Some 1,680 miles of the US coastline and 1,743 miles of the Mexican coastline borders the Gulf of Mexico. Final Reports FINAL REPORT: Congressional Letters - Offshore Whistleblower Protection The basin is roughly circular in shape and approximately 810 nautical miles (1,500 km) wide. A National Geographic team has made the first ascent of the remote Mount Michael, looking for a lava lake in the volcanos crater. The strange geology of the floor of the Gulf is mostly caused by thick underlying layers of salt. "Geography of the Gulf of Mexico." The Gulf's geologic origin remains uncertain. Bats and agaves make tequila possibleand theyre both at risk, This empress was the most dangerous woman in Rome. SANTA CRUZ, Calif. For the first time, scientists have been able to validate the age of deep-sea black corals in the Gulf of Mexico. Cuba is located to the southeast of the Gulf of Mexico. Scientists just confirmed a 30-foot void first detected inside the monument years ago. With the consent of the seven companies, the BOEM released the map to the public. Check out our guide on the 13 colonies for everything you need to know about the colonies and how the US came to be. The Gulf Stream originates here, and it is one of the strongest ocean currents in the world. coastline, at least 1,200 square miles of the deep ocean floor, and 68,000 square miles of surface water. The climate of the Gulf of Mexico region varies from tropical to subtropical type. They said this would protect shipping, and in the event of an emergency, rescue would be nearby. These include: Atlantic Spotted dolphin, Striped dolphin, Frasers dolphin, Pantropical spotted dolphin, Clymene dolphin, and Spinner dolphin. depth (ft) Nearby waterbodies (689) The Gulf of Mexico is somewhat shallow, along the coastal continental shelf areas, and has an average depth of 1,615m. At least 49 different species of sharks have been known to hang out in the gulf waters. In high school she scored in the 99th percentile on the SAT and was named a National Merit Finalist. Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions. The Gulf of Mexico basin appears to have formed ~200 million years ago as the result of rifting within North . There are 7 barrier islands along the northwest portion of the Gulf of Mexico, one of which, South Padre. The second had been intended to serve as a backup and was not completed. The Gulf of Mexico today is bordered by 1,680 miles (2,700 km) of U.S. coastline and is fed with water from 33 major rivers that flow out of the United States. "Sigsbee Deep" applied to the entire deep basin appears on some of the earliest charts of the Gulf of Mexico. Observe fireboat responding to crews battling the fire during the Deepwater Horizon oil spill of 2010, See how wire entanglement inside a well bore mitigates the effects of blowout preventer failure in an oil well. What Went Wrong? Situated in the southwestern part of the Gulf, the Sigsbee Deep (Mexico Basin) is the deepest region in the Gulf of Mexico that has an estimated depth of over 4,384m. Sigsbee Deep is a variant name for the United States Board on Geographic Names (BGN) approved name of Mexico Basin for cartographic materials produced by Federal agencies. Maybe youre aware that its located along the Gulf coast but dont know the exact boundaries, or maybe youre trying to figure out if its part of the Atlantic Ocean or not. Many died from ingesting oil or because it interfered with their ability to regulate their body temperatures. The Gulf of Mexico is bordered by 1,680 miles of US coastline. However, in portions such as The Sigsbee Deep, which is 2 miles southwest of Brownsville, Texas, the depths reach up to 4,384 meters, or 14,383 feet! The Gulf of Mexico is the ninth largest ocean basinin the world, covering almost 600,000 square miles. The Gulf of Mexico is connected to the Caribbean Sea via the Yucatn Channel (between Cuba and Mexico); and with the Atlantic Ocean through the Straits of Florida (between Cuba and US). The Gulf of Mexico contains seven barrier islands located along the Gulfs northwestern part. On April 20, 2010, BP's mobile offshore drilling unit Deepwater Horizon exploded, burned, and subsequently sank in the Gulf of Mexico 52 miles southeast of Venice, Louisiana. The roughly 5,000-year-old human remains were found in graves from the Yamnaya culture, and the discovery may partially explain their rapid expansion throughout Europe. Although Native Americans living in the region used the Gulf of Mexico for centuries as a source of food and building materials, the first European to explore the Gulf was Italian Amerigo Vespucci in 1497. Nearly half of the basin is compromised of shallow continental-shelf waters and due to the separation from the Atlantic Ocean, there are minimal tidal ranges. Its considered one of the worst natural disasters in history, and efforts to reverse some of the damage