Caribbean Sea on the map of the hemispheres. Caribbean Sea

The Caribbean (Central American) Sea is a marginal sea of ​​the tropical zone of the Atlantic Ocean. In the north, its borders run from the Yucatan Peninsula through the islands of Cuba, Haiti, Puerto Rico to the Virgin Islands, in the east - along the arc of the Lesser Antilles. The southern border of the sea is the coast South America(Venezuela, Colombia) and Panama. The western border runs along the shores of Central America (Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Honduras, Guatemala, Belize and Mexico).

The area of ​​the sea is about 2,777 thousand km2, the volume of water is 6,745 thousand km3, the average depth is 2429 m, the greatest depth is 7090 m.

Through numerous straits in the archipelagos of the Greater and Lesser Antilles, the Caribbean Sea is connected to the Atlantic Ocean, and through the Yucatan Strait to the Gulf of Mexico. Thus, the sea is a flowing basin through which the waters of the upper layer move from east to west. Therefore, the Caribbean Sea is sometimes called the “sea of ​​flowing waters.”

Most of the straits connecting the Caribbean Sea with the Atlantic Ocean are shallow, and only a few have a threshold depth of more than 1000 m. These are the straits of the Greater Antilles: Windward - 1650 m deep, Anegada - 1740 m and the Lesser Antilles: Dominica - about 1400 m, as well as St. Lucie and St. Vincent - up to 1000 m. The main water exchange with the Atlantic Ocean occurs through these straits. From Caribbean Sea Water enters the Gulf of Mexico through the Yucatan Strait, whose depth is about 2000 m.

The nature of the seashores varies. The coast of Central America is mostly low-lying and wooded, while the coast of South America is mostly high and steep, with some low-lying areas covered with mangroves. Most of the islands of the West Indian archipelago are high and mountainous.

The western coast of the Caribbean Sea and the part of the coast east of the Gulf of Maracaibo are fringed by islands and reefs. In the western and southern parts of the sea there are the main bays: Honduras, Los Mosquitos, Darien, Maracaibo, Paria.

The shelf zone in the eastern part of the Yucatan Peninsula is virtually absent and appears only off the coast of Honduras, reaching its maximum width at Cape Patuca (240 km). Then it narrows again and does not exceed several kilometers off the coast of Costa Rica, Nicaragua and Panama. This entire shelf area is replete with banks. Further along the coast of South America, the shelf expands again, reaching 100 km off the coast of Venezuela.

There is almost no shelf off the coast of the West Indies archipelago; the slopes of the islands slope steeply to the sea. A particularly steep slope along the southern coast of Cuba, its inclination angle is 17°, and in some places exceeds 45°.

Climate

The climate of the Caribbean Sea is determined by the trade wind circulation of the atmosphere, characterized by high air temperatures, the division of the year into two seasons (dry winter and wet summer), stable winds from the east and northeast, and tropical hurricanes.

The air temperature changes little throughout the year, the annual difference average monthly temperatures decreases from 4-6° in the north to 1-2° in the south. The average air temperature in January is 24-27°, in August 27-30°. The maximum temperature can reach 38°, and the minimum does not fall below 12-15°.

The amount of precipitation increases from east to west from 500 to 1000-2000 mm per year with a maximum in the summer months. The highest average monthly precipitation falls in summer off the coast of Panama - up to 400 mm, and the least in winter on the southern coast of Cuba - no more than 20 mm.

The wind regime is determined by trade winds blowing from the east or northeast. In the western part of the sea, trade winds are less stable. The average wind force is 5-7 m/s. Breezes blow along the coasts of the mainland and islands.

The main storm activity in the Caribbean Sea is associated with the West Indies hurricanes. The dimensions of these tropical cyclones are several hundred kilometers across and the wind speed is 40-60 m/s. Hurricanes originate in the southwestern Caribbean Sea, east of the Lesser Antilles and off the Cape Verde Islands. From their origins, hurricanes generally move west and northwest to the Gulf of Mexico, where they turn northeast. The speed of a hurricane is 250-550 km per day, its lifetime is on average 6 days. The average long-term frequency of hurricanes in the Caribbean Sea is 3 per year, but in some years there can be up to 20 hurricanes (most often in September).

In accordance with the nature of the winds in the sea, waves and swells in the eastern and north-eastern directions predominate; the most typical (more than 50%) is a wave of 3-4 points. The frequency of disturbances of 5 points or more is 4-5%. The calmest area is considered to be the area between the islands of Cuba, Jamaica and Haiti, where the frequency of calms reaches 10%.

Most of the coastline experiences irregular semidiurnal tides, and irregular diurnal tides in the Lesser Antilles and a small section of the coast of Venezuela. The tide does not exceed 1 m anywhere.

Seasonal level fluctuations are determined mainly by the ratio of the components of the sea's water balance and water exchange with the Atlantic Ocean. As a result of the interaction of these factors, the highest level is observed in early autumn (September - October), and the lowest in January. At most observation points, the magnitude of annual level changes is within the range of 8-30 cm, but in some areas it can reach 80 cm.

Level fluctuations also occur with sudden changes in winds. Short-term rises in level on various parts of the coast were observed during the passage of tropical cyclones.

Bottom relief

The seabed is strongly dissected by underwater ridges into several large basins: Grenada (more than 3000 m deep), Venezuelan (more than 5000 m), Colombian (more than 4000 m), Cayman (more than 6000 m) and Yucatan (more than 4500 m). Thus, a significant volume of waters of the Caribbean Sea is below the depth of the rapids in the straits, as a result of which the deep waters of the sea and the ocean have differences.

