Which ocean does the Caribbean Sea belong to. All about sharks

Caribbean sea tropical sea, enters the pool Atlantic Ocean.

At caribbean, located between the two Americas, has a long history. Here, luxurious nature and excellent conditions for the development of tourism.

Origin

The ancient age of the sea has not been precisely established by science. It is believed that it began with a small reservoir, which in the Cretaceous period acquired the features of the modern sea.

The rising waters connected it to the Atlantic Ocean. Modern name it received from the Caribs, who displaced after the first millennium AD. Indians Antilles. Therefore, the Europeans, who discovered the sea in the middle of the last millennium, named it after this people.

Historical events

In the Middle Ages, the first Spanish settlement was founded in what is now Haiti. Then Cuba and Hispaniola were conquered. The local Indians became slaves. Later, Mexico was conquered and colonized. British, French, Dutch and Danish colonies appeared. The mining of gold and silver, the production of dyes, tobacco and sugar were organized. For this, slaves were brought from Africa.

Caribbean sea. about haiti photo

Active trade with the mother countries caused the appearance of piracy in the 17th century, which flourished in the years 1700-1730. Pirates hunted in this sea until the beginning of the 19th century. Since that time, the process of decolonization began, which ended in the twentieth century. In place of the colonies, independent states were formed.

The United States began to play a dominant role in the region. At the beginning of the 21st century, the Association of Caribbean States recognized the sea as a common heritage and priceless asset that sets the stage for cooperation in tourism, trade, transport and the fight against natural disasters.

currents

The sea has several currents. So, from the southeast, the currents are driven to the northwest cold water at depths from 500 to 3000 m. Warmer subtropical currents come from above and continue to move, created by winds in a westerly direction.

Bypassing the coast of Central America, these waters enter the bay off the Mexican coast, raising its level above the Atlantic Ocean. It is characteristic that if it usually flows at a speed of up to 2.8 km/h, then at the entrance to the strait near the Yucatan Peninsula it reaches 6 km/h.

As a result, there is a pressure, called hydrostatic. It is believed that it is he who makes the Gulf Stream move. WITH south side sea ​​almost a year there is a circular rotation of water.

What rivers flow

The largest river in the region is the Colombian Magdalena, 1,500 kilometers long. In the same country, Atrato, Leon and Turbo flow into the sea. The Dike, Sinu, Catatumbo and Chama rivers flow into Lake Maracaibo connected to the sea.

Several rivers (Belen, Krikamola, Teribe, etc.) flow into the sea from the North American continent. Through Nicaragua, the Bambana, Indio, Coco, Kurinuas, Kukalaya, Prinsapolka, Rio Escondido and others flow into the sea.

From the territories of Honduras, Guatemala and Belize, the sea receives the waters of ten rivers of these countries. On largest islands rivers flow from the seas: in Haiti - Yaque del Sur and Artibonite; in Cuba, Cauto and Sasa; in Jamaica, Milk River and Black River.

Relief

There are several significant depths in the sea, called basins, with a depth of 4120 to 7680 m. Among them:

• Venezuelan (5420m)
• Grenadian (4120m)
• Kaimanova(7090m)
• Colombian (4532m)
• Yucatan (5055m)

They are separated by underwater ridges and straits. The highest of these ranges is off the coast of Venezuela. From its top to the surface of the sea over 2100 m. Straits have a depth of more than one and a half kilometers. In the eastern part of the sea within there is a deep-water passage Anegada, reaching a depth of 2350 m.

corals in the caribbean

The deep-water bottom of the Caribbean Sea is calcareous or weakly manganese silt. In shallow water, sand or coral thickets.

Cities

Dozens of cities are located on the North American and South American coasts and on the islands. Most of them have a long history associated with colonization. Thus, the Colombian port of Cartagena, conveniently located at the exit from the Gulf of Darien, was one of the key ports of the sea. It retained this meaning to this day.

Havana photo

The Venezuelan Cumana was a stronghold of the Spanish colonizers who explored the mainland. Founded in 1511, Havana turned from a once small settlement into a powerful fortress. Today it is the capital of the Republic of Cuba.

Santo Domingo photo

The current capital of the Dominican Republic, the city of Santo Domingo, had the status beautiful city New World. Today it is one of the centers Caribbean tourism. Modern port cities have become Costa Rican Lemon, Colombian Barranquilla, Maracaibo in Venezuela, Port-au-Prince in Haiti, Cienfuegos in Cuba. Many coastal cities are centers of tourism.

