thumb|right|350px|The Caribbean SeaThe
Caribbean Sea is a
sea of the
Atlantic Ocean situated in the tropics of the
Western hemisphere, bounded to the south and west by the
American landmass, with the North Atlantic Ocean proper to the northeast and the
Gulf of Mexico to the northwest. More specifically, it washes upon (clockwise from the south) the
South American countries of
Venezuela and
Colombia on the south; the
Central American countries of
Panama on the southwest, and
Costa Rica,
Nicaragua,
Honduras,
Guatemala,
Belize, and
Mexico on the west; the
Greater Antilles (
Cuba,
Jamaica,
Hispaniola, and
Puerto Rico) on the north, and the
Lesser Antilles on the east.
The entire area of the Caribbean Sea, the numerous islands of the
West Indies, and adjacent coasts, are collectively known as the
Caribbean.
The Caribbean Sea is one of the largest salt water seas and has an area of about 2,754,000 km² (1,063,000 sq. mi.). The sea's deepest point is the
Cayman Trough, between the Cayman Islands and Jamaica, at 7,686 m (25,220 ft) below sea level. The Caribbean coastline has many gulfs and bays: the
Gulf of Gonâve,
Gulf of Venezuela,
Gulf of Darien,
Golfo de los Mosquitos and
Gulf of Honduras.
History
200px|left|thumb|[[Christopher Columbus landing on
Hispaniola in 1492.]]
The name "Caribbean" is derived from the
Caribs, one of the dominant
American Indian groups in the region at the time of
European contact during the late 15th century. After the discovery of the
West Indies by
Christopher Columbus in 1492, the Spanish term
Antillas was assigned to the lands; stemming from this, "Sea of the Antilles" is a common alternative name for the Caribbean Sea in various European languages. During the first century of development, the Spanish dominance was undisputed.
thumb|right|250px|[[Tulum,
Maya city on the coast of the Caribbean in the state of
Quintana Roo (
Mexico).]]
The Caribbean Sea was an unknown body of water to the populations of
Eurasia until 1492 when
Christopher Columbus first sailed into Caribbean waters while trying to find a route to Asia. At that time the Western Hemisphere in general was unknown to Europeans. Following the discovery of the islands by Columbus, the area was quickly colonized by several
Western cultures. Following the colonization of the Caribbean islands, the Sea became a busy area for European-based marine trading and transport, and this commerce eventually attracted
piracy.
Today the area is home to 22 island territories and borders 12 continental countries. Because of an abundance of sunshine, year-round tropical temperatures moderated by the almost constant
trade winds, and the great variety of scenic destinations to visit, during the second half of the 20th century on into the 21st, the Caribbean Sea became a popular place for tourism, and this trend has favored the increasing development of the cruise industry in the area (see
Cruising and
Cruise ship).
Geology
The Caribbean Sea is an oceanic sea largely situated on the
Caribbean Plate. Estimates of the sea's age range from 20,000 years to 570 million years. The Caribbean sea floor is divided into five
basins separated from each other by underwater ridges and mountain ranges. Atlantic Ocean enters the Caribbean through the
Anegada Passage lying between the
Lesser Antilles and
Virgin Islands and the
Windward Passage located between
Cuba and
Haiti. The
Yucatan Channel between Mexico and Cuba links the
Gulf of Mexico with the Caribbean. The deepest points of the sea lie in
Cayman Trough with depths reaching approximately 7,686 m (25,220 ft). Despite this, the Caribbean Sea is considered a relatively shallow sea in comparison to other bodies of water.
The Caribbean sea floor is also home to two
oceanic trenches: the
Hispaniola Trench and
Puerto Rico Trench, which put the area at a higher risk of
earthquakes. Underwater earthquakes pose a threat of generating
tsunamis which could have a devastating effect on the Caribbean islands. Scientific data reveals that over the last 500 years the area has seen a dozen earthquakes above 7.5 magnitude.
Ecology
thumb|250px|right|A view of the Caribbean Sea from the Dominican Republic coast
The Caribbean is home to about 9% of the world's
coral reefs covering about , most of which are located off the Caribbean Islands and the
Central American coast. Currently, unusually warm Caribbean waters are endangering the Caribbean coral reefs. Coral Reefs support some of the most diverse habitats in the world, but are fragile ecosystems. When tropical waters exceed for an extended period of time, microscopic plants called
zooxanthellae die off. These plants provide food for the coral and give them their color. The resultant bleaching of the coral reefs kills them, and ruins the ecosystem. Up to 42% of the coral colonies have gone completely white, while 95% have undergone at least some bleaching. The habitats supported by the reefs are critical to such tourist activities as
fishing and
diving, and provide an annual economic value to Caribbean nations of $3.1-$4.6 billion. Continued destruction of the reefs could severely damage the region's economy. A
Protocol of the Convention for the Protection and Development of the Marine Environment of the Wider Caribbean Region came in effect in 1986 to protect the various endangered marine life of the Caribbean through forbidding human activities that would advance the continued destruction of such marine life in various areas. Currently this protocol has been
ratified by 15 countries. Also several charitable organizations have been formed to preserve the Caribbean marine life, such as
Caribbean Conservation Corporation which seeks to study and protect
sea turtles while educating others about them.
Weather
thumb|left|260px|Average sea surface temperatures for the Caribbean Atlantic Ocean ([[25 August-27 August 2005.
Hurricane Katrina is seen just above
Cuba.]]
The Caribbean weather is influenced by the
Gulf Stream and
Humboldt Current ocean currents. The tropical location of the sea helps the water to maintain a warm temperature ranging from the low of 70 to mid-80
degrees Fahrenheit by the season.
The Caribbean is a focal area for many
hurricanes within the Western Hemisphere. A series of low pressure systems develop off the West coast of Africa and make their way across the Atlantic Ocean. While most of these systems do not become tropical storms, some do. The tropical storms can develop into
Atlantic hurricanes, often in the low pressure areas of the eastern Caribbean. The Caribbean hurricane season as a whole lasts from June to December, with the majority of hurricanes occurring during August and September. On average around 9 tropical storms form each year, with 5 reaching hurricane strength. According to the
National Hurricane Center 385 hurricanes occurred in the Caribbean between 1494 and 1900.
Every year hurricanes represent a potential threat to the islands of the Caribbean, due to the extremely destructive nature of these powerful weather systems. Coral reefs can easily be damaged by violent wave action, and can be destroyed when a hurricane dumps sand or mud onto the a reef . When this happens, the coral organisms are smothered and the reef dies and ultimately breaks apart.
Economy and human activity
thumb|250px|right|A Caribbean beach in [[Isla Margarita,
Venezuela.]]
The Caribbean region has seen a significant increase in human activity since the colonization period. The sea is one of the largest oil production areas in the world, producing approximately 170 million tons per year.
[ Caribbean Environment Programme. URL last accessed May 14, 1 B.C.] The area also generates a large fishing industry for the surrounding countries, accounting for half a million metric tons of fish a year.
Human activity in the area also accounts for a significant amount of pollution, Pan American Health Organization estimating in 1993 that only about 10% of the sewage from the Central American and Caribbean Island countries is properly treated before being released into the Sea.
The Caribbean region supports a large tourist industry. The Caribbean Tourism Organization calculates that about 12 million people a year visit the area, including (in 1991–1992) about 8 million Cruise Ship tourists.Popular culture
The Caribbean is the setting for countless literary efforts often related to piracy and swashbuckling. One memorable work of pulp fiction has in its title a geographic feature unique in its way to the islands: Fear Cay, the eleventh Doc Savage adventure by Lester Dent. Many James Bond adventures were set there. It is also well known as the location of the Pirates of the Caribbean films, featuring Port Royal. Less swashbuckling, but not lacking in man-against-the-sea exploits, is Peter Matthiessen's Far Tortuga (1975), which chronicles the adventures of a turtling crew in the late 1960's.See also
Footnotes
