Contact us today. Average monthly air temperatures in winter vary from +23 in the north to +27 C on the southern coast of the sea. The Largest Farm in the Entire World Is Bigger Than 11 U.S. States! During this session, the public can pose their questions directly to the three experts, who also include Andrea Quattrini, Ph.D., a biologist with U.S. Geological Survey; and Mike Cheadle, Ph.D., a geologist with the University of Wyoming. Tropical storms reaching a hurricane velocity of more than 75 miles (120 km) per hour are seasonally common in the northern Caribbean as well as in the Gulf of Mexico; they are almost nonexistent in the far south. The Panama Canal connects the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean. The sea has shipping routes where about 33.33% of the worlds shipping takes place. Ocean temperatures get colder with depth. website belongs to an official government organization in the United States. The Atlantic Ocean basin is the 2nd biggest ocean in the world, covering about 20% of the Earths surface. Contact the AZ Animals editorial team. All 170 species of amphibians that live in the region are endemic. Its, therefore, the largest ocean in the world. Deepest Point: Wheatley Deep (19,028 feet). It is estimated that the geological age of the Caribbean Sea is between 160 and 180 million years, and was formed during the Mesozoic Era when a horizontal fracture led to the split of the supercontinent of Pangea. Panel Chairman in Marine Biology, Gulf University Research Corporation. With a total area of 106,460,000 sq. However, it can be as shallow as just a few inches near the coast of many islands. 116 million people living in Caribbean islands live off of the food from the sea. As many as 40 scientists ashore are expected to participate remotely in the expedition. The coral reef in Caribbean Sea is threatened due to the increased temperature of the sea because of global warming effect. The larger islands in the northern part of the sea Cuba, Hispaniola, Jamaica and Puerto Rico lie on an older island arc. Atlantic Ocean water enters the Caribbean through the Anegada Passage lying between the Lesser Antilles and Virgin Islands and the Windward Passage located between Cuba and Haiti. Okeanos Explorer, which is operated, managed and maintained by NOAAs Office of Marine and Aviation Operations, has just spent about four weeks mapping more than 13,600 square miles of seafloor around the U.S. Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico. Thank you for reading! The region has several types of sea turtle (loggerhead, green turtle, hawksbill, leatherback turtle, Atlantic ridley and olive ridley). Here is the list of All Caribbean Charts marine charts and fishing maps available on iBoating : Caribbean Marine & Fishing App.Marine charts app now supports multiple plaforms including Android, iPhone/iPad, MacBook, and Windows/PC based chartplotter.The Marine Navigation App provides advanced features of a Marine Chartplotter including adjusting water level offset and custom depth shading. This public engagement improves science literacy and fosters an interest in the sciences among young people perhaps leading to the next generation of ocean explorers.. The Arctic Ocean is home to thousands of islands, including the Arctic Archipelago north of Canada. Rainfall varies with elevation, size, and water currents (cool upwelling keep the ABC islands arid). The sea is one of the largest oil production areas in the world, producing approximately 170 million tons per year. [20][21][22][23], KfW took part in a 25.7 million funding agreement to eliminate marine trash and boost the circular economy in the Caribbean's Small Island Developing States. At that time the Americas in general were unknown to most Europeans, although they had been visited in the 10th century by the Vikings. The ocean basin is home to about 25,000 islands and over 228450 species, including hammered sharks, elephant seals, killer whales, penguins, and sea slugs. While the Caribbean Sea may sound never-ending, there is a maximum depth. The green iguana is invasive to Grand Cayman. 1m. About 500 reptiles are found in the Caribbean including the blue iguana, rhinoceros iguana, Mona ground iguana, green turtle, loggerhead turtle, Atlantic ridley turtle, leatherback turtle, etc. Deepest Point: Cayman Trough (25,216 feet). The geological age of the Caribbean Sea is estimated to be between 160 and 180million years and was formed by a horizontal fracture that split the supercontinent called Pangea in the Mesozoic Era. Tourist attractions of the region are those generally associated with a maritime tropical climate: Scuba diving and snorkeling on coral reefs, cruises, sailing, and game fishing at sea. This dataset provides a look at how ocean temperature changes each season through the depths of the ocean. Iturralde-Vinent, Manuel (2004), The first inhabitants of the Caribbean, Cuban Science Network . Victor Vescovo used his private submersible, the Limiting Factor, to reach the bottom of the trench safely. The emergence of deep basins in the Caribbean occurred during the Middle Jurassic rifting. 