Flora and fauna

The rich and diverse fauna is represented here by hundreds of species of fish and birds, and many mammals. There are only four species of local sharks, which include: bull sharks, tiger silk sharks, and sharks that live in the Caribbean reefs.

shark in the caribbean

There are such fish as: flying fish and angel fish, sea devil, parrot fish and butterfly fish, tarpon, moray eels. Commercial marine animals are sardines, lobsters and tuna. Divers and fishermen are attracted by marlins and barracudas.

Of the mammals, dolphins, sperm whales, humpback whales, as well as manatees, called American, and groups of seals live here. On the islands you can meet different crocodiles and turtles, rare species of amphibians.

underwater world of the Caribbean Sea photo

Of the 600 species of birds, many are not found elsewhere. Toucans, parrots and other land birds live in the forests. Above the water you can see phaetons and frigates.

The vegetation of the Caribbean Sea, mostly tropical, here you can see fields of underwater macroalgae, there are several dozen species of them. Near corals, the plant world is more diverse: sea rupee, tortoiseshell alassia, cymodocean algae. Coastal mangroves attract many marine life.

beauty of the caribbean photo

Characteristic

The sea has an area of ​​more than 2.7 million square meters. km, average depth 1225m, maximum depth 7686m. It washes the shores of such continental countries: Venezuela and Honduras, Colombia and Costa Rica, Mexico and Nicaragua, Panama and Cuba, Haiti and Jamaica.

On fifty islands there are also small island countries. The islands, called the Lesser Antilles, are located in the eastern part of the sea.

turtle in the caribbean

The South Antilles are scattered along the South American coast. Several archipelagos and many small islands are located on the western side of the sea.

The salinity of the water is about 35 ppm.

Climate

The climate here is tropical with a significant amount of rainfall depending on the region and season. It is affected by air circulation, average speed which can reach 30 km per hour. And there are also winds with a speed of 120 km / h, which causes hurricanes and storms. Such cataclysms occur in the northern part of the sea. They can destroy houses, ruin crops, take people's lives. The average monthly temperature varies between 21-29 degrees Celsius. About 500mm falls in the east, about 2000mm in the west.

• The largest coral barrier reef in the Northern Hemisphere is located off the coast of Belize
• a third of the sea's reefs have been destroyed or are in serious danger as a result of human activities
• Diving and fishing, important for tourism, annually bring Caribbean countries up to 4 billion dollars
• coffee, bananas, sugar, rum, bauxite, oil, nickel produced in the countries of the region are exported mainly to the USA and Canada
• on the islands of the sea, the number of people employed in the field of tourism, the volume of investments in it is two times higher than the world average by the largest English colony and pirate capital in the region was Port Royal. In 1692, it was almost completely destroyed by an earthquake and tsunami.

Facts and background - learn about the Caribbean today

One of the most big seas our planet is the Caribbean Sea. The sea is located in the Western Hemisphere and is part of the Atlantic Ocean.

borders of the caribbean. From the Greater Antilles in the north to the Lesser Antilles in the east. north coast South America- This is the south of the Caribbean Sea. To the west and southwest are the coasts of Central America and the Yucatan Peninsula in the Gulf of Mexico, as the boundary between the Gulf and the Caribbean Sea.

Caribbean - This term is used to refer to the islands located in the Caribbean Sea region. The Caribbean is also known as the "West Indies" because Columbus was looking for a way to India and found what he found.

And only 2% of the Caribbean is actually inhabited.

The coasts of the Americas are also included in the Caribbean.

Caribbean coastline:

• Colombia
• Venezuela
• Nicaragua
• Honduras
• Guatemala
• Panama
• Costa Rica
• Belize

The Caribbean includes more than 700 islands, islets, reefs, caves. The islands are divided into different groups of islands, archipelagos (the Bahamas, for example).

Note: George Washington called the fabulous archipelago of the Bahamas - the islands of endless June.

Caribbean Island States:

• Haiti
• Jamaica
• Puerto Rico
• Trinidad and Tobago
• Guadeloupe, Martinique (French jurisdiction)
• Dominica
• Saint Lucia
• Curacao
• Antigua and Barbuda
• Barbados
• Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
• Virgin Islands and Minor Outlying Islands (US jurisdiction)
• Grenada
• Bonaire, Sint Eustatius and Saba (Netherlands jurisdiction)
• Cayman islands
• Saint Kitts and Nevis
• Aruba
• British Virgin Islands, Anguilla, Montserrat (UK jurisdiction)
• Sint Maarten and Saint Maarten
• Saint Barthélemy
• Navas Island, Serranilla and Bajo Nuevo

Dominant languages ​​in Caribbean region- Spanish, English, Dutch, Haitian, Creole and Papiamento.

