sea. Please leave a comment below and lets know what came to you as a surprise. 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. Sea of the Atlantic Ocean bounded by North, Central and South America. Continued destruction of the reefs could severely damage the region's economy. It was formed about 34 million years ago when South America and Antarctica separated. Some features, like canyons and seamounts, might look familiar, while others, such as hydrothermal vents and methane seeps, are unique to the deep. Where there are porous limestone terraced islands these are generally poor in nutrients. The Caribbean monk seal which lived in the Caribbean is considered extinct. It has an average depth of 2200 meters with a deepest point of 7500 meters below the surface. On continental slopes and ridges calcareous silts are found. The ocean basin is home to about 25,000 islands and over 228450 species, including hammered sharks, elephant seals, killer whales, penguins, and sea slugs. Well be exploring an area of the United States Exclusive Economic Zone that science knows very little about, said Alan Leonardi, Ph.D, director of NOAAs Office of Ocean Exploration and Research, the federal program responsible for coordinating this expedition. Below is a list of how weve ranked the worlds most extensive oceans and seas, including their area, average depth, and deepest point. According to the National Ocean Service, the oldest rock in this ocean dates back about 200 million years. Other floral species that are found in the Caribbean region include mahogany, caimito, coconut palms, and mangroves. km, the Atlantic Ocean contains several notable marginal seas. The Caribbean Sea is also massive, with an area of 1,063,000 square miles. Panel Chairman in Marine Biology, Gulf University Research Corporation. The island of Jamaica is home to seals and manatees. Treaty on maritime boundaries between the United States of America and the United Mexican States (Caribbean Sea and Pacific Ocean), . The Antilles along with Central America lie in the flight path of migrating birds from North America so the size of populations is subject to seasonal fluctuations. While the ocean has an average depth of 2.3 miles, the shape and depth of the seafloor is complex. Subantarctic intermediate water (i.e., water differing in several characteristics from the surface and bottom layers of water that it separates) enters the Caribbean below the Anegada Passage at depths of 1,600 to 3,300 feet (500 to 1,000 metres). Deepest Point: Sunda Trench (23,920 feet). [19], After the Mediterranean, the Caribbean Sea is the second most polluted sea. Deepest Point: China Sea Basin (16,456 feet). In 1963 one of the deadliest hurricanes on record, Flora, caused the loss of more than 7,000 lives and extensive property damage in the Caribbean alone. The Caribbean Sea experiences a tropical climate that is highly influenced by elevations, trade winds, and tropical ocean currents. 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. When I am not writing, you can find me in front of my TV with a blanket, snacks, and my fur babies. The Pacific is the deepest basin of the global ocean. Keep reading to find out! There's a pesky problem in a wide stretch of the Atlantic Ocean that's likely to wash up on some beaches later this year: Seaweed. New York: Random House. Privacy Policy. During the Cretaceous the Caribbean acquired the shape close to that seen today. Guide to the Oceans. I graduated from college with an A.A, but I am still pursuing a Bachelors of Marketing degree. Transport and trading activities across this sea attracted pirates in the 1560s. Two years later, they revisited the research and found a new shrimp species. The average depth of the Atlantic Ocean is 12,880 feet (3,926 meters) and the deepest point is the Puerto Rico Trench at -28,231 feet (-8,605 meters). The age and size of an ocean influence its depth. Three phases of sedimentation have been identified. Together with the Gulf of Mexico, the Caribbean Sea has been erroneously termed the American Mediterranean, owing to the fact that, like the Mediterranean Sea, it is located between two continental landmasses. During this mission, they discovered extremely hot black smokers at the deepest point yet (3.1 miles). The most common deep Caribbean Sea animals are comb jellies, deep-sea dragonfish, and rattail fish. Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). American Oceans, Stingray vs Manta Ray: Their Differences Explained. It is a unique sea with lots of wildlife, over 7,000 islands, and thousands of miles of coral reefs. (1991). National Geophysical Data Center, 1999. In the early Carboniferous movement of Gondwana to the north and its convergence with the Euramerica basin decreased in size. I have been a professional content writer for 6 years now, with a large focus on nature, gardening, food, and animals. NOAA Technical Memorandum NESDIS NGDC-24. 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. 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. 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. 150m. See also: Types of Ocean Storms Ways to Save the Ocean Overfishing in the Ocean List of Marine Invertebrates 2. On the western side is the Gulf of Aden, which connects this sea to the Red Sea. The Pacific Ocean is the oldest of all existing oceans. 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