Bottom topography and currents of the Caribbean Sea

Currents

Water circulation in the sea is formed under the influence of the Northern Trade Wind Current, which is about 60° W. is divided into two currents: one of them (the Guiana Current) enters the Caribbean Sea through the straits of the Lesser Antilles, the other (the Antilles Current) moves westward north of the Greater Antilles. Branches that enter the Caribbean Sea through the northern straits of Anegada, Mona and Windward are separated from the Antilles Current. These waters are transported to the sea in a westerly direction.

Grenada Island in the Caribbean Sea

The waters of the Guiana Current enter the Caribbean Sea through the strait between the coast of South America and the island. Grenada and the straits of the Lesser Antilles. Therefore, the Caribbean Current in the eastern part of the sea has two branches: one runs 200-300 km from the coast of Venezuela, the other along the middle of the sea. Approximately 80°W the southern branch turns north and the currents converge. The speed on the surface here reaches 70 cm/s. Next, the main flow of the Caribbean Current follows to the Yucatan Strait and exits through it into the Gulf of Mexico.

At the entrance to the strait, a stream separates from the main flow of water, which turns back and moves along the southern coast of Cuba to the Windward Strait. Anticyclonic gyres form south of Cuba and Jamaica. To the south of the main current, several cyclonic gyres stand out - off the coast of Venezuela, Panama and Costa Rica. In the summer season, cyclonic water movement is also characteristic of the Gulf of Honduras.

In the Windward Strait, most of the section is occupied by Atlantic waters. In the upper layer they enter the sea in the eastern half of the strait, and in the western half, off the coast of Cuba, a reverse flow is observed in a layer up to 100-120 m. In the deep layers, on the contrary, the Atlantic waters are pressed against the island. Cuba, and the flow from the sea goes along the island. Haiti.

In the Mona Strait, there is a fairly strong flow of Atlantic water into the Caribbean Sea in the layer from the surface to 300 m. The reverse movement of water from the sea to the ocean in the deep layers is very weak.

In the Anegada Strait, in the upper layer the current is always directed from ocean to sea, and in the deep layers - from sea to ocean. The core of waters flowing from the sea to the ocean is located at horizons of 800-900 m, their speed is about 40 cm/s. However, as in the Windward Strait, the boundary between multidirectional flows changes its position. Water exchange through the northern straits of Windward and Anegada plays a significant role in the balance of sea waters.

Most of the intermediate Atlantic waters enter the sea through the deep central straits of the Lesser Antilles: Dominica, St. Lucia, St. Vincent, as well as through the strait between the islands. Grenada and the mainland, despite the fact that its depth is no more than 750 m.

The main flow of Caribbean Sea waters goes through the Yucatan Strait into the Gulf of Mexico, and then through the Strait of Florida into the ocean. In the Yucatan Strait maximum speeds Currents reaching 150 cm/s on the surface are observed along the continental shallows, near the coast. The thickness of the upper current leaving the sea reaches 700-800 m. In the bottom layers of the Yucatan Trench, both the entry of deep water from the Caribbean Sea into the Gulf of Mexico and its reverse transport can occur.

The deep current from the Yucatan Strait partially passes into the Windward Strait, skirting the tip of the Cayman Ridge from the west. Its other part is included in the Columbia Basin, where the deep circulation is anticyclonic.

The water entering the sea in the deep layers of the Anegada Strait also forms an anticyclonic circulation in the Venezuelan and Grenada basins.

The influx of water from the Atlantic Ocean is the main factor in the formation of the hydrological structure of the waters of the Caribbean Sea. The vertical stratification of waters in the sea is associated with the depth of the rapids in the straits of the Greater and Lesser Antilles. The sea waters are well stratified to a depth of 1200 m, weakly in the layer between 1200 and 1800 m, and very homogeneous below 1800 m and to the bottom.

Water temperature and salinity

The horizontal distribution of water temperature and salinity is determined mainly by the circulation system in the sea. Only in the surface layer the distribution of hydrological characteristics is associated with the influence of heating and cooling of the sea, evaporation, precipitation and river flow. The usual zonal distribution of water temperature (its decrease from low to high latitudes) is not observed in the sea.

Water temperature and salinity at the surface of the Caribbean Sea in summer

Thanks to the prevailing system of easterly winds and the general transport of water from east to west, a drift effect and rise of deep waters to the surface are observed near the southern coasts of the sea (especially near Venezuela and Colombia). Therefore, in the eastern part of the sea, the highest water temperature on the surface is observed on the northern shores: 26-26.5° in winter and about 28° in summer. In the central part of the sea the temperature is almost constant - 27-28°, and in the western part it varies from 26° in winter to 29° in summer.

Vertical movements of water in the coastal zone of the sea cause a characteristic slope of isothermal surfaces in a layer up to 600 m. The thickness of the upper layer, uniform in temperature, reaches 100 m along the northern shores of the sea, and only 20-30 m on the southern shores. The temperature jump layer also deepens to the north and rises off the southern shores of the sea. However, with depth, meridional differences in temperature gradually decrease. Thus, at a horizon of 100 m off the coast of Venezuela the temperature is 19-20°, and near Puerto Rico, Haiti and Jamaica - 25-27°. At a horizon of 200 m, the difference in temperature at the southern and northern borders of the sea is 5°, and at a horizon of 600 m - 3-4°.

