Neighboring seas and oceans of the Caribbean. caribbean sea
CARIBBEAN SEA, Caribbean Sea (Caribbean Sea), a semi-enclosed marginal sea in the western part of the tropical zone of the Atlantic Ocean. In the west and south it is bounded by the mainland coasts of the Central and South America, in the north and east - a ridge of the Greater Antilles (Cuba, Haiti, Puerto Rico) and the Windward Islands from the Lesser Antilles group. It is connected by the Yucatan Strait with the Gulf of Mexico, numerous straits in the archipelagos of the Greater and Lesser Antilles - with Atlantic Ocean, the Panama Canal - with the Pacific Ocean. The area is 2777 thousand km2, the volume is 6745 thousand km3. Greatest depth 7090 m (Caiman trench).
coast Central America low-lying, wooded, South American for the most part high, steep, with separate low areas covered with mangroves. Most of the islands have mountainous and steep coasts. Western and partially southwest coast the seas are fringed with reefs. Main large bays are located in the western southern parts seas: Honduran, Mosquitos, Darien, Venezuelan Gulf with Lake Maracaibo, Paria. From major islands— Jamaica; many small islands, most of them in the western and southeastern parts seas.
The shelf is well expressed only off the coast of Honduras, Nicaragua and Venezuela (100-240 km), the continental slope is steep, on average about 17°, in some parts of the slope there is a steepness of up to 45°. On the bottom strongly dissected by underwater ridges, deep basins stand out: Yucatan (4800 m), Colombian (4259 m), Venezuelan (5420 m), Grenada (4120 m). In the north caribbean from west to east along southern foot of the underwater ridge of the same name is extended deep sea trench Caiman. Most of the submarine ridges (Aves, Beata, Marcelino Sill, etc.) are apparently submerged island arcs. Bottom sediments are represented mainly by calcareous foraminiferal oozes. Turbidity flows are an important factor in the formation of sediments for the flat relief of the basins; the most powerful precipitations were found in the north of the Venezuelan basin (up to 12 km).
The climate is maritime, warm, with low seasonal variability, determined by the location of the Caribbean Sea in the zone of trade wind circulation of the atmosphere. Average air temperatures in February are 24-27 °C, in August 27-30 °C. The amount of precipitation increases from east to west from 500 to 2000 mm per year. The largest average monthly precipitation falls in summer off the coast of Panama (up to 400 mm), the smallest in winter off the coast of Cuba (about 20 mm). Northeast trade winds prevail over the sea with speeds of 5-7 m/s. Storm conditions are usually associated with tropical hurricanes, in which wind speeds reach 40-60 m/s. Hurricanes cross the Caribbean Sea in the western and northwestern directions at a speed of 10-20 km / h with an average frequency of 3 times a year (in some years more than 10).
Water exchange with the Atlantic Ocean is carried out mainly through deep straits: Windward, Sombrero, Dominica, etc.; with the Gulf of Mexico - through the Yucatan. The excitement is predominantly eastern and northeast directions, on average 3-4, rarely 5 points. The magnitude of annual level fluctuations is small and usually ranges from 8 to 30 cm. Short-term level fluctuations are observed during the passage of tropical hurricanes. The tides are irregular semidiurnal, off the coast of Venezuela they are irregular diurnal, up to 1 m.
The circulation of water is set by the branches of the Antilles current and the Guiana current, entering the Caribbean Sea through the northern and eastern interisland straits. These waters spread in a westerly direction called the Caribbean Current. In the eastern part of the sea, the current moves in two streams at a distance of 200-300 km from each other. At about 80° west longitude, both streams merge into one. The current velocity in the western part of the sea reaches 70 cm/s. Off the coasts of Cuba and Jamaica, the current forms several anticyclonic eddies; cyclonic eddies are observed along the coasts of Venezuela, Panama, and Costa Rica. The waters of the Caribbean Current through the Yucatan Strait are carried into Gulf of Mexico. In the strait, the highest speeds of surface currents from the mainland coast are up to 150 cm/s.