What is the area of ​​the Caribbean Sea?

1,063,000 square miles or 2,754,000 square kilometers. The Caribbean is one of largest seas in the world.

Where is the most Deep Point the Caribbean?

Powerful rifting led to the formation of narrow troughs and the emergence of deep basins. You can find the deepest Cayman Trough. It has a depth of 25,220 feet or 7,886 meters below sea level. This place is located in the middle of the water area - where Jamaica and the Cayman Islands are.

What bays and bays does the Caribbean Sea have?

The seas include the Gulf of Honduras, the Gulfs of Venezuela, the Gonaves, Golfo de los mosquitoes and the Gulf of Darien.

Barrier Reef.
The Caribbean Sea is famous for its amazing barrier reef. People call it the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef. The report notes that it is regarded as the second largest barrier reef in the world. The barrier reef can be seen along Honduras, Guatemala, Belize and the Mexican coasts. Belize Barrier Reef in 1996 UNESCO included as a World Heritage Site.

Coral Reef.
About 9 percent of the world's coral reefs are located in the Caribbean Sea. Coral reefs in the Caribbean are concentrated in the region of Central America and along the coasts of the Caribbean islands. Here you can see pearl divers.

Coral reefs in the Caribbean are in danger of extinction. Corals are bleaching due to the effect of global warming, rising sea temperatures.

On average, the weather in the Caribbean Sea has an air temperature of about 21-29 degrees C.

Pirates. Movies about pirates are filmed mainly in the Caribbean. Not surprisingly, this region was chosen by pirates: piracy has flourished here since the 17th century.

The Caribbean region is a seismically hazardous area. Hurricanes and storms with a power of more than seven points (and even Tsunamis) occur periodically here, bringing destruction with them. The Atlantic (tropical) hurricane season occurs from June to November. The deadliest hurricane in the history of the West Indies, the Great Hurricane, hit in 1780. The most destructive of the storms were hurricanes: Katrina, Jeanne, Ivan, Galveston. ... Up to 12 hurricanes happen in the Atlantic during the season. And the most record-breaking in terms of the number of hurricanes (19 times) was 1995 and 1933.

• Probably, the Caribbean Sea took its name from the Indians of the Carib tribe. But its main inhabitants are immigrants from continental Europe and Africa.
• Another interesting fact. There are more churches per square mile in Jamaica than in any other country in the world. This is recorded in the Guinness Book of Records.

- perhaps one of the most famous in the world, thanks to the writers who wrote novels about pirates and the directors who made films about them. But the Caribbean is interesting not only for legends about pirates, it is a unique and beautiful place on our planet in its own way.

• Cruises in the Caribbean (including)

This sea is comfortably nestled in a pool. It belongs to the so-called semi-enclosed seas. Central and South America are its borders from the south and west. Large and Small act as its borders in the north and east.

Through the man-made southwest Panama Canal it has a connection with Pacific Ocean. It also has a connection to the Gulf of Mexico through the Yucatan Strait. Its volume is 6,860 thousand km³ with an area of ​​2,754,000 km². In depth, this sea reaches an average of 2500 m, the greatest depth is 7686 m.

The bottom of the Caribbean Sea has a very interesting relief. It has many underwater ridges that share five basins:

• - The Grenada Basin has a depth of about 4120 m;
• - Venezuelan Basin - approximate depth 5630 m;
• - Columbia Basin in depth reaches 4532 m;
• - Cayman is the deepest of them, with a depth of 7686 m;
• - The Yucatan basin has a depth of 5055 m.

Speaking about the coastline of this sea, one can note its strong indentation. Part of the coast is mountainous, while in some places there are also lowlands. In shallow water, there are many reefs and coral deposits. The continental coast, located in the western and southern parts of the sea, has a number of bays. The largest of them include: Cariaco, Darien, Mosquitos, Venezuelan and Honduras.

On the island, located in the northern part of the sea, there are the bays of Guacanoyabo, Ana Maria and Batabano, and in the west of the island the Gulf of Gonave. Also a number of bays on east coast Yucatan, among them Chetumal, Espiritu Santo and Asension.

On average, the water temperature in the Caribbean Sea ranges from 25 ° C to 28 ° C, and the salinity of the water in it is about 36.0%, with a density of 1.0235-1.0240 kg / m³.

Fauna and flora of the Caribbean

This basin is quite rich in both its flora and fauna. In shallow water, they are mainly concentrated near coral reefs. In the lagoons, you can meet entire fields of sea grass if you enter from the lee side of the reef. There are seven types of algae in the Caribbean Sea.