Below 600 m, horizontal temperature differences become negligible. At a horizon of 800 m, the temperature over the sea area varies from 5.5 to 7°, and at a horizon of 1000 m - from 4.8 to 5.5°. Below 1000 m, the temperature very slowly drops to 4° at a horizon of 1600 m (i.e., near the depth of the rapids in the Windward and Anegada straits). Deep Atlantic water with a temperature of about 4°, entering the sea through these straits, fills its entire deep-water part to the very bottom. From the Caribbean Sea, deep water penetrates into the Gulf of Mexico through a trench in the Yucatan Strait, the depth of which is slightly more than 2000 m. In the basins of the Caribbean Sea, to depths of about 3000 m, the temperature remains 4.1-4.2 °. The presence of albeit small spatial differences in temperature at these depths indicates the ongoing renewal of deep water in the sea.

The salinity value in the surface layer over most of the sea is 35.5-36.5‰. In summer, especially towards the end of the season, the salinity on the surface in some areas is 0.5-1‰ less than in winter. This is explained by the abundance of precipitation and increased river flow in the summer months. The lowest salinity is observed near the islands of Trinidad and Tobago (less than 35‰ in winter, 33-34‰ in summer) and near the southern part of the Lesser Antilles ridge, which is due to the influence of the Orinoco runoff. A narrow strip of water with the highest salinity for the sea (36.2-36.8‰) is constantly observed along the coast of South America due to the rise of deeper, more saline waters that occur here. Salinity of more than 36‰ is also typical for areas with little precipitation - south of the islands of Haiti and Cuba.

The vertical distribution of salinity is characterized by the presence of a subsurface maximum and an intermediate minimum.

The maximum salinity is associated with subsurface subtropical ocean water entering the sea through the straits of the Lesser Antilles. The depth of the maximum varies from 80 m along the southern shores to 150 m in the middle part and 180-200 m near the northern shores. Its core is located in a layer of temperature jump, salinity in the core decreases from 36.9-37‰ in the eastern part of the sea to 36.5-36.7‰ in the Yucatan Strait.

The salinity minimum is formed due to the spread of intermediate subantarctic water into the sea, also entering through the straits of the Lesser Antilles in a layer of 700-800 m with a salinity of about 34.7‰. As you move westward, the salinity in the minimum layer increases when mixed with above- and underlying waters and in the Yucatan basin is 34.8-34.85‰.

Below the minimum layer, salinity increases again in the deep North Atlantic water, which enters the sea through the deepest straits of the Greater Antilles ridge. At the horizon of 1700 m, the salinity is slightly less than 35‰ and then does not change until the bottom.

The oxygen content in the upper layer of the sea up to 50 m thick is about 4.5 ml/l. Vertically, it decreases to a minimum (2.7 ml/l) in a layer of 500-600 m. Then, with depth, the amount of oxygen again increases to maximum values ​​(5-6 ml/l), and then very slowly decreases towards the bottom. Significant concentrations of oxygen at great depths are associated with the influx of ocean water. Therefore, interannual changes in the amount of oxygen in the minimum and maximum layers are associated with an increase or decrease in the flow of intermediate subantarctic and deep North Atlantic water into the sea.

Based on the distribution of hydrological characteristics and the peculiarities of the structure of waters in the Caribbean Sea, the following water masses are distinguished:

surface tropical water - occupies a layer of 0-75 m, has a temperature of 26-28° and a salinity of 35-36‰

subsurface subtropical water (75-300 m) - is released at the maximum salinity (36.6-37 ‰) in the temperature jump layer (19-25°);

intermediate subantarctic water (300-1000 m) - characterized by a minimum salinity (34.7-34.85‰) and a temperature of 5-9°;

deep and bottom water (1000 m - bottom) - is formed from deep Atlantic water with a temperature of 4-4.5 ° and a salinity of 34.96-35‰. It occupies the largest volume. According to approximate calculations, the time for complete renewal of this water is about 1000 years.

A significant part of the volume of the Caribbean Sea is occupied by mixed waters.

The Caryaco depression, located on the shelf of Venezuela, with a depth of about 1400 m, has special conditions. The depression is separated from the sea by a threshold with a depth of no more than 150 m, below which it is filled with almost homogeneous water with a temperature of about 17° and a salinity of 36.2‰. Outside the depression, the temperature in the same layers of water is much lower. The descent of such warm water (with a temperature of up to 17°) to depths exceeding 1000 m is a very rarely observed natural phenomenon.

At depths of more than 370 m in the Karyako depression there is no oxygen and hydrogen sulfide appears. True, the maximum content of hydrogen sulfide here is only about 10% of its concentration in the depths of the Black Sea. Anaerobic conditions in the depression are created due to limited water exchange with the sea and the complete consumption of oxygen for the oxidation of organic matter coming from the upper layers of water.

Economic importance

The ichthyofauna of the Caribbean Sea includes more than 800 species of fish, of which about 450 are edible. The number of commercial fish is from 50 to 60 species, but only a few of them produce the bulk of the catches. The overwhelming majority of fish are concentrated on the shelf, especially in coastal areas, in places where deep waters emerge and in areas where rivers flow into the sea.

sand shark

Shelf fish of tropical seas have conditions for both feeding and reproduction in their habitats, so most of them do not make long migrations. The most important commercial shelf fish are snappers (reef groupers). In second place are rock perches. Rockfish, crucian carp, and croakers are widespread. In some areas, sardinella, horse mackerel, mackerel, as well as sole, flounder, stingrays, sharks and some other fish species are fished for. Shallow waters with depths of up to 10-20 m, lagoons, small bays, and river mouth areas are particularly diverse in their ichthyofauna. Various types of mullet, tarpan, anchovies, soles, and centropomus are found here.