The water temperature on the surface during the year varies from 26 °C in winter to 29 °C in summer. Deep-water basins are filled with Atlantic waters with a temperature of about 4.3°C. The average salinity of water on the surface is from 35.5 to 36.5‰. By the end summer season due to the abundance of precipitation and fresh river runoff, salinity decreases by 0.5-1.0 ‰, its lowest values (33-34 ‰) near the islands of Trinidad and Tobago are explained by the large fresh runoff of the Orinoco River. The highest salinity of surface waters is in a narrow strip off the coast of South America and the coasts of Haiti and Cuba (over 36‰).
There are about 800 species of fish in the Caribbean Sea, of which more than half are edible. From commercial fish highest value have representatives of the families of snapper, serran, crucians, several types of mullet, croaker, as well as sardinella, horse mackerel, mackerel, tarpon, anchovies. Widely distributed fish open ocean- Tunas, marlins, sailboats, common dormice, sharks.
The Caribbean coast is known for its beautiful beaches, it is the largest recreational area with numerous resorts. Lively shipping; passes sea route through Panama Canal connecting the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. Main ports: Santiago de Cuba (Cuba), Santo Domingo (Dominican Republic), Maracaibo (Venezuela), Barranquilla and Cartagena (Colombia), Colon (Panama).
Lit .: Zalogin B. S., Kosarev A. N. Sea. M., 1999.M.G. Deev.
Water temperature in the Caribbean. Caribbean Sea coast water temperature
The given data show the surface water temperature on the coast of the seas and oceans. To see the values, select the country and then the city you are interested in.
10 Fun Facts About The Caribbean
In addition to water temperature, we also provide information about the weather for today, tomorrow and in the coming days, surf forecast, sea state and roughness, sunrise / sunset and moonrise data.
List of countries and territories in the Caribbean Sea
Caribbean sea water temperature monthly:
Water temperature in Caribbean Sea in january
Sea Temperature in Caribbean Sea in February
Water temperature in the Caribbean Sea in march
Water temperature in Caribbean Sea in april
Water temperature in the Caribbean Sea in May
Water temperature in Caribbean Sea in june
Water temperature in Caribbean Sea in july
Water temperature in Caribbean Sea in august
Sea Temperature in Caribbean Sea in september
Water temperature in Caribbean Sea in october
Water temperature in Caribbean Sea in november
Water temperature in Caribbean Sea in December
To calculate the sea temperature, satellite data are used together with the results of observations at ground stations.
Water temperature, weather forecast and sea conditions are updated daily. Temperatures in shallow areas near the shore may be slightly higher than those shown here.
Location of the Caribbean Sea: West Side Atlantic Ocean, between Central and South America.
Caribbean area: 2,754 thousand km2
Average depth of the Caribbean Sea: 2 491 m
Deepest Caribbean Sea: 7,680 m (Cayman Trench).
Bottom reliefCaribbean: deep-sea ridges (Cayman, Aves, Beata, Marcelino threshold), basins (Grenada, Venezuelan, Colombian, Bartlet, Yucatan).
SalinityCaribbean: 35.5-36‰.
currentscaribbean moving from east to west, when leaving the Gulf of Mexico give rise to the Gulf Stream.
Inhabitants of the Caribbean: sharks, flying fish, sea turtles and other tropical fauna; there are sperm whales, humpback whales, seals and manatees.
Additional information about the Caribbean: The Caribbean Sea borders the Gulf of Mexico, the shortest sea route passes through it, connecting the ports of the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans through the Panama Canal.
caribbean sea wikipedia
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Caribbean Sea: where is it on the map, photo, area, depth, rivers, fish, countries, cities
caribbean sea- a semi-enclosed sea in the Atlantic Ocean, located between Central and South America. Countries washed by the Caribbean Sea: Venezuela, Colombia, Panama, Cuba, Guatemala, Costa Rica, Haiti, Jamaica, Nicaragua, etc.
Area: 2,754,000 sq.
Caribbean Sea - corals, animals, tourism, pirates, interesting facts
km. Average depth: 2500 m. Maximum depth: 7686 m.
The following rivers flow into the Caribbean Sea: Plantaine Garden, Magdalena, Rio Grande, San Juan, Coco, Aguan, Motagua, Rio Hondo, etc.
Sea resort cities: Cancun (Mexico), Varadero (Cuba), Montego Bay (Jamaica), Bridgetown (Barbados), Freeport ( Bahamas) and etc.
The main ports of the Caribbean Sea: Cartagena (Colombia), Santiago de Cuba (Cuba), Maracaibo (Venezuela), Colon (Panama), Limon (Costa Rica), Santo Domingo (Dominican Republic), Kingston (Jamaica).
