0s and provide a substantial proportion of domestic needs in the United States.

The coastal waters of the Gulf of Mexico are also used extensively for sport fishing, with red snapper, flounder, and tarpon constituting the main fish caught. Boating, swimming, and scuba diving are major recreations here. The Gulf Coast has become a popular tourist destination for honeymooners and youngsters especially during winter. Tourism has developed primarily since World War II, and it has become one of the major industries of the region. In addition, some of the co

The Gulf of Mexico (Spanish-Golfo de M?xico) is a partially landlocked body of water on the southeastern periphery of the North American continent. Geographically speaking, it is connected to the Atlantic Ocean by the Straits of Florida, running between the peninsula of Florida and the island of Cuba, and to the Caribbean Sea by the Yucatan Channel, which runs between the Yucatan Peninsula and Cuba. Both these channels are about 100 miles (160 kilometers) wide. The gulf's greatest east-west and north-south extents are approximately 1,100 and 800 miles, respectively, and it covers an area of around 600,000 square miles (1,550,000 square kilometers). To the northwest, north, and northeast, it is bounded by the southern coast of the United States, while to the west, south, and southeast it is bounded by the East Coast of Mexico.

The climate of the gulf region usually varies from tropical to subtropical. The hurricane season officially runs from June 1 to November 1. Meteorological and oceanographic conditions are conducive during most of this period, to the formation of hurricanes anywhere in the gulf. Hurricanes spawned in the South Atlantic may also move through the gulf at this time. The shores of the Gulf of Mexico are said to be a major habitat for waterfowl and shorebirds. Substantial colonies of notties, boobies, pelicans, and other seabirds winter along the coasts of Mexico and Cuba, as well as on offshore islands. There is a marked absence of marine mammals; the only one of significance, the Caribbean manatee, is diminishing in number.

The gulf waters contain huge populations of fish, particularly along the continental shelf. Commercial fishing is of major economic importance and supplies roughly one-fifth of the total catch in the United States. Shrimps, shellfish, flounder, red snappers, mullet, oysters, and crabs are the most important commercial species for human consumption. In addition, a large quantity of the fish caught is used to provide fish protein concentrate for animal feeds; menhaden provide the bulk of this catch. The shallow continental shelf regions of the Gulf of Mexico contain large deposits of oil and natural gas. These deposits have been developed quite extensively since the 1940s and provide a substantial proportion of domestic needs in the United States.

The coastal waters of the Gulf of Mexico are also used extensively for sport fishing, with red snapper, flounder, and tarpon constituting the main fish caught. Boating, swimming, and scuba diving are major recreations here. The Gulf Coast has become a popular tourist destination for honeymooners and youngsters especially during winter. Tourism has developed primarily since World War II, and it has become one of the major industries of the region. In addition, some of the co

ctively, and it covers an area of around 600,000 square miles (1,550,000 square kilometers). To the northwest, north, and northeast, it is bounded by the southern coast of the United States, while to the west, south, and southeast it is bounded by the East Coast of Mexico.

The climate of the gulf region usually varies from tropical to subtropical. The hurricane season officially runs from June 1 to November 1. Meteorological and oceanographic conditions are conducive during most of this period, to the formation of hurricanes anywhere in the gulf. Hurricanes spawned in the South Atlantic may also move through the gulf at this time. The shores of the Gulf of Mexico are said to be a major habitat for waterfowl and shorebirds. Substantial colonies of notties, boobies, pelicans, and other seabirds winter along the coasts of Mexico and Cuba, as well as on offshore islands. There is a marked absence of marine mammals; the only one of significance, the Caribbean manatee, is diminishing in number.

The gulf waters contain huge populations of fish, particularly along the continental shelf. Commercial fishing is of major economic importance and supplies roughly one-fifth of the total catch in the United States. Shrimps, shellfish, flounder, red snappers, mullet, oysters, and crabs are the most important commercial species for human consumption. In addition, a large quantity of the fish caught is used to provide fish protein concentrate for animal feeds; menhaden provide the bulk of this catch. The shallow continental shelf regions of the Gulf of Mexico contain large deposits of oil and natural gas. These deposits have been developed quite extensively since the 1940s and provide a substantial proportion of domestic needs in the United States.

The coastal waters of the Gulf of Mexico are also used extensively for sport fishing, with red snapper, flounder, and tarpon constituting the main fish caught. Boating, swimming, and scuba diving are major recreations here. The Gulf Coast has become a popular tourist destination for honeymooners and youngsters especially during winter. Tourism has developed primarily since World War II, and it has become one of the major industries of the region. In addition, some of the co

canes spawned in the South Atlantic may also move through the gulf at this time. The shores of the Gulf of Mexico are said to be a major habitat for waterfowl and shorebirds. Substantial colonies of notties, boobies, pelicans, and other seabirds winter along the coasts of Mexico and Cuba, as well as on offshore islands. There is a marked absence of marine mammals; the only one of significance, the Caribbean manatee, is diminishing in number.

The gulf waters contain huge populations of fish, particularly along the continental shelf. Commercial fishing is of major economic importance and supplies roughly one-fifth of the total catch in the United States. Shrimps, shellfish, flounder, red snappers, mullet, oysters, and crabs are the most important commercial species for human consumption. In addition, a large quantity of the fish caught is used to provide fish protein concentrate for animal feeds; menhaden provide the bulk of this catch. The shallow continental shelf regions of the Gulf of Mexico contain large deposits of oil and natural gas. These deposits have been developed quite extensively since the 1940s and provide a substantial proportion of domestic needs in the United States.

The coastal waters of the Gulf of Mexico are also used extensively for sport fishing, with red snapper, flounder, and tarpon constituting the main fish caught. Boating, swimming, and scuba diving are major recreations here. The Gulf Coast has become a popular tourist destination for honeymooners and youngsters especially during winter. Tourism has developed primarily since World War II, and it has become one of the major industries of the region. In addition, some of the co

s of major economic importance and supplies roughly one-fifth of the total catch in the United States. Shrimps, shellfish, flounder, red snappers, mullet, oysters, and crabs are the most important commercial species for human consumption. In addition, a large quantity of the fish caught is used to provide fish protein concentrate for animal feeds; menhaden provide the bulk of this catch. The shallow continental shelf regions of the Gulf of Mexico contain large deposits of oil and natural gas. These deposits have been developed quite extensively since the 1940s and provide a substantial proportion of domestic needs in the United States.

The coastal waters of the Gulf of Mexico are also used extensively for sport fishing, with red snapper, flounder, and tarpon constituting the main fish caught. Boating, swimming, and scuba diving are major recreations here. The Gulf Coast has become a popular tourist destination for honeymooners and youngsters especially during winter. Tourism has developed primarily since World War II, and it has become one of the major industries of the region. In addition, some of the co

0s and provide a substantial proportion of domestic needs in the United States.

The coastal waters of the Gulf of Mexico are also used extensively for sport fishing, with red snapper, flounder, and tarpon constituting the main fish caught. Boating, swimming, and scuba diving are major recreations here. The Gulf Coast has become a popular tourist destination for honeymooners and youngsters especially during winter. Tourism has developed primarily since World War II, and it has become one of the major industries of the region. In addition, some of the coastal areas, particularly in Florida, have developed into large retirement communities.