Surely, Mexico is known to many thanks to its soap opera series. However, few people are aware that the official name of the country is the United Mexican States. Mexico ranks third in the world in terms of population, yielding the first two to the United States and China. Previously, before the advent of civilization, the great Aztec and Maya peoples owned the Mexican lands.

• A little about the state
• Gulf of Mexico - where is it?
• mexico city
• cancun
• Acapulco

A little about the state

Mexico is a country located in North America. She borders with the USA in the north, with Belize and Guatemala in the southeast, bordered by Pacific Ocean and the Caribbean Sea.

In the largest part of the state are the ridges of the Mexican Highlands, the Sierra Madre and the Transverse Volcanic Sierra, in which big number volcanoes. highest point Mexico - Mount Orizaba, its height is 5700 m.

The capital of the United Mexican States is Mexico City. Currently, the population of the country is a combination of indigenous Indians, emigrants from Europe and Africans. Only 60% of local residents are Mexicans.

Administratively the country is divided into the federal capital district and 31 states. The head of the country is the president, who is elected for 6 years. State language is Spanish, but locals also speak 68 indigenous languages. English language is quite common. Mexico is the largest Spanish speaking country. The country is located in three time zones.

Flights to Mexico from Moscow and St. Petersburg: distance, travel time, airlines and more - here.

Gulf of Mexico - where is it?

The Gulf of Mexico is an inland sea in the western Atlantic Ocean. He is in in the northwestern part of the country, in the north and east it borders the coast of the United States. The southwest of the bay borders Mexico and Cuba. The bay washes 5 American and 5 Mexican states.

bay area is 1543 thousand square meters. km, the deepest point is 5203 m. The Gulf is united with the Atlantic Ocean by the Strait of Florida, and the Yucatan Strait connected it to the waters of the Caribbean Sea. Several large rivers flow into the waters of the Gulf of Mexico - the Mississippi, Alabama, San Antonio and Nuenes.

The bottom of the Gulf of Mexico forms a depression into which the continental shelf gradually descends, forming a bed. The central depression is a hill, on which a large number of hills have formed, their height reaches three hundred meters. The continental shelf is 250 km wide.

The coastal strip of the bay has a torn structure. Shore boundaries bays are constantly changing due to frequent hurricanes. The southern part of the Gulf of Mexico is located in the tropical zone. North - in the subtropical. heated in summer period the waters of the bay contribute to the formation of tropical storms and strong hurricanes, which annually damage the coastal region.

Gulf of Mexico is one of the hottest world basins on the planet. The surface temperature of the water is 29 degrees, shallow water - 31 degrees. In winter, the temperature is 23-25 ​​degrees.

The capital and popular resorts of the country

mexico city

Mexico City is the capital of Mexico. This city is the largest in the world, its population is almost 9 million inhabitants. The city is located in a colorful flat area, which is surrounded by mountains.

The city was built on the site of a settlement of the famous Aztec tribe, who remained in history as the richest and cruelest people.

At present, the inhabitants of Mexico City are not at all like their ancestors due to the influence of the Spanish colonizers who came to these lands in the 16th century. National Mexican flavor especially noticeable in the folk songs of mariachi bands, extremely hot cuisine and local traditions. The tradition that attracts the attention of visitors is the celebration day of the dead In November.

In the center of Mexico City is El Zocalo square It is the second largest square in the world. Around it, the buildings of the ancient Aztec city of Tenochtitlan have been preserved, which are combined with colonial Spanish buildings.

Must see Square of the Three Cultures in the center of the city, on which there is an archaeological area with statues of the Aztec tribe. The National Palace, which is decorated with popular frescoes by Diego Rivera, Piazza San Garibaldi and the largest bullring in the country are attractions worth visiting. Near them are Amameda Park and the Palacio del Bella Art.

cancun

Cancun - popular resort among US residents. The local nature is quite suitable for a great holiday: a snow-white beach, blue water, emerald greenery and beautiful women. From a bird's eye view, Cancun resembles the number 7.

However, tourists come here not only for a beach holiday, there are many recreational options in Cancun. Here and huge shopping centers, And different kinds fishing, coral reef diving, water boarding, multiple spa treatments and other beauty services.

However, that's not all. On the island you can sign up for a tour of the wild jungle, swim with turtles in the Shell Ha Reserve, explore the ruins of the Mayan city near Xcaret, relax in local nightclubs and first-class all-inclusive hotels. It is for such a wide range of offers that the Cancun resort is especially popular with residents of the United States.

Coast of Cancun divided into two halves: short and longer. In the short part of the island, the sea is calmer, since it is protected from the violent ocean waters by the island of Women - Isla Mujares. The advantages of relaxing in this part of the island are the proximity to entertainment venues and the city center. This half of Cancun is perfect for families with children, as there are practically no waves on the beach.

The long part of the island is notable for frequent storms due to direct access to the ocean. You can go surfing here, so this part of the island hosts surfer competitions every year. The water on the beaches of this part of Cancun is clean, the beaches are well maintained, and the seabed consists only of sand.

What to bring from Mexico? The best gift ideas for yourself and loved ones in the next article.

Acapulco

Acapulco - world famous mexican resort where crowds of tourists come every year. The mild climate, magnificent beaches and variety of nightlife especially attract the adventurous traveler. The port city of Acapulco is the true nightlife capital of Mexico.

Despite the fact that the resort is available for visiting all year round, the dry season, which lasts from November to April, is considered the most suitable time to relax here.

Well developed in the city hotel infrastructure, local hotels and hotels fully meet world standards. However, most of the hotels were built back in the 50s of the 20th century, it was at that time that the resort of Acapulco gained incredible popularity.

The most beautiful beaches they are: Caleta, Pi de la Cuesta, which is in the old town area. These beaches are great for families with children: nothing prevents entry into the water, the beaches are well equipped, and there are practically no storms here. Also, Playa Condeza, located in a wealthy area, is quite popular among tourists.

The beaches of Acapulco are sandy, light gray with a yellow tint. The sea is a little darker than near the Caribbean coast, where the water is set off by the turquoise of the sky, and the sand is finer and lighter.

Acapulco Resort wakes up after dark, it is at this time that numerous nightclubs, bars and restaurants begin their work. The whole city begins to live a special nightlife.

Acapulco's discos are some of the best in Mexico: world-famous DJs play music here, popular bands perform, and light music and fireworks will impress everyone.

All establishments are open until late in the morning. For lovers of a more relaxed pastime, piano bars are open, where excellent instrumental music is played.

Sights of the republic

Each Mexican city is original and has its own unique history. Those who wish can learn a lot from the locals interesting stories the emergence of certain objects of Mexican art, whether they are particles of local culture or architectural monuments.

Capital of Mexico- the city of Mexico City, it houses a huge number of various cultural memorials, archaeological parks and museums of antiquity, which are incredibly popular among tourists.

The southeast of the country is occupied by multiple archaeological zones, pyramids and Mayan sanctuaries, cenotes, ancient lakes and unusual caves.

Southwest is a popular resort of Acapulco, a true paradise for nightlife lovers. It has everything for a fun holiday: nightclubs, casinos, restaurants, bars, discos.

The south of Mexico is the city of Oaxaca, which has preserved picturesque colonial churches and many curious museums.

Most popular and visited attractions countries:

• The ancient city of Teotiukan;
• National Palace in Mexico City;
• Cathedral;
• Museum of underwater sculptures;
• Koba;
• Fort San Diego;
• Monte Alban;
• Church of Santa Domingo;
• Mayan temple;
• Chichen Itza;
• Palenque;
• Ushmal.

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In Mexico, there are also many natural monuments, the most popular of which are:

• Copper Canyon;
• Chapultepec Park;
• Isla Mojares;
• Cenote Seven Mouths;
• Shell-Ha;
• Park Shkaret;
• Rocket Island.

Mexico is a country for a good rest, here you can find something to your liking. The country abounds interesting places and types of cultural activities. Gorgeous beaches, countless nightclubs, evergreen parks - all this has made Mexico a real paradise for travelers.

Overview information

The Gulf of Mexico would be much more correctly called a sea. It is huge, and separated from the Atlantic Ocean by straits. The Americans call the coastline of this reservoir the third coast, after the Atlantic and Pacific. The US states of Florida, Texas, Mississippi, Alabama and Louisiana adjoin the vast waters. They cover the reservoir from the north and west.

To the south are the lands of Mexico. The states such as Yucatan, Tamaulipas, Tabasco, Campeche and Veracruz overlook the bay. To the east is the island of Cuba. It is he who fences off the reservoir from the Atlantic. Communication with oceanic waters is carried out through the Straits of Florida and Yucatan.

The shape of the reservoir is oval, the area is 615 thousand square meters. miles or 1 million 544 thousand square meters. km. The total volume of water is approximately 660 quadrillion gallons or 2 million 400 thousand cubic meters. m. The maximum width is 1500 km. The bottom is a continental shelf with a maximum depth of 4384 meters. The water well warms up sunbeams, so the surface waters in it are warm.

Gulf of Mexico on the map

Geology

Geologists suggest that 200 million years ago there was no huge reservoir in the south of North America. In this place, a soil cover extended, similar in composition to the soil of the Yucatan Peninsula. All this area was part of the supercontinent Pangea. The Gulf of Mexico basin was formed as a result of rifting (split) of a giant landmass. The earth's crust was stretched, covered with faults and sank between modern Florida and Yucatan. So, as a result of natural geological processes, there was a giant reservoir.

However, there is another version proposed in 2002 by geologist Michael Stanton. According to his version, the bay has an impact origin. Stanton's theory states that a huge meteorite fell to Earth 260-255 million years ago. As a result, a pit was formed, the depth of which reached 5200 meters. It was gradually filled with the waters of the Mississippi River and the Atlantic Ocean.

For the most part, specialists from geology consider the second theory to be absolutely wrong. Among them, the prevailing opinion is about plate tectonics, and not about a collision with an object from space.

Opening of the Gulf of Mexico

We all know that Christopher Columbus discovered America for the Old World. However, he did not even know about the existence of a giant reservoir, as he sailed past it, rounding Cuba and Haiti from the east. The first explorer of the third coast of the United States was an Italian traveler and cartographer Amerigo Vespucci(1454-1512). He ended up on the coast of the bay in 1497. The Italian explored the reservoir, and then went through the Strait of Florida into the Atlantic. This gave him reason to say that Cuba is spicy.

The second in a row is the Spanish conquistador Hernan Cortes (1485-1547). In 1506 he received Active participation in the conquest of Haiti and Cuba. In 1510, he accompanied Diego Velasquez de Cuellar (1465-1524) - the governor of Cuba - on his expedition through the waters of a huge reservoir.

The third on the shores of the bay was the discoverer of Yucatan Francisco Hernandez de Cordova (year of birth unknown - died in 1517). He admired the reservoir from the south coast. And then other Europeans appeared, and the endless expanse of water ceased to beckon people with uncertainty.

Holidays on the coast

Geographic characteristics

The US coastline is 2,700 km long. The length of the Mexican part of the coast is 2805 km. 33 large rivers flow into the reservoir. The warm Atlantic current Gulf Stream originates in it. The largest bay of the reservoir is the Bay of Campeche. It is in the south and is part of Mexican waters. It should be noted that the cold deep and warm water of the upper layer sometimes create an explosive mixture, which manifests itself in the form of terrible destructive hurricanes. Here you can name such hurricanes as Katrina, Ivan and Gustav.

In general, the Gulf of Mexico is considered aseismic. Throughout history, only mild tremors have been recorded, not exceeding 5 on the Richter scale. The only strong earthquake was recorded on September 10, 2006. Its amplitude was 6 points on the Richter scale. The epicenter of the tremors was located southwest of Florida at 400 km. The shudder of the land was felt by the inhabitants of Louisiana and Florida. But there were no casualties, injuries or destruction.

commercial activity

Fishing is one of the most important commercial activities. They catch perch, tuna, shrimp, crabs, swordfish. Oysters are harvested on a huge scale in the bays. There are many sharks in the water. The liver of these selachians is highly valued. Therefore, white shark, hammerhead shark, bull shark are subject to capture. But in the 21st century, the number of toothy predators has noticeably decreased. There are many dolphins in the waters of the bay, which are also of commercial interest.

In terms of industrial activity, the continental shelf is rich in oil and gas. These minerals are extracted using oil platforms through drilling. The main part of the platforms is concentrated in the western part of the reservoir and in the Bay of Campeche.

Economics is economics, but sometimes irrepressible human activity provokes terrible tragedies. In April 2010, there was an explosion and fire on an oil platform 65 km off the coast of Louisiana. At the same time, an oil well was damaged, and oil flowed into the ocean. Almost 14 thousand tons of oil flowed out per day. The oil film fettered the waters of the Atlantic and disrupted heat transfer. All this led to heavy rainfall in Western Europe and heat waves in Eastern Europe.

burning oil

The Gulf of Mexico is home to one of the largest hypoxic dead zones. This term refers to an area in the world's oceans with extremely low oxygen concentrations. And there is such a zone due to excessive pollution environment as a result of human activity.

The dead area stretches along the coast of Texas and Louisiana. In terms of area, it is 21 thousand square meters. km. This figure has doubled since 1985 as a result of water saturation with nitrogen and phosphorus. Harmful chemical elements got into the water from agricultural areas, which are extremely numerous on the northern coast of the reservoir. There are also 27,000 abandoned and forgotten oil wells in the bay. No one can say what ecological state they are in.

At the same time, it should be noted that the reservoir is the most important transport artery. It is crossed by ships from almost all countries of the world. Accordingly, tourism is developed, and there are many large seaports on the coast. The main task is to normalize the ecological situation in this region, which is important in all respects..

The Gulf of Mexico is a relatively shallow oceanic basin off the southwestern coast of North America. Its greatest depth is a little over 3600 m, the area is about 1602 thousand km2. Together with the Caribbean Sea, the Gulf of Mexico forms the "American Mediterranean" (consisting of five major basins), and therefore the Gulf of Mexico is often referred to as the Mexican Basin. Compared to other basins in the American Mediterranean

The Gulf of Mexico is a simple, regular structure, with no major underwater troughs or ridges. Geological structure bottom. In the Gulf of Mexico, with the exception of the extreme northern and southwestern parts of the continental shelf (areas with huge oil reserves), insufficient systematic geophysical studies have been carried out. Most of the work performed was limited to seismic, magnetometric, gravimetric and geoacoustic studies of only large-scale geological structures. Therefore, the history of the geological development of the Gulf of Mexico as a whole continues to be poorly studied. The central part of the Gulf of Mexico is a typical section of the oceanic crust: some researchers use this to prove that it has always been an oceanic basin.

A characteristic element of the relief of the bottom of the Gulf of Mexico is a deep-water trench filled with sediments with a thickness of 50,000 feet; the axis of the trench extends in an east-west direction parallel to the coast of Texas and Louisiana. This coastal geosyncline of the Gulf of Mexico in its western and central parts is filled with sandy-argillaceous sediments of the Tertiary age, and in the eastern part - with carbonate formations of the Late Mesozone and Tertiary age. Carbonate sediments accumulate more slowly than clastic material. Therefore, the limestone and dolomite layer off the coast of Florida (10,000 feet thick) is perhaps equivalent in time to twice or triple the thickness of the sand and shale layer off the coast of Texas and Louisiana.

It is believed that the geosyncline began to develop when the destruction products of tectonic uplifts, formed at the end of the Cretaceous as a result of the Laramian orogeny, began to flow down to the coast. From them, river deltas were formed similar to the modern Mississippi Delta, which broke out and moved into the depths of the sea, protruding beyond the edge of the shelf. As sediments accumulated on the shelf, the underlying layers in the area of ​​greatest accumulation began to sag, thus creating the possibility of accumulating new sediment layers. So a trough, or geosyncline, could have formed. For subsequent sedimentation, downward displacements of marginal and coastal areas were also necessary. Scientists are still arguing about the true mechanism of the formation of the geosyncline.

The study of the geology of the Gulf of Mexico was the impetus for the study of the nature of a series of underwater hills, known as the Sigsby banks, which rise no less than 200 fathoms above the Sigsby abyssal plain in the central part of the Gulf of Mexico. Salt domes are often found along the coast of Texas and Louisiana and throughout these states. Salt domes are also known to occur in areas of the Isthmus of Tehuantepec in the extreme southern part of the Gulf of Mexico.

No salt was obtained from the hills of Sigsby Bank; and although they are very similar to volcanic edifices, magnetometric and gravimetric measurements have not confirmed their volcanic nature. Therefore, the explanation of their formation by means of salt tectonics is logically justified. However, on the other hand, these mounds may be diapirs made with plastic clay.

It is possible that the domes of the central part of the Gulf of Mexico and the adjacent shelf, the Sigsbn Bank and the domes of Tehuan Tepec owe their origin to the same salt layer of the Jurassic or Permian age, which is the source material for the salt domes of the Gulf of Mexico. However, this assumption can be confirmed
only further geological studies.

Gulf of Mexico shelf

The shelf of the Gulf of Mexico includes the Yucatan shelf (Gulf of Campeche), the shelf of the west coast of Florida and the shelves of Texas and Louisiana. It is divided by the Florida Strait (between the Florida Peninsula and the island of Cuba), the Yucatan Strait (between the Yucatan Peninsula and the island of Cuba) and the vast Mississippi Delta, which, crossing the shelf, almost reaches the continental slope.

The shelf of the Gulf of Mexico, both geologically and geomorphologically, is a single whole with the mainland. West of the Florida Peninsula, where the shelf is a continuation of the surface calcareous karsts of the peninsula, the sediments are represented by a thin layer of unconsolidated carbonate detritus. Part of this layer belongs to the Pleistocene, the other part to the Holocene. The shelf surface in this area is relatively flat, but terraced. Rare irregularities of the shelf surface are represented by small domes and ridges near the 30 sazhen isobath. Their origin is associated with the formation of reefs in the Pleistocene, when the sea level was lower than the existing one.

The peritic zone of the shelf of the northwest coast of Florida and the narrow shelf of the Alabama coast are dominated by clastic sediments, in which the dominant sand component is quartz. The siliceous sands extend west of the Mississippi Delta, where they are mixed with other sediment and silt carried by the rivers flowing into Mobile Bay. Sedimentation near the western edge of the Mississippi Island Barrier is influenced by the Mississippi river system. Delta silts partially cover the sediments of the shelf zone of this region; in the lowlands, sands and clays are mixed with delta sediments. Unsanded terraces extend west to the central Louisiana coastline, where sand and silt occasionally reappear on the sediment surface.

The sedimentary material of the northern part of the Gulf of Mexico is brought by two major rivers: the Mississippi and the Rio Grande. Rainfall from the Mississippi is carried westward by seasonal windy coastal currents. Between the main river systems there are many less significant rivers, such as the Sabin, Trinity, Colorado, Brazos, etc. Some of these rivers flow into bays, so that most of their sediment never reaches the open shelf.
The sediments of the northern and northwestern parts of the shelf of the Gulf of Mexico are dominated by unknown sands and clays. The sands occur in the form of bands parallel to the shore and corresponding to the previous sea levels; fine-grained fractions are located further from the coast.

The relief of the northern and northwestern parts of the shelf of the Gulf of Mexico is less uniform than in the west of the Florida Platform, and consists of banks, hills, ridges and domes. Most of the banks and hills are covered with algae reefs formed during the low sea level in the Pleistocene; some domes and hills are formed by upward movements of salt masses. These domes often have oil deposits.

The shelf off the east coast of Mexico is the narrowest part of the Gulf of Mexico shelf. Although there is almost no information about the precipitation that covers it, it is known that the Tampico area is characterized by sands deposited here by the Panuko River, which collects water from western regions Mexico. Further south, at Veracruz, the surface layer of sediments consists of fragments of coral reefs and mixed carbonate-detrital sediments. These mixed sediments extend along the southern boundary of the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of Campeche, adjacent to the Isthmus of Tehuantepec. Local rivers flowing through rocks, bring the milking material and lay it on the shelf.

The Yucatan platform, like the shelf off the west coast of Florida, is a carbonate plateau that is a continuation of the karst surface of the mainland. Shelf sediments consist of unconsolidated carbonate oozes. The Yucatan shelf, although fairly flat, is dissected by terraces corresponding to previous sea levels. These terraces are in the form of ledges between depths of 16-20, 28-35, 50-75 sazhens. On this shelf there is an arcuate line of coral reefs and reefless domes. The reefs are located parallel to the isobath of 30 sazhens and approximately the same as on the shelf of the western coast of Florida.

continental slope, as well as the shelf, frames the basin of the Gulf of Mexico with a continuous border. At the outer edge of the Florida shelf (carbonate platform), the steepest continental slope. In this area, the shelf turns into a slope at a depth of 35 sazhens. The slope of the bottom between depths of 35 and 100 fathoms is about 3 feet per mile, and between 400 and 500 fathoms increases to 300 feet per mile. Further, it reaches the greatest of the known greatness of the steepness of the slope - about 39 °. The steepness of the slope suggests that it is of fault origin, although there is no other evidence for this. Separate ridges and hills stand out on the slope. The northwestern part of the slope is cut by the De Soto Canyon, which starts at a depth of 240 fathoms and ends at 500 fathoms; The greatest indentation of the slope is observed at a depth of 100 sazhens.

In the northern part of the Gulf of Mexico, the continental slope is less steep, in northwestern regions In the Gulf of Mexico, it is characterized by an exceptionally hilly relief, formed as a result of intrusions of salt masses and erosion of the bottom during the Pleistocene lowering of the sea level, and also, apparently, as a result of underwater landslides. The relief of the slope off the east coast of Mexico is less well known, although it has been established by soundings that it is very narrow and very steep.

The slope at the extreme southern end of the Gulf of Mexico is also steep. It is cut by the Campeche Canyon between the Isthmus of Tehuantepec and the Yucatan Shelf. The slope adjacent to the Yucatan shelf is also steep and continues down to the abyssal Plain. The overlying sediments consist of foraminiferal lutites and coarse-grained material displaced here as a result of submarine landslides from the carbonate shelf.

deep sea bottom

At the bottom of the Gulf of Mexico rises a large sedimentary structure called the Mississippi Cone. It is a cone-shaped accumulation of deposited material. The top of the cone is located at the site of the Pleistocene mouth of the Mississippi, which is currently submerged to a depth of several hundred feet. Sediments composing this fan-shaped expanding cone with a slightly convex surface spread down the continental slope and even further along the bottom of the basin. The composition of these formations, judging by the cores of soil samples taken from them, resembles the composition of sediments covering the bottom of the Sigsby abyssal plain. The upper sediments in each core are reddish-brown foraminiferal lutite, which overlies layers of gray silty clay.

Gray silty clay belongs to the Pleistocene, which has been proven by radiological methods for determining the age of rocks (carbon-14) and paleontological data. The overlying lutite is believed to represent Holocene (modern) sediments. The Mississippi Cone was formed by the Pleistocene drift of the Mississippi River. a large number clay sediments and their distribution along the bottom of the Gulf of Mexico as a result of transport by turbidity flows. Evidence of this origin of the cone is the fact that the sedimentary cover of the Sigsby Hills, rising above the bottom of the abyssal plain, does not contain gray clays characteristic of the sediments of the cone. Apparently, gray clays were deposited around the hills, but not on their tops, which were located above the level of sedimentary suspensions. The sediments on the surface of the hills, at least those on which the cores were taken, consist mainly of foraminiferal oozes and represent deposits from epochs of intense deposition of planktonic remains.

Hydrological regime

water masses. the main inflow of water into the Gulf of Mexico is through the Yucatan Strait, the depth of the threshold of which is 1500-1900 m. The depth of the threshold determines the greatest depth to which the waters of the Yucatan basin of the Caribbean Sea penetrate into the Gulf of Mexico. Most of the outflowing water moves into the North Atlantic through the Strait of Florida, which connects the Gulf of Mexico to the ocean. The depth of the threshold of the Strait of Florida is about 800 m. Since the depth of the thresholds of the Anegada, Jungfsrn and Windward straits, which connect the Caribbean Sea with the North Atlantic, is much greater than the depth of the threshold of the Strait of Florida, ocean waters pass unhindered through the American Mediterranean in the upper 800-meter layer.

The water masses entering the Gulf of Mexico through the Yucatan Strait are formed by mixing the South Atlantic waters carried to the north by the Guiana and North Equatorial Currents with the North Atlantic waters from the western part of the Sargasso Sea. The ratio of South Atlantic and North Atlantic waters in the Yucatan Strait.

Although subtropical water with a salinity maximum strongly affects the surface water of the Gulf of Mexico, its characteristics change little along the way along this area, and it is not as well mixed in the horizontal direction as in the Caribbean Sea.

The mixing thickness of the surface layer is determined by the depth above which the water temperature remains uniform; it varies from a few meters to 125 m, depending on the region, season and local influences. In the central part of the Gulf of Mexico, the average thickness of this layer in January-February is about 90 m. These months are usually the coldest for the Gulf of Mexico. up to 24 ° C near the Yucatan coast. To the north of the Yucatan Strait, the isotherms deviate to the north, which is caused by the influence of waters penetrating through this strait. Daily, annual and regional changes in the temperature of the surface layer have not been established reliably enough, although it is known that each is characterized by significant fluctuations.

Salinity in the central Gulf of Mexico surface water 36.0—36.3 prom. However, in the west of the central part of the Gulf of Mexico, 100 miles from the 180 m isobath (on the edge of the Yucatan shelf), a salinity of 36.6 ppm was noted. shelf) and, possibly, from the rise of deep waters. The Mississippi River has the strongest influence: its waters (in salinity less than 35.5 ° / 00) can be traced at depths of up to 50 m and at a distance of up to 150 km from the coast. Of course, as you approach the mouth of the river, the salinity decreases significantly: a few miles from the coast it is less than 25 prom. Many other coastal areas also experience significant salinity fluctuations, but due to incomplete, scarce data, it is difficult to determine the extent of temporal variability characteristic of individual areas.

Surface current velocity reaches maximum early summer; at this time, its narrow core is located approximately above the 180 m isobath on the western side of the Yucatan Strait. Apparently, the speed of the current on the western side of the strait is much greater than on the eastern side; the maximum width of the current reaches 60-80 miles. The lowest flow rate is observed in October-November; at this time, the core of the current expands somewhat and is located at a greater depth. To the right of the current, apparently, there are local circulations.

It is also believed that, at least in some seasons, there is a surface countercurrent running SSW along the coast of Cuba into the Caribbean Sea. Apparently, the Yucatan current is in geostrophic equilibrium. It can be easily distinguished by the slope of the isothermal surfaces in a direction perpendicular to the velocity at the surface; in addition, warmer water is to the right of the current. The northern part of the surface circulation loop has attracted little attention, although the dynamic connection of the waters of this current with the northern waters of the Gulf of Mexico may be an important link in explaining the circulation of the northeastern part of the Gulf of Mexico.

The Florida Current, which carries waters of 25 million m3/s, is usually referred to as part of the Gulf Stream and will not be described here. In contrast to the aforementioned eastern Gulf of Mexico currents, the weak western Gulf of Mexico currents are not well defined and appear to vary in time, space, and intensity. Based on the available data and geostrophic assumptions, it can be assumed that the currents form a large elongated spiral over the abyssal of the center of the western Gulf of Mexico. Their main axis runs from NE to SW, so that the currents on the southeast side of the spiral are directed to the northeast. The velocities in the core of the current directed to the northeast are about 50 cm/s. These characteristics seem to be inconsistent and difficult to study. The coastal currents of the Gulf of Mexico experience significant seasonal fluctuations in both direction and intensity.

Tides and waves in the Gulf of Mexico

The average tide in the Gulf of Mexico is not high, it does not exceed 1-2 feet at most coastal stations. The nature of the tide in the Gulf of Mexico is diurnal. However, semidiurnal and mixed tides are observed in coastal areas of the Florida Strait, and tide magnitudes are slightly larger than off the coast of the Gulf of Mexico. Wind waves developing in the Gulf of Mexico are small: highest altitude waves rarely exceed 5 m.

The main danger to residents of the low-lying shores of the Gulf of Mexico is flooding during storm surges. Such rises in water, usually caused by the passage of hurricanes, reach a height of 5 m in the Gulf of Mexico. After the hurricane enters the Gulf of Mexico, usually through the Yucatan Strait, it maintains a northerly direction of movement, and storm surges are more common on the northern coast of the Gulf of Mexico

Did you know that the Gulf of Mexico is the ninth largest body of water on the planet, supporting the world's largest fisheries? The Gulf of Mexico is an impressive expanse with an amazing variety of species, and one of the most dangerous seas in the world. Here are 47 of the most interesting facts about the Gulf of Mexico, which will give you information about this unique place.

1. The Gulf of Mexico is an ocean basin that exists only because the Gulf is surrounded by North America and Cuba.
2. This is the ninth largest body of water in the world (about 600,000 square miles) - bordered by five US states (Alabama, Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas) in the north, five Mexican states in the west and Cuba in the southeast.
3. The total coastline of the bay is approximately 3,540 miles (5,697 km) from the tip of Florida to the tip of Yucatan, and another 236 miles (380 km) along Cuba.
4. The bay was created by collisions at the end of the Triassic period, about 300 million years ago, followed by subsidence of the sea floor.
5. Nearly half of the Gulf of Mexico basin is shallow water above the continental shelves, although it has a depression that is 14,383 feet (4,384 meters) deep.
6. The water of the Atchafalaya River, saturated with sediments (precipitation), flows into the Gulf of Mexico in the northern part.
7. Along the American part of the coast of the Gulf of Mexico, 33 large river systems and 207 estuaries.
8. , one of the strongest ocean currents in the world, originates in the warm waters of the Gulf of Mexico.
9. The first European exploration of the Gulf of Mexico was carried out by Amerigo Vespucci in 1497.
10. The coasts of the Gulf are a wide range of habitats, including flooded vegetation, patches of upland, marine areas, and over 5 million acres of wetlands.
    