that was caused are still ongoing. Who owned the rig responsible for the Deepwater Horizon oil spill? Roughly 4.9 million barrels worth of oil spilled into the Gulf of Mexico, causing massive damage to marine, wildlife, and fishing habitats. The average depth of the Gulf is roughly 5,200 feet, but other parts of the Gulf of Mexico are surprisingly deep. While the Gulf of Mexico was once the source of colonization and discovery for early explorers, today its known for its four major industries oil and gas, shipping, fishing, and tourism. The Gulf of Mexico features a wide continental shelf, specifically around Florida and the Yucatn Peninsula. All rights reserved. The Gulf State Park Fishing and Education Pier is the second-longest pier in the Gulf of Mexico. The Deepwater Horizon oil spill damaged deep-sea habitats over a large area. At that point, the Gulf was probably a separate basin that was filled with seawater that later evaporated, leaving a blanket of salt behind. Fishing is also an important industry and the economies of many states that lie along the Gulf of Mexico are driven by the fishing industry. In this article, we will look at 10 facts on the Gulf of Mexico you must know. Climate change that's warming waters further is also making them larger, as in increased intensity and amount of water. Only a vague outline of this bizarre landscape was visible on the old map, which had a resolution of 27,000 square feet per pixel, actually quite good for the seafloor. West views and deep water! visits the Gulf of Mexico. Several copepods of the family Zosimeidae were found in deep-sea sediment samples from the Gulf of Mexico and the Gulf of California (Mexico). Still, there are, 30A's Ultimate Guide to The Florida Panhandle Shipwreck. The position of the West Florida Escarpment is shown . As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. 10. It is largely surrounded by the continent of North America. The Bay of Campeche (Veracruz), 6. Where Is the Gulf of Mexico? Most of the basin consists of shallow intertidal areas, but its deepest point is called Sigsbee Deep and has an estimated depth of about 14,383 feet (4,384 m). A new high-resolution map of the floor of the Gulf of Mexico was released to the public. 30A has raised over $3 million for coastal charities, and has given away 4 million of its famous blue 30A stickers. An important feature of the Gulf of Mexico is the Gulf Stream, which is a warm Atlantic current that begins in the region and flows north into the Atlantic Ocean. [3] The actual maximum depth is disputed and estimates range between 3,750 and 4,384 metres (12,303 and 14,383 ft). Some of the devastating hurricanes in the Gulf of Mexico region include Hurricane Katrina (2005), Hurricane Ike (2008), Hurricane Harvey (2016), Hurricane Michael (2018), Hurricane Rita, Galveston Hurricane, etc. . The Gulf of Mexico is a part of the Atlantic Ocean and is considered an ocean basin and marginal sea. BE HONEST!! It has been estimated that these islands were formed about 5,000 - 8,000 years ago. 5. The US States that border the Gulf of Mexico are famous for their beautiful beaches. For-Hire Fishing Permits in the Gulf of Mexico All Recreational Anglers need a saltwater recreational fishing license or registration from a state or U.S. territory except Hawaii, Puerto Rico, or the U.S. Virgin Islands. . Fisheries are also extremely productive in the Gulf of Mexico, and many Gulf Coast states have economies centered on fishing in the area. The Gulf of Mexico supports different species of flora and fauna and is widely recognized for its diversity and productivity. It borders the coasts of Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and Florida as well as the island of Cuba and parts of Mexico. Photo credit: NOAA Okeanos Explorer Program. In the Sarasota area the Gulf is best known for beautiful white-sand beaches and exciting offshore fishing. ThoughtCo. They start at the state waterline (nine nautical miles out) and go all the way to the edge of the continental shelf, 100 miles offshore. More than 400 species of shellfish are found in the Gulf region. They die when they enter and are preserved by the high salt content, pickled in their tracks! The basin is located in the southwestern quadrant of the Gulf, with its closest point to the U.S. coast at 200 miles (320km) southeast of Brownsville, Texas. Coordinates: 24.487, -89.5363. Cleanup crews attempted to burn the oil off of the water, gather the oil and move it, and block it from hitting the coast. 