Consider the following statements regarding the Caribbean Sea: 1. The Cayman Trench is the deepest point in the Caribbean Sea, located between Jamaica and the Cayman Islands. 2. The Caribbean Sea is connected to the Pacific Ocean through the Panama Canal. Which of the statements given above is/are correct? |ForumIAS

[A] 1 only

[B] 2 only

[C] Both 1 and 2

[D] Neither 1 nor 2

Answer: A

Notes:

Explanations:

Statement 1 is correct: The Cayman Trough (or Cayman Trench) is a complex transform fault zone and pull-apart basin, marking the deepest point in the Caribbean Sea at approximately 7,686 meters (25,217 feet) below sea level. It is situated on the floor of the western Caribbean between the Cayman Islands and Jamaica.
Statement 2 is incorrect: The Caribbean Sea opens into the Atlantic Ocean, not the Pacific. While the Panama Canal does link the Caribbean Sea to the Pacific Ocean, it is an artificial waterway, not a natural connection. The natural boundary between the two oceans in this region is the isthmus of Central America.