Caribbean Sea

The Caribbean Sea is bounded by the Greater Antilles to the north, the Lesser Antilles to the east, and the coasts of South and Central America to the south and west. Its waters connect to the Atlantic Ocean through the Yucatán Channel and the Windward Passage, and to the Pacific via the Panama Canal. The sea's basin is divided into five distinct sub-basins, including the Yucatán and Colombian basins, separated by submarine ridges. The Cayman Trough, the deepest point at 7,686 meters, is a pull-apart basin formed by the relative motion of the North American and Caribbean tectonic plates.¹ The sea's average depth is about 2,200 meters, and its warm, saline waters are a defining feature of the region's climate.

The Caribbean Sea hosts one of the world's most diverse marine ecosystems, with over 12,000 species, including 1,400 fish species and 90 species of coral. Coral reefs, such as the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef, the second-largest in the world, support a rich web of life, from sponges to sea turtles. The sea is also a critical habitat for migratory species like humpback whales and whale sharks, which use its warm waters for breeding. However, the region faces severe ecological pressures: coral bleaching, overfishing, and pollution have degraded reef health, with live coral cover declining by over 50% in recent decades.² Conservation efforts, including marine protected areas, aim to mitigate these threats.

The Caribbean Sea has been a crossroads of human activity since pre-Columbian times, serving as a route for indigenous trade and later for European exploration and colonization. The sea's strategic location made it a focal point for colonial powers, leading to the establishment of major ports like Havana and Cartagena. Today, the sea is a vital artery for global commerce, with about 30% of the world's oil shipments transiting its waters. Tourism is the region's economic mainstay, generating billions annually, while fishing supports local livelihoods. The sea also holds significant oil and gas reserves, particularly in the Venezuela Basin, though extraction poses environmental risks.³

Beyond its well-known features, the Caribbean Sea harbors lesser-known phenomena. The sea's deep waters contain anoxic basins, such as the Cariaco Trench, which preserve annual sediment layers that serve as a high-resolution climate archive. The region experiences a phenomenon called the 'Caribbean Current', which transports warm water into the Gulf of Mexico, influencing hurricane formation. Additionally, the sea is home to the 'Caribbean Large Marine Ecosystem' project, a multinational effort to manage shared resources. Historically, the sea was a haven for pirates in the 17th century, but it also witnessed the first successful slave rebellion in the Americas, in Haiti, which shaped its geopolitical landscape.

Cayman Trough

A deep pull-apart basin in the Caribbean Sea, reaching 7,686 meters, formed by tectonic plate motion.

Mesoamerican Barrier Reef

The second-largest coral reef system in the world, stretching over 1,000 km along the Caribbean coast.

Anoxic basin

A body of water with extremely low oxygen levels, often preserving sediment layers useful for climate research.