8. Red snapper are generally found in waters from 30 to 620 feet deep and are one of the most heavily . Yes! WATCH: Sharks biting alligators, the most epic lion battles, and MUCH more. Warning: THIS DATA IS NOT TO BE USED FOR NAVIGATION SAT is a registered trademark of the College Entrance Examination BoardTM. n o date, more than $11.6 billion has been paid to Gulf-area T Its no secret that the Gulf of Mexico is a great vacation spot! NOAA. . ACT Writing: 15 Tips to Raise Your Essay Score, How to Get Into Harvard and the Ivy League, Is the ACT easier than the SAT? How did the Deepwater Horizon oil spill affect birds? So is the Gulf of Mexico an ocean? Today, the most serious pollution threats to the Gulf of Mexico come from oil drilling and agricultural runoff. Scientists warn that the "dead zone" wreaking havoc on marine life in the Gulf of Mexico will cover almost 9,000 square miles this summer. In addition to being home to so many incredible beaches, it is also a very unique region of the world. Still interested in learning more about the Gulf of Mexico? There are over a thousand types of fish in the Gulf of Mexico, including pelagic species, reef species. The Gulf of Mexico, under ordinary conditions, has tides of two feet or less, but on the wide and shallow shelf such a variation is quite noticeable. With the damaged riser shorn from the LMRPthe top segment of the BOPthe cap was lowered into place. The Western Gulf of Mexico, and. What if we could clean them out? Here's where to find more lumps to fish in the gulf. Left, scientists launch a seafloor sampling device off a research vessel into the Gulf of Mexico. It is the center of the United States oil refining and petrochemical industry and hence more than 18% of the US oil production is derived from the offshore wells in the Gulf of Mexico. They found evidence of sediment resuspension linked with oceanic phenomena. Two days later, following a series of pressure tests, it was announced that the well was completely sealed. Gulfs are formed as a result of plate tectonics and are usually larger and more deeply indented than the bays. Once released by the fracture of the core, the natural gas traveled up the Deepwater rigs riser to the platform, where it ignited, killing 11 workers and injuring 17. Corrections? Expect southerly winds, gentle to moderate for the eastern Gulf, and moderate to occasional fresh at the western Gulf. . How a zoo break-in changed the life of an owl called Flaco, Naked mole rats are fertile until they die, study finds. About 5 million acres of wetlands border the Gulf of Mexico. To the north of the Gulf of Mexico are the US states of Alabama, Texas, Florida, Louisiana, and Mississippi. Further exploration of the Gulf of Mexico continued throughout the 1500s, and after numerous shipwrecks in the region, settlers and explorers decided to establish a settlement along the northern Gulf Coast. The explosion To learn more about the Gulf of Mexico, visit theGulf of Mexico Programfrom the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. The area then filled with seawater, forming the Gulf of Mexico. At least 33 species of whales are found in the Gulf of Mexico. Some of the notable species include Southern Moon jelly, Mushroom jelly, Upside-down jelly, Cannonball jellyfish, Atlantic Sea Nettle, Pink Meanie, and Portuguese Man of War. The 30A Company | 30A, Beach Happy and Life Shines are Registered Trademarks, By: Shannon Serpette | Posted Dec 17, 2021, The Five Beachiest Birds to Look for in the Sand and Skies, As a beach lover its likely you know that birds, much like other beach features, are never the same at every beach. Copyright 1996-2015 National Geographic SocietyCopyright 2015-2023 National Geographic Partners, LLC. How Far Until You Reach the Seafloor of the Gulf of Mexico? The Sigsbee Deep, for example, is estimated to be between 12,300 and 14,383 feet deep. The exceptionally warm sea surface temperatures in the Gulf of Mexico feed the powerful Atlantic hurricanes which in turn cause widespread destruction. The Gulf of Mexico (Golfo de Mxico in Spanish) is located in the Atlantic Ocean, and the majority of it is bordered by the United States and Mexico. The Gulf of Mexico is one of the most important offshore petroleum . The BP Deepwater Horizon catastrophe in 2010 spilled 205.8 million gallons of oil and 225,000 tons of methane into the Gulf of Mexico. The Gulf of Mexico is home to more than 750 known shipwrecks, ranging from modern wrecks all the way back to the 16thcentury. A few hundred years ago, our beaches were home to pirates who hid in Perdido Pass and Perdido Bay while waiting to raid ships in the Gulf. Lets look at some unique facts about this body of water. The feature known as Horseshoe Basin in the western Gulf of Mexico shows up far more clearly on the new high-resolution map (right). To complete your Gulf of Mexico knowledge, we also go over all the key information you should know about its physical geography and history. Nearly all offshore oil and natural gas leasing and development activity currently occurs in the central and western Gulf of Mexico, where thousands of . The surface area of the Gulf of California is about 160,000 km2 (or 62,000 square miles). Seabirds, fish, and reptiles are abundant, as well as bottlenose dolphins, a large population of sperm whales, and sea turtles. Traveling east from the warm waters of the Gulf of Mexico to the cold waters of the Atlantic Ocean, the Gulf Stream is one of the strongest currents in the world. Direct access to the Gulf of Mexico and miles of pristine sandy beaches. On the night of April 20 a surge of natural gas blasted through a concrete core recently installed by contractor Halliburton in order to seal the well for later use. Where is the deepest part of the Gulf of Mexico? Louisiana is an especially important stop along their journey between Latin America and the breeding grounds in North America with nearly 2.5 million landing each day to rest. GMZ001-280215- Synopsis for the Gulf of Mexico 901 AM EST Mon Feb 27 2023 .SYNOPSIS.A ridge will continue to dominate the Gulf waters through Wed night. By fintasticinc March 22, 2016 Capt's. Corner. The most common found around Alabama beaches are bull sharks, great hammerhead sharks, sand tiger sharks and shortfin mako sharks. Can we bring a species back from the brink?, Video Story, Copyright 1996-2015 National Geographic Society, Copyright 2015-2023 National Geographic Partners, LLC. The area of the Gulf of Mexico is about 615,000 square mi (1.6 million square km). Today, there are roughly 27,000 abandoned oil and gas wells underneath the Gulf. The Padre Island is the worlds longest barrier island. in English from Illinois State University in 2005. The Annual John L. Borom Alabama Coastal Birdfest is a fantastic opportunity to witness these birds in action. This involves towing high-powered underwater air guns behind a ship. Beach Happy ???????? Learn more about us & read our affiliate disclosure. Brown pelicans and laughing gulls were among the species most affected. There are 4,000 drilling platforms there. 03 Shaded Relief Images. The Sigsbee Deep, 200 miles southeast of Brownsville, Texas, is estimated to be between 12,300 to 14,383 feet. The first oil well was drilled in the Gulf in 1938. Christine graduated from Michigan State University with degrees in Environmental Biology and Geography and received her Master's from Duke University. Over the centuries, people continued to use the Gulf of Mexico as a source of food and resources, as well as for navigation. The average depth of the Gulf is roughly 5,200 feet, but other parts of the Gulf of Mexico are surprisingly deep. These floating feeding grounds can grow to be so large theyre detectable from space! What is wind chill, and how does it affect your body? But the Gulf is also a habitat for other sea animals including dolphins, whales, sea turtles, and manatees. A mans world? of Mexico before you plan a fishing trip. Scientists think the salt probably accumulated around the time when Africa was just starting to separate from the Americas around 200 million years ago. The Gulf is a very accessible body of water. Boasting some of the worlds most diverse coral reef ecosystems in the Caribbean and Florida, the Gulf of Mexico also is home to black coral, which is the oldest living marine organism currently known. The Gulf Stream is one of the most powerful and warm ocean currents that flow from the Gulf of Mexico towards the northern Atlantic Ocean. Its no secret that the best seafood comes from the Gulf, which is why 75% of the shrimp in the United States comes from the Gulf of Mexico. The casual observer would need to watch the coral for many years possibly hundreds to notice any difference in its growth, however. Watch These Elk Ramming Cars at Yellowstone,, Rare Footage Shows How Killer Whale Packs, Watch a Lioness Save Her Zookeeper When the Male Lion Attacks Him Point-Blank, Watch These Elk Ramming Cars at Yellowstone, and Showing Their True Size, A Clash of Two Lion Prides Ends When This Monster Shows Up, Watch a Gargantuan Komodo Dragon Effortlessly Swallow a Wild Boar in One Gulp, The Largest Great White Sharks Ever Found Off Florida Waters, See Dominator The Largest Crocodile In The World, And As Big As A Rhino, Watch This Huge Komodo Dragon Flex Its Power and Swallow a Shark Whole, Real Life Jaws Spotted 30ft Great White Shark By Boat, The Gulf of Mexico was a trade route dating back to the. The North-West Gulf of Mexico. 