Inland Caribbean Sea or. Caribbean: "True Paradise on Earth
Geological setting
The sea is located on the Caribbean lithospheric plate and, being one of the largest seas transition zone, separated from the ocean by several island arcs of different ages. The youngest of these runs through the Lesser Antilles from the Virgin Islands in the northeast to Trinidad Island off the coast of Venezuela. This arc was formed during the collision of the Caribbean Plate with the S American Plate and includes active and extinct volcanoes such as Montagne Pele, Kiel and volcanoes national park Morne-Trois-Python. Large islands in the northern part of the sea (Cuba, Haiti, Jamaica, Puerto Rico) lie on an older island arc, to the north of which the continental and sub-continental crust has already formed. The arc from the south of Cuba, expressed by the Sierra Maestra mountains, the underwater Cayman ridge, and the trench of the same name, is also relatively young. The Cayman Trench contains the deepest known point. Caribbean- 7686 m below sea level.
The surface of the Caribbean Plate is divided into five basins: Grenada (4120 m depth), Venezuelan (5420 m or 5630 m), Colombian (4532 m or 4263 m), Cayman (Bartlett, 7686 m) and Yucatan (5055 m). or 4352 m.). The depressions are separated by submarine ridges (probably the former island arcs) of Aves, Beata, and the Nicaraguan uplift.
The Yucatan Basin is separated from the Gulf of Mexico by the Yucatan Strait, which is located between the Yucatan Peninsula and the island of Cuba and has a depth of about 1600 m. South of the Yucatan Basin, from west to east, stretches the Cayman Basin, partially separated from the Yucatan by the Cayman Ridge, which in several places overlooks surface forming the Cayman Islands. The Nicaraguan uplift, which has a triangle shape and a depth of about 1200 m, extends from the coast of Honduras and Nicaragua to the island of Haiti. The island of Jamaica is located on this rise, and the border between the Cayman and Columbia basins also passes along it. The Colombian Basin, in turn, is partially separated from the Venezuelan Beata ridge, which rises to 2,121 m below sea level. The Colombian and Venezuelan basins are connected by the Aruba gap, the depth of which reaches 4 thousand meters. The Aves Ridge separates the small Grenada Basin from the Venezuelan Basin, which is bounded in the east by the arc of the Lesser Antilles.
The coastline of the sea is heavily indented, the shores are mountainous in places, low in places (Caribbean lowland). The shallow waters contain a variety of coral deposits and numerous reef structures. On the continental coast (western and southern parts of the sea) there are several bays, the largest of which are Honduran, Mosquito, Darien and Venezuelan. In the northern part are the Batabano, Ana Maria and Guacanayabo bays (southern coast of Cuba), as well as Gonave Bay (western Haiti).
On the east coast Yucatan has several bays, including Asencion, Espiritu Santo and Chetumal. The Gulf of Honduras ends in Amatique Bay, located on the Belize-Guatemala border. The northern coast of Honduras is weakly indented, and several lagoons jut into the Mosquito coast, including the lagoons of Karataska, Bismuna, Perlas and Bluefields Bay. In the east of Panama is the large Chiriqui lagoon. Off the coast South America The Gulf of Darien ends in the Uraba Gulf, and the Venezuelan Gulf, fenced off by the Guajira Peninsula, ends with Lake Maracaibo. To the west of the island of Trinidad lies the Gulf of Paria, which is considered part of Atlantic Ocean.
The Caribbean Sea has a tropical climate influenced by trade winds. Average monthly air temperatures range from 23 to 27 ° C. Cloudiness is 4-5 points.
Average annual rainfall in the region varies from 250 mm on Bonaire Island to 9000 mm in the windward parts of Dominica. Northeast trade winds prevail with average speeds of 16-32 km / h, however, tropical hurricanes occur in the northern regions of the sea, the speed of which can exceed 120 km / h. On average, 8-9 such hurricanes occur per year from June to November, and they are most frequent in September-October. According to the US National Hurricane Center, 385 hurricanes passed over the Caribbean Sea from 1494 to 1900, and from 1900 to 1991, 235 such manifestations of the elements were recorded. The Caribbean is less prone to hurricane devastation than the Gulf of Mexico or the Western Pacific (where typhoons rage from May to November). Most hurricanes form around islands Cape Verde and is directed by trade winds to the shores of America.