The fauna is represented by more than 450 species of fish. Among which there are sharks (tiger, silk, Caribbean reef, bull shark). And also a number of others the most interesting species fish such as sea devils, angelfish, flying fish, butterfly eyefish, orange fin surgeonfish, goliath grouper, parrotfish, moray eels, tarpon and a host of others.

In addition, there are as many as 90 species of mammals here, including: dolphins, humpback whales, sperm whales. American manatees and seals can be found near the island.

It is also necessary to highlight the huge habitat of reptiles with more than 500 species settled there - these are saltwater crocodiles, a number of species of turtles and many other species of reptiles. Enough here and amphibians 170 species.

History and cultural mix of the Caribbean

Caribbean Sea, has rich history. If we consider it before the appearance of Europeans there, we can distinguish several powerful Indian cultures that existed here. With the beginning of colonization, an era well known to any schoolchild in history lessons and a lover of novels about pirates began. Initially, these territories were colonized by the Spaniards, starting with the expedition of Columbus, who actually discovered these islands.

Centuries later, others European countries also began to establish their colonies on islands in the local waters. Pirates Privateers, corsairs and buccaneers began to emerge here in the 17th century. The main centers of their collection were the city and the island of Tortuga. Many books are dedicated to the pirates who plied these waters. A large part of these characters were real historical figures. Many pirates did not work for themselves but served as privateers on the side of one or another power, such as the famous Francis Drake, who served in Great Britain and Henry Morgan. The most famous act of the first was the capture in 1572 of the Spanish Silver caravan in the port of Nombre de Dios. And the second campaign on in 1671. In time, he became Lieutenant Governor of Jamaica. Also famous here: Steed Bonnet, Charles Wayne, Black Bart, Jack Rackhamso (his girlfriends Mary, Reedy, Ann, Bonnie).

Each of these personalities has its own illustrious history, which has survived to a large extent thanks to the book " General history robberies and murders committed by the most famous pirates, ”written in 1724 by Charles Johnson. Later, the name of Roberto Cofresi, who piracy in these waters at the beginning of the 19th century, should also be noted. It should also be noted that the very history of discoveries, colonization and separation of the colonies is very fascinating and will be able to attract the attention of anyone who is interested in the history of the huge number of events and drunk that happened in this region.

1. Name and history

2. Geology

3. Relief

In the ridge of the Greater Antilles there are two deep passages: the Anegada Strait and the Windward Strait. The depth of the Anegada Strait varies from 1950 to 2350 m, the windward channel - from 1600 to 1630 m.

3.1. Coastline

The coastline of the sea is strongly indented, the shores are mountainous in places, low in places (Caribbean Lowland). In shallow water areas there are various coral deposits and numerous reef structures. On the continental coast (western and South part sea) there are several bays, the largest of which are: Honduran, Mosquitos, Darienska and Venezuelan. In the northern part are the bays of Batabano, Ana Maria and Guacanaybo (the southern coast of the island of Cuba), as well as the Gulf of Gonave ( West Side islands of Haiti).

There are several bays on the east coast of the Yucatan, including Asension, Espiritu Santo and Chetumal. The Gulf of Honduras ends with Amatiche Bay, located on the border of Belize and Guatemala. The north coast of Honduras is slightly indented, and several lagoons cut into the Mosquito Coast, including the lagoons of Caratasca, Bismuna, Perlas and Bluefields Bay. In the east of Panama there is a large lagoon Chiriqui. Off the coast of South America, the Darienska Bay ends with the Uraba Bay, and is fenced off by the Guajira Peninsula. The Venezuelan Bay is Lake Maracaibo. To the west of the island of Trinidad lies the Gulf of Paria, which is considered part of the Atlantic Ocean.

3.2. Islands

The surface subtropical Caribbean Current, passing from the southeastern to the northwestern part of the sea, is a continuation of the North Trade Wind Current, its flow is estimated at 26 million m/s. The trade wind drives the waters to the west, turns north off the coast of Central America and goes through the Yucatan Strait into the Gulf of Mexico. The speed of the current is 1-2.8 km / h, in the Yucatan Strait increases to 6 km / h. The current is warm, the water temperature in it is about 28 C, and the salinity is less than 35.5 due to the significant contribution fresh water Amazons and Orinocos. Water pumped from the Caribbean Sea into the Gulf of Mexico raises the level of the latter relative to the main part of the Atlantic Ocean (the water level off the west coast of Florida is 19 cm higher than on the east coast), which creates hydrostatic pressure, which is assumed to be the main driving force of the Gulf Stream .