Ocean fish - tuna, marlin, sailfish, golden mackerel and other inhabitants of the deep-sea Caribbean Sea - undergo long migrations, but most tuna species breed and spend the first years of their lives in shelf waters and in areas of the continental slope. Accumulations of tuna are confined to zones of rising deep waters, characterized by increased biological productivity.

An marginal semi-enclosed sea of ​​the Atlantic Ocean basin, limited to the west and south by Central and South America, and to the north and east by the Greater and Lesser Antilles. In the northwest it is connected to the Gulf of Mexico through the Yucatan Strait, and in the southwest it is connected to the Pacific Ocean through the artificial Panama Canal.

Lies between 9° and 22° N. w. and between 89° and 60° W. d., its area is approximately 2,753,000 km. sq.
In the south it washes Venezuela, Colombia and Panama, in the west - Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Honduras, Guatemala, Belize and the Mexican Yucatan Peninsula, in the north - Cuba, Haiti, Jamaica and Puerto Rico; in the east - the states of the Lesser Antilles

Coastline of the Caribbean Sea

The coastline of the sea is heavily indented, the shores are mountainous in some places, low-lying in others (Caribbean lowland). The shallow areas contain various coral deposits and numerous reef structures. There are several bays on the continental coast, the largest of which are: Honduras, Mosquitos, Darien and Venezuela. In the northern part are the bays of Batabano, Ana Maria and Guacanaybo ( south coast islands of Cuba), as well as the Gulf of Gonave ( western part islands of Haiti).

There are several bays on the east coast of Yucatan, including Ascencion, Espiritu Santo and Chetumal. The Gulf of Honduras ends in Amatica Bay, located on the border of Belize and Guatemala. The northern coast of Honduras is slightly indented, and several lagoons jut into the Mosquito Coast, including the lagoons of Caratasca, Bismuna, Perlas and Bluefields Bay. In the east of Panama there is a large lagoon called Chiriqui. Off the coast of South America, the Gulf of Darien ends in the Gulf of Uraba, and the Gulf of Venezuela, fenced off by the Guajira Peninsula, ends in Lake Maracaibo. To the west of the island of Trinidad lies the Gulf of Paria, which is considered part of the Atlantic Ocean.

Islands

The concept of the West Indies usually includes the Antilles and the Bahamas. The Caribbean Sea is washed only by the Antilles, which are divided into the Greater Antilles and the Lesser Antilles. The Greater Antilles border the northern border of the sea and include four large islands: Cuba, Haiti (formerly called Hispaniola), Jamaica and Puerto Rico, as well as small nearby islands - the archipelagos of Los Canarreos (the largest island of Juventud) and Jardines de La Reina, lying off the southern coast of Cuba.

The Lesser Antilles are divided into Windward and Leeward Islands (Southern Antilles), so named in reference to the north-west trade wind. The first group lies on the eastern border of the sea and consists of approximately 50 islands, the largest of which are: St. Croix, St. Thomas (Virgin Islands), Anguilla, St. Martin, St. Kitts, Barbuda, Antigua (Antigua and Barbuda), Grand Ter and Basse-Terre (Guadeloupe), Dominica, Martinique, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent, Barbados, Grenada, Tobago and Trinidad. The Southern Antilles are located along the coast of South America and include the islands of Aruba, Curacao, Bonaire (possession of the Netherlands), Margarita, the archipelagos of Las Aves and Los Roques (Venezuela) and a number of other smaller areas.

The Western Caribbean Sea is home to several archipelagos such as the Cayman Islands, Turneffe Islands, Islas de la Bahia and Miskitos, as well as a number of individual islands (Providencia, San Andres) and cays (Lighthouse, Glover, Media Luna and other).

Climate

The Caribbean Sea has a tropical climate influenced by the trade wind circulation. Average monthly air temperatures vary from 23 to 27 °C. Cloud cover is 4-5 points.

Average annual rainfall in the region varies from 250 mm on the island of Bonaire to 9,000 mm in the windward parts of Dominica. Northeast trade winds prevail with average speeds of 16-32 km/h, but tropical hurricanes occur in the northern regions of the sea, the speed of which can exceed 120 km/h. On average, 8-9 such hurricanes occur per year from June to November, and they are most frequent in September-October.

Vegetation of the Caribbean

The region's vegetation is predominantly tropical, but differences in topographic, soil and climatic conditions increase species diversity. The islands' porous limestone terraces tend to be nutrient-poor. It is estimated that the Caribbean region is home to 13,000 plant species, of which 6,500 are endemic, such as guaiac wood and mahogany. Common in coastal areas coconut tree, lagoons and river estuaries are overgrown with dense mangroves (red and black mangrove trees).

Animal world

The marine biota of the region originated from representatives of the Indian and Pacific Oceans, which entered the Caribbean Sea before the emergence of the Isthmus of Panama about 4 million years ago. The Caribbean Sea is home to approximately 450 species of fish, including sharks (bull shark, tiger shark, silky shark and Caribbean reef shark), flying fish, sea devils, orangefin tangfish, angelfish, ocellated butterflyfish, parrotfish, giant bass, tarpon and moray eels. Throughout the Caribbean region, industrial fishing is carried out for lobsters, sardines (off the coast of Yucatan) and some types of tuna. Albulids, barracudas, marlin and wahoo are popular among recreational fishermen.

