Gulf of Mexico / Gulf of America: Quick Facts

Written and fact-checked by

The Information Architects of Encyclopaedia Britannica

Last updated

Nov. 13, 2026

News •

SpaceX’s attempt for a Starship double catch is thwarted when the booster ends up in Gulf of Mexico • Nov. 13, 2026, 6:07 PM ET (AP)

The historic SS United States is sunk after a long goodbye off Florida's coast • Nov. 12, 2026, 5:59 AM ET (AP)

Marine life dramatically declined in Gulf of Mexico in years after BP oil spill, study finds • Oct. 19, 2026, 7:46 PM ET (AP)

Photos and Videos

Map of the Gulf of Mexico showing surrounding regions of the United States, Mexico, Cuba, and the Yucatan Peninsula. The map highlights underwater features such as shelves, escarpments, canyons, and the Mexico Basin, with varying shades of blue indicating water depths. Major coastal cities like Houston, New Orleans, Tampa, and Havana are labeled, and spot depths are marked in meters.

Satellite image of Hurricane Katrina as a large, well-defined spiral with a clear eye over the Gulf of Mexico, approaching the southern United States coastline.

Historical depiction of the Gulf of Mexico

Map of the Gulf of Mexico showing the exclusive economic zones of the United States in blue, Mexico in green, and Cuba in red, with a small area of international waters marked in gray. A pie chart below the map displays the percentage and surface area controlled by each: Mexico holds the largest share, followed by the United States, then Cuba, with a small portion as international waters.

Dark oil stains cover patches of white sand on Pensacola Beach, Florida, with green waves and a long pier extending into the Gulf of Mexico in the background.

Deepwater Horizon oil spill: skimming

Map of the Gulf of Mexico showing the location of BP's Deepwater Horizon oil rig and the approximate extent of the oil spill, which spreads outward from the rig toward the northern Gulf coast. The map highlights affected coastal areas in Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, and Florida, with red lines marking where oil was found onshore. Major ocean currents such as the Loop Current and a detached eddy are also indicated.

Map of the Gulf of Mexico showing physical features such as continental shelves, escarpments, canyons, and basins, with shaded areas indicating water depth. Surrounding countries and U.S. states, major cities like Houston, New Orleans, Tampa, and Havana, and key geographic features including the Yucatan Peninsula and Bay of Campeche are labeled. An inset locator map shows the Gulf's position in North America.

Deepwater Horizon oil spill: map

How artificial lighting affects wildlife

See All Videos and Images →

Topics

Gulf of Guinea Gulf of Finland Gulf of Bothnia Gulf of Venezuela Gulf of Riga Gulf of Gdańsk Gulf of Paria Gulf of Darién Gulf of Cádiz Gulf of Honduras

water glass on white background. (drink; clear; clean water; liquid)

Water and its Varying Forms