MEXICO, GULF OF. A partially inclosed basin of the Atlantic Ocean. having the United States on the north and Mexico on the west and south. It. has an extreme length from east to west of about 1000 miles and a breadth from north to south of 800 miles; its area is estimated at 000,000 square miles (Map: North America, J 7). The opening of the gulf eastward is nar rowed by the peninsulas of Florida and Yucatan, which approach within 450 miles of each other. Near the middle of the outlet lies the island of Cuba, forming two passages—the Strait of Flor ida. 125 miles wide, between Florida and Cuba, and the Yucatan Channel, 120 miles wide, be tween Cuba and Yucatan. The northern entrance connects with the Atlantic, and the southern with the Caribbean Sea. The basin of the gulf attains a maximum depth of 12,700 feet, while a large proportion of its area exceeds 10.000 feet in depth. From Florida west to the Mexican boundary the shores form a part of the coastal plain and slope so gradually that the 100-fathoin line is distant 100 miles or more from land. Off the Mexican coast, however, the basin rapidly sinks to the level of the submarine plain known as Sigsbee's Deep, which has an average depth of 12.000 feet. The passages leading to the Caribbean Sea and the Atlantic are relatively shallow. The gulf contains few islands and these
are located in proximity to the coasts; the Florida Keys, the delta of the Mississippi, and the islands on the coast of Yucatan are the most important. Numerous small bays and innumer able lagoons inclosed behind sandbars give re lief to the coast line. whieh is otherwise quite reg ular. The Bay of Campeachy, between Yucatan and the main mass of MPXiCOs is the only broad indentation. Owing to the low shores, good har bors are not numerous, the best. being those of Vera Cruz, Galveston. Mobile. Tampa. Pensa cola, and Havana. The principal rivers flowing into the gulf descend from the United States, and include the Mississippi, Bin Grande, Colo rado of Texas, Brazos, Sabine, Mobile, and Appa lachicola. The gulf is visited by violent gales, which are reflex storms from the tropics, and whieli prevail mainly in the winter time. The most remarkable feature in eonnection with the Gulf of Alexieo is the Gulf Stream (q.v.), which enters it by the southern channel, passes round it, and emerges through the Strait of Florida. Ow ing partly to the presence of this heated current, the temperature of the gulf is S° or 9° higher than that Of the _\11antic in the same latitude.