460 41. The Caribbean Sea floor also features two deep oceanic trenches namely the Puerto Rico Trench and the Cayman Trench, which makes the entire Caribbean Sea region highly seismically active. This article explores ten of the worlds largest oceans and seas, including the Pacific Ocean, Mediterranean Sea, Atlantic Ocean, Caribbean Sea, and Indian Ocean. Over 42% of corals are completely bleached, and 95% are experiencing some type of whitening. The average depth of the Caribbean Sea is approximately 7,220 feet below the seas surface. The American yellow warbler is found in many areas, as is the green heron. The area's importance largely results from one-third of the world's shipping sailing through its waters and that it is believed to hold huge oil and gas reserves beneath its seabed. To the south it is bounded by the coasts of Venezuela, Colombia, and Panama; to the west by Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Honduras, Guatemala, Belize, and the Yucatn Peninsula of Mexico; to the north by the Greater Antilles islands of Cuba, Hispaniola, Jamaica, and Puerto Rico; and to the east by the north-south chain of the Lesser Antilles, consisting of the island arc that extends from the Virgin Islands in the northeast to Trinidad, off the Venezuelan coast, in the southeast. Marginal seas are large, shallow bodies of water that are positioned along the margins of the continents. You can still find creatures such as seals, penguins, and whales. Deepest Point: Challenger Deep (36,070 feet). [18], In connection with the foregoing, the Institute of Marine Sciences and Limnology of the National Autonomous University of Mexico, conducted a regional study, funded by the Department of Technical Cooperation of the International Atomic Energy Agency, in which specialists from 11 Latin American countries (Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Dominican Republic, Venezuela) plus Jamaica participated. Public can watch seafloor discoveries live online from April 10 to 30, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Research Vehicles. Please select which sections you would like to print: Alternate titles: Antillean-Caribbean Sea. The Colombian Basin is partly separated from the Venezuelan Basin by the Beata Ridge. It is 27,480 feet deep. The maps show the seafloor in detail, making them useful for biologists, geologists, oceanographers and geophysicists. Forces producing the Panamanian isthmus and the Antillean arc were vertical, resulting in no ultimate horizontal movement. Today, large coastal populations, pollution, and intense fishing are the primary concerns in this sea. ( the 377ft. The average depth of this ocean is 3,741 m, deeper than the Atlantic Ocean. Buffalo, NY: Firefly Books, Inc. pp. they had been visited in the 10th century, List of Caribbean countries by population, "Tsunamis in the Caribbean? This Triangle has mysteriously led to the disappearance of many ships and airplanes. The surface water colour is blue-green to green. Its average depth of 1,500 m, with its deepest point in Calypso Deep descending to 5,267 m. The Strait of Gibraltar (a narrow waterway) connects the Mediterranean Sea with the Atlantic Ocean. There's a pesky problem in a wide stretch of the Atlantic Ocean that's likely to wash up on some beaches later this year: Seaweed. Ocean is home to over 9,000 species, most are near extinction. Corrections? The island of Jamaica is home to seals and manatees. [10] Most recently, a 7.1 earthquake struck Haiti on January 12, 2010. In brackish water of harbours and estuaries at depths less than 2.5m (8ft 2in) widgeongrass (Ruppia maritima) grows. The Arabian Sea is part of the northern Indian Ocean and sits between the Arabian Peninsula, India, the Gulf of Oman, Pakistan, and Iran. As part of the expedition, Kennedy and the two lead scientists aboard the ship will be leading a Reddit Ask Us Anything, or AUA, session on April 16, from 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm EDT. The average depth of this sea is 2,394 m, with its deepest point in Bougainville measuring 9,140 m below sea level. Simon Dannhauer . The Caribbean Sea is divided into five submarine basins, each roughly elliptical in shape, which are separated from one another by submerged ridges and rises. (1991). 