In the southwestern region of the sea, between the coast of Colombia and Nicaragua, for almost the entire year there is a circular current, twisted counterclockwise. The tides in the Caribbean Sea are mostly irregular semi-diurnal, with an amplitude of less than 1 m.

During the rainy season, the waters of the Orinoco River create high concentrations of chlorophyll in the eastern part of the sea. The Caryaco Basin, located off the coast of Venezuela, is interesting in that hydrogen sulfide is constantly present in it, and a high concentration of methane has been found in the Cayman Trench.

4.1. Caribbean Sea Basin

The Caribbean Sea is located in Central and South America. largest river, flowing into the Caribbean Sea - Magdalena (1550 km) with tributaries Cauca and Cesar. Its annual flow is 228 km, or an average of 7.2 thousand m / s (data from 1942 to 2002). The rivers Atrato (annual flow - 81 km), Leon (2.1 km) and Turbo (12 km) flow into the Uraba Bay of the Darien Bay. Other rivers in South America include the Dike (9.4 km) and son (11.8 km), as well as Catatumbo and Chama, which flow into Maracaibo - largest lake continent.

On the coast of North America, the rivers Belen, Cricamola (flows into the Chiriqui lagoon), Teribe and Sixaola (Panama), Chirripo Atlantico, Reventason and San Juan (Costa Rica), Indio, Punta Gorda, Rio Escondido flow into the Caribbean Sea and Curinuas, Rio Grande de Metagalpa, Prinzapolca, Bambana, Kucalaya, Huaua and Coco (Nicaragua), Patuc, Sico Tinto, Agua, Ulua and Chamelecón (Honduras), Motagua and Rio Dulce (Guatemala), Belize River , New River, Rio Hondo (Belize).

Island rivers: Cauto and Sasa (Cuba), Artibonite and Caco del Sur (Haiti Island), Black River and Milk River (Jamaica).

5. Climate

The Caribbean Sea is in the tropical climate zone, which is influenced by trade wind circulation. Average monthly air temperatures vary from 23 to 27 C. Cloudiness is 4-5 points.

The average annual rainfall in the region varies from 250 mm on the island of Bonaire to 9000 mm in the windward parts of Dominica. The northeast trade winds prevail with average speeds of 16-32 km / h, however, in northern regions seas tropical hurricanes occur, the speed of which can exceed 120 km / h. On average, 8-9 such hurricanes occur per year during the period from June to November, and in September - October they are most frequent. According to the US National Hurricane Center, 385 hurricanes passed over the Caribbean from 1494 to 1900, and 235 such manifestations of the elements were recorded from 1900 to 1991. The Caribbean is less prone to hurricane damage than the Gulf of Mexico or the Western Pacific (where typhoons rage from May to November). Most of the hurricanes are formed in the Cape Verde Islands and are directed by the trade winds to the shores of America; in general, it is impossible to predict the exact trajectory of the hurricane.

strong hurricanes lead to loss of life, destruction and crop failures in the region. The great hurricane of 1780, which raged from October 10 to 16, 1780, caused colossal damage to the Lesser Antilles, Puerto Rico, Dominican Republic and, possibly, the Florida peninsula, and also led to the death of 22 to 24 thousand people. Hurricane Mitch, which originated on October 22, 1998 off the coast of Colombia, passed through Central America, the Yucatan and Florida peninsulas, causing damage of 40 million US dollars and killing 11-18 thousand people. Hurricanes Galveston (1900) and Fifi (1974) also caused significant damage to the region.

6. Flora and fauna

According to faunal zoning, the Caribbean Sea region belongs to the Caribbean region. The region is characterized by great biodiversity, many species are endemic.

6.1. Vegetable world

The vegetation of the region is predominantly tropical, but differences in topographic, soil and climatic conditions increase the species diversity. The porous limestone terraces of the islands tend to be nutrient poor. An estimated 13,000 plant species grow in the Caribbean region, of which 6,500 are endemic, such as the guaiac tree (whose flower is the national symbol of Jamaica and) and the mahogany vine (national flower of the Dominican Republic). IN coastal areas the coconut palm is widespread, in the lagoons and estuaries of the rivers there are dense thickets of mangroves (red and black mangroves).

In shallow waters, flora and fauna are concentrated around coral reefs, which are favored by near-constant stable temperatures, clear waters, and small changes in salinity. Submarine seagrass fields occur in the leeward lagoons of the reefs. In total, seven types of algae are found in the Caribbean Sea. The most common thalasso tortoiseshell (Thalassia testudinum) and Syringodium filiforme (Tsimodotsei family), which can grow both together and in single-species fields at depths up to 20 m. m. In the brackish water of harbors and estuaries of rivers at depths of 0-2.5 m, there is a sea rupee (Ruppia maritima). Representatives of three species belong to the genus Halophila (Halophila baillonii, Halophila engelmanni and Halophila decipiens) live at depths up to 30 m. Halophila engelmanni does not grow below 5 m, the range of this species is limited to the Bahamas, Florida, the Greater Antilles and the western Caribbean Sea. The species Halophila baillonii has only been found in the Lesser Antilles.