Large bays: Mexican, Honduran, Venezuelan, Darien, Batabano, Gonave, Guacanaybo, Paria.
The most important islands of the Caribbean: Antilles, Bahamas, Caymans, Turneff, Islas de la Bahia. Largest island: Cuba.
Animal life: angelfish, silky shark, hawksbill turtle, barracudas, moray eels, tuna, lobsters, sardines, monk seal, sharp-winged crocodile, etc.
Photos of the Caribbean Sea:
Where is it on the map:
Oceans, lakes and rivers
caribbean sea
The Caribbean Sea belongs to the Atlantic Ocean and is located in the tropics of the Western Hemisphere. In the northwest, the reservoir borders the Yucatan Peninsula (Mexico) and connects to the Gulf of Mexico through the Yucatan Pass between Yucatan and Cuba.
In the north and east there are large and small Antilles. In the south the sea is washed north coast South America. To the west and southwest is the coast of Central America. caribbean waters connected to the Pacific through the Panama Canal.
geography
The reservoir is considered one of the largest in the world.
Its surface is 2.754 thousand square meters. km. The amount of water is 6,860 thousand cubic meters. km. The maximum depth is 7686 meters. It is installed in the so-called trench candle. It is located between Jamaica and the Cayman Islands.
This is an underwater trough between the North American and Caribbean plates. The average depth of the reservoir is 2500 meters.
member
Many countries erase many seas. In South America, these are Venezuela and Colombia. In Central America: Panama, Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Guatemala, Honduras and Belize.
The last in this series is the Yucatan Peninsula. Northern part occupies 3 Mexican states, and in the south - territories belonging to Belize and Guatemala.
In the northern part of the Greater Antilles, there are countries such as Cuba, Haiti, the Dominican Republic, Jamaica and Puerto Rico.
The Antilles region is home to such countries as Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Dominica, Grenada, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Trinidad and Tobago.
Caribbean on the map
islands
Those who don't know should know that the Bahamas never belonged to the Caribbean. They are located north of Cuba and south of Florida. These are the waters of the Atlantic, and historically this area is called the West Indies.
It covers both the Caribbean and the Bahamas. This term appeared when Columbus discovered America.
In the reservoir under consideration there are the Antilles, divided into large and small. The first includes four large islands: Cuba, Haiti, Jamaica and Puerto Rico. It includes small islands, located near Cuba, and form the Los Canareos and Jardines de la Reina archipelagos.
The Lesser Antilles are much more numerous.
They are influenced by the northeast trade wind and are divided into wind, rain or south. The first group has about 50 islands. The southern group extends along the coast of South America and includes both individual islands and archipelagos.
closer to west coast reservoirs there are several archipelagos. These are the Cayman Islands (Grand Cayman, Mali Cayman, Cayman Brach), the Department of Island Bay Islands, which are located in Honduras, as well as the Miskitos and Turneff Islands.
There are separate islands of San Andres and Providencia.
Rivers
There are many rivers in a large body of water. The largest of them is the South American Magdalen River. It passes through Colombia and is 1550 km long. The annual flow is the largest and is approximately 230 cubic meters.
km. Another Colombian river is called Atrato. Its length is 644 km. Some rivers go to Lake Maracaibo (the largest in South America). The Caribbean Sea is connected to the Gulf of Venezuela by a small slope, the depth of which does not exceed 4 meters.
In Central America, we also feed about 30 rivers.
The islands have rivers. For example, the Cauto River in Cuba. Its length is 343 km. But the Artibonite River in Haiti is 240 km long. There are rivers in Jamaica. This is the river of milk and the black river.
climate
The climate is tropical. It is created by the Subtropical Caribbean Current, a continuation of the South Trade trend. Hot water flows from the southeast to the northwest and passes through the Yucatan Channel in the Gulf of Mexico, from where it takes the Gulf Stream.
Therefore, the annual temperature ranges from 21 to 29 degrees Celsius.
Windmills are dominated by the trade winds. Their speed is from 16 to 30 km / h. There are tropical hurricanes in the northern part of the reservoir. Their speed can reach 120 km/h. Such strong winds sometimes they suffer a real tragedy: people die, houses are destroyed, cultures die.