21st Century. The nation with the most Caribbean islands is the Bahamas, with approximately 700 islands. The Caribbean Sea is also considered to be home to a large fishing industry. There are also some locations that are arid climates with considerable drought in some years. The Caribbean Sea is nowhere near being the largest sea in the world, but it is still very deep! Upper sedimentary layers relate to the period from the Mesozoic to the Cenozoic (250million years ago to present) and the lower layers from the Paleozoic to the Mesozoic. depth; 21ft capability; it can accomodate yachts in excess of 380ft. Dunbar. This arc was formed by the collision of the South American Plate with the Caribbean Plate and includes active and extinct volcanoes such as Mount Pelee, the Quill (volcano) on Sint Eustatius in the Caribbean Netherlands and Morne Trois Pitons on Dominica. The region is mostly dominated by tropical vegetation and comprises more than 13,000 plant species of which 6,500 plant species are endemic to the region. Ferdinand Magellan, a Portuguese explorer, named this massive water body Pacific in 1520, meaning peaceful.. Well be exploring an area of the United States Exclusive Economic Zone that science knows very little about, said Alan Leonardi, Ph.D, director of NOAAs Office of Ocean Exploration and Research, the federal program responsible for coordinating this expedition. The area is so deep; that the temperatures reach near freezing levels. The climate of the area is tropical, varying from tropical rainforest in some areas to tropical savanna in others. area volume average depth. The South China Sea has over 200 islands, some of which stay submerged. Click the numbers to find out more. While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. 830 324. The shelf gives way at its edge to a slope, which is broken by submarine valleys and is steep in its upper parts. The islands are further divided into three distinct island groups: the Greater Antilles, the Lesser Antilles, and the Bahamas Archipelago. km, the Atlantic Ocean contains several notable marginal seas. The Pacific Ocean basin covers approximately 1/3 of the Earths surface, making up about 46% of the water surface globally. The Sea is also home to numerous coral reefs, including the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef, which is the 2nd largest barrier reef in the world that runs for about 1,000km along the coasts of the countries of Belize, Guatemala, Honduras, and Mexico. The sediment beds tend to arch in the middle of the basins and to dip as landmasses are approached. The Pacific Ocean is the oldest of all existing oceans. The Caribbean monk seal which lived in the Caribbean is considered extinct. During both its mapping and ROV expedition legs, the ship routinely collects data on seafloor depth, the makeup of the seafloor, and water temperature and chemistry. These are the Yucatn, Cayman, Colombian, Venezuelan, and Grenada basins. During the first century of European colonization, Spanish dominance in the region remained undisputed. Did you discover a fact in this list about the largest oceans and seas that surprised you? The Bahamas (Lucayan) Archipelago includes the island of the Bahamas and the Turks and Caicos Islands. It has an average depth of 7,220 feet or 2,200 meters. 03 of 10 The South China Sea Taro Hama @ e-kamakura / Getty Images Area: 895,400 square miles (2,319,000 sq km) Average depth: 5,419 feet (1,652 m) km Average Depth: 8,970 ft., 2,734 m. Greatest Known Depth: Wheatley Point 15,262 ft., 4,652 m. The Arabian Sea sits in the northwest of the Indian Ocean, in a pocket below Pakistan and Oman and to the west of India. What is The Average Depth of the Caribbean Sea? Fear Cay, the eleventh Doc Savage adventure by Lester Dent. It is a unique sea with lots of wildlife, over 7,000 islands, and thousands of miles of coral reefs. WATCH: Sharks biting alligators, the most epic lion battles, and MUCH more. It runs 1,000km (620mi) along the coasts of Mexico, Belize, Guatemala, and Honduras.[3]. Just by a few thousand feet, the Atlantic Ocean is deeper than the Caribbean Sea. It is not easy to find information about the bottom of the Caribbean Sea, which is why in 2010, a UK group of researchers from the National Oceanography Centre in Southampton (NOCS) used a robot to map out the trench. The entire area of the Caribbean Sea, the numerous islands of the West Indies, and adjacent coasts are collectively known as the Caribbean. Tropical cyclones are a threat to the nations that rim the Caribbean Sea. From its summit to the sea surface over 2100 m. The straits have a depth of more than one and a half kilometers. Its average depth is 4,280 m, with the deepest point being Challenger Deep, which descends to 10,994 meters (36,070 feet). Keep reading to find out! Get a Britannica Premium subscription and gain access to exclusive content. Over the past 50years, the Caribbean has gone through three stages: cooling