6.2. Animal world

Mammals of the Caribbean region are represented by 90 species, there are sperm whales, humpback whales and Dolphins. Seals and American manatees live near the island of Jamaica. The region was once inhabited by the Caribbean monk seal, which is now thought to be extinct. Under the threat of extinction, representatives of the family of the sand-toothed.

Reptiles of the Caribbean region are represented by 500 species (94% endemic). The islands are home to several endemic species of cyclura, a widespread sharp-snouted crocodile. There are several species in the region sea ​​turtles: Trichechea spp., Loggerhead (Caretta caretta) green turtle, trait, leatherback turtle, Atlantic ridley (Lepidochelys kempii) and olive turtle (Lepidochelys olivacea). Some species are under the threat of extinction, their population, according to researchers, has greatly decreased since the 17th century - the number of green turtles has decreased from 91 million to 300 thousand individuals, and demons - from 11 million to less than 30 thousand before the year.

There are 600 bird species recorded in the Caribbean, 163 of which are endemic to the region, such as the then, Cuban shilodzubny woodpecker and palm mint. With endemics, 48 ​​species are endangered: the Puerto Rican Amazon, the Cuban shoulder straps, the Cuban wren, and others. The Antilles, near Central America, lie on the migration route of birds from North America, so bird population sizes are subject to strong seasonal fluctuations. Parrots, sugar birds and toucans are found in the forests, frigatebirds and phaetons can be found over the open sea.

7. Ecology

Global warming and rising sea levels (expected to rise by 86.36 cm by 2019), rising sea temperatures causing coral bleaching and water blooms, and changes in precipitation pattern are considered to be the main drivers of global change in the Caribbean Sea. and related river runoff and even dust brought in by sandstorms from the Sahara. Shipping, which generates about 82 thousand tons of garbage per year, oil transportation and land sources of pollution, negatively affects the ecological state of the sea.

Currently, no more than 23 thousand km (10%) of primary forests remain in the Caribbean. In Cuba, where the largest forests of the island part of the region are located, less than 15% of the forests remained intact, the rest were cut down during the development of the territories.

7.1. corals

The Atlantic Ocean contains about 9% of the world's coral reefs. Their area is 50 thousand km, and most of located off the coast of the Caribbean and Central America. . One of the most recently studied phenomena in the region has been coral bleaching. Until the 1980s, Madrepore corals were widespread in the Caribbean Sea, over the next 20 years, due to anthropogenic and natural causes, their population decreased, and the number of seaweed increased. In 1983, this process was aggravated by the mass death of sea ​​urchins that feed on algae. Reef scientific research was carried out from 1995 to 1998 off the coast of Belize on the largest coral barrier reef in the Northern Hemisphere, and also in the year near reefs in the eastern part of the sea. The warming of the Caribbean Sea (as a result of global climate change) threatens the fragile ecosystems of coral reefs - a long excess of water temperatures above 29 C leads to the death of microscopic zooxanthella algae. These plants provide the corals with food and color, so their death results in coral bleaching and disruption of the entire reef ecosystem.

Reef dwellers are important for tourism activities such as fishing and diving, which, according to a 2000 estimate, generate US$3.1-4.6 billion annually for the region.

7.2. Protected areas

The total area of ​​protected areas in the West Indies is 30,000 km2 (13% of the region's land surface). About 15% of its territory is protected in Cuba (including the Zapata swamp with an area of ​​​​4354.3 km, national park named after Alexander Humboldt and Desembarco del Granma), in Dominica - a little over 20% (including the Morne Trois Pitons National Park), in the Dominican Republic - about 15% (national jaragua park and etc.). In other countries protected areas almost not .

Among the protected areas along the continental coast, the following stand out: the Sian Kaan Reserve, Chinchorro (Mexico), the Misquitos Biological Reserve (Nicaragua), the Darien National Park (Panama), National parks Los Catios and Tayrona (Colombia), Medanos de Coro National Park, Henry Peter National Park, El Avila, Mochim and Laguna de la Restinga (Venezuela).