For example, Hurricane Mitch, created in the western part of the sea in October 1998, brought a lot of sadness. 11 thousand people were killed, and the same number was not enough. There were 2.7 million people homeless. They were mostly citizens of Nicaragua and Honduras.
economy
The Caribbean Sea is inextricably linked to oil production.
Approximately 170 million tons are produced offshore.
Caribbean Sea: "A true paradise on earth"
tons of oil per year. In addition, the fishing industry is well developed. Sea water annually provides up to 500 thousand tons of fish. However, human activity pollutes environment. First, it negatively affects coral reefs, which are constantly bleaching and destroying their ecosystem.
In the near future, this may affect the tourism industry in the best possible way. Every year about 40 million tourists visit the region. Their net profit is about 30 billion dollars. Many tourists are attracted by the diving and the beauty of the coral reefs. About 3 million local residents living on the islands are somehow connected with travel company. That's why ecological problems pretty sharp.
Sergey Gubanov
Before knowing where they are caribbean on the world map, need to get some general information about them. They include the Antilles, which rise significantly above sea level, as well as the Bahamas from coral reefs. Most of them are of the nature volcanic origin. Some islands are surrounded by large coral reefs, whose peaks protrude from the water and are overgrown with palm trees.
The Greater Antilles include four large areas of land that stretch from the mainland, among them Puerto Rico, Jamaica, Haiti and Cuba. The Lesser Antilles include a scattering of small lands, which include the Bahamas, Caicos, Turks, Bourbuda, Antigua, the Virginia Archipelago, Guadeloupe, Barbados, and so on.
Hard to say, which country is the caribbean, since they include all land areas washed by the Caribbean Sea.
At the same time, parts of the archipelago territorially belong different states. Previously, they were known to the world as the legendary Antilia, then as the West Indies, and only then as the Caribbean, comfortably located inside a kind of geographical depression between the South and North America.
Some of the islands are not inhabited, but most of them still have a developed resort network. Today, about fifty islands are places where visitors come from all over the world.
The popularity of the local latitudes is explained harmonious combination mild climate rich historical heritage as well as picturesque natural landscapes.
An important advantage of the Caribbean is the opportunity to relax all year round, because it is not cold here, eternal summer reigns and sunny weather.
The big question is the need for visas. It is tourists who are constrained by visa restrictions who are most interested in Where is the Caribbean which countries they belong to. The Caribbean includes more than fifty islands, some of which are separate states, while others are considered the territorial property of France, America and England. However, most areas Caribbean do not require their guests to have a visa.
All cruises are operated from Mexico, the Dominican Republic and the United States, so the city of departure still needs to be reached by plane, so lovers of cruise travel will still not be able to do without a visa. The most common cruise destinations are Eastern, Southern and Western Caribbean. It is also worth noting that the cost of the tour depends on the number of islands included in the route.
Which Caribbean Islands to visit
Among the huge list of sites in the Caribbean, there are several areas that are most popular.
After the tourist has understood where the Caribbean islands are, he needs to make a specific choice where he will go to rest.
To do this, you should familiarize yourself with the basic information known about the most resorts. Some of them are distinguished by a developed tourist network, others make travelers fall in love with their remoteness from the usual civilization. Domestic tourists, as a rule, choose among such offers:
The list can go on for a very long time.
It is noteworthy that before you go traveling, you must also look at the weather of the Caribbean Islands by months, which will allow you to make the right choice.
Weather in the Caribbean
Weather conditions for different land areas belonging to the same archipelago may vary slightly.
In general, however, the climate ranges from humid to temperate tropical. It is worth noting that the humidity index for any island will remain consistently high, which contributes to the excellent growth of various types of vegetation.
Cleaner and drier air is always in mountainous areas. The air temperature here does not fall below +25 degrees. The water near the coast remains warm all year round, its temperature does not fall below +22 degrees.
Care should be taken when planning a vacation in these latitudes from September to November. Since this period is characterized by increased rainfall with possible hurricanes.
The local summer is characterized by moderate heat, which is facilitated by the trade winds blowing from the sea.
The peak of tourism falls on the period from December to April, so domestic travelers often meet here New Year.
From August to November, the so-called "Dead season" begins in the Caribbean. It should be noted that predict Caribbean getaway it is quite difficult, because on one piece of land there can be a torrential downpour, and on the other, the sun can burn brightly. Thus, it is important not only to view photos of the beaches of the Caribbean Islands on the Internet, but also to read the reviews of tourists who have already had time to relax here.
Having overcome the long way across the Atlantic to the shores of Central America, we will find ourselves in one of the most beautiful and interesting tropical seas - the Caribbean.
This sea owes its name to the Indian tribe of the Caribs who lived on its coast when the ships of H. Columbus arrived here. If somewhere you meet an unfamiliar sea by name - the Antilles, then know that this is just the second name of the Caribbean Sea.
The beauty of coral reefs, the abundance of tropical cyclones accompanied by destructive hurricanes and pirates, who chose this area for their "fishing" in the distant past, brought the greatest glory to the sea.
Location of the Caribbean complete map Atlantic Ocean - .
First, about the geography and characteristics of the sea.
The water area of the sea, with an area of 2753 thousand square kilometers, is located off the coast of Central and South America and is limited in the north and east by the Big and Small Antilles. It is connected by waterways with the Gulf of Mexico (Yucatan Strait), through the interisland straits - with the Atlantic Ocean, and through an artificial structure - the Panama Canal with the Pacific Ocean. The region where the Caribbean Sea is located is called the Caribbean. Its waters wash the shores of numerous states on American continent, and island countries. The sea is very deep average depth- 2500 m, maximum - 7686 m (Cayman depression between Cuba and Jamaica).
The climate in the Caribbean is shaped by warm ocean currents (Northern Equatorial Current, of which the Caribbean Current is an offshoot) and the abundance of solar activity in these tropical locations. Average annual temperature water surface layers sea +26 deg.S. The tides are low - an average of 1 m. Many rivers flow into the Caribbean Sea, among which Magdalena, Atrato, Dike, Belen, Krikamola and others can be noted.
One of the fly in the ointment that often spoil the idyll of these fabulous beautiful places, are hurricanes and storms. The Caribbean Sea is believed to be the source most hurricanes in the Western Hemisphere. Hurricanes pose a serious problem to the inhabitants of the islands and the coast of the basin, destroying buildings and structures. Hurricanes also cause great harm to the numerous coral structures in these places - reefs, atolls, coastal coral fringes of islands. Powerful winds bring here mud, sand and debris that adversely affect the ecology of the reefs.
The coastline is heavily indented throughout. There are numerous bays, lagoons, bays, capes. Among the major bays are Honduran, Mosquitos, Venezuelan, Batabano, Ana Maria, Gonave. The shores are mostly low-lying, but there are also mountainous areas.
The Caribbean Sea is very rich in islands. The general island group here is united under the name of the Antilles archipelago or the West Indies, which, in turn, is subdivided into the Greater Antilles, Lesser Antilles and Bahamas. The Greater Antilles are predominantly mainland origin. These include large islands in the north of the sea - Cuba, Jamaica, Haiti, Puerto Rico. The Lesser Antilles, in turn, are divided into groups: Windward and Leeward Islands. 
The name of the Leeward Islands is due to the lee (compared to the Windward Islands) position of the islands in relation to the northeast trade wind. These islands are mostly of coral or volcanic origin.
The bottom relief of the sea is distinguished by numerous irregularities in the form of ups and downs. The entire bottom surface can be divided into five regions, separated by underwater ridges and mountain ranges. Among deep places- Cayman Trench, Haiti Trench, Puerto Rico Trench. The area is considered seismically active. There are underwater earthquakes that can cause tsunamis.
The coastal soil is sandy, sandy-silty, rocky in places. The coast of many places is covered with amazingly white coral sand.
The deep-sea cover of the sea bottom is represented by silts and clays.
Animal and vegetable world The Caribbean Sea is very diverse and rich quantitatively. Most of the coral structures represent a typical tropical coral community of living organisms.
You can see many species of bottom animals and coral reef fish in THIS illustration.
The diversity and beauty of the aquatic life forms of the Caribbean Sea can amaze the most sophisticated diver and connoisseur of underwater landscapes. It is not for nothing that many places here have been chosen by diving enthusiasts from different countries.
The flora of the sea is not rich in quantitative terms, but it is represented by an extensive species composition. In some places there are even entire fields of underwater vegetation. In shallow areas, macroflora is concentrated mainly in areas of reef structures. Here you can find algae such as tortoiseshell thalassia, cymodocean algae, sea ruppia. Halophilic algae grow in deeper areas. In total, macroalgae of the sea are represented by a dozen species.
