Gulf of Mexico

A warm ocean basin that fuels hurricanes and feeds fisheries/Water

The Gulf of Mexico is a partially enclosed ocean basin bordered by the United States, Mexico, and Cuba. Covering approximately 1.55 million square kilometers, its warm waters (reaching 30 degrees Celsius in summer) serve as a heat engine that fuels Atlantic hurricanes. The Gulf Loop Current carries warm Caribbean water into the basin, sometimes spawning eddies that intensify storms. It supports one of the most productive fisheries in the world, accounting for roughly 40% of U.S. commercial fish and shellfish landings. The 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill released an estimated 780 million liters of crude oil into the Gulf, the largest accidental marine oil spill in history.