8. Economy and economic importance

More than 116 million people live on the Caribbean coast (within 100 km from the coast), whose main source of income is tourism (15.5% of all jobs in the region). More than 300 thousand people are employed in the fishing industry. Fishing volumes are estimated at slightly less than half a million tons of seafood per year. Main commercial species: Caribbean spiny lobsters (Panulirus argus), giant strombus (Strombus gigas), flagellated shrimp (Penaeidae), Cavalli mackerel (Scomberomorus Cavalla), Spanish mackerel (S. maculatus), large dormice (Coryphaena hippurus), SERIOL (Seriola spp.) and others. Industrial collection of pearls.

8.1. Shipping and trade

From an economic and strategic point of view, the Caribbean Sea plays the role of the shortest sea ​​route from the ports of the Atlantic Ocean through the Panama Canal to the Pacific Ocean. The main ports of the Caribbean Sea: Maracaibo and La Guaira (Venezuela), Cartagena (Colombia), Limon (Costa Rica), Santo Domingo (Dominican Republic), Colon (Panama), Santiago de Cuba (Cuba) and others.

The complex system of communication and trade in the Caribbean region provides a high turnover, but most of it falls on countries located outside this region. Goods and resources that are traded within the region are few: rice from Guyana, timber from Belize, gasoline from Trinidad and Curaçao, salt, fertilizers, vegetable oils and fats from the eastern islands, and a small amount of industrial products. Most of the products produced in the region (bananas, sugar, coffee, rum, bauxite, nickel and oil) are consumed by the United States and Canada.

8.2. Tourism

Due to the warm climate and beautiful beaches The Caribbean is one of the main resort areas peace. The rich marine life attracts divers, besides natural beauties the region is rich in cultural monuments of pre-Columbian civilizations and the colonial era. The tourism industry is an important component of the economies of the Caribbean region, serving mainly tourists from the United States, Canada, Brazil, and Argentina. Air communication between North America and the Caribbean is better developed than within the region. According to the Caribbean Tourism Organization, 22,700,000 tourists visited the region in the year, and 19,200,000 people took part in cruise tours. The most popular destinations include the Dominican Republic, Cuba, Mexico (Cancun, Riviera Maya), Jamaica, Bahamas and Puerto Rico.

9. Culture

The rich history of the Caribbean has inspired numerous authors to create various works of culture related to piracy. Daniel Defoe, Robert Lewis Stevenson, Rafael Sabatini and other writers have been involved in the pirate theme, many films have been created on this topic (including the Pirates of the Caribbean film series and the Treasure Island cartoon), and numerous computer games have been released. The life and customs of the inhabitants of the Caribbean have been described by such authors as Cuban writer Alejo Carpentier, Dominican writer (and president) Juan Bosch, Derek Walcott (Saint Lucia) and Colombian writer Gabriel Garcia Márquez.

The Caribbean region is home to various musical genres: reggae, ska in Jamaica, merengue and bachata in the Dominican Republic, calypso in Trinidad and Tobago. Regeton originates from Puerto Rico and Panama, son and son-Montuno appeared in Cuba, cumbia, poro and vallenato - on caribbean coast Colombia.

One of the most popular sports in the Caribbean is baseball, and a separate baseball tournament, the Caribbean Series, is held here. Cricket is also common in the English-speaking Antilles, and football is being popularized in CONCACAF member countries. The region hosts the Central American and Caribbean Games, and national teams also take part in the Pan American Games.

