Biological resources of the Caribbean. Bottom relief of the sea. Where is the Deepest Point in the Caribbean

And located in the tropical zone of the Western Hemisphere. In the northwest, the reservoir borders the Yucatan Peninsula (Mexico) and connects to the Gulf of Mexico through the Yucatan Strait between Yucatan and Cuba. To the north and east are the Large and Small Antilles. In the south the sea washes north coast South America. To the west and southwest is the coast of Central America. Here Caribbean waters through the Panama Canal they are connected to the waters of the Pacific Ocean.

Geography

The reservoir in question is one of the largest in the world. Its area is 2.754 thousand square meters. km. The volume of water is 6.860 thousand cubic meters. km. The maximum depth is 7686 meters. It is fixed in the so-called Cayman trough. It is located between Jamaica and the Cayman Islands. This is an underwater trench between the North American and Caribbean plates. The average depth of the reservoir is 2500 meters.

Countries

A huge sea washes many countries. 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. His northern part occupy 3 Mexican states, and to the south are lands belonging to Belize and Guatemala.

In the northern part of the Greater Antilles, there are states such as Cuba, Haiti, the Dominican Republic, Jamaica and Puerto Rico. The territory of the Lesser Antilles is occupied by such countries as Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Dominica, Grenada, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Trinidad and Tobago.

Caribbean Sea on the map

Islands

For those who don't know, you need to know that 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. Here it covers both the Caribbean and the Bahamas. This term appeared after the discovery of America by Columbus.

In the reservoir under consideration are the Antilles, subdivided into Large and Small. The first includes 4 big islands: Cuba, Haiti, Jamaica and Puerto Rico. This also includes small islands located near Cuba and forming the Los Canarreos and Jardines de la Reina archipelagos.

The Lesser Antilles are much more numerous. They are influenced by the northwest trade wind and are subdivided into windward and leeward or southerly. In the first group, there are about 50 islands. The southern group stretches along the coast of South America and includes both individual islands and archipelagos.

closer to west coast There are several archipelagos in the reservoir. These are the Cayman Islands (Grand Cayman, Little Cayman, Cayman Brac), Islas de la Bahia, belonging to Honduras, as well as the Miskitos and Turneff Islands. There are separate islands of San Andres and Providencia.

Rivers

Many rivers flow into the huge reservoir. The largest river in South America is the Magdalena. It flows through Colombia and has a length of 1550 km. Its annual flow is the largest and is approximately 230 cubic meters. km. The second Colombian river is called Atrato. Its length is 644 km. Some of the rivers flow into Lake Maracaibo (the largest in South America). It is connected to the Venezuelan Gulf of the Caribbean Sea by a shallow strait, the depth of which does not exceed 4 meters.

The reservoir is also fed by about 30 rivers of Central America. There are rivers and islands. For example, the Cauto River in Cuba. Its length is 343 km. Or the Artibonite River in Haiti with a length of 240 km. There are rivers in Jamaica. These are Milk River and Black River.

Climate

The climate is tropical. It is formed by the subtropical Caribbean Current, which is a continuation of the South Trade Wind Current. Warm waters flow from the southeast to the northwest and through the Yucatan Strait go to the Gulf of Mexico, where the Gulf Stream is born. Therefore, the annual temperature is kept in the range from 21 to 29 degrees Celsius.

Trade winds dominate the reservoir. Their speed ranges from 16 to 30 km/h. Tropical hurricanes occur in the northern part of the reservoir. Their speed can reach up to 120 km/h. Such strong winds sometimes they carry a real tragedy: people die, houses collapse, crops die. For example, Hurricane Mitch, which formed in the western part of the sea in October 1998, brought a lot of grief. 11 thousand people died and the same number went missing. 2.7 million people were left without housing. They were mostly citizens of Nicaragua and Honduras.

Economy

The Caribbean Sea is inextricably linked with oil production. Approximately 170 million tons of oil per year are produced in its water area. In addition, the fishing industry is well developed. sea waters produce up to 500 thousand tons of fish per year. However, human activity pollutes environment. First of all, this negatively affects coral reefs, which are steadily bleaching, and their ecosystem is being destroyed.

In the near future, this may not affect the tourism industry in the best way. Up to 40 million tourists visit this area every year. Their net profit is about 30 billion dollars. Many tourists are attracted by diving and the beauty of coral reefs. Approximately 3 million local residents living on the islands, one way or another connected with tourism business. So the issues related to ecology are quite acute.

Caribbean sea tropical sea, enters the pool Atlantic Ocean.

The Caribbean Sea, 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 of the 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 Caribbean States The sea has been recognized 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 seas almost whole year there is a circular rotation of water.

