Gulf of Mexico, USA

The Gulf of Mexico is a large body of water that forms part of the North Atlantic Ocean and borders the coastlines of Mexico and the United States. It is considered one of the largest gulfs in the Northern Hemisphere. The surface area of the Gulf is estimated at nearly 600,000 square miles, and its maximum width is just under 1,000 miles.

To the north, the Gulf of Mexico is bordered by the southern U.S. states of Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, and Texas. The western and southern shores belong to Mexico. To the east, the gulf faces the northern coast of Cuba and areas near the Bahamas. In its southeastern part, the Gulf of Mexico connects with the Caribbean Sea, often referred to as the Mediterranean of the North Atlantic.

The total length of the Gulf of Mexico’s coastline exceeds 4,000 miles, with most of it shared by the United States and Mexico. Two major straits connect the gulf to nearby bodies of water: the Florida Straits, which link it to the North Atlantic Ocean, and the Yucatán Channel, which connects it to the Caribbean Sea. More than 30 major rivers, along with many smaller ones, flow into the gulf.

The coastal region of the Gulf of Mexico is home to many major cities, including Tampa, Mobile, New Orleans, Houston, Corpus Christi, Tampico, Coatzacoalcos, Veracruz, and Campeche. The Gulf also contains a large number of offshore oil platforms, making it an important source of income for the surrounding countries.