10. Ports

Notes

1. http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/95846/Caribbean-Sea - www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/95846/Caribbean-Sea
2. Great Soviet Encyclopedia. Caribbean Sea - www.cultinfo.ru/fulltext/1/001/008/059/220.htm (Russian)
3. "International Bathymetric Chart of the Caribbean Sea and the Gulf of Mexico" - www.ngdc.noaa.gov / mgg / ibcca / ibcca.html. NOAA . http://www.ngdc.noaa.gov/mgg/ibcca/ibcca.html - www.ngdc.noaa.gov/mgg/ibcca/ibcca.html. Checked 2009-04-23 .
4. G. Samuels (RSMAS) .. "Animation of Monthly Temperatures in the Caribbean" - assets.panda.org/img/original/monthly_temperatures_caribbean.gif. WWF . http://assets.panda.org/img/original/monthly_temperatures_caribbean.gif - assets.panda.org/img/original/monthly_temperatures_caribbean.gif. Checked 2009-04-30 .
5. S. Heileman, R. Mahon .. "Large Marine Ecosystems - Caribbean Sea" - www.lme.noaa.gov/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=58:lme12&catid=41:briefs&Itemid=53. NOAA www.lme.noaa.gov/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=58:lme12&catid=41:briefs&Itemid=53. Checked 2009-04-23 .
6. Judy Gray, Doug Wilson (NOAA / NODC). (2004). "Animation of changing salinity distribution in the Caribbean" - assets.panda.org/img/original/monthly_salinity_caribbean.gif. WWF . http://assets.panda.org/img/original/monthly_salinity_caribbean.gif - assets.panda.org/img/original/monthly_salinity_caribbean.gif. Checked 2009-04-30 .
7. The Oceans, Their Physics, Chemistry, and General Biology, p. 638
8. Pattern: From TSB
9. Joanna Gyory, Arthur J. Mariano, Edward H. Ryan .. "The Caribbean Current" - oceancurrents.rsmas.miami.edu / caribbean / caribbean.html. University of Miami . http://oceancurrents.rsmas.miami.edu/caribbean/caribbean.html - oceancurrents.rsmas.miami.edu/caribbean/caribbean.html. Checked 2009-03-11 .
10. The Oceans, Their Physics, Chemistry, and General Biology, p. 642
11. Luis Ernesto Medina Faull.. "Descargas fluviales en las Zonas Costeras" - www.dhn.mil.ve/noticia/noticia6.html. Direccin de hidrografa y navegacin de Venezuela . http://www.dhn.mil.ve/noticia/noticia6.html - www.dhn.mil.ve/noticia/noticia6.html. Checked 2009-03-11 .
12. "Caribbean Sea" - slovari.yandex.ru/dict/geography/article/geo/geo1/geo-1998.htm. Dictionary of Modern Geographic Names . http://slovari.yandex.ru/dict/geography/article/geo/geo1/geo-1998.htm - slovari.yandex.ru/dict/geography/article/geo/geo1/geo-1998.htm .
13. Institute of Oceanology RAS. (1997). "hydrothermal mechanism of formation of hydrocarbons in mid-ocean ridges" - www.geolib.ru/OilGasGeo/1997/08/Stat/stat01.html. geolib.ru . http://www.geolib.ru/OilGasGeo/1997/08/Stat/stat01.html - www.geolib.ru/OilGasGeo/1997/08/Stat/stat01.html. Checked 2009-03-07 .
14. John B. R. Agard, Angela Cropper, et al. (2007). - UNEP . Checked 2009-04-23 .
15. Philip Dickenson Peters. Caribbean Wow 2.0 Zagada Markets. 2003 isbn 1929970048 - books.google.com / books? id = tXbo9H6t1TcC
16. Orlando Frez. (1970).

The Caribbean Sea belongs to the seas of the Atlantic. It is semi-closed and marginal. Its waters from the south and west wash the South and Central America. The eastern and northern parts of the sea are bounded by the Greater and Lesser Antilles. The Caribbean Sea is considered the most interesting and beautiful tropical sea. It got its name thanks to the Caribs - representatives of the Indian tribe who lived in the area before the arrival of Columbus. Second name this sea– Antilles.

Geographic features

A map of the Caribbean shows that it is connected to the Pacific by the Panama Canal. The sea is connected to the Gulf of Mexico through the Yucatan Strait. The area of ​​this sea is 2.7 million square meters. km. From the south it washes the shores of Panama, Colombia and Venezuela. On the west coast are such states as Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Mexico, Belize and Guatemala. The North of the Caribbean is Cuba, Haiti, Jamaica and Puerto Rico. East End sea ​​is the location of the Lesser Antilles. The rugged shores of this reservoir are in some places covered with mountains. In shallow waters, you can see coral reefs.

Climatic conditions

The Caribbean Sea is located in the tropical zone. The climate here is formed under the influence of the trade winds. The temperature all year round varies between 23-27 degrees. The weather is influenced by oceanic warm currents, as well as solar activity. The tides in the Caribbean are low. The idyll of a tropical reservoir is disturbed by frequent storms and hurricanes. The Caribbean Sea is the source of a huge number of hurricanes that pose a threat to the lives of the local population. Hurricanes cause great damage to the inhabitants of the coast and islands, destroying buildings. The ecology of coral reefs is also being disrupted as hurricanes bring debris, sand and mud with them.

The coast of the Caribbean Sea is covered with a variety of vegetation. Vibrant life is observed on coral reefs. More than 450 species of fish live in this sea: sharks, sea devils, parrot fish, butterfly fish, etc. Mammals include humpback whales, dolphins and sperm whales. Sardines, lobsters and tuna are of industrial importance. The beauty and richness of marine life attract divers to the Caribbean Sea. This is where diving enthusiasts come from. different corners planets. Swimming in the waters of the Caribbean should be done carefully. Sharks such as the Caribbean, gray bull, tiger, sand, reef, longfin, etc. are found here. All of them are dangerous for people.