An arm of the Atlantic Ocean, the Gulf of Mexico is partially landlocked, or surrounded by land. The gulf greatly influences the climate of southeastern United States. It is also a major source of food, energy, and minerals.

Physical features

The southern coast of the United States makes up the northwest, north, and northeast perimeters of the gulf. Mexico is to the gulf's west, south, and southeast, and Cuba is to the east. The Gulf of Mexico is connected to the Atlantic Ocean by the Straits of Florida. The Yucatán Channel connects it to the Caribbean Sea. The major rivers flowing into the gulf are the Mississippi and the Rio Grande.

The gulf is oval in shape and covers an area of some 600,000 square miles (1,550,000 square kilometers). Its greatest east-west and north-south extents are roughly 1,100 and 800 miles (1,800 and 1,300 kilometers) respectively. The deepest point is Sigsbee Deep off the Mexican coast, which is about 17,000 feet (5,000 meters) below sea level. The tides are relatively small.

Most of the 3,000-mile (4,800-kilometer) coast consists of tidal marshes, sandy beaches, mangrove-covered areas, bays, estuaries, and lagoons. There are a few small islands off the Yucatán coast and the Florida Keys.

The climate of the gulf region is generally hot and humid. Hurricanes occur during late summer and autumn.

Currents

In the southeastern portion of the gulf is a riverlike current that forms the main source of the North Atlantic Gulf Stream. The Gulf Stream is a current that flows towards the poles of the Earth. It is the main current moving oceanic waters through the gulf. In the western gulf the currents are relatively weak and vary according to season and location.

Animal life

The shores of the Gulf of Mexico support waterfowl and shorebirds. There are substantial colonies of notties, pelicans, and other seabirds. The only marine mammal of significance is the Caribbean manatee, but it is diminishing in number. The gulf waters contain huge populations of fish as well.

Economy

Commercial fishing is a major economic activity in the gulf. The catch includes shrimp, shellfish, flounder, red snappers, mullet, oysters, and crabs. A large quantity of the fish caught is used to provide protein for animal feeds.

The Gulf coast is a popular tourist destination, especially during the winter. The coastal waters of the gulf are used for sport fishing. Boating, swimming, and scuba diving are also popular. The coastal areas, particularly in Florida, have developed into large retirement communities. Major marine research centers are located throughout the region, most notably in Texas, Louisiana, and Florida.

The principal harbors are those of Key West, Tampa, and Pensacola in Florida; Mobile in Alabama; Galveston and Corpus Christi in Texas; Tampico and Veracruz in Mexico; and Havana in Cuba.

Exploration

European explorers discovered the Gulf of Mexico soon after Christopher Columbus' first voyages to the New World of the American continents. Juan de la Cosa's map drawn in 1500 contained the earliest reference to the gulf. By 1502 maps began to show geographic details. Little scientific research was carried out before the 20th century, however.

Environmental issues

Population increases in the gulf region have led to large quantities of sewage and industrial waste. Much of this pollution has reached the gulf. Offshore drilling has brought oil spills that have occasionally spoiled beaches and destroyed marine life.

Even more damaging have been modern farming practices that use chemical pesticides, herbicides, and fertilizers. Fish life in the gulf is seriously threatened due to a reduction in oxygen levels. Off the coast of Louisiana, erosion and changes in sea level have caused large areas of coastal wetlands to become submerged. Pollution and silt deposits have resulted in the destruction of about half of the gulf's mangroves and many of its coral reefs.