The mammals of the Caribbean region are represented by 90 species, including sperm whales, humpback whales and dolphins. Seals and American manatees live off the island of Jamaica. The Caribbean monk seal, which formerly lived in the region, is considered extinct; Representatives of the region's native slittooth family are under threat of extinction.

All 170 species of amphibians found in the region are endemic. The habitats of almost all representatives of the families of toads, dart frogs, tree frogs and whistlers are limited to one island.

There are 600 bird species recorded in the Caribbean, 163 of which are endemic to the region, such as the tody, Cuban avoc-billed woodpecker and stonechat. Of the endemic species, 48 ​​species are in danger of extinction: the Puerto Rican Amazon, the Cuban crake, the Cuban wren, etc. The Antilles, along with Central America, lie on the route of bird migration from North America, so the size of bird populations is subject to strong seasonal fluctuations. The forests are home to parrots, sugar birds and toucans, above open sea you can meet frigates and phaetons.

Tourism

Thanks to its warm climate and magnificent beaches, the Caribbean region is one of the main resort areas in the world. The rich marine fauna attracts divers; in addition to natural beauty, the region is rich cultural monuments pre-Columbian civilizations and the colonial era. The tourism industry is an important component of the Caribbean economy, serving primarily travelers from the United States, Canada, Brazil and Argentina. Air traffic between North America and the Caribbean is better developed than within the region.

The Caribbean Sea is located in the western Atlantic Ocean near the equator. Thanks to the tropical climate, numerous sandy beaches, clean water, famous resorts and picturesque places The Caribbean region is popular with tourists. Cruise routes of famous travel companies pass through the Caribbean region. Rich underwater world attracts thousands of scuba diving enthusiasts. Mostly Caribbean resorts are visited by residents of the USA, Canada, and Brazil.

The Caribbean Antilles and Bahamas include several large islands: Cuba, Haiti, Jamaica, Puerto Rico. The Virgin Islands and Cayman Islands are also located here.

The region's climate is determined by the trade winds and the tropical Atlantic Ocean. The average temperature throughout the year practically does not change and is +23 ... +28 degrees. The Caribbean region is less susceptible to tropical storms than the Gulf of Mexico and eastern Pacific Ocean

Flora and fauna The warm climate, coral reefs and clear water have created a rich underwater world of the sea. About 500 different species of fish live here, such as goliath fish, angel fish and parrot fish, moray eels and several species of sharks. Whales, sperm whales and dolphins are found in the waters of the sea. The entire coastal area is covered tropical forests with lush vegetation and a riot of colors

The Caribbean Sea region is a favorite vacation spot for many oligarchs from different countries. They are not limited in cash and choose truly deserving places for a comfortable stay

Today, not only every schoolchild, but even preschoolers know that somewhere on Earth there are Caribbean islands. But not every adult can answer the question of where exactly these Caribbean islands are located. Today we will try to restore this gap and go on a virtual trip to the islands of the Caribbean.

How to get to the Caribbean Islands?

The Caribbean Sea, as well as the Caribbean islands, are comfortably located between the two Americas - South and North. Getting here is quite simple - you just need to buy an air ticket and a trip to paradise already in your hands. Airlines such as Air France, KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, British Airways and Virgin Atlantic regularly fly here. Some Caribbean islands can only be reached with transfers, having first purchased an air ticket to Canada or the USA.

Caribbean Islands - what country is this?

Tourists constrained by visa restrictions, of course, cannot help but be interested in which state the Caribbean islands belong to. In total, the Caribbean includes more than fifty islands, some of which are separate independent states, while others are the property of England, America, and France. But tourists can rest easy - a visa is simply not needed to enter the territory of most of the Caribbean islands.

Where is the capital of the Caribbean islands?

Considering the diversity of the political map of the Caribbean islands, it is naturally impossible to talk about their single capital.

Caribbean islands - names

All the islands that make up the Caribbean are usually divided into three groups:

1. Greater Antilles. These include Haiti, Puerto Rico, Jamaica and the Cayman Islands.
2. Lesser Antilles, which includes about 50 islands, such as Barbados, Dominica, Grenada, Antigua, Martinique, St. Thomas, Tobago, Trinidad, etc.
3. Bahamas, which includes about 30 inhabited islands and more than 2,000 coral reefs.

1. Name and history

2. Geology

3. Relief

There are two deep passages in the Greater Antilles chain: the Anegada Strait and the Windward Strait. The depth of the Anegada Strait varies from 1950 to 2350 m, the windward channel - from 1600 to 1630 m.

Map of the Caribbean Sea, created based on satellite data
NASA, 2008

The numbers indicate: 1. Gulf of Honduras 2. Mosquitos Bay 3. Gulf of Darien 4. Gulf of Venezuela 5. Lake Maracaibo 6. Guacanaiabo 7. Gonave Bay 8. Trinidad Island 9. Cayman Islands

3.1. Coastline

The coastline of the sea is heavily indented, the shores are mountainous in some places, low-lying in others (Caribbean lowland). The shallow areas contain various coral deposits and numerous reef structures. On the continental coast (western and southern part sea) there are several bays, the largest of which are: Honduras, Mosquitos, Darien and Venezuela. In the northern part there are the bays of Batabano, Ana Maria and Guacanaybo (the southern coast of the island of Cuba), as well as the Gulf of Gonave (the western part of the island of Haiti).

There are several bays on the east coast of Yucatan, including Ascencion, Espiritu Santo and Chetumal. The Gulf of Honduras ends in Amatica Bay, located on the border of Belize and Guatemala. The northern coast of Honduras is slightly indented, and several lagoons cut into the Mosquito Coast, including the lagoons of Caratasca, Bismuna, Perlas and Bluefields Bay. In the east of Panama is the large Chiriqui Lagoon. Off the coast of South America, the Gulf of Darien ends with the Gulf of Uraba, and is fenced off by the Guajira Peninsula of the Gulf of Venezuela - Lake Maracaibo. To the west of the island of Trinidad lies the Gulf of Paria, which is considered part of the Atlantic Ocean.

3.2. Islands

The surface subtropical Caribbean Current, passing from the southeastern to the northwestern part of the sea, is a continuation of the Northern Trade Wind Current, its flow is estimated at 26 million m / s. The trade wind drives the waters to the west, off the coast of Central America the current turns north and through the Yucatan Strait goes into the Gulf of Mexico. The current speed is 1-2.8 km/h, in the Yucatan Strait it increases to 6 km/h. The current is warm, the water temperature is about 28 C, and the salinity is less than 35.5 due to the significant contribution fresh water Amazon and Orinoco. Water pumped from the Caribbean Sea into the Gulf of Mexico raises the level of the latter relative to the main part of the Atlantic Ocean (the water level off the west coast of Florida is 19 cm higher than on the east coast), which creates hydrostatic pressure, which is believed to be the main driving force of the Gulf Stream .

In the southwestern region of the sea, between the coasts of Colombia and Nicaragua, there is a circular current swirling counterclockwise throughout almost the entire year. Tides in the Caribbean Sea are mostly irregular semidiurnal, with an amplitude of less than 1 m.

During the rainy season, the waters of the Orinoco River create high concentrations of chlorophyll in the eastern part of the sea. The Cariaco Basin, located off the coast of Venezuela, is interesting because hydrogen sulfide is constantly present in it, and a high concentration of methane has been found in the Cayman Trench.

4.1. Caribbean Sea Basin

The Caribbean Sea is located in Central and South America. The largest river flowing into the Caribbean Sea is the Magdalena (1550 km) with its tributaries Cauca and Cesar. Its annual flow is 228 km, or an average of 7.2 thousand m/s (data from 1942 to 2002). The rivers Atrato (annual flow - 81 km), Leon (2.1 km) and Turbo (12 km) flow into the Gulf of Uraba and the Gulf of Darien. Other South American rivers include the Dique (9.4 km) and Son (11.8 km), as well as the Catatumbo and Chama, which flow into Maracaibo, the continent's largest lake.

On the coast of North America, the rivers Belen, Cricamola (flows into the Chiriqui Lagoon), Teribe and Sixaola (Panama), Chirripo Atlantico, Reventazon and San Juan (Costa Rica), Indio, Punta Gorda, Rio Escondido flow into the Caribbean Sea. and Curinas, Rio Grande de Metagalpa, Prinsapolca, Bambana, Cucalaya, Huahua and Coco (Nicaragua), Patuc, Sico Tinto, Agua, Ulua and Chamelecon (Honduras), Motagua and Rio Dulce (Guatemala), Belize River , New River, Rio Hondo (Belize).

Island rivers: Cauto and Sasa (Cuba), Artibonite and Caude del Sur (Haiti island), Black River and Milk River (Jamaica).

5. Climate

The Caribbean Sea has a tropical climate, influenced by trade wind circulation. Average monthly air temperatures vary from 23 to 27 C. Cloudiness is 4-5 points.

Average annual rainfall in the region varies from 250 mm on the island of Bonaire to 9000 mm in the windward parts of Dominica. Northeast trade winds prevail with average speeds of 16-32 km/h, but tropical hurricanes occur in the northern regions of the sea, the speed of which can exceed 120 km/h. On average, 8-9 such hurricanes occur per year from June to November, with the most frequent in September - October. According to the US National Hurricane Center, from 1494 to 1900, 385 hurricanes passed over the Caribbean, and from 1900 to 1991, 235 similar manifestations of the elements were recorded. The Caribbean Sea region is less prone to hurricane damage than the Gulf of Mexico or the Western Pacific Ocean (where typhoons occur from May to November). Most hurricanes form in the Cape Verde Islands and are sent by trade winds to the shores of America; in general, it is impossible to predict the exact trajectory of a hurricane.

Severe hurricanes cause loss of life, destruction and crop failures in the region. The Great Hurricane of 1780, which raged from October 10 to 16, 1780, caused enormous damage to the Lesser Antilles, Puerto Rico, the Dominican Republic, and possibly the Florida Peninsula, and resulted in the deaths of 22 to 24 thousand people. Hurricane Mitch, which occurred on October 22, 1998 off the coast of Colombia, passed through Central America, the Yucatan and Florida peninsulas, causing damage of 40 million US dollars and killing 11-18 thousand people. Hurricanes Galveston (1900) and Fifi (1974) also caused significant damage to the region.

6. Flora and fauna

According to faunal zoning, the Caribbean Sea region belongs to the Caribbean region. The region is characterized by great biodiversity, many species are endemic.

6.1. Flora

The region's vegetation is predominantly tropical, but differences in topographic, soil and climatic conditions increase species diversity. The islands' porous limestone terraces tend to be nutrient-poor. An estimated 13,000 plant species grow in the Caribbean, of which 6,500 are endemic, such as the guaiac tree (the flower of which is the national symbol of Jamaica) and the mahogany tree (the national flower of the Dominican Republic). In coastal areas, the coconut palm is common; in lagoons and river estuaries there are dense thickets of mangroves (red and black mangrove trees).

