Photo from Jetsetter
Without a doubt, the sugar white sand beaches that line the Gulf of Mexico are among the most beautiful in the world.
But there’s so much more to the waters we call home, as the Gulf is a diverse ecosystem with a long and interesting history. We thought we’d spend this week learning a bit more about it!
Did you know? The Gulf of Mexico formed about 300 million years ago and encompasses more than 600,000 square miles. From the tip of the Yucatan Peninsula in Mexico to the island of Cuba, the Gulf’s shoreline extends for 3500 miles and reaches a depth of more than 12,000 feet.
In the United States, it borders five states — Texas, Louisianna, Mississippi, Alabama and Florida — and contains half of the nation’s coastal wetlands, 90 percent of its seagrass, and all its mangrove habitat.
According to the Harte Research Institute for Gulf of Mexico Studies, the Gulf holds a staggering 643 quadrillion gallons of water!