5. Get Free Guides to Boost Your SAT/ACT Score. NGDC Coastal Relief Model Vol. The Deepwater Horizon oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico was the largest marine oil spill in U.S. history. Additionally, the storm surge for each Category increases with severity, a Category 1 is 4 5 feet, while a Category 5 is 19 feet or more! Youre probably familiar with the beautiful sandy beaches in Florida or the sprawling coastlines packed with beachgoers in South Padre Island, however, there are countless beautiful beaches along the Gulf of Mexico to be found throughout Mexico, Cuba, and the U.S. With an average temperature between 84F and 88F the Gulf of Mexico is a perfect vacation destination. Though the leak had slowed, it was estimated by a government-commissioned panel of scientists that 4,900,000 barrels of oil had already leaked into the gulf. A study showed that up to 800,000 birds were thought to have died. 4. http://articles.latimes.com/2010/apr/23/nation/la-na-oil-rig-20100423, http://www.nytimes.com/2010/04/29/us/29spill.html, http://www.epa.gov/gmpo/about/facts.html#resources, M.A., Geography, California State University - East Bay, B.A., English and Geography, California State University - Sacramento, Fausset, Richard. ???? About 60% of the Gulf is less than 700 feet deep. The rig's sinking on April 22 began the discharge of oil into the Gulf of Mexico. They are often connected to the ocean by narrow water passages but that is not always observed in all geographical areas. He was a research editor with Encyclopaedia Britannica, Inc. from 2008 to 2016 and worked on Britannica Blog from 2010 Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree. On April 20, 2010, an explosion on the Deepwater Horizon platform caused the largest oil spill in history. Consequently it has access to all the survey data that private companies collect. Located close to the Continental Shelf, you'll find waters as deep as 600 feet just 10-12 miles from shore. What SAT Target Score Should You Be Aiming For? Due to its large size and the complex current system, the Gulf of Mexico has a diverse ecology, ranging from the coastal zone, which serves as a nursery for all types of marine life, to the deep waters of the abyssal plain where colonies of deep-sea coral grow on the seafloor. The agricultural activities inland of the Gulf of Mexico coast have led to an increase in nitrogen-rich chemical fertilizers and pesticides and phosphorus-based detergents that are eventually washed away by rains or by rivers into the aquatic ecosystems. The Gulf of Mexico is a sea and is part of the Atlantic Ocean. Once released, the natural gas traveled up a riser to the platform of the Deepwater Horizon oil rig that was over the well, where it ignited, killing 11 workers and injuring 17. Floridas coral reefs attract visitors from around the world and generate more than $17 billion in tourism annually. The Sigsbee Deep, 200 miles southeast of Brownsville, Texas, is estimated to be between 12,300 to 14,383 feet. The largest of these rivers is the Mississippi River. A large oil spill occurred on April 22, 2010, in the Gulf of Mexico, when the Deepwater Horizon an oil drilling platform, suffered an explosion and sank into the Gulf. Now that youre familiar with the Gulf of Mexico, its time to start planning a beach trip to Gulf Shores and Orange Beach! Omissions? (2021, September 8). The first European exploration of the Gulf of Mexico occurred in 1497 when Amerigo Vespucci sailed along Central America and entered the Atlantic Ocean through the Gulf of Mexico and the Straits of Florida (the strip of water between present-day Florida and Cuba). It is enclosed largely by North America. How deep are the oil rigs in the Gulf of Mexico? Due to the warm water temperatures in the Gulf of Mexico, hurricanes regularly form there. It is so dense with salt that it does not mix with the surrounding water, just sits there as its own pool of despair in the middle of Gulf waters. The Jacuzzi of Despair as its called, is a combination of methane gas and hydrogen sulfide that kills all creatures who enter it. In the United States, the Gulf of Mexico has four of the country's largest fishing ports, while in Mexico the region has eight of the top 20 largest. The Gulf of Mexico is somewhat shallow, along the coastal continental shelf areas, and has an average depth of 1,615m. The Gulf of Mexico is located below the southeastern portion of the United States. It is enclosed largely by North America. The marine flora in the Gulf of Mexico includes seagrasses, mangroves, marine algae, and marsh grasses. There is much speculation as to what caused the explosions. To the southeast, it's bounded by the Caribbean Sea and Cuba. Ask questions; get answers. Breathtaking vistas create an inviting back drop for all-season entertaining.. It has been estimated by researchers that the Gulf of Mexico was formed as a result of seafloor subsidence, due to the movement of the Tectonic Plates over 300 million years ago. A study has dated the coral to be at least 2,000 years old. Ask below and we'll reply! This in turn stimulates plankton growth and attracts numerous shrimps, small fishes, and squids. Articles from Britannica Encyclopedias for elementary and high school students. Birds were particularly vulnerable to the effects of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. The wetlands along the Gulf of Mexico cover around 5 million acres (2.02 million hectares). Tourism accounts for $100 billion annually