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Britannica Sources used in this answer

How wide is the continental shelf around the Gulf of Mexico?

Created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.
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.
Gulf of Mexico / Gulf of America

The continental shelf forms an almost continuous terrace around the margin of the Gulf of Mexico. Its width is variable, ranging from a minimum of approximately 25 miles (40 km) to a maximum of more than 200 miles (320 km).1