Please be respectful of copyright. About 5 million acres of wetlands border the Gulf of Mexico. The wetlands along the Gulf of Mexico cover around 5 million acres (2.02 million hectares). The Jacuzzi of Despair as its called, is a combination of methane gas and hydrogen sulfide that kills all creatures who enter it. It is a warm Atlantic Ocean current and the warmth of this current is the cause of the formation of devastating Atlantic hurricanes. The Gulf of Mexico is fed by the waters of 33 American rivers, the largest of which is the Mississippi River. Both oceans and gulfs are large bodies of saltwater, but gulfs are smaller and are bordered on three sides by land. Our area is home to the largest fleet of charter fishing boats on the Gulf of Mexico, with over 100 in the destination. "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. coastline, at least 1,200 square miles of the deep ocean floor, and 68,000 square miles of surface water. The black coral that lives in the Gulf has been found recently to be in the running for one of the oldest living things on earth. The average depth of the Gulf is roughly 5,200 feet, but other parts of the Gulf of Mexico are surprisingly deep. 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. Some portions of the loop current often break away, forming gyres or eddies which further affects the regional current patterns. 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. [3] The actual maximum depth is disputed and estimates range between 3,750 and 4,384 metres (12,303 and 14,383 ft). Oil and gas interests generate about $124 billion, nearly half the sum generated by all industries combined. 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. Breathtaking vistas create an inviting back drop for all-season entertaining.. While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. This surpassed the 3.3 million barrels that spilled into the Bay of Campeche by the Mexican rig Ixtoc I in 1979. ???? The western end of the island of Cuba forms a partial barrier to the eastern Gulf of Mexico, where it joins the Caribbean Sea. The use of "Sigsbee" for the feature originates from Commander Charles Dwight Sigsbee's Gulf of Mexico surveys that defined the general features of the body while commanding officer of the USC&GS George S. Blake. Copyright 1996-2015 National Geographic SocietyCopyright 2015-2023 National Geographic Partners, LLC. These complex ecosystems include corals, fish, anemones, sponges, and sea cucumbers-but limited knowledge about these habitats creates challenges for their restoration. The wetlands here comprise nearly 30% of all wetlands in the United States. Only about 25 percent of the oil was recovered, leaving more than 154 million gallons of oil at sea. Various waterfowl, shorebirds, coral reef, and endangered sea turtles establish their habitats in the Gulf of Mexico which is crucial to their survival. "Dude, you have some terrible luck. 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 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. During the summer months, the sea surface temperature rises to about 32C. The Gulf of Mexico is the ninth largest body of water in the world at a width of 810 nautical miles (1,500 km). Today, there are roughly 27,000 abandoned oil and gas wells underneath the Gulf. Population along the Gulf coast exploded in the 1950s, and the rising number of people living along the Gulf resulted in increased pollution problems. Fishing is productive in the Gulf because of the connection with tidal streams and local estuaries. Along the south and southwest, the Gulf of Mexico is bordered by the Mexican states of Tamaulipas, Veracruz, Tabasco, Campeche,and Yucatn. There are 4,000 drilling platforms there. The Interior Department's five-year offshore leasing plan is required by law. 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. Deepwater Horizon oil spill, also called Gulf of Mexico oil spill, largest marine oil spill in history, caused by an April 20, 2010, explosion on the Deepwater Horizon oil riglocated in the Gulf of Mexico, approximately 41 miles (66 km) off the coast of Louisianaand its subsequent sinking on April 22. The new year once started in Marchhere's why, Jimmy Carter on the greatest challenges of the 21st century, This ancient Greek warship ruled the Mediterranean, How cosmic rays helped find a tunnel in Egypt's Great Pyramid, Who first rode horses? Marc Pagani Photography/Shutterstock.com. Although BP attempted to activate the rigs blowout preventer (BOP), a fail-safe mechanism designed to close the channel through which oil was drawn, the device malfunctioned. 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 coastal population of the five US states on the Gulf of Mexico is projected to increase from 44.2 million in 1995 to about 61.4 million in 2025. In geographic terms, the Gulf of Mexico is also an ocean basin. The entire basin is about 600,000 square miles (1.5 million sq km). 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. Direct access to the Gulf of Mexico and miles of pristine sandy beaches. About 5 million acres of wetlands border the Gulf of Mexico. Ask below and we'll reply! Gulfs are large bodies of saltwater that can be navigated and are nearly surrounded by land. . Looking for more fun facts? SANTA CRUZ, Calif. For the first time, scientists have been able to validate the age of deep-sea black corals in the Gulf of Mexico. In addition to the oil, nearly 2 million gallons of toxic dispersants were sprayed into the Gulf's waters. Northern Gulf of Mexico deepwater bathymetry grid created from 3D seismic surveys. 