until 1974, a cold phase with peaks during 19741976 and 19841986, and finally a warming phase with an increase in temperature of 0.6C (1.1F) per year. But, he added, scientists do know a few things about the area: They know that it is tectonically active, with some seismic hazards such as earthquakes and tsunamis. Guide to the Oceans. (2004). Virtually all temperature extremes were associated with the phenomena of El Nio and La Nia. The Southern Ocean is geologically the worlds youngest ocean. So far, scientists have discovered that the maximum depth of the Caribbean Sea is 25,217 feet. Average depth: 8,685 feet (2,647 m) Ocean: Atlantic Ocean The Caribbean Sea averages eight hurricanes per year, with most happening in September; the season extends from June to November. [32], The Caribbean region supports a large tourism industry. km, the Caribbean Sea is bordered by the countries of Colombia, Panama, and Venezuela in the south; by Belize, Costa Rica, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, and Mexicos Yucatan Peninsula in the west; by the Greater Antilles islands in the north; and by the Lesser Antilles islands in the east. Situated on the floor of the western Caribbean Sea between the Jamaica and Cayman Islands is the Cayman Trench (Bartlett Deep), which reaches a depth of 7,686m below the sea level and is the deepest point of the Caribbean Sea. This puts its vulnerable ecosystem at risk, including people living nearby. The islands which make up the Greater Antilles include Hispaniola Island (shared by Haiti and the Dominican Republic), Jamaica, Cuba, Cayman Island, and Puerto Rico. p. 124. Seafloor Depth Data from: August 2008 National Geophysical Data Center, NOAA The depth of the ocean floor varies widely, from large shallow coastal areas full of sun and life to the darkness of. Thats precisely why we explore.. North Atlantic deep water enters the Caribbean beneath the Windward Passage and is characterized by its rich oxygen content and by a salinity of slightly less than 35 parts per thousand. The deepest points of the sea lie in Cayman Trough with depths reaching approximately 7,686m (25,220ft). The seas deepest point is the Cayman Trough, between the Cayman Islands and Jamaica, at 7,686 meters (25,220 feet) below sea level. In the Caribbean, 600 species of birds have been recorded, of which 163 are endemic such as todies, Fernandina's flicker and palmchat. Below is a list of how weve ranked the worlds most extensive oceans and seas, including their area, average depth, and deepest point. The original thought was four, but some people count the Antarctic Ocean as one. The next Okeanos Explorer expedition will take place from July to September in the Pacific Ocean in and around Papahnaumokukea Marine National MonumentandHawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary. The highly indented Caribbean coastline features many bays and gulfs including the Gulf of Venezuela, Gulf of Honduras, Gulf of Darin, Gulf of Paria, etc. The Caribbean Sea is also massive, with an area of 1,063,000 square miles. Currently this protocol has been ratified by 15 countries. Connections were established with the Pacific Ocean during the Cretaceous Period (from about 145 to 66 million years ago) but were broken when the land bridges that permitted mammals to cross between North and South America were formed in the Miocene and Pliocene epochs (about 23 to 2.6 million years ago). Sea surface temperature is defined as the average temperature of the top few millimeters of the ocean. Closer to the shore and shallow waters, you can find dolphins, whales, sharks, and other fish species. Caribbean Sea 4 - Caribbean Sea (Average Depth: 8,685 ft) Wiki: The Caribbean Sea is a sea of the Atlantic Ocean in the tropics of the Western Hemisphere. The NOAA Ship Okeanos Explorer is the only federally funded US ship assigned to systematically explore our largely unknown ocean for the purpose of discovery and the advancement of knowledge. There are many bays and gulfs along the sea's coastline. The deepest point in the Caribbean sea is the Cayman Trough between Jamaica and Cuba. To understand how vast water bodies are, you may consider looking into the sizes of various oceans and seas. Each zone has a different mix of species adapted to its specific light level, pressure, temperature, and community. Leeward side of lagoons provide areas of growth for sea grasses. PC-566 began dropping depth charges on a sonar contact, . Warm, moist trade winds blow consistently from the east, creating both rainforest and semi-arid climates across the region. 