What rivers flow

most major river The Colombian Magdalena is considered to be one and a half thousand 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. Rivers flow on the largest islands of the sea: 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 was once small settlement turned 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

Rich and varied animal world represented here by hundreds of species of fish and birds, 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.

undersea world caribbean photos

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 the corals vegetable world 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.

largest coral in the northern hemisphere barrier reef 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 tourism, the volume of investment in it is two times higher than the world average; Port Royal was the largest English colony and pirate capital in the region. In 1692, it was almost completely destroyed by an earthquake and tsunami.

Caribbean from A to Z: the most popular islands, beaches and hotels in Jamaica, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Barbados or the Bahamas. colorful photo and video. Tour operators in the Caribbean.

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The legendary Antilia, and later the colonial West Indies, the Caribbean nestled comfortably in the geographical "hollow" between the North and South America. Large and small, windward and leeward, well settled by tourists and uninhabited, caribbean- a paradise for downshifters and drug lords, and concurrently one of the most popular destinations beach exotic. Fifty odd islands in the Caribbean are home to a real and well-balanced paradise, the perfect combination of natural and man-made: the rich heritage of the colonial past in the form of a mass of museum houses and pompous mansions perfectly complements the exotic nature, where greenery rainforest alternates with volcanic landscapes, and expanses of coffee plantations are replaced by thickets of sugar cane and bananas.

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Putting sentiment aside and turning to dry facts, we learn that the Caribbean includes the Greater and Lesser Antilles. The first include 4 large islands "stretching" to the mainland: Cuba, Haiti, Jamaica and Puerto Rico; to the second - a round dance of all sorts of trifles, in turn divided into leeward and windward islands: the noisy Bahamas and the authentic Turks and Caicos, divided between the USA and Great Britain Virgin Islands, outlandish Antigua and Barbuda , discovered by Columbus Guadeloupe and birthplace of Josephine Beauharnais Martinique, Grenada, Barbados, Trinidad and Tobago, finally - glorified by the saga of Jack Sparrow Dominique. By the way, the island of Curacao (the one that gave the name to the popular liquor) is also located here.

Diving in Curacao

The reasons for the popularity of the Caribbean in the tourist market are obvious: the warm sea all year round, the amazing beauty of nature, a large selection of hotels and a whole bunch of entertainment - water and "dry" sports, nightclubs, discos, restaurants, interesting excursions. Let's take Cuba or the Dominican Republic as an example. Here you can not only enjoy the sea and the sun, but also wander around old Havana, walk through coffee and tobacco plantations, listen to the singing of street singers, "burn off" at the disco and, in general, breathe the air of freedom in every possible way.

A distinctive feature of the Caribbean region - big variety recreation options, because each state has its own “specialization” here.

In Barbados, for example, many English traditions are firmly rooted in life. There is a large selection of hotels, and not all of them accept small children: rest here is mostly calm and relaxed.

15 days in the Dominican Republic

Grenada is known as the "Spice Island", there are many botanical gardens, museums, attractions, and magnificent beaches so they invite you to lie down on a soft White sand. The Turks and Caicos attract the attention of a respectable public with their magnificent five-star hotels, as well as good conditions for diving and high-level SPA-centers.

Saint Lucia bears the proud title of "Garden Island" and is one of the most beautiful islands Caribbean Sea. In contrast, Aruba is a desert island, with magnificent hotels and a stormy nightlife. There are many hotels in Saint Martin different levels, while the Bahamas offer huge selection accommodation options, from secluded hotels to bustling urban complexes.

Finally, in Curacao, just the same without fail you need to go to one of the bars and order a glass of a wonderful blue drink!

Countries have become popular holiday destinations for many people from different parts of the Earth. Caribbean. Their list was supplemented by both mainland and island states.

Caribbean Sea on the world map in Russian

The Caribbean Sea has been known in modern civilization since its discovery in the 15th century. The discoverers named the sea after the tribes Caribbean that inhabited the coast, although the sea has changed its name many times throughout history.

The Caribbean Sea has a romantic and sinister history of piracy, which flourished in the 18th century.

Piracy has long sunk into the past, but is of interest to this day. It was the story of the pirates of the Caribbean that became the plot for movie of the same name. The modern Caribbean Sea is the most fashionable and popular resorts of the world, attracting people with their amazing heavenly beauty.

The Caribbean Sea is an attractive holiday destination. You can choose a vacation to your taste in any country, almost at any time of the year, which is facilitated by the climate. Caribbean is land of eternal summer!

Where is?

The Caribbean Sea is the open sea in western hemisphere, in the Atlantic Ocean basin, it seems to connect two parts American continent located between South and Central America and the Antilles. Through Panama Canal associated with Pacific Ocean, through the Yucatan Strait has access to the Gulf of Mexico.

Climate

Climate of the Caribbean tropical, with a predominance east winds- trade winds. Tropical hurricanes are not uncommon, especially strong in northern regions seas. The most hurricane season is from June to November. Most often destructive hurricanes, from which residents suffered more than once coastal areas occur in the first months of autumn.

Sometimes hurricanes are so destructive that this event becomes part of history.

The amount of precipitation can vary depending on the winds and on what area of the sea this or that island is located.