In shallow waters, flora and fauna are concentrated around coral reefs, the growth of which is facilitated by almost constant stable temperature, clean water and small changes in salinity levels. Submerged seagrass fields occur in lagoons on the leeward sides of reefs. A total of seven species of algae are found in the Caribbean Sea. The most common are Thalassia testudinum and Syringodium filiforme (Tsimodoceevi family), which can grow both together and in single-species fields at depths of up to 20 m. Another type of Cymodoceuceae - Halodule wrightii - grows on sand and mud surfaces at depths of up to 5 m. m. In the brackish water of harbors and river estuaries at depths of 0-2.5 m, the sea rupee (Ruppia maritima) is found. Representatives of three species belong to the genus Halophila (Halophila baillonii, Halophila engelmanni and Halophila decipiens) live at depths of up to 30 m. Halophila engelmanni does not grow below 5 m, the range of this species is limited to the Bahamas, Florida, the Greater Antilles and the western Caribbean. The species Halophila baillonii has only been found in the Lesser Antilles.

6.2. Animal world

The mammals of the Caribbean region are represented by 90 species, including sperm whales, humpback whales and Delphinus. Seals and American manatees live near the island of Jamaica. The region was previously home to the Caribbean monk seal, which is now considered extinct. Representatives of the slittooth family are under threat of extinction.

Reptiles of the Caribbean region are represented by 500 species (94% endemic). The islands are home to several endemic species of cycluras, with the common sharp-snouted crocodile. Several species of sea turtles are present in the region: Trichechea spp., loggerhead (Caretta caretta) green turtle, devil, leatherback turtle, Atlantic ridley (Lepidochelys kempii) and olive turtle (Lepidochelys olivacea). Some species are in danger of extinction; their population, according to researchers, has decreased greatly since the 17th century - the number of green turtles has decreased from 91 million to 300 thousand individuals, and demons - from 11 million to less than 30 thousand by the year.

There are 600 bird species recorded in the Caribbean, 163 of which are endemic to the region, such as the then-Cuban-billed woodpecker and the stonechat. From endemics, 48 ​​species are threatened with extinction: Puerto Rican Amazon, Cuban epaulette, Cuban wren, etc. The Antilles, near Central America, lie on the migratory route of birds from North America, so bird population sizes are subject to strong seasonal fluctuations. Parrots, sugarbirds and toucans are found in the forests, and frigates and phaetons can be found over the open sea.

7. Ecology

The main factors influencing the global change in the characteristics of the Caribbean Sea are considered to be global warming and sea level rise (it is expected that it will rise by 86.36 cm by year), rising sea temperatures causing coral bleaching and algal blooms, as well as changes in precipitation patterns and the corresponding river flow and even dust brought by sandstorms from the Sahara. Shipping, which generates about 82 thousand tons of garbage per year, oil transportation and land-based sources of pollution negatively affect the ecological state of the sea.

Currently, no more than 23 thousand km (10%) of indigenous forests remain on the Caribbean islands. In Cuba, where the largest forests of the island part of the region are located, less than 15% of the forests have remained intact; the rest were cut down during the development of the territories.

7.1. Corals

The Atlantic Ocean contains about 9% of the world's coral reefs. Their area is 50 thousand km, with most of them located off the coast of the Caribbean islands and Central America. . One of the most studied phenomena in the region recently is coral bleaching. Until the 1980s, Madrepore corals were widespread in the Caribbean Sea; over the next 20 years, due to anthropogenic and natural reasons, their population decreased, and the amount of seaweed increased. In 1983, this process was exacerbated by the mass death of sea urchins that feed on algae. Scientific research on the reefs was conducted from 1995 to 1998 off the coast of Belize on the largest coral barrier reef in the Northern Hemisphere, as well as nearby reefs in the eastern sea. The warming of the Caribbean Sea (as a result of global climate change) threatens the fragile ecosystems of coral reefs - prolonged water temperatures above 29 C lead to the death of microscopic algae zooxanthellae. These plants provide food and color to corals, so their death leads to coral bleaching and disruption of the entire reef ecosystem.

Reef inhabitants are important for tourism activities such as fishing and diving, which in 2000 were estimated to generate US$3.1–4.6 billion annually for the region.

7.2. Nature protected areas

The total area of ​​protected areas on the islands of the West Indies is 30 thousand km (13% of the region's land surface). In Cuba, about 15% of its territory is protected (including the Zapata swamp with an area of ​​4354.3 km2, national park named after Alexander Humboldt and Desembarco del Granma), in Dominica - a little more than 20% (including Morne-Trois-Piton National Park), in the Dominican Republic - about 15% (Jaragua National Park, etc.). In other countries there are almost no protected areas.

Among the protected areas along the continental coast, the following stand out: Sian Ka'an Nature Reserve, Chinchorro (Mexico), Biological Reserve on the Misquitos Islands (Nicaragua), Darien National Park (Panama), Los Catios and Tayrona National Parks (Colombia), Medanos de Coro National Park , Henry Peter National Park, El Avila, Mochim and Laguna de la Restinga (Venezuela).

8. Economy and economic importance

More than 116 million people live on the Caribbean Sea (within 100 km of the coast), whose main source of income is tourism (15.5% of all jobs in the region). More than 300 thousand people are employed in the fishing industry. Fishing volumes are estimated at slightly less than half a million tons of seafood per year. Main commercial species: Caribbean spiny lobsters (Panulirus argus), giant strombus (Strombus gigas), flagellated shrimp (Penaeidae), Cavalli mackerel (Scomberomorus Cavalla), Spanish mackerel (S. maculatus), large coryphaena hippurus, SERIOL (Seriola spp.) and others. Industrial pearl harvesting.