3. Sea surface temperature monitoring tells us how the ocean and atmosphere interact, as well as providing fundamental data on the global climate system . Some features, like canyons and seamounts, might look familiar, while others, such as hydrothermal vents and methane seeps, are unique to the deep. Following the colonization of the Caribbean islands, the Caribbean Sea became a busy area for European-based marine trading and transports, and this commerce eventually attracted pirates such as Samuel Bellamy and Blackbeard. The average water temperature is around 27C (80F) and varies as little as 3C (37F) throughout the year. The Caribbean Sea is an oceanic sea largely situated on the Caribbean Plate. These waters are then forced by the trade winds through the narrow Yucatn Channel into the Gulf of Mexico. It borders several countries in East Africa, Asia, and western Australia. Representatives of three species belonging to the genus Halophila, (Halophila baillonii, Halophila engelmannii and Halophila decipiens) are found at depths of up to 30m (98ft) except for Halophila engelmani which does not grow below 5m (16ft) and is confined to the Bahamas, Florida, the Greater Antilles and the western part of the Caribbean. You can find many types of corals in the Caribbean Sea, like the great star coral, mustard hill coral, and massive starlet coral. The hurricane season is from June to November, but hurricanes occur most frequently in September. Which Waters Do You Pass Through When You Sail the Seven Seas? These plants provide food for the corals and give them their color. The deep basins and trenches in the Caribbean Sea bed are covered by deep red clay sediments, whereas the ridges and the continental slopes are covered by calcareous silts. It is estimated that 13,000 species of plants grow in the Caribbean of which 6,500 are endemic. Of all the five oceans, the Pacific is the largest. Lake Enriquillo, located in the Dominican Republic is the largest lake in the entire Caribbean region. The major ocean current greatly influences the areas climate is the North Equatorial Current, which enters the Caribbean Sea region from the tropical Atlantic Ocean. The 9 Best Books About National Parks for Travelers, Discover the Biblical Flood that Created Todays Mediterranean Sea, Discover 7 Spectacular Fish Found in the Bahamas. Some species are threatened with extinction. But how deep is the Caribbean Sea, and what mysterious creatures lurk there? The majority of our planet's surface is covered in water! The zone between 40 0 -60 0 latitudes in both the hemispheres records low salinity where it is 31 0 / 00 and 33 0 / 00 in the northern and the southern hemispheres respectively. The deepest part of the Caribbean Sea, the Cayman Trench, has an average depth of 2,200 meters, with the deepest point being 7,500 meters below the surface. Piracy in the Caribbean was widespread during the early colonial era, especially between 1640 and 1680. In the early Carboniferous movement of Gondwana to the north and its convergence with the Euramerica basin decreased in size. Language links are at the top of the page across from the title. The sea is warm, calm, and with occasional cyclones. [33], Human activity in the area also accounts for a significant amount of pollution. The region has several types of sea turtle (loggerhead, green turtle, hawksbill, leatherback turtle, Atlantic ridley and olive ridley). The youngest stretches from the Lesser Antilles to the Virgin Islands to the north east of Trinidad and Tobago off the coast of Venezuela. Deepest Point: China Sea Basin (16,456 feet). It runs 1,000 kilometers (620 miles) along the coasts of Mexico, Belize, Guatemala, and Honduras. Its natural beauty makes it a popular tourist destination. The Caribbean hurricane season as a whole lasts from June through November, with the majority of hurricanes occurring during August and September. What is the Maximum Depth of the Caribbean Sea? Another type shoal grass (Halodule wrightii) grows on sand and mud surfaces at depths of up to 5m (16ft). Previous Okeanos Explorer expeditions have come across unknown species, recorded known animals exhibiting never-before-seen behaviors and sighted live animals previously only observed as lifeless specimens, Kennedy said.Because of these characteristics, the area was identified by members of the ocean science community as important to explore, and data from the expedition will likely have long-lasting implications for scientists and resource managers in the Caribbean. The Caribbean coastline has many gulfs and bays: the Gulf of Gonve, Gulf of Venezuela, Gulf of Darin, Golfo de los Mosquitos, Gulf of Paria and Gulf of Honduras. So far, at least 12,046 species have been reported in this sea. Caribbean, followed by Hispaniola and Jamaica. 177178. Coral reefs support some of the most diverse marine habitats in the world, but they are fragile ecosystems. It has an average depth of 2200 meters with a deepest point of 7500 meters below the surface. The blue iguana, endemic to the island of Grand Cayman, is endangered. At least 9% of all coral reefs in the world are found in the Caribbean Sea. A lock ( The two largest islands, in both area and population, are Sicily and Sardinia . The Caribbean Sea is one of the largest seas and has an area of about 2,754,000km2 (1,063,000sqmi). As part of the Central American Sea, it is presumed to have been connected with the Mediterranean during Paleozoic times (i.e., about 541 to 252 million years ago) and then gradually to have separated from it as the Atlantic Ocean was formed. As many as 40 scientists ashore are expected to participate remotely in the expedition. The mahogany is the national tree of the Dominican Republic and Belize. In neither hydrology nor climate, however, does the Caribbean resemble the Mediterranean. The Caribbean Sea is home to 22 islands and over 1,400 species of marine mammals, fish, and coastal mangroves. Interesting facts about the American black bear, Interesting facts about Peter Paul Rubens. The nations that surround the Caribbean Sea are also prone to tropical cyclones and the Caribbean hurricane season lasts from June to November, with most of the hurricanes occurring between August and September. The Colombian Basin is separated from the Venezuelan Basin by the Beata Ridge, while the Grenada Basin is separated from the Venezuelan Basin via the Aves Ridge. Papahnaumokukea Marine National Monument, Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary, Scientists discover hydrothermal vent activity in the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, Watch live April 15-26: NOAA expedition to the deep ocean off the U.S. West Coast. The average depth is about 2,200 meters (7,220 feet) below the sea's surface. Terms & Conditions. 440 31. le grand bleu docked there on numerous occasions) the main dock is 380ft. The ocean borders various countries in America, Europe, and Africa. Solenodons and hutias are mammals found only in the Caribbean; only one extant species is not endangered. The Caribbean Sea mostly occupies the Caribbean Plate and features many island arcs which separate it from the ocean. Christopher Columbus was the first European to enter the Caribbean Sea and land on the Island of Bahamas in 1492. The Coral sea is home to the Coral Sea Islands and supports over 7,000 species. Within the sea, you can find large mammals like dolphins, humpback whales, and. 4. The name Caribbean derives from the Caribs, one of the regions dominant Native American groups at the time of European contact during the late 15th century. Deepest Point: Calypso Deep (17,280 feet). The Indian Ocean is home to several islands, including Madagascar (4th largest island globally). Can You Eat Seagulls and How Do They Taste. Technically, the Caribbean Sea is a suboceanic basin of the Atlantic Ocean. Many James Bond adventures were set there. There are 500 species of reptiles. They are also fairly certain the area contains deepwater snapper populations, deepwater corals and geological features such as seamounts and mud volcanoes. Global Land One-kilometer Base Elevation (GLOBE) v.1. Did you know that an explorer once traveled to the bottom of the Puerto Rico Trench in a private mission? The Mediterranean is home to over 17,000 marine species, including 712 species of fish. While some people believe the Caribbean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean are the same, this is only partially true. [20] Non-governmental organizations, universities, public institutions, civil society organizations, and the corporate sector are all eligible for financing. The average salinity of 35 0 / 00 is recorded between 10 0 -30 0 latitudes in the southern hemisphere. According to Birdlife International in 2006 in Cuba 29 species of bird are in danger of extinction and two species officially extinct. depth: 3,750 to 4,384 metres (12,303 to 14,383 ft) . Keep reading to find out! The entire area of the Caribbean Sea, the numerous islands of the West Indies, and adjacent coasts are collectively known as the Caribbean. Located between the islands of the Greater Antilles and the continent of South America on the Caribbean Seas eastern part is the Lesser Antilles. The Caribbean Sea is the Atlantic Oceans 2nd largest marginal sea that is geographically positioned between the continents of North and South America in the Western Hemisphere. The project is estimated to prevent and remove at least 15 000 tonnes of marine trash, benefiting at least 20 000 individuals.[20]. It is the world's fifth-deepest water body and is deeper than one of the world's oceans (Arctic Ocean). There are 90 species of mammals in the Caribbean including sperm whales, humpback whales and dolphins. 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