Gulf

The Gulf of Mexico is a semi-enclosed body of water off the southeastern coast of North America. It is called a bay, although in reality it is a marginal sea. The Gulf communicates with the ocean through the narrow Florida Strait, and the Yucatan Strait connects it with the Caribbean Sea.

The area of the water area of the bay is extensive and is 1,543 thousand square kilometers. The maximum depth is 5203 m. There is a hypothesis that says that the Gulf of Mexico was formed on the site of a crater from a meteorite that fell to Earth filled with ocean waters. Proponents of this hypothesis insist that the correct shape and relief of the bottom could not have formed otherwise. However, so far there is no convincing evidence of this.

The Gulf Coast is heavily indented. Since the shores are quite low, they are subject to frequent changes in terrain due to hurricanes. In the shelf zone in the northwest of the Gulf lie rich oil and gas fields, the development of which, unfortunately, has repeatedly caused environmental disasters.

As in any tropical body of water, the flora and fauna in the Gulf of Mexico is very rich and diverse. Here you can find numerous mollusks, crustaceans, fish and marine mammals, including sharks dangerous to humans. Swimming in the Gulf of Mexico should be careful.