Severe hurricanes lead to loss of life, destruction and crop failures in the region. The great hurricane of 1780, which raged from October 10 to 16, 1780, caused colossal damage to the Lesser Antilles, Puerto Rico, the Dominican Republic and, possibly, the Florida Peninsula, and also led to the death of 22 to 24 thousand people. Hurricane Mitch, which originated on October 22, 1998, off the coast of Colombia, swept across Central America, the Yucatan Peninsulas and Florida, causing damage of $ 40 million and killing 11-18 thousand people.
And is located in the tropical zone of the Western Hemisphere. In the northwest, the reservoir borders on the Yucatan Peninsula (Mexico) and connects to the Gulf of Mexico through the Yucatan Strait between Yucatan and Cuba. In the north and east are the Greater and Lesser Antilles. In the south, the sea washes the northern coast of South America. In the west and southwest lies the coast of Central America. Here, the Caribbean waters through the Panama Canal are connected to the waters of the Pacific Ocean.
Geography
The reservoir in question is one of the largest in the world. Its area is 2.754 thousand square meters. km. The volume of water is 6.860 thousand cubic meters. km. Maximum depth equal to 7686 meters. It is recorded in the so-called Cayman trough. It is located between Jamaica and the Cayman Islands. This is an underwater trench between the North American and Caribbean plates. The average depth of the reservoir is 2500 meters.
Countries
The vast sea washes many countries. In South America, these are Venezuela and Colombia. In Central America: Panama, Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Guatemala, Honduras and Belize. The last in this line is the Yucatan Peninsula. His northern part occupy 3 Mexican states, and to the south there are lands belonging to Belize and Guatemala.
In the northern part of the Greater Antilles there are states such as Cuba, Haiti, Dominican Republic, Jamaica and Puerto Rico. The Lesser Antilles is occupied by countries such as Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Dominica, Grenada, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Trinidad and Tobago.
Caribbean on the map
Islands
Those who are not in the know need to know that Bahamas never belonged to the Caribbean. They are located north of Cuba and south of Florida. These are the waters of the Atlantic, and historically this area is called the West Indies. Here it covers both the Caribbean and the Bahamas. This term appeared after the discovery of America by Columbus.
In the reservoir under consideration, there are the Antilles, which are subdivided into Large and Small. The first includes 4 big islands: Cuba, Haiti, Jamaica and Puerto Rico. This also includes small islands located near Cuba and forming the archipelagos of Los Canarreos and Jardines de la Reina.
The Lesser Antilles are much more numerous. They are influenced by the northwest trade winds and are subdivided into windward and leeward or southern. The first group contains about 50 islands. The southern group stretches along the coast of South America and includes both individual islands and archipelagos.
Closer to west coast reservoir, there are several archipelagos. These are the Cayman Islands (Grand Cayman, Little Cayman, Cayman Brac), the Islas de la Bahia islands belonging to Honduras, as well as the islands of Miskitos and Terneff. There are separate islands of San Andres and Providencia.
Rivers
Many rivers flow into a huge reservoir. The largest is the Magdalena River in South America. It flows through Colombia and has a length of 1550 km. Its annual flow is the largest and is equal to about 230 cubic meters. km. The second Colombian river is called Atrato. Its length is 644 km. Some of the rivers flow into Lake Maracaibo (the largest in South America). It is connected with the Venezuelan Gulf of the Caribbean Sea by a shallow strait, the depth of which does not exceed 4 meters.
The reservoir is also fed by about 30 rivers of Central America. There are rivers on the islands. For example, the Cauto River in Cuba. Its length is 343 km. Or the Artibonite River in Haiti with a length of 240 km. There are rivers in Jamaica. These are Milk River and Black River.
Climate
The climate is tropical. It is formed by the subtropical Caribbean Current, which is a continuation of the South Tradewind Current. Warm waters flow from southeast to northwest and through the Yucatan Strait go to the Gulf of Mexico, where the Gulf Stream is born. therefore annual temperature keeps between 21 and 29 degrees Celsius.
Trade winds dominate the reservoir. Their speed ranges from 16 to 30 km / h. In the northern part of the reservoir, there are tropical hurricanes. Their speed can reach up to 120 km / h. Such strong winds sometimes they carry a real tragedy: people die, houses collapse, crops die. For example, Hurricane Mitch, which formed in the western part of the sea in October 1998, caused a lot of grief. 11 thousand people died and the same number are missing. 2.7 million people were left without housing. These were mainly citizens of Nicaragua and Honduras.
