Go the Distance. The floor of the Gulf of Mexico is one of the most geologically interesting stretches of the Earth's surface. The Gulf of Mexico features a wide continental shelf, specifically around Florida and the Yucatn Peninsula. In addition to the oil, nearly 2 million gallons of toxic dispersants were sprayed into the Gulf's waters. 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. Floridas coral reefs attract visitors from around the world and generate more than $17 billion in tourism annually. The Gulf of Mexico is somewhat shallow, along the coastal continental shelf areas, and has an average depth of 1,615m. 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. While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. Some of the devastating hurricanes in the Gulf of Mexico region include Hurricane Katrina (2005), Hurricane Ike (2008), Hurricane Harvey (2016), Hurricane Michael (2018), Hurricane Rita, Galveston Hurricane, etc. See how other students and parents are navigating high school, college, and the college admissions process. . A study has dated the coral to be at least 2,000 years old. Over the next 150 million years the gulf continued to deepen and enlarge with the movements of the earth. Every year, millions of birds migrate during fall, and many of them fly over the Gulf of Mexico during their trip. How did the Deepwater Horizon oil spill affect birds? These slow-growing, long-living animals thrive in very deep waters300 meters (984 feet) and . How a zoo break-in changed the life of an owl called Flaco, Naked mole rats are fertile until they die, study finds. The Gulf State Park Fishing and Education Pier is the second-longest pier in the Gulf of Mexico. Shannon's experience as a pet parent shapes her writing and empowers her to produce informative and engaging content. Now that's deep! The Gulf of Mexico also features numerous coastal wetlands and mangrove forests. After the discovery of Cuba and Mexico by the early Europeans, Spain had led a military invasion through the Gulf to colonize these areas. Recreational and commercial fishing, water sports, scuba diving, and tourism also forms a significant part of the economy of the surrounding areas. 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. Over 400 species of birds have been recorded visiting our coast while migrating southward. Bacteria that had adapted to consuming naturally occurring gas and oil seeping from the seabed were thought to have consumed a portion of it. Not only does it border five U.S. states Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, and Florida but the Gulf of Mexico also borders Cuba and part of Mexico. Cleanupand fines cost BP $65 billion. But the Gulf is also a habitat for other sea animals including dolphins, whales, sea turtles, and manatees. The Western Gulf of Mexico, and. Warning: THIS DATA IS NOT TO BE USED FOR NAVIGATION NGDC Coastal Relief Model Vol. It has been estimated that the Gulf of Mexico yields more shrimp, finfish, and shellfish per year than the New England, Chesapeake, south, and Mid-Atlantic areas combined. Covering an area of 1,507,639 km2, the Gulf of Mexico is a marginal sea of the Atlantic Ocean and the worlds largest gulf. Zoom and drag the map to find the location of marker 2. 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. "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. Because this continental shelf is easily accessible, the Gulf of Mexico is exploited for oil with offshore oil drilling rigs centered in the Bay of Campeche and the western Gulf region. 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). The casual observer would need to watch the coral for many years possibly hundreds to notice any difference in its growth, however. A well-preserved shipwreck is seen in the Gulf of Mexico. Different species of jellyfish are also commonly found in the waters of the Gulf of Mexico. One escarpment has a towering drop of 1,220 meters and extends for 560 kilometers, or 348 miles. The volume of water in the basin is roughly 2.4 10 6 cubic kilometers (5.8 10 5 cubic miles). 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. An underwater brine pool off the coast of New Orleans, known as the Hot Tub of Despair, was found in the Gulf of Mexico in 2014. Scientists just confirmed a 30-foot void first detected inside the monument years ago. $3,300,000 USD: 140 feet on the Gulf! Check out these interesting facts to learn more about the Gulf of Mexico. The Gulf of Mexico has a maximum width of 932.06 miles and a surface area of approximately 600,000 square miles. Birds were particularly vulnerable to the effects of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. The Deepwater Horizon oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico was the largest marine oil spill in U.S. history. 2014). Unfortunately, yes. Eco-friendly burial alternatives, explained. It is a popular fishing destination, and its waters are used for transportation, recreation, and tourism. Click to place marker 2. How many miles deep is the Gulf of Mexico? What if we could clean them out? Eleven people died in the explosion and an estimated 5,000 barrels of oil per day leaked into the Gulf of Mexico from the 18,000-foot (5,486 m) well on the platform. A Deep Dive into the United States First Underwater Museum, This article appears in the inaugural issue of 30AsBeach HappyMagazine. What are the circles in the Gulf of Mexico? 30A has raised over $3 million for coastal charities, and has given away 4 million of its famous blue 30A stickers. Most of the basin consists of shallow intertidal areas, but its deepest point is called Sigsbee Deep and has an estimated depth of about 14,383 feet (4,384 m). The largest of these rivers is the Mississippi River. With millions of gallons of oil spilled in the sea, the response effort was large and has lasted for over a decade. These include: Atlantic Spotted dolphin, Striped dolphin, Frasers dolphin, Pantropical spotted dolphin, Clymene dolphin, and Spinner dolphin. The Gulf of Mexico today is bordered by 1,680 miles (2,700 km) of U.S. coastline and is fed with water from 33 major rivers that flow out of the United States. ". 1. At least 25 species of shark are found in the Gulf of Mexico region. The distance will be displayed below the map in miles or kilometers. This entailed pumping cement through a channelknown as a relief wellthat paralleled and eventually intersected the original well. The 5 Strategies You Must Be Using to Improve 160+ SAT Points, How to Get a Perfect 1600, by a Perfect Scorer, Free Complete Official SAT Practice Tests. Cuba is located to the southeast of the Gulf of Mexico. Recreation and the tourism sector are important industries in the regions that surround the Gulf of Mexico. In the fall of 2021, nine new sections of reefs totaling 110 square miles were added to the pre-existing zones. At least 49 different species of sharks have been known to hang out in the gulf waters. The Gulf formed about 300 million years ago, and in all it encompasses 600,000 square miles. Due to the warm water temperatures in the Gulf of Mexico, hurricanes regularly form there. The Gulf of Mexico is the largest gulf in the world, as well as the worlds 9th largest body of water. She has taught English and biology in several countries. 30A is the #1 Guide to Floridas Scenic Highway 30-A. The Gulf of Mexico is known for beautiful white-sand beaches and exciting offshore fishing. They are often connected to the ocean by narrow water passages but that is not always observed in all geographical areas. Tourism accounts for $100 billion annually and in 2008 the fishing harvest from five Gulf states totaled $661 million. So is the Gulf of Mexico an ocean? Lines of underwater microphones pulled along the surface behind the ship record how long it takes the reflected waves to reach them, data that can then be translated into topography. Although it is rare to see sharks in our waters, around 50 species call the Gulf of Mexico home. Over 750 historical shipwrecks have occurred in the Gulf of Mexico, some of which date back to the 16th century. Human activities in and around the Gulf of Mexico such as agricultural practices, oil spills, and shipwrecks are harming the ecosystem. What is wind chill, and how does it affect your body? The Gulf of Mexico contains seven barrier islands located along the Gulfs northwestern part. It is a warm Atlantic Ocean current and the warmth of this current is the cause of the formation of devastating Atlantic hurricanes. Half of the crater is located on land while the other half is under the waters of the Gulf of Mexico. Thats great news when it comes to reaching those shipwrecks. 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 gulf's peculiar history gave rise to a landscape riddled with domes,. The area then filled with seawater, forming the Gulf of Mexico. 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. The Overwater Argument. Northern Gulf of Mexico deepwater bathymetry grid created from 3D seismic surveys. Several copepods of the family Zosimeidae were found in deep-sea sediment samples from the Gulf of Mexico and the Gulf of California (Mexico). Some of the important fishes include Albacore tuna, Red snapper, greater amberjack, tarpon, grouper, Atlantic spadefish, king mackerel, Gulf flounder, bluefish, etc. The roughly 5,000-year-old human remains were found in graves from the Yamnaya culture, and the discovery may partially explain their rapid expansion throughout Europe. How deep is the Gulf of Mexico? The Gulf of Mexico supports huge populations of fishes. At least 33 species of whales are found in the Gulf of Mexico. Only about 25 percent of the oil was recovered, leaving more than 154 million gallons of oil at sea. These hurricanes are either formed or make their way into the Gulf and eventually make landfall in the areas surrounding the Gulf of Mexico. Visit the National Saltwater Angler Registry to ensure you are registered. So, while the average depth of the Gulf of Mexico is not incredibly deep, there are some areas that are quite deep. Which travel companies promote harmful wildlife activities? The Gulf of Mexico (Golfo de Mxico in Spanish) is located in the Atlantic Ocean, and the majority of it is bordered by the United States and Mexico. You can try your hand at the pirates life with an adventure on a pirate ship cruise in Orange Beach. 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. The Gulf of Mexico is shallower, saltier, and warmer than the Atlantic Ocean. The two reefs the East Flower Garden Bank and the West Flower Garden Bank were designated as a marine sanctuary in 1992. The second had been intended to serve as a backup and was not completed. The shores of the Gulf of Mexico also serve as important habitats for different shorebirds and waterfowls. While the Gulf of Mexico was once the source of colonization and discovery for early explorers, today its known for its four major industries oil and gas, shipping, fishing, and tourism. Its no secret that the best seafood comes from the Gulf, which is why 75% of the shrimp in the United States comes from the Gulf of Mexico. Deep below the surface, salt domes protrude from the seafloor and some of the . The Gulf is about 1, 000 miles wide, as much as 14, 000 feet deep, and receives runoff from vast areas of the continent. MarineMax Panama City Beach | MarineMax Fort Walton Beach | MarineMax Pensacola | Grady-White Boats, Posted by 30A on Wednesday, 2 February 2022. 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. How Far Until You Reach the Seafloor of the Gulf of Mexico? The Gulf of Mexico is the largest Gulf in the world and the tenth biggest body of water in the world. visits the Gulf of Mexico. Now thats deep! It is largely surrounded by the continent of North America. Contact the AZ Animals editorial team. The committee discussion of the United States nomination Mexico Basin as having the exact coordinates of 23 52 N 91 35 W as the Sigsbee Deep under consideration noted the Mexico Basin is in the GEBCO Gazetteer with coordinates of 22 30 N 95 00 W to 25 00 N 90 00 W.[5][Note 2] The issue appears to be one of the entire basin or a particular point within the basin for application of the names. 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! The volume of oil escaping the damaged welloriginally estimated by BP to be about 1,000 barrels per daywas thought by U.S. government officials to have peaked at more than 60,000 barrels per day. [4] A proposal by the United States renaming Sigsbee Deep, with coordinates of 23 52 N 91 35 W, to "Mexico basin" was rejected by the Sixteenth Meeting of the GEBCO Sub-committee on Undersea Feature Names (SCUFN), the international authority on feature names, in 2003 with the note that it is "an historical name dating back to Sir John Murray." That project also supported efforts in the characterization of surface oil spills from . Some of the notable species include Blacktip shark, Bonnethead shark, Bull shark, Great hammerhead shark, Lemon shark, Nurse shark, and Sand Tiger Shark. More than 400 species of shellfish are found in the Gulf region. 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). Fishing is productive in the Gulf because of the connection with Sarasota Bay and other local estuaries. Cuba, crossed some of the deepest parts of the Gulf of Mexico over 100 miles offshore, which therefore increases the . On April 20, 2010, an explosion on the Deepwater Horizon platform caused the largest oil spill in history.
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