and in 2008 the fishing harvest from five Gulf states totaled $661 million. The average depth of the Gulf of Mexico is 5,299 feet (1,615 meters) and the maximum depth is estimated to be 14,383 feet (4,384 meters). The oil well over which it was positioned was located on the seabed 4,993 feet (1,522 metres) below the surface and extended approximately 18,000 feet (5,486 metres) into the rock. During this period the conditions are favorable for the development of hurricanes. The deepest part of the Gulf of Mexico is Sigsbee Deep, which has an estimated depth of around 14,383 feet. Get the latest articles and test prep tips! Right, In addition to impacts to the diversity of marine life living on the seafloor, researchers found a conservative chemical tracer of petroleum in surface seafloor sediments extending 15 miles from the Macondo wellhead (Valentine et al. [3] The actual maximum depth is disputed and estimates range between 3,750 and 4,384 metres (12,303 and 14,383ft). The floor of the Gulf of Mexico is one of the most geologically interesting stretches of the Earths surface. The bureaus job is to manage exploration and development of the countrys offshore mineral and energy resources. The effect of the microscopic oil droplets on the ecosystem was unknown, though their presence, along with that of a layer of oil several inches thick discovered on portions of the seafloor in September, cast doubt on earlier predictions about the speed with which the discharged oil would dissipate. At Mow Answers, we do maps and stories for a living. In response to their call for help, the BOEM devised a way to make a high-resolution map by combining the data from several 3-D seismic surveys that exploration companies had done in the area. The Florida Panhandle becomes a magical realm when you put on scuba gear, dive in the ocean, and breathe underwater. The Deepwater Horizon rig, owned and operated by offshore-oil-drilling company Transocean and leased by oil company BP, was situated in the Macondo oil prospect in the Mississippi Canyon, a valley in the continental shelf. These islands are Galveston, Follets, Matagorda, St. Josephs (San Jos), Mustang, Padre, and Brazos. This beautiful body of water is what brings people from all over to our destination. The Gulf of Mexico, located between Florida and Yucatan peninsulas, is a great place to vacation, live, and work. However, it was verified in June that the plumes were in fact from the Deepwater spill. The groundbreaking promise of cellular housekeeping. The Gulf of Mexico The graphic above shows the varying depths of the Gulf, which can range to over 12,000 feet deep (the darker the blue the deeper the water). 600000 surface area (sq mi) 17070 max. The Gulf of Mexico is the largest gulf in the world, with 600,000 sq miles bordered by 1,680 miles of US coastlines. The coastal population of the five US states on the Gulf of Mexico is projected to increase from 44.2 million in 1995 to about 61.4 million in 2025. Both are partially detailed in a lengthy 1975 National Academy of Sciences report on ocean contaminants. 7. This year, the Mississippi River flooded for more than 6 months, unprecedented in both length of time and volume of water. ABOARD THE WESTERN NEPTUNE, Gulf of Mexico Every 17 seconds, a small armada of ships trawling 130 miles from the Louisiana coast fire powerful air guns toward the bottom of the sea in a. The success of these procedures cleared the way for a bottom kill, considered to be the most likely means of permanently sealing the leak. [3] The Sigsbee Abyssal Plain is the deepest and flattest sector of the deep basin.[1]. At its deepest point the bottom is 2.7 miles underwater, but most of the Gulf is much shallower. South of Cocodrie at 28.09 degrees North and 90.71 degrees West, Diaphus Bank covers about 20 square miles. There are nearly 2,000 different species! Some bivalve species that are found here include oysters, mussels, clams, and scallops. You can try your hand at the pirates life with an adventure on a pirate ship cruise in Orange Beach. Do You Know the Different Regions of the US? These are not coastal dead zones, like the one that sprawls across the Gulf of Mexico, but great swaths of deep water that can reach thousands of miles offshore. After the discovery of Cuba and Mexico by the early Europeans, Spain had led a military invasion through the Gulf to colonize these areas. Different species of jellyfish are also commonly found in the waters of the Gulf of Mexico. Now that's deep! Bacteria that had adapted to consuming naturally occurring gas and oil seeping from the seabed were thought to have consumed a portion of it. Shrimp and oysters are among the largest fish products that come from the Gulf. The average depth of the Gulf is roughly 1,615 metres (5,299ft). Natural gas is also extracted. It is rumored that they buried some of their stolen loot on the bay.