Economy
The Caribbean Sea is inextricably linked with oil production. Its water area produces about 170 million tons of oil per year. In addition, the fishing industry is well developed. Sea waters give up to 500 thousand tons of fish per year. However, human activities pollute the environment. First of all, this negatively affects the coral reefs, which are steadily bleaching, and their ecosystem is being destroyed.
In the near future, this may not affect the tourism industry in the best way. Up to 40 million tourists visit this area a year. The net profit from them is about $ 30 billion. Many tourists are attracted by diving and the beauty of the coral reefs. Approximately 3 million local residents living on the islands are somehow connected with the tourism business. So the issues related to ecology are quite acute.
Having overcome a long way across the Atlantic to the shores of Central America, we will find ourselves in one of the most beautiful and interesting tropical seas - the Caribbean.
This sea owes its name to the Indian tribe of the Caribbean, who lived on its coast when the ships of Columbus arrived here. If somewhere you come across an unfamiliar sea by its name - Antilles, then know that this is just the second name of the Caribbean Sea.
The greatest fame to the sea was brought by the beauty of coral reefs, an abundance of tropical cyclones, accompanied by destructive hurricanes, and pirates, who in the distant past chose this area for their "fishing".
Location of the Caribbean Sea on full map Atlantic Ocean -.
First, about the geography and characteristics of the sea.
The sea area, with an area of 2,753 thousand square kilometers, is located off the coast of Central and South America and is limited in the north and east by the Greater and Lesser Antilles. It is connected by waterways with the Gulf of Mexico (Yucatan Strait), through inter-island straits - with the Atlantic Ocean, and through an artificial structure - the Panama Canal with the Pacific Ocean. The region where the Caribbean Sea is located is called the Caribbean. Its waters wash the shores of numerous states on the American continent, as well as island countries... The sea is very deep - his average depth- 2500 m, maximum - 7686 m (Cayman depression between Cuba and Jamaica).
The climate in the Caribbean is influenced by the warm ocean currents (the North Passat Current, of which the Caribbean Current is an offshoot) and the richness of solar activity in these tropical places. The average annual water temperature of the surface layers of the sea is +26 degrees C. The tides are low - an average of 1 m.Many rivers flow into the Caribbean Sea, among which one can note Magdalena, Atrato, Dike, Belen, Crickamola, etc.
One of the fly in the ointment that often spoil the idyll of these fabulously beautiful places are hurricanes and storms. It is believed that the Caribbean Sea is the source of the largest number of hurricanes in the Western Hemisphere. Hurricanes pose a serious problem to the inhabitants of the islands and the coast of the basin, destroying buildings and structures. Hurricanes also cause great harm to the numerous coral structures in these places - reefs, atolls, coastal coral fringes of islands. Powerful winds bring mud, sand and debris here, adversely affecting the ecology of the reefs.
The coastline is heavily indented along its entire length. There are numerous bays, lagoons, coves, capes. Among the large bays are Honduran, Mosquito, Venezuelan, Batabano, Ana Maria, Gonav. The shores are mostly low-lying, but there are also mountainous areas.
The Caribbean Sea is very rich in islands. The general island group here is united under the name of the Antilles archipelago or West Indies, which, in turn, is subdivided into the Greater Antilles, Lesser Antilles and the Bahamas. The Greater Antilles are predominantly of continental origin. These include the large islands in the north of the sea - Cuba, Jamaica, Haiti, Puerto Rico. The Lesser Antilles, in turn, are subdivided into groups: Windward and Leeward Islands. 
The name of the Leeward Islands is explained by the leeward (compared to the Windward Islands) position of the islands in relation to the northeastern trade wind. These islands are mostly coral or volcanic in origin.
The bottom relief of the sea is distinguished by numerous irregularities in the form of uplifts and depressions. The entire bottom surface can be conditionally divided into five regions, separated by underwater ridges and mountain ranges. Among deep places- Cayman Trench, Haiti Trench, Puerto Rico Trench. The area is considered seismically active. There are underwater earthquakes that can cause a tsunami.
The coastal soil is sandy, sandy-silty, rocky in places. The coast of many places is covered with amazing white coral sand.
The deep-sea bottom of the sea is represented by silts and clays.
Animal and vegetable world The Caribbean is very diverse and rich in quantity. Most coral structures are typical tropical coral communities of living organisms.
You can see many species of benthic animals and coral reef fish in THIS illustration.
The variety and beauty of the aquatic life of the Caribbean Sea can amaze the most sophