Caribbean Sea, map. caribbean sea

Jamaica, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Barbados, Puerto Rico - all these and many other well-known countries are located on the islands of the Caribbean and are known under the common historical name of the West Indies.

Surely, some tourists who want to relax in one of these countries have a question - where are the caribbean islands? Washed by the waters Atlantic Ocean and the Caribbean Sea, they are located between North and South America. Discovered by Christopher Columbus in the 15th century, they number about seven thousand island land areas. There are 13 states on their territory. The Caribbean Sea washes not only the islands located in it, but also the shores of the South, Central and North America, so countries that have a Caribbean coast are also considered Caribbean.

All the islands of the Caribbean are grouped into three large groups- Bahamas, Lesser and Greater Antilles. Everyone has their own geographical feature and, accordingly, relief. The Lesser Antilles, having an arched shape, stretch throughout the northern part of the archipelago. On their territory there are 8 Caribbean countries, among them - Barbados, Trinidad and Tobago, Dominica, Saint Lucia.

The Greater Antilles is the place most visited by tourists. The territory of the Greater Antilles includes Cuba, Jamaica, Haiti, the Cayman Islands and Puerto Rico. These countries are loved by tourists because they have a mild tropical climate, a little humid. Evergreen forests, numerous rivers, endless beaches - all this is conducive to a good rest.

The Bahamas is a large archipelago with about 700 small islands in its territory. A large number of coral reefs, white sands and coconut trees, tropical forests and the warm current of the Gulf Stream - all this cannot leave indifferent fans of the southern holiday. In addition, for those who know where the Caribbean Islands are located and, accordingly, their origin, it is the Bahamas that reveals its underwater deep secrets. In addition to the fashionable resorts on the islands of Abaco and Eleuthera, the Bahamas are rich in nature, historical sites and friendly people.

Caribbean Islands - a place that is a kind of oasis in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean. For outdoor enthusiasts, there are many geographical advantages here - from good wind conditions for sailing, to endless reef labyrinths with amazing underwater inhabitants. For a relaxing holiday - quiet sea lagoons framed by tropical forests make a vacation on the islands worthy of subsequent repetitions.

- perhaps one of the most famous in the world, thanks to the writers who wrote novels about pirates and the directors who made films about them. But the Caribbean is interesting not only for legends about pirates, it is a unique and beautiful place on our planet in its own way.

• Cruises in the Caribbean (including)

This sea is comfortably nestled in a pool. It belongs to the so-called semi-enclosed seas. Central and South America are its borders from the south and west. Large and Small act as its borders in the north and east.

Through the artificially created Panama Canal in the southwest, it has a connection with Pacific Ocean. It also has a connection to the Gulf of Mexico through the Yucatan Strait. Its volume is 6,860 thousand km³ with an area of ​​2,754,000 km². In depth, this sea reaches an average of 2500 m, the greatest depth is 7686 m.

The bottom of the Caribbean Sea has a very interesting relief. It has many underwater ridges that share five basins:

• - The Grenada Basin has a depth of about 4120 m;
• - Venezuelan Basin - approximate depth 5630 m;
• - Columbia Basin in depth reaches 4532 m;
• - Cayman is the deepest of them, with a depth of 7686 m;
• - The Yucatan basin has a depth of 5055 m.

Speaking about the coastline of this sea, one can note its strong indentation. Part of the coast is mountainous, while in some places there are also lowlands. In shallow water, there are many reefs and coral deposits. Continental coast, located in the western and southern parts sea ​​has a number of bays. The largest of them include: Cariaco, Darien, Mosquitos, Venezuelan and Honduras.

On the island, located in the northern part of the sea, there are the bays of Guacanoyabo, Ana Maria and Batabano, and in the west of the island the Gulf of Gonave. There are also a number of bays on the east coast of the Yucatan, among them Chetumal, Espiritu Santo and Asension.

On average, the water temperature in the Caribbean Sea ranges from 25 ° C to 28 ° C, and the salinity of the water in it is about 36.0%, with a density of 1.0235-1.0240 kg / m³.

Fauna and flora of the Caribbean

This basin is quite rich in both its flora and fauna. In shallow water, they are mainly concentrated near coral reefs. In the lagoons, you can meet entire fields of sea grass if you enter from the lee side of the reef. There are seven types of algae in the Caribbean Sea.

The fauna is represented by more than 450 species of fish. Among which there are sharks (tiger, silk, Caribbean reef, bull shark). And also a number of others the most interesting species fish such as sea devils, angelfish, flying fish, butterfly eyefish, orange fin surgeonfish, goliath grouper, parrotfish, moray eels, tarpon and a host of others.

In addition, there are as many as 90 species of mammals here, including: dolphins, humpback whales, sperm whales. American manatees and seals can be found near the island.

It is also necessary to highlight the huge habitat of reptiles with more than 500 species settled there - these are saltwater crocodiles, a number of species of turtles and many other species of reptiles. Enough here and amphibians 170 species.

History and cultural mix of the Caribbean

The Caribbean Sea has a rich history. If we consider it before the appearance of Europeans there, we can distinguish several powerful Indian cultures that existed here. With the beginning of colonization, an era well known to any schoolchild in history lessons and a lover of novels about pirates began. Initially, these territories were colonized by the Spaniards, starting with the expedition of Columbus, who actually discovered these islands.

Centuries later, other European countries also began to establish their colonies on islands in the local waters. Pirates Privateers, corsairs and buccaneers began to emerge here in the 17th century. The main centers of their collection were the city and the island of Tortuga. Many books are dedicated to the pirates who plied these waters. A large part of these characters were real historical figures. Many pirates did not work for themselves but served as privateers on the side of one or another power, such as the famous Francis Drake, who served in Great Britain and Henry Morgan. The most famous act of the first was the capture in 1572 of the Spanish Silver caravan in the port of Nombre de Dios. And the second campaign on in 1671. In time, he became Lieutenant Governor of Jamaica. Also famous here: Steed Bonnet, Charles Wayne, Black Bart, Jack Rackhamso (his girlfriends Mary, Reedy, Ann, Bonnie).

Each of these personalities has its own illustrious history, which has come down to the present day in no small part thanks to the book "A General History of the Robberies and Murders Committed by the Most Notorious Pirates" written in 1724 by Charles Johnson. Later, the name of Roberto Cofresi should also be noted, who pirated in these waters in early XIX century. It should also be noted that the very history of discoveries, colonization and separation of the colonies is very fascinating and will be able to attract the attention of anyone who is interested in history. huge amount events and experiences that took place in this region.

The Caribbean Sea, or the Central American Sea, is the marginal sea of ​​the Atlantic Ocean. Its northern border runs from the Yucatan Peninsula to the Greater Antilles, further along the Greater Antilles (Cuba, Haiti, Puerto Rico and Jamaica). The Virgin Islands, located east of Puerto Rico, are part of the Lesser Antilles. The latter are made up of a large number small islands forming an arc directed southeast from the Anegada Strait and further south, where the arc adjoins the shelf South America, forming the eastern border of the Caribbean Sea. Major islands this volcanic arc—Guadeloupe, Martinique, Saint Lucia, and others. mountain ranges Venezuela. The southern border of the Caribbean Sea is the northern shores of three countries - Venezuela, Colombia and Panama. The eastern shores of Central America form the eastern stepped border of the Caribbean Sea, the first step of which is Honduras, the second Yucatan Peninsula. The Yucatan Strait, 220 km wide, connects the Caribbean Sea with the Gulf of Mexico.

Numerous straits up to 2000 m deep between the Greater and Lesser Antilles connect the Caribbean Sea with the Atlantic Ocean. The total area of ​​the Caribbean Sea is 2640 thousand km2. The greatest depth of the Caribbean Sea is slightly more than 7100 m. In the Cayman Trench, the following main basins are located from east to west: Grenada (3000 m), Venezuelan (5000 m), Columoon (4000 m), Cayman (6000 m) and Yucatan (500 m). Minor basins are the Virgin Islands Basin, the Dominican Trench, and the Caryaco Basin. Average depth basins of about 4400 m. From east to west stretch the main underwater ridges: Aves, Beata, Jamaica and Cayman. The Caribbean Sea is located in the trade wind zone, and therefore the winds blowing from the east and NNE are very stable here. Intense precipitation occurs during the summer months when tropical weather conditions prevail. The most abundant precipitation falls east of the Isthmus of Panama - more than 2000 mm for 6 months, from June to November. Few hurricanes originate directly in the Caribbean, but many hurricanes come through the Lesser Antilles in late summer and early autumn.

Hydrological regime

Circulation. Most of the straits connecting the Caribbean Sea with the Atlantic Ocean are shallow, which prevents a large water exchange. Only some straits have a depth of more than 1000 m, and they play a leading role in the circulation of the waters of the Caribbean Sea. The main strait through which the waters exit the Caribbean Sea is the Yucatan Strait. The depth of its threshold is about 2000 m.

The direction of the main flow of the Caribbean Sea in the upper 1500-meter layer is from east to west. Below this depth, the waters of the Caribbean Sea are isolated from the ocean, so there is a very slow and variable current. In the Caribbean Sea, water comes from the Atlantic Ocean, brought by the drifting Guiana Current, which runs along the coast of South America to the northwest. Having reached the Lesser Antilles, the Guiana Current forks. The main branch passes into the Caribbean Sea through the central straits of this island arc, mainly through the straits north and south of the island of St. Lucia; the other branch merges into the North Equatorial Current and runs along the eastern and northern borders of the Caribbean towards the Bahamas. The waters of the Guiana Current form in the Caribbean Sea, after they pass the Grenada Basin and the Aves Ridge, a well-developed zonal circulation with a maximum flow velocity 200-300 km north of the coast of South America. A branch of the Guiana Current joins the Caribbean Current and continues westward through the Aruba Passage into the Columbia Basin. In the western part of the basin, it turns north, crosses the Jamaica Range, and then goes along the Cayman Basin to 85-86° W. where it turns north again and exits the Caribbean Sea through the Yucatan Strait.

Axis Caribbean Current It usually passes over the greatest depths from the Lesser Antilles to the Yucatan Strait. To the north and south of the axis of the Caribbean current, the flows are mostly parallel. Their direction slightly changes with depth, while the speed decreases continuously with increasing depth, for example, to<5 см/с на глубинах свыше 1500 м в Венесуэльской и Колумбийской котловинах. В Кайманской и Юкатанской котловинах глубинное течение проявляется лучше, но его все же можно считать медленным.

The speed of the surface currents of the Caribbean Sea is determined by seasonal changes in the speed of the trade winds. The highest velocity of the Caribbean current on the surface is observed at the end of winter (39.1 cm/s) and at the beginning of summer (41.2 cm/s). The average speed of the Caribbean Current on the surface during the year is 0.7 knots, or 38 cm/s. During observations from ships, higher velocities were noted, reaching 138.9 cm/s on the main axis of the Caribbean Current. Estimated velocities can be calculated from density measurements. The calculation shows that the main axis of the current is preserved in the upper 300–400 m layer, and its velocity rapidly decreases from 40–60 cm/s at the surface to 10 cm/s at a depth of 300 m. depth 1000-1500 m; below this depth, the current is too slow to be calculated by the geostrophic method. There are counter currents along the coasts of Cuba, Haiti and South America (to the east). In the western regions of the Columbia, Cayman and Yucatan basins, the countercurrents are directed towards the center of the Caribbean Sea. The zonal current is disturbed by meridional transport, which is caused by the deviation of the flow at the border with the mainland.

The transport of water through sections from north to south can be calculated from geostrophic velocities. In the west, its average value is 30 million m3/s. The straits of the Greater Antilles do not play a significant role in the overall transport. Through the meridian 64 ° W. it is basically the same as through the 84°W meridian. The Caribbean Current accounts for approximately 30% of the total transport (75–90 million m3/s) of water by the Gulf Stream. (The remaining 70% enters the Gulf Stream from the Antilles current, which flows into it north of the Bahamas.)

A feature of the circulation of the waters of the Caribbean Sea is the rise of deep waters to the surface off the coast of South America. The upward movement of water masses in the Caribbean Sea, as in other areas of the World Ocean, is caused by the action of the wind: surface water is driven away from the coast and replaced by deep water. The rise of deep waters does not extend to great depths and is not significant below 250 m. As a result of the rise of deep waters, productivity increases, this is an area of ​​​​intensive fishing. The corresponding subsidence of surface water occurs in the Venezuelan and Columbia Basins along 17°N.

Salinity of the Caribbean

The salinity field in the Caribbean Sea is characterized by four layers. Two of them, surface waters and subtropical subsurface waters (50-200 cm) are associated with the area of ​​warm waters of the ocean and are separated from the area of ​​cold waters at a depth of 400-600 m by a layer of water with a low (below 3.0 ml/l) oxygen content; the other two layers are represented by cold Subantarctic intermediate waters (700–850 m) and North Atlantic deep waters (1800–2500 m).