8.1. Shipping and trade

From an economic and strategic point of view, the Caribbean Sea plays the role of the shortest sea route from the ports of the Atlantic Ocean through the Panama Canal to the Pacific Ocean. The main ports of the Caribbean Sea: Maracaibo and La Guaira (Venezuela), Cartagena (Colombia), Limon (Costa Rica), Santo Domingo (Dominican Republic), Colon (Panama), Santiago de Cuba (Cuba) and others.

The complex system of communication and trade in the Caribbean region ensures high turnover, but most of it occurs in countries located outside the region. The goods and resources that are traded within the region are few: rice from Guyana, timber from Belize, gasoline from Trinidad and Curacao, salt, fertilizers, vegetable oils and fats from eastern islands, as well as a small amount of industrial products. The consumers of most of the products produced in the region (bananas, sugar, coffee, rum, bauxite, nickel and oil) are the United States and Canada.

8.2. Tourism

Thanks to its warm climate and beautiful beaches, the Caribbean region is one of the main resort areas in the world. The rich marine fauna attracts divers; in addition to its natural beauty, the region is rich in cultural monuments of pre-Columbian civilizations and the colonial era. The tourism industry is an important component of the Caribbean economy, serving primarily tourists from the United States, Canada, Brazil and Argentina. Air traffic between North America and the Caribbean is better developed than within the region. According to the Caribbean tourism organization In the year, 22,700,000 tourists visited the region, and 19,200,000 people took part in cruise tours. To the most popular destinations include the Dominican Republic, Cuba, Mexico (Cancun, Riviera Maya), Jamaica, the Bahamas and Puerto Rico.

9. Culture

The rich history of the Caribbean has inspired many authors to create various cultural works related to piracy. Daniel Defoe, Robert Louis Stevenson, Rafael Sabatini and other writers have worked on pirate themes; many films have been created on this topic (including the Pirates of the Caribbean film series and the cartoon Treasure Island), and numerous films have been released. computer games. The life and customs of the people of the Caribbean have been described by such authors as the Cuban writer Alejo Carpentier, the Dominican writer (and president) Juan Bosch, Derek Walcott (St. Lucia) and the Colombian writer Gabriel García Márquez.

The Caribbean region is home to various musical genres: reggae, ska in Jamaica, merengue and bachata in the Dominican Republic, calypso in Trinidad and Tobago. Reggaeton originates from Puerto Rico and Panama, son and son Montuno originate in Cuba, cumbia, poro and vallenato appear on the Caribbean coast of Colombia.

One of the most popular sports in the Caribbean is baseball, and there is a separate baseball tournament, the Caribbean Series. Cricket is also common in the English-speaking Antilles, and football is popularized in CONCACAF member countries. The region hosts the Central American and Caribbean Games, and national teams also take part in the Pan American Games.

10. Ports

Notes

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2. Great Soviet Encyclopedia. Caribbean Sea - www.cultinfo.ru/fulltext/1/001/008/059/220.htm (Russian)
3. "International Bathymetric Chart of the Caribbean Sea and the Gulf of Mexico" - www.ngdc.noaa.gov/mgg/ibcca/ibcca.html. NOAA . http://www.ngdc.noaa.gov/mgg/ibcca/ibcca.html - www.ngdc.noaa.gov/mgg/ibcca/ibcca.html. Retrieved 2009-04-23 .
4. G. Samuels (RSMAS) .. "Animation of monthly temperature changes in the Caribbean" - assets.panda.org/img/original/monthly_temperatures_caribbean.gif. WWF . http://assets.panda.org/img/original/monthly_temperatures_caribbean.gif - assets.panda.org/img/original/monthly_temperatures_caribbean.gif. Verified 2009-04-30 .
5. S. Heileman, R. Mahon .. "Large Marine Ecosystems - Caribbean Sea" - www.lme.noaa.gov/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=58:lme12&catid=41:briefs&Itemid=53. NOAA www.lme.noaa.gov/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=58:lme12&catid=41:briefs&Itemid=53. Retrieved 2009-04-23 .
6. Judy Gray, Doug Wilson (NOAA/NODC). (2004). "Animation of changing salinity distribution in the Caribbean" - assets.panda.org/img/original/monthly_salinity_caribbean.gif. WWF . http://assets.panda.org/img/original/monthly_salinity_caribbean.gif - assets.panda.org/img/original/monthly_salinity_caribbean.gif. Verified 2009-04-30 .
7. The Oceans, Their Physics, Chemistry, and General Biology, p. 638
8. Template: From TSB
9. Joanna Gyory, Arthur J. Mariano, Edward H. Ryan.. "The Caribbean Current" - oceancurrents.rsmas.miami.edu/caribbean/caribbean.html. University of Miami . http://oceancurrents.rsmas.miami.edu/caribbean/caribbean.html - oceancurrents.rsmas.miami.edu/caribbean/caribbean.html. Retrieved 2009-03-11 .
10. The Oceans, Their Physics, Chemistry, and General Biology, p. 642
11. Luis Ernesto Medina Faull.. "Descargas fluviales en las Zonas Costeras" - www.dhn.mil.ve/noticia/noticia6.html. Direccin de hidrografa y navegacin de Venezuela . http://www.dhn.mil.ve/noticia/noticia6.html - www.dhn.mil.ve/noticia/noticia6.html. Retrieved 2009-03-11 .
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