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 first European exploration of the Gulf of Mexico occurred in 1497 when Amerigo Vespucci sailed along Central America and entered the Atlantic Ocean through the Gulf of Mexico and the Straits of Florida (the strip of water between present-day Florida and Cuba). 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. Nice beaches and all, and warm for nine months a year, but if youre going anywhere west of about 85 degrees longitude, youll have the argument with yourself about cutting the corner across the Gulf. Human activities in and around the Gulf of Mexico such as agricultural practices, oil spills, and shipwrecks are harming the ecosystem. Data gathered by oil exploration companies was combined to create the highest resolution map ever made of the area. The First European Settlement Was at Pensacola Bay, Over 60 Million Americans Live Along the Gulf. (April 23, 2010). The Gulf of Mexico has been a source of oil since 1938, when the first oil well was drilled there. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. The Gulf's geologic origin remains uncertain. In response to their call for help, the BOEM devised a way to make a high-resolution map by combining the data from several 3-D seismic surveys that exploration companies had done in the area. The basin is roughly circular in shape and approximately 810 nautical miles (1,500 km) wide. . The Gulf of Mexico basin appears to have formed ~200 million years ago as the result of rifting within North . 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. 11 Facts You Should Know. In the fall of 2021, nine new sections of reefs totaling 110 square miles were added to the pre-existing zones. . Some bivalve species that are found here include oysters, mussels, clams, and scallops. I'm actually a little scared to get in a boat with you.". Articles from Britannica Encyclopedias for elementary and high school students. "A recent forecast of the size of the 'Dead ZoneR The deepest part of the Gulf of Mexico, Sigsbee Deep, is estimated to be around 14,383 feet deep while the average depth is around 5,300 feet. Briney, Amanda. What are the circles in the Gulf of Mexico? 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! Because the Gulf of Mexico borders a portion of Mexico, Cuba, and five states Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, and Texas, it is divided into seven regions based on specific geological and geographical factors. Florida and Eastern Gulf of Mexico Grids. 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. The average depth of the Gulf is roughly 1,615 metres (5,299ft). The Gulf of Mexico is the largest Gulf in the world and the tenth biggest body of water in the world. In the fall of 2021, nine new . . The average depth of the Gulf is roughly 5,200 feet, but other parts of the Gulf of Mexico are surprisingly deep. Monster Mahi Mahi, Grouper, Snapper, Cobia, and . In addition to this, the Gulf of Mexico provides critical habitats, feeding, and nursery grounds for the five species of endangered sea turtles that reside in its waters. The agricultural activities inland of the Gulf of Mexico coast have led to an increase in nitrogen-rich chemical fertilizers and pesticides and phosphorus-based detergents that are eventually washed away by rains or by rivers into the aquatic ecosystems. Gulf of Mexico water temperature: The surface water temperature of the Gulf of Mexico, as recorded in February, varies from 18C in the northern part of the Gulf to about 24C off the Yucatn coast. A Deep Dive into the United States First Underwater Museum, This article appears in the inaugural issue of 30AsBeach HappyMagazine. An ocean basin is simply any large area covered with seawater and located below sea level. About 4 of the United States largest fishing ports are located in the Gulf of Mexico region. 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. With the consent of the seven companies, the BOEM released the map to the public. As per different reports, about 11 people had lost their lives and about 5,000 barrels of oil/day had leaked into the Gulf of Mexico from the 5,486m deep well on the platform. The Deepwater Horizon oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico is the worst oil spill in history, leaving almost 5 million barrels of oil in the Gulf. Public domain image from the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration Padre Island has its origins in the Gulf of Mexico. A new high-resolution map of the floor of the Gulf of Mexico was released to the public. 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. The Gulf of Mexico, under ordinary conditions, has tides of two feet or less, but on the wide and shallow shelf such a variation is quite noticeable. Some of the important fishes include Albacore tuna, Red snapper, greater amberjack, tarpon, grouper, Atlantic spadefish, king mackerel, Gulf flounder, bluefish, etc. The Gulf is about 1, 000 miles wide, as much as 14, 000 feet deep, and receives runoff from vast areas of the continent. 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. From the floor of the basin rise the Sigsbee Knolls, some of which attain heights of 1,300 feet (400 metres); these are surface expressions of the buried salt domes. 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. The United States' proposal to rename the 23 52 N 91 35 W point "Mexico basin was rejected while the ACUF Mexico basin with "Sigsbee deep" as an alternate name is given in the NGA database as 25 N 92 W.[4][5], There are other features with BGN approved names in the region in recognition of this pioneer in deep ocean sounding and commander of the first true bathymetric survey of the Gulf of Mexico conducted while commanding USC&GS George S. Blake:[4][6], Coordinates: .mw-parser-output .geo-default,.mw-parser-output .geo-dms,.mw-parser-output .geo-dec{display:inline}.mw-parser-output .geo-nondefault,.mw-parser-output .geo-multi-punct{display:none}.mw-parser-output .longitude,.mw-parser-output .latitude{white-space:nowrap}2352N 9135W / 23.867N 91.583W / 23.867; -91.583, The name "Sigsbee Deep" has sometimes been applied to. Amanda Briney, M.A., is a professional geographer. Its four times as salty as the nearby seawater and is warmer as well. Interested in early American history? South of Cocodrie at 28.09 degrees North and 90.71 degrees West, Diaphus Bank covers about 20 square miles. The Chicxulub Crater is a large impact crater that is buried underneath the Yucatn Peninsula in Mexico. Over 400 species of birds have been recorded visiting our coast while migrating southward. The black coral is a notoriously slow grower, growing 2,000 times slower than human fingernails. 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. The Gulf of Mexico is located below the southeastern portion of the United States. hbspt.cta.load(360031, '4efd5fbd-40d7-4b12-8674-6c4f312edd05', {}); Have any questions about this article or other topics? ABOARD THE WESTERN NEPTUNE, Gulf of Mexico Every 17 seconds, a small armada of ships trawling 130 miles from the Louisiana coast fire powerful air guns toward the bottom of the sea in a. All rights reserved. There have been over 750 known shipwrecks in the Gulf of Mexico. The Ultimate Guide to Campgrounds in Gulf Shores & Orange Beach, How to Plan a Budget-Friendly Beach Vacation, 10 Fun Family Activities in Gulf Shores & Orange Beach, 10 Cheap & Free Things To Do in Gulf Shores & Orange Beach, Take The Kids On A Catch & Release Crabbing Adventure On Alabama's Gulf Coast, The Best Restaurants for Fine Dining on Alabama Beaches, The Four Best Coffee Shops in Gulf Shores & Orange Beach, 4 Beach Restaurants Perfect for Date-Night, 10 Things to Know Before Your Gulf Shores & Orange Beach Vacation, 5 Things I Learned From My Alabama Beach Vacation, Easy Options for a Pet-Friendly Beach Vacation, Bike-Sharing at Gulf State Park: Share the Trails, Share the Wheels, 10 Things to do with Teens in Gulf Shores & Orange Beach, 5 Thrilling Amusement Parks Gulf Shores Orange Beach, The Gulf State Park Fishing and Education Pier. The Gulf of Mexico has around 1443 different species of fish in its water. 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. . Left, scientists launch a seafloor sampling device off a research vessel into the Gulf of Mexico. Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions. Thankfully close to 80% of hurricanes formed lose strength and dissipate before reaching land. 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. The explosion Most areas incurred over 40 inches of rain within a 4-day period, in contrast, Nederland, Texas saw an astonishing 60 inches of rainfall! About 60% of the Gulf is less than 700 feet deep. The exploration companies use 3-D seismic imaging to map areas of the Gulf they are interested in. The economics of the area as well as the environment thus are sensitive to pollution. Each year millions of migratory birds trek the long journey across the Gulf to feed and mate. Shrimp and oysters are among the largest fish products that come from the Gulf. All rights reserved. The Sigsbee Deep, for example, is estimated to be between 12,300 and 14,383 feet deep. Clear Map How To Use Zoom and drag the map to find the location of marker 1 Click to place marker 1. The Gulf of Mexico, located between Florida and Yucatan peninsulas, is a great place to vacation, live, and work. Retrieved from https://www.thoughtco.com/geography-of-the-gulf-of-mexico-1435544. NOAA. 30A has raised over $3 million for coastal charities, and has given away 4 million of its famous blue 30A stickers. The Florida Panhandle becomes a magical realm when you put on scuba gear, dive in the ocean, and breathe underwater. Due to the warm waters, moist air, and strong current of the Gulf Steam when storms originating in the cold waters of the Atlantic Ocean move west and collide it creates the perfect conditions for hurricanes to form. Hurricane Season of Gulf of Mexico: The hurricane season officially begins at the beginning of June and ends in late November. Where is the deepest part of the Gulf of Mexico? depth (ft) Nearby waterbodies (689) 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. This beautiful body of water is what brings people from all over to our destination. Today, the most serious pollution threats to the Gulf of Mexico come from oil drilling and agricultural runoff. 1. These are not coastal dead zones, like the one that sprawls across the Gulf of Mexico, but great swaths of deep water that can reach thousands of miles offshore. 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 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. However, there are some areas of the Gulf that are much deeper. How did the Deepwater Horizon oil spill affect birds? In this article, we will look at 10 facts on the Gulf of Mexico you must know. The deepest point is in the Mexico Basin ( Sigsbee Deep), which is 17,070 feet (5,203 metres) below sea level. Roughly 4.9 million barrels worth of oil spilled into the Gulf of Mexico, causing massive damage to marine, wildlife, and fishing habitats. 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. Warning: THIS DATA IS NOT TO BE USED FOR NAVIGATION Photo credit: NOAA Okeanos Explorer Program. 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. Please select which sections you would like to print: Richard Pallardy received a B.A. Thank you for reading! Have some feedback for us? The exceptionally warm sea surface temperatures in the Gulf of Mexico feed the powerful Atlantic hurricanes which in turn cause widespread destruction. nutrient-enriched waters from the deep by a process known as upwelling, which stimulates plankton growth in the euphotic zone. Some 1,680 miles of the US coastline and 1,743 miles of the Mexican coastline borders the Gulf of Mexico. Though fitted loosely over the BOP and allowing some oil to escape, the cap enabled BP to siphon approximately 15,000 barrels of oil per day to a tanker. Unauthorized use is prohibited. These slow-growing, long-living animals thrive in very deep waters300 meters (984 feet) and . These banks provide critical habitats for many marine animals including commercially valuable fishes, sharks, rays, and sea turtles. Were here to help! The Gulf of Mexico itself and the regions surrounding it are highly biodiverse and feature large fishing economies. With the damaged riser shorn from the LMRPthe top segment of the BOPthe cap was lowered into place. [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." With time, the Gulf of Mexico became an excellent avenue for trade. There have been over 750 known shipwrecks in the Gulf of Mexico. liters. 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. 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. 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! Regardless of region, the Gulf of Mexico has a striking diversity of flora and fauna which support fish, sharks, dolphins, and countless other marine life. Corrections? The Gulf of Mexico is a highly biodiverse area and features many coastal wetlands and mangrove forests. It is rumored that they buried some of their stolen loot on the bay. Here are 11 facts about the geography of the region: The Gulf of Mexico likely formed as a result of seafloor subsidence (or the gradual sinking of the seafloor) about 300 million years ago. The deepest part of the Gulf of Mexico is Sigsbee Deep, which has an estimated depth of around 14,383 feet. 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 small juvenile turtles also depend on the sargassum habitats in the open ocean for their survival. Off the sands in Florida lies a 360-mile stretch of coral Reefs which developed 10,000 years ago during the last Ice Age. To the south and southwest, the Gulf of Mexico is bordered by Mexico. What is wind chill, and how does it affect your body? 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. When did the Deepwater Horizon oil spill happen? First discovered in 1999 by Texas A&M deep-tow data and 3D seismic supplied by WesternGeco LLC, the furrows are expressed for over 200 km along the Sigsbee . Expect southerly winds, gentle to moderate for the eastern Gulf, and moderate to occasional fresh at the western Gulf. The Deepwater Horizon oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico was the largest marine oil spill in U.S. history. The first . 5. Here's where to find more lumps to fish in the gulf. Beach Happy ???????? When the guns fire, they create sound waves that travel down and are reflected back up by the sea floor. To the southeast, it's bounded by the Caribbean Sea and Cuba. The Joshua Channel (labeled channel-levee) in the eastern Gulf of Mexico stands out clearly on the new high-resolution map of the sea floor. A sea lily (Crinoidea) rests in the middle of a mushroom coral (Anthomastus sp.) 10. Over 40 species of sharks live in the Gulf of Mexico. But the Gulf is also a habitat for other sea animals including dolphins, whales, sea turtles, and manatees. Should You Stay in Gulf Shores or Orange Beach? The Gulf of Mexico is roughly oval-shaped with a long dimension of about 950 mi (1,500 km). Its shallow, saltier, and serene waters surrounded by velvety quartz sand may seem like another world when compared to the Atlantic's cool and thrilling waves and golden-brown sand. Though the leak had slowed, it was estimated by a government-commissioned panel of scientists that 4,900,000 barrels of oil had already leaked into the gulf. Fisheries are also extremely productive in the Gulf of Mexico, and many Gulf Coast states have economies centered on fishing in the area.
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