The waters lying on the boundary between the main layers are mixed due to turbulence. The salinity of surface waters depends on evaporation, atmospheric precipitation, land runoff and advection caused by currents. Salinity in winter is higher off the coast of South America (36 ind.), and this is partly due to the rise of saline subtropical subsurface waters to the surface. In the north of the Caribbean Sea, salinity on the surface decreases and becomes less than 35.5 ppm. In the Cayman and Yucatan basins, the highest salinity (Sbprom) is observed south of Cuba. Further south, the salinity of surface waters also decreases to 35.5 ppm. off the coast of Honduras. In summer, heavy rainfall and runoff from land reduce the salinity of surface waters by about 0.5 ppm in the south and by 1.0 ppm. in the north.

Information about the distribution of salinity in the western part of the Caribbean Sea is still insufficient.
Subtropical subsurface water has the highest salinity. It is a thin layer (which indicates the predominance of horizontal mixing over vertical in a stable layer), which has a slope from south (50-100 m) to north (200 m).
The main axis of the flow of subtropical subsurface water coincides with the axis of the Caribbean Current. The salinity of this water is more than 37% in the eastern regions of the Venezuelan basin. In the Yucatan Strait, as a result of mixing, salinity decreases to 36.7 ppm. a
Subantarctic intermediate water, which forms in the zone of the southern polar front, is the least saline. Its layer also has a slope from the south (600-700 m) to the north (800-850 m). In the southern Caribbean this layer is thicker. West of 65°W e. its northern edge becomes thinner and disappears, not reaching the northern border of the Caribbean Sea. The salinity of this layer is less than 34.7 ppm by B, but as the waters move, it increases so much that this layer cannot be found in the Yucatan Strait. Its axis also coincides with the axis of the Caribbean Current. Below this layer is a layer of North Atlantic deep water that enters the Caribbean Sea through the rapids of the straits between the Lesser Antilles. The water of this layer is extremely homogeneous, with a salinity of about 35 ppm.

Caribbean Sea temperature

The temperature field of the Caribbean Sea has a tropical character, i.e. warm water on the surface and a well-marked thermocline at a depth of 100–200 m, which prevents vertical mixing and heat penetration from the surface into the depths. Below 1500 m, the water temperature is approximately 4°C with slight fluctuations from basin to basin. The temperature rises by a few tenths of a degree at greater depths (below 3000 m) due to the influence of increasing pressure. The temperature distribution of the surface layer determines the position of the temperature equator in the northern Caribbean Sea.

At the end of summer, the temperature of the surface layer of the Caribbean Sea is 28.3 ° C in the south and 28.9 ° C in the north. In the west of the Caribbean, the warmest month is August, in the east it is September. The temperature of the surface layer of the Caribbean Sea in winter is about 3 ° C lower. In the Caribbean Sea, surface layer temperatures show small gradients and seasonal fluctuations. Below a depth of 150 m, seasonal fluctuations are not observed. The central regions of the Caribbean Sea receive an average of 6.28 * 10^18 cal / day of heat per year, with a deviation from this average of ± 0.5 * 10^18 cal / day.

(Spanish Mar Caribe; English Caribbean Sea) is one of the most beautiful tropical seas, part of the Atlantic Ocean basin. The marginal semi-enclosed sea, from the south and west is bounded by Central and South America, from the east and north by the Antilles (due to which the sea has a second name - Antillean).

In the northwest, the sea through the Yucatan Strait (Spanish: Yucatán Channel) communicates with the Gulf of Mexico; through many interisland straits - with the Atlantic Ocean; and in the southwest, through an artificially constructed 80-kilometer waterway (Panama Canal) - with the waters of the Pacific Ocean. The region where the Caribbean Sea stretches is known as the "Caribbean". Sea waters wash the shores of the following countries: in the south -, and Panama; in the west - Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Honduras, Guatemala, Belize and (Mexican Peninsula); in the north - Haiti, Cuba, Puerto Rico and Jamaica; in the east - the countries of the Lesser Antilles. The surface area of ​​the sea is about 2,753 thousand km², the average volume of water is approximately 6,860 thousand km³.

Photo gallery not open? Go to site version.

The sea is considered very deep: its average depth is 2.5 thousand m, the maximum is 7.7 thousand m (“Cayman Depression”). The color of sea water: from turquoise (bluish-green) to deep green.

The Caribbean Sea is of great economic and strategic importance, primarily as the shortest sea route connecting American ports with the ports of the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans through one of the largest construction projects carried out by mankind (Spanish: del Canal de Panama). The most important ports located on the Caribbean Sea: and (Venezuela); (Colombia); Lemon (Costa Rica); Santo Domingo (Dominican Republic); Colon (Panama); Santiago de Cuba (Cuba), etc.

Climate

The formation of the climate in the Caribbean is influenced by warm ocean currents and the solar activity of this tropical zone. The average annual temperature of the surface layers of sea water is +26°C. The Caribbean Sea receives the waters of many rivers, among which it should be noted (Spanish Madalena), Atrato (Spanish Atrato), Belen (Spanish Belém), Dike (Spanish Dique), Krikamola (Spanish Kramola) and others.

The main trouble that often breaks the idyll of these fabulous places is destructive storms. The Caribbean Sea is considered to be the location with the highest number of hurricane storms in the Western Hemisphere.

Terrible hurricanes are a serious problem for island and coastal residents. Hurricanes also cause great damage to numerous coral formations - atolls, reefs, coastal fringes of islands. In the northern part of the Caribbean, from June to November, an average of 8-9 tropical hurricanes occur per year.

Cradle of Pirates (Caribbean)

The sea got its name from a tribe of Carib Indians who lived on its warm coast in the pre-Columbian era. The sea has become famous for its amazingly beautiful coral reefs, frequent tropical cyclones, which are accompanied by crushing hurricanes, and pirates, who have chosen it as a field of their “fishing activity” since ancient times.

The coastline of the sea along its entire length is extremely indented: there are numerous lagoons, bays, bays, capes. The coastal soil is sometimes sandy, sandy-silty or rocky.

The coast in many places is covered with coral, amazing white sand.

Among the major bays, it should be noted Honduras (Spanish Golfo de Honduras), (Spanish Golfo de Venezuela), Mosquitos (Spanish Golfo de los Mosquitos), Ana Maria (Spanish Golfo Anna Maria), Batabano (Spanish Golfo de Batabano ), Gonave (Spanish: Golfo de Gonave).

The Caribbean Sea is very rich in islands. The general group of Caribbean islands is united under the name "Antilles archipelago" (Spanish: Antillas archipielago) or "West Indies" (Spanish: West India archipielago). The archipelago is subdivided into island groups: the Greater Antilles and Lesser Antilles (Netherlands), and the Bahamas (Spanish: Bahamas).

The Greater Antilles, which are mainly of continental origin, located in the northern part of the sea, include such large islands as Cuba, Haiti, Jamaica and Puerto Rico. The Lesser Antilles (subdivided according to their location to the northeast trade wind into Windward and Leeward) are mainly of volcanic or coral origin.

Among the many small islands of this group, the following can be distinguished: the famous Bahamas; original Turks and Caicos; the Virgin Islands, divided between the US and the UK; exotic Antigua and Barbuda; open to the ubiquitous Guadeloupe; the island of Martinique (fr. Martinique), known as the birthplace of Josephine de Beauharnais (fr. Joséphine de Beauharnais), the first wife of Napoleon I; as well as Grenada, Barbados, Trinidad and Tobago; and finally Dominica, the largest of the Windward Islands. Perhaps it is necessary to mention the island of Curacao, which "gave" its name to the popular liquor.

Tourist paradise

The extraordinary popularity of the Caribbean among tourists is easily explained: the warm sea all year round, the fabulous beauty of nature, a decent level of service, an extensive selection of hotels (for every taste and budget) and a huge “menu” of all kinds of entertainment: interesting excursions, an abundance of historical and natural attractions, water and "land" sports, restaurants, discos, nightclubs.

A distinctive feature of the Caribbean region is a large selection of various recreation options: each state here has its own “specialization”.

For example, in Barbados, English national traditions have firmly taken root in life, rest here is mostly measured and calm.

Grenada, known as the "Spice Island", has many museums, botanical gardens, historical sites and gorgeous white beaches.

Magnificent hotels of the highest level, excellent conditions for diving and the famous SPA centers of Turks and Caicos attract the attention of respectable visitors.

Saint Lucia bears the proud title of "Garden Island", being one of the most beautiful islands in the Caribbean. As if in contrast to it, the desert island of Aruba is also located in the Caribbean Sea, with chic hotels and enchanting nightlife.

The Bahamas offers tourists all sorts of accommodation options, from secluded small hotels to noisy, bustling hotel complexes.

And in Curacao, it is simply impossible not to go to one of the many bars to order a glass of delicious blue drink!

Bottom relief

The bottom relief of the sea is characterized by unevenness - numerous uplifts and depressions, underwater ridges, the bottom is conditionally divided into 5 main basins: Grenada (4120 m), Colombian (4532 m), Venezuelan (5420 m), Yucatan (5055 m) and Bartlett, with deep-water Cayman gutter (7090 m., this is the world's deepest underwater volcanic fault). The Caribbean is considered seismically active; underwater earthquakes are not uncommon here, often causing tsunamis.

The deep sea floor is covered with calcareous foraminiferal oozes and clays.

Flora and fauna

The flora and fauna of the Caribbean is extremely rich and varied. Extensive coral buildups are typical tropical coral communities of living organisms. The huge variety and amazing beauty of the forms of the water world attract here and amaze with their splendor connoisseurs of underwater landscapes and the most sophisticated divers from all over the world. Although the local flora does not stand out in quantitative terms, it is characterized by a rich species composition. In the Caribbean Sea, you can find entire underwater fields of macroalgae. In shallow areas, vegetation is mainly concentrated in coral reef zones. Here there are algae such as tortoiseshell thalassia (lat. Thalassia lestudinum), cymodocean algae (lat. Cymodoceaceae), sea ruppia (lat. Ruppia maritima). Chlorophyll algae grow in deep waters. Caribbean macroalgae are represented by dozens of different species.

Phytoalgae are very poorly represented here, however, as in all tropical seas.

The fauna of the sea is richer and more diverse than the flora. Various fish, marine mammals and all kinds of bottom animals live here.

The bottom Caribbean fauna is represented by numerous sea snakes, worms, mollusks (gastropods, cephalopods, bivalves, etc.), various crustaceans (crustaceans, crabs, spiny lobsters, etc.) and echinoderms (urchins, starfish). The intestinal representatives consist of a rich spectrum of coral polyps (including reef-forming ones) and all kinds of jellyfish.

Sea turtles live in the Caribbean Sea: here you can find a green turtle (soup), big-headed turtle (loggerhead), hawksbill or real carriage, as well as Atlantic ridley - a species of the smallest and fastest growing sea turtles. When famous at the beginning of the XVI century. crossed the Caribbean Sea in the area of ​​\u200b\u200bthe current Cayman Islands, the way for his ships was literally blocked by an immense herd of green turtles. Struck by the abundance of these marine animals, Columbus named the group of islands he discovered "Las Tortugas" (Spanish: Las Tortugas - "turtles").

For centuries, turtles have served as a source of food for travelers, sailors, pirates and whalers off Las Tortugas. But this beautiful name, unfortunately, did not take root, just as the once countless turtle herds did not survive. As a result of thoughtless human activity (uncontrolled long-term fishing, the ruin of turtle eggs, ruthless pollution of the sea), where in the old days sailboats hardly made their way through a dense barrier of swarming turtle shells, it is now not easy to meet even one individual.

Marine mammals have also settled in the warm, gentle waters of the Caribbean. There are large cetaceans (sperm whales, humpback whales) and several dozen species of smaller dolphins. Pinnipeds are also found here, which are mainly represented by sand teeth (lat. Solenodontidae) - small mammals that live on some islands. In ancient times, many monk seals lived in the Caribbean Sea, today this species is extinct.

The Caribbean wildlife is endlessly diverse! Once did not exist, just a few millennia ago, the water connection of the world's great oceans - the Pacific and Atlantic, was broken, so the diversity of the Caribbean fauna is explained by the presence of many Pacific species of animals here.

Almost 500 different species of fish live here, ranging from small schooling and bottom representatives of the fish community (moray eels, barracudas, flounders, gobies, rays, flying fish) to large fish species (sharks, marlins, swordfish, tuna, etc.).

The objects of fishing in the sea are mainly sardines, tunas, lobsters; objects of sport fishing - sharks, marlins, large barracudas and swordfish.

Numerous sharks of the Caribbean Sea are represented by gray sharks (including reef, bull, silk) and various bottom species (nannies, sixgills, squatins, etc.). In coastal waters, there are also tiger and even white sharks, which are very rare. In the open waters of the sea, you can meet hammerhead, blue, whale and long-finned sharks. By the way, the largest of the sharks - the whale never attacks a person, it feeds on plankton and small fish, filtering the water through thousands of sharp, small teeth. The most dangerous for humans is considered White shark