Phytoalgae are represented very poorly, as in all tropical seas. The zooxanthella species, which forms a biosymbiosis with coral polyps, is suffering greatly from the increase in water temperature that occurs in the Caribbean. last years. This leads to the death of zooxanthella, subsequent bleaching and death of coral colonies and the death of the entire reef community of organisms.
The fauna of the sea is more diverse than its flora. They live here and marine mammals, and fish, and various bottom animals.
Among the benthic representatives of the fauna are numerous marine worms, snakes, molluscs (cephalopods, gastropods, bivalves, etc.), echinoderms ( sea stars, hedgehogs), crustaceans (crabs, crustaceans, spiny lobsters, etc.). Intestinal animals are represented by a wide range of coral polyps, incl. reef-forming, numerous jellyfish.
Plenty in the Caribbean and sea turtles, among which you can find soup (or green), loggerheads, biss, ridley.
The famous Columbus, crossing the Caribbean Sea at the beginning of the 16th century, encountered huge herds of green turtles, which literally blocked the way for his ships in the area of \u200b\u200bthe modern Cayman Islands. Struck by the abundance of these animals, Columbus named the islands he discovered Las Tortugas, which in Spanish means "turtles". 
For many years, turtles served as a reliable source of food for sailors, filibusters and whalers off Las Tortugas. However, the name was not assigned to the islands, just as the once numerous herds of turtles have not been preserved. Where once sailboats struggled to make their way through a continuous barrier of turtle shells, now it is not easy to find at least one individual. Many years of uncontrolled fishing, the ruin of egg-laying, pollution of the sea are the results of inhuman human activity.
Settled in the gentle waters of the Caribbean and marine mammals. Here you can meet both large cetaceans (sperm whales, humpback whales) and smaller dolphins, of which there are several dozen species. There are also pinnipeds, which are represented by minnows. Previously, monk seals lived in abundance in the Caribbean Sea, now this species is considered extinct.
The Caribbean fish world is very rich and diverse. In not so distant times (by geological standards), the Isthmus of Panama did not exist. The water connection of the two great oceans - the Pacific and the Atlantic - was broken only a few tens of millennia ago. Therefore, the diversity of fauna here is also explained by the presence of many Pacific animal species.
Fish are represented by almost half a thousand various kinds, including small schooling and bottom fish, moray eels and barracudas, stingrays, flounders, gobies, flying fish, and ending with large representatives of the fish community - sharks, swordfish, marlin, tuna, etc.
They hunt here mainly sardines, tuna, lobsters.
Prestigious objects of sport fishing in the sea are marlin, sharks, swordfish, large barracudas.
CARIBBEAN SEA, Caribbean Sea (Caribbean Sea), a semi-enclosed marginal sea in the western part of the tropical zone of the Atlantic Ocean. In the west and south it is bounded by the mainland coasts of Central and South America, in the north and east by the ridge of the Greater Antilles (Cuba, Haiti, Puerto Rico) and the Windward Islands from the Lesser Antilles group. It is connected by the Yucatan Strait with the Gulf of Mexico, by numerous straits in the archipelagos of the Greater and Lesser Antilles - with the Atlantic Ocean, the Panama Canal - with the Pacific Ocean. The area is 2777 thousand km 2, the volume is 6745 thousand km 3. The greatest depth is 7090 m (Caiman trench).
The coasts of Central America are low-lying, wooded, those of South America are mostly high, steep, with separate low areas covered with mangroves. Most of the islands have mountainous and steep coasts. The western and partially southwestern coasts of the sea are bordered by reefs. The main large bays are located in the western and southern parts of the sea: the Honduran, Mosquitos, Darien, Venezuelan Gulf with Lake Maracaibo, Paria. Of the large islands - Jamaica; many small islands, most of them in the western and southeastern parts of the sea.
The shelf is well expressed only off the coast of Honduras, Nicaragua and Venezuela (100-240 km), the continental slope is steep, on average about 17°, in some parts of the slope there is a steepness of up to 45°. On the bottom strongly dissected by underwater ridges, deep basins stand out: Yucatan (4800 m), Colombian (4259 m), Venezuelan (5420 m), Grenada (4120 m). In the north of the Caribbean Sea, from west to east, along the southern foot of the underwater ridge of the same name, the Cayman Trench stretches. Most of the submarine ridges (Aves, Beata, Marcelino Sill, etc.) are apparently submerged island arcs. Bottom sediments are mainly represented by calcareous foraminiferal silts. Turbidity flows are an important factor in the formation of sediments for the flat relief of the basins; the most powerful precipitations were found in the north of the Venezuelan basin (up to 12 km).
The climate is maritime, warm, with low seasonal variability, determined by the location of the Caribbean Sea in the zone of trade wind circulation of the atmosphere. Average air temperatures in February are 24-27 °C, in August 27-30 °C. The amount of precipitation increases from east to west from 500 to 2000 mm per year. The largest average monthly precipitation falls in summer off the coast of Panama (up to 400 mm), the smallest - in winter off the coast of Cuba (about 20 mm). Northeast trade winds prevail over the sea with speeds of 5-7 m/s. Storm conditions are usually associated with tropical hurricanes, in which wind speeds reach 40-60 m/s. Hurricanes cross the Caribbean Sea in the western and northwestern directions at a speed of 10-20 km / h with an average frequency of 3 times a year (in some years more than 10).
Water exchange with the Atlantic Ocean is carried out mainly through deep straits: Windward, Sombrero, Dominica, etc.; with the Gulf of Mexico - through the Yucatan. Excitement is predominantly east and north-east, on average 3-4, rarely 5 points. The magnitude of annual level fluctuations is small and usually ranges from 8 to 30 cm. Short-term level fluctuations are observed during the passage of tropical hurricanes. The tides are irregular semi-diurnal, off the coast of Venezuela - irregular diurnal, up to 1 m.
The circulation of water is set by the branches of the Antilles current and the Guiana current, entering the Caribbean Sea through the northern and eastern interisland straits. These waters spread in a westerly direction called the Caribbean Current. In the eastern part of the sea, the current moves in two streams at a distance of 200-300 km from each other. At about 80° west longitude, both streams merge into one. The current velocity in the western part of the sea reaches 70 cm/s. Off the coasts of Cuba and Jamaica, the current forms several anticyclonic eddies; cyclonic eddies are observed along the coasts of Venezuela, Panama, and Costa Rica. The waters of the Caribbean Current through the Yucatan Strait are carried out into the Gulf of Mexico. In the strait, the highest speeds of surface currents from the mainland coast are up to 150 cm/s.
The water temperature on the surface during the year varies from 26 °C in winter to 29 °C in summer. Deep-water basins are filled with Atlantic waters with a temperature of about 4.3°C. The average salinity of water on the surface is from 35.5 to 36.5‰. By the end of the summer season, due to the abundance of precipitation and fresh river runoff, salinity decreases by 0.5-1.0‰, its lowest values \u200b\u200b(33-34‰) near the islands of Trinidad and Tobago are explained by the large fresh runoff of the Orinoco River. The highest salinity of surface waters is in a narrow strip off the coast of South America and the coasts of Haiti and Cuba (over 36‰).
There are about 800 species of fish in the Caribbean Sea, of which more than half are edible. Of the commercial fish, the most important are representatives of the families of snappers, serranids, crucians, several types of mullets, slabs, as well as sardinella, horse mackerel, mackerel, tarpon, anchovies. Fish of the open ocean are widespread - tuna, marlin, sailboats, common dormice, sharks.
The Caribbean coast is known for its beautiful beaches, it is the largest recreational area with numerous resorts. Lively shipping; passes the sea route through the Panama Canal, connecting the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. Main ports: Santiago de Cuba (Cuba), Santo Domingo (Dominican Republic), Maracaibo (Venezuela), Barranquilla and Cartagena (Colombia), Colon (Panama).
Lit .: Zalogin B. S., Kosarev A. N. Sea. M., 1999.M.G. Deev.
Before you find out where the Caribbean Islands are on the world map, you need to get some general information about them. They include the Antilles, which rise significantly above sea level, as well as the Bahamas from coral reefs. Most of them are of volcanic origin. Some islands are surrounded by large coral reefs, the tops of which protrude from the water and are overgrown with palm trees. The Greater Antilles include four large areas of land that stretch from the mainland, among them Puerto Rico, Jamaica, Haiti and Cuba. The Lesser Antilles include a scattering of small lands, which include the Bahamas, Caicos, Turks, Bourbuda, Antigua, the Virginia Archipelago, Guadeloupe, Barbados, and so on.
