Barrett Carlson

Caribbean Sea Facts:

          -970,000,000 square miles

          -Bordered on the North and East by the West Indies

          -Bordered on the South by South America                                                                                                                                                                          

          -Bordered on the West by the Central American Isthmus

          -Consists of 2 main basins

          -Deepest point is 24,721 feet

          -Water is clear and warm at about 75 degrees C (pictured below)

Caribbean Sea Main Exports:   

               -sugar

               -coffee

               -bananas

               -petroleum

               -iron ore

Caribbean Sea Trade:

               -United States

               -Europe

                    -both have large groups of tourists

Caribbean Sea Human-Environment Interaction:

               -Significant amount of pollution in the area because of human activities

                    -In 1993, an estimated 10% of sewage was treated before being released into the Caribbean Sea

          -The sea is one of the largest oil production areas in the world

               -Produces 170 million tons per year

          -Large fishing industry for surrounding countries

               -Half of a million metric tons of fish per year

          -8 million cruise ship tourists per year

               -People come for coral reefs and snorkeling (pictured below left)

Link:  http://www.encyclopedia.com/topic/Caribbean_Sea.aspx   http ://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caribbean_Sea#Economy_and_human_activity

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  Tourists are attracted to the magnificent scenery of the Caribbean Sea