Caribbean Sea

About Caribbean Sea

• The Caribbean Sea is a large tropical sea located southeast of the Gulf of Mexico in the western Atlantic Ocean.
• Boundaries: It is bounded by –
  • Venezuela, Colombia and Panama in the south
  • Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Honduras, Guatemala, Belize and Mexico’s Yucatán Peninsula in the west
  • Greater Antilles in the north
  • Lesser Antilles in the east
• Connections: The Caribbean Sea receives North Atlantic deep water through the Windward Passage and Subantarctic intermediate water through the Anegada Passage.
  • Its surface waters pass through the Yucatán Channel into the Gulf of Mexico.
• Key Features
  • Climate: The Caribbean has a mainly tropical climate, with rainfall varying from about 25 cm annually in Bonaire to 900 cm in parts of Dominica.
    • The region is also prone to hurricanes, especially from June to November.
  • Tectonic setting: The Caribbean consists of five submarine basins separated by submerged ridges and rises, reflecting its complex geological history.
  • Deepest point: The Cayman Trench (Bartlett Deep) is its deepest point, reaching about 7,686 m below sea level.
  • Major island: Jamaica, located south of Cuba, is the largest island within the Caribbean Sea.
  • Major river flow: The Amazon, Orinoco and Magdalena rivers carry clay minerals into the Caribbean seabed.
  • Ocean Currents: The North Equatorial Current plays a major role in regulating temperature and climate.
    • Surface waters are driven by trade winds towards the Yucatán Channel.
  • Ecology: Coral reefs support diverse marine life, including sea turtles, manatees, manta rays and reef fishes.
    • Submerged turtle-grass fields are also found in lagoons.
• Strategic importance: Its location makes it a vital maritime route connecting the Atlantic Ocean with the Gulf of Mexico, supporting international trade and naval movements.