Hard to say, which country is the caribbean, since they include all land areas washed by the Caribbean Sea. At the same time, parts of the archipelago territorially belong to different states. Previously, they were known to the world as the legendary Antilia, then as the West Indies, and only then as the Caribbean, comfortably located inside a kind of geographical depression between South and North America. Some of the islands are not inhabited, but most of them still have a developed resort network. Today, about fifty islands are places where visitors come from all over the world.
The popularity of the local latitudes is explained by the harmonious combination of mild climate, rich historical heritage, as well as picturesque natural landscapes.
An important advantage of the Caribbean is the opportunity to relax all year round, because it is not cold here, eternal summer and sunny weather reign. The big question is the need for visas. It is tourists who are constrained by visa restrictions who are most interested in Where is the Caribbean which countries they belong to. The Caribbean includes more than fifty islands, some of which are separate states, while others are considered the territorial property of France, America and England. However, most Caribbean sites do not require their guests to have a visa. All cruises are operated from Mexico, the Dominican Republic and the United States, so the city of departure still needs to be reached by plane, so lovers of cruise travel will still not be able to do without a visa. The most common cruise destinations are Eastern, Southern and Western Caribbean. It is also worth noting that the cost of the tour depends on the number of islands included in the route.
Which Caribbean Islands to visit
Among the huge list of sites in the Caribbean, there are several areas that are most popular. After the tourist has understood where the Caribbean islands are, he needs to make a specific choice where he will go to rest. To do this, you should familiarize yourself with the basic information known about the most resorts. Some of them are distinguished by a developed tourist network, others make travelers fall in love with their remoteness from the usual civilization. Domestic tourists, as a rule, choose among such offers:
The list can go on for a very long time. It is noteworthy that before you go traveling, you must also look at the weather of the Caribbean Islands by months, which will allow you to make the right choice.
Weather in the Caribbean
Weather conditions for different land areas belonging to the same archipelago may vary slightly. In general, however, the climate ranges from humid to temperate tropical. It is worth noting that the humidity index for any island will remain consistently high, which contributes to the excellent growth of various types of vegetation. Cleaner and drier air is always in mountainous areas. The air temperature here does not fall below +25 degrees. The water near the coast remains warm all year round, its temperature does not fall below +22 degrees. Care should be taken when planning a vacation in these latitudes from September to November. Since this period is characterized by increased rainfall with possible hurricanes.
The local summer is characterized by moderate heat, which is facilitated by the trade winds blowing from the sea. The peak of tourism falls on the period from December to April, so domestic travelers often celebrate the New Year here. From August to November, the so-called "Dead season" begins in the Caribbean. It is worth noting that it is quite difficult to predict a Caribbean holiday, because on one part of the land there can be a torrential downpour, and on the other, the sun can shine brightly. Thus, it is important not only to view photos of the beaches of the Caribbean Islands on the Internet, but also to read the reviews of tourists who have already had time to relax here.
Located in the west of the Atlantic Ocean. From the west and south it borders on the coast of Central and South America, from the north and east by the Greater and Lesser Antilles. To the west and southwest are reefs. The largest bays: Honduran, Venezuelan, Darien. Largest: Jamaica.
Satellite map of the Caribbean from Bing
(the map can be moved with the mouse, zoomed in and out)
The climate here is warm maritime. In February it is +24, and in August +30. Most precipitation falls off the coast of Panama, and the least off the coast of Cuba. Hurricanes hit the sea three times a year.
Water exchange with the Atlantic Ocean occurs through the straits of Windward, Sombrero and Dominica.
The water temperature during the year ranges from 26 to 29 degrees.
There are 800 species of fish here (mullet, croaker, sardinella, horse mackerel, mackerel).
The Caribbean coast is known for its beaches. Main ports: Santiago de Cuba in Cuba, Santo Domingo in Dominican Republic, Maracaibo in Venezuela, Barranquilla and Cartagena in Colombia. Cote d'Azur, beautiful beaches, girls in bikinis. The Caribbean is a unique, magical place to unwind and unwind.
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