Temperature about the same in the Caribbean. average temperature in summer +28°C, in winter from 23 to 27°C.

List of basin countries

The Caribbean Sea washes the shores of many states and territories, both continental and insular.

What territories it washes: states and their capitals

Continental States, which washes the Caribbean Sea, are located in northern, central and south America.

The only country North America in the Caribbean - or as it is called in official language, United Mexican States. The capital is Mexico City.

South American countries:

Colombia, official name Republic of Colombia. The capital is Bogota;
Venezuela or officially the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela. The capital is Caracas;
Republic of Panama, partly located in Central America. The capital is Panama.

Central American countries:

Republic of Nicaragua, capital - Managua;
Republic of Honduras, the capital is Tegucigalpa;
Republic of Guatemala, capital - Guatemala;
Republic of Costa Rica, capital - San Jose;
Belize capital is Belmopan.

island states Caribbean:

Cuba, official name, unofficial - Liberty Island. The capital is Havana;
Dominican Republic, capital - Santo Domingo;
Haiti, the official name of the Republic of Haiti, the capital of Port-au-Prince;
Jamaica, capital - Kingston;
Puerto Rico, officially called the Freely Associated State of Puerto Rico or the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico. The capital is San Juan.

Read more about Puerto Rico in: history, climate, fauna, flora and more.

It is possible to single out the territories that are part of European countries : (Anguilla), France (Guadeloupe, Martinique, Saint-Barthélemy, Saint-Martin), the Netherlands (Bonaire, Saba and Sint Eustatius), this is due to the history of the colonization of the lands of the Caribbean. As well as territories belonging to the United States Virgin Islands, the capital is Charlotte Amalie.

Washed Islands

The islands of the Caribbean are Antilles Large and Small and Bahamas.

Greater Antilles include the island of Cuba, Haiti, Jamaica, Puerto Rico, Cayman Islands. The smallest island is Little Cayman, its area is 28.5 km².
Lesser Antilles these are: a chain of small islands, the largest of them are Trinidad and Tobago and Martinique, the smallest is Petit Martinique, only 2.4 km², with a population of 900 people.
Bahamas include 700 small islands, and only 30 of them are inhabited.

Tourism in the Caribbean

The variety of resorts in the Caribbean makes it difficult to choose the best because each island is good in its own way. In the Caribbean, anyone will find a vacation to their liking. For Russian tourists the obstacle is the long and expensive journey to the Caribbean.

A nice bonus is that Russians do not need a visa to enter some states.

Popular resorts

Resorts where possible visa-free entry:

Montego Bay- a resort for lovers of fun, movement, "hip-strip". The city of a never-sleeping port and luxurious hotels;

One of the most expensive resorts world is located just in the Caribbean Sea. Read about this and other resorts that not everyone can afford.

Negril – white sandy beaches, appeasement, the kingdom of palm trees, natural area, remote from the noise of cities and industries;
Ocho Rios charming with its inconsistency: on the one hand - quiet fishing towns, on the other hand - the center of cruise tourism. Both lovers of solitude and fans of parties can find a place for themselves in this resort.

The best beaches

Among the best beaches Caribbean Sea, there are those that deserve additional attention:

The Caribbean Sea is attractive with comfort, romance and a certain share of danger, as Caribbean beaches often find themselves in the path of hurricanes. The strongest winds and complete serenity, the opportunity to choose a vacation and a beach to your liking, enjoy sea views sports, to observe the life of plants and animals in the pristine corners of nature, attracts people from all over the world.

See video About holidays in the Caribbean:

The Caribbean Sea (Caribbean Sea) is located in the west of the Atlantic Ocean near the equator. Thanks to tropical climate, numerous sandy beaches, the purest water, famous resorts And picturesque places The Caribbean region is popular with tourists. The Caribbean area hosts cruise routes of famous travel companies. The rich underwater world attracts thousands of diving enthusiasts. Mostly Caribbean resorts are visited by residents of the USA, Canada, Brazil.

Caribbean Islands Antilles and Bahamas include several major islands: Cuba, Haiti, Jamaica, Puerto Rico. Here are the Virgin Islands, the Cayman Islands.

The climate of the region is determined by the trade winds and the tropical region of the Atlantic Ocean. The average temperature during the year practically does not change and is +23 ... +28 degrees. The Caribbean region is less affected by tropical hurricanes than the Gulf of Mexico And East End Pacific Ocean

Flora and fauna Warm climate, Coral reefs And pure water created a rich underwater world of the sea. About 500 live here. various kinds fish, such as goliath fish, angel fish and parrot fish, moray eels and several types of sharks. There are whales, sperm whales and dolphins in the waters of the sea. The entire coastal area is covered with tropical forests with lush vegetation and a riot of colors.

The Caribbean Sea region is a favorite vacation spot for many oligarchs from different countries. They are not limited to cash and choose really deserving places for a comfortable stay