    
11. There are 31 large estuary catchment areas in the Gulf of Mexico.
12. The coastal wetlands of the Gulf make up 28% of the total US wetlands, and the open water area accounts for 41% of the US total.
13. An important area for the millions of migratory birds that fly throughout the Gulf of Mexico, including nearly every species of migratory land bird.
14. Radar technology has shown that hundreds of millions of birds cross the Gulf of Mexico on their migrations, with up to 2.5 million resting in Louisiana.
15. There are 29 species of marine mammals in the Gulf of Mexico, including bottlenose dolphins, humpback whales, small whales and sperm whales.
16. The bay is home to five species of rare sea turtles - Kemp's sea turtles, Hawksbill sea turtles, green sea turtles, Loggerhat and Leatherback sea turtles.
17. There are several types of hammerhead fish in the Gulf of Mexico and there are even whale sharks.
18. Discovered just a few years ago, Holbox Island has become a top-notch whale shark spot. The area has now become an ecotourism zone with the protection of these gentle giants.
19. is a widespread genus of seaweed that creates floating oases for marine species, from sea turtles and seahorses to tuna and bass. Their clusters become so large and dense that they can be seen from space.
20. iconic figures of the coasts of Florida. They can reach up to 12 feet (4 meters) in length and weigh over 1,500 pounds (680 kg), but only 5,000 individuals live in the wild - these are coastal habitat populations.
21. The brown pelicans were nearly wiped out. However, about 60% of brown pelicans breed on the Gulf Coast and face many threats, including being caught in lines and oil pollution.
22. Sperm whales are family groups, with a total of 500 to 1500 individuals living in the bay.
23. Florida is the only state in the continental United States that has extensive coral reef formations near its coasts (more than 60% of the coral reefs found in the US are located around the long chain of Hawaiian Islands).
24. The Fleet Reef Tract extends 358 miles from the Florida Keys Dry Tortuga National Park to St. Lucie Bay in Martin County, and about 2/3 of the FRT is in the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary (FKNMS).
25. Coral reefs only grow in certain ecosystems with the right water depth and temperature and the right combination of nutrients and wave action. Reef growth is relatively slow - individual colonies grow from 0.5 to 17 centimeters per year.
26. The black coral found in the Gulf of Mexico is one of the slowest developing deep sea corals, dating back up to 2000 years.
27. Most Florida fish species spend their lives around coral reefs.
28. Coral reefs in Florida's ecosystems are extremely diverse: over 6,000 species - including 520 fish species; 128 varieties of starfish, sea ​​urchins, sand dollars and sea cucumbers; 55 types of soft corals and 63 types of stony corals.
29. Once considered the most common and important Caribbean coral species on the Elkhorn (Acropora palmata) and (A. cervicornis) coral reefs, they are now critically endangered, having declined by more than 90% since the 1980s.
30. Reef tourism generates approximately US$17.5 billion annually.
31. Coral reefs need platforms to grow, and creating artificial reefs is a popular tactic to help start new ones. Coral reefs to attract not only fish and, but also tourists.
32. Sunken ships and oil platforms can be used to create artificial reefs.
33. At the end of 1998, 1,715 platforms retired and were donated as reef rigs to improve fishing.
34. There have also been many historic shipwrecks in the bay - over 750 shipwrecks are known, many from the last world wars, but some from the 16th and 17th centuries.
35. Agricultural runoff, mostly due to over-fertilization on agricultural fields, is causing record annual dead zones—areas where plankton bloom and oxygen levels die off, to the point where nothing can live in those areas.
36. The colossal runoff - 41% of the Mississippi River that flows into the Gulf of Mexico, pollutes its waters - is runoff from agricultural land.
37. Scientists say this summer's dead zone could be the largest since the 1985 record, ranging from 8,500 to 9,421 square miles.
38. Fisheries in the Gulf of Mexico include redfish, amber, clams, swordfish, bass, shrimp, crabs, and oysters.
39. The Gulf of Mexico has eight of the top twenty fishing ports in the country.
40. There are four main industries in the Gulf of Mexico - fishing, shipping, tourism and oil.
41. Interest in oil and gas is US$124 billion, more than half of the total received by the four major industries. However, tourism comes in second place = approximately US$100 billion per year.
42. Oil exploration and drilling creates problems for marine animals, whales, fish and squid, causing noise pollution.
43. Some 27,000 abandoned oil and gas wells under the bay are generally not checked for potential environmental issues.
44. The BP Deepwater oil spill has been leaking for three months since April 20, 2010, releasing 4.9 million barrels of oil into the bay, resulting in the largest accidental oil spill at sea in the history of the oil industry.
45. Areas under threat for years after the spill include 8 US national parks. More than 400 island and marsh species are at risk.
    
    
46. As of November 2, 2010, 6,814 dead animals have been collected, including 6,104 birds, 609 sea turtles, 100 dolphins and other mammals, and 1 reptile. An accurate count of the animals killed in the spill is not possible as BP workers collected and disposed of the animals before they were counted. Since January 1, 2011, 67 dead dolphins have been found in the area affected by the oil spill, of which 35 were newborn calves.
47. The bay is considered seismic; however, tremors are moderate—historically recorded are usually 5.0 or less on the Richter magnitude scale

Interestingly, despite the fact that Christopher Columbus discovered the lands of America, he sailed past a giant reservoir. The first explorer of this region was the Italian traveler Amerigo Vespucci. He ended up on the coast of the Gulf of Mexico in 1497. Gradually, other travelers and discoverers began to arrive here. Therefore, after a while, the endless water surface of the Gulf of Mexico began to attract many people here. Over time, the tourism industry began to develop in the Gulf of Mexico.

The most important commercial activity in the Gulf of Mexico is fishing. Tuna, perch, swordfish, crabs and shrimp are caught here. Oysters are harvested on a huge scale in the bays. In addition, there are many sharks, whose liver is highly valued. Therefore, hammerhead shark, white shark, bull shark are caught here. For this reason, by the 21st century, the number of these marine predators has noticeably decreased. In addition, the Gulf of Mexico is rich in dolphins, which are also of commercial interest.

Also, the Gulf of Mexico is a place where valuable minerals are being developed; shipping, tourism and fishing are well developed in this area. Especially in the last century, there was an intensive growth of cities in the Gulf of Mexico, mainly in popular resorts. The wealth of the Gulf of Mexico is so great that a huge population can easily feed themselves on its shores. The treasure of the bay is called seafood and fish. In the World Ocean, the Gulf of Mexico ranks first in terms of fish stocks. Therefore, fishing enthusiasts specially go here to fish.

In addition, the Gulf of Mexico is famous for its endless beaches, where many travelers come for tourism purposes. Travel agencies offer to stay at one of the nearby hotels in order to sunbathe along the coast of the Gulf of Mexico from morning to evening. This region attracts especially couples with children, because all conditions are provided for a beach holiday. The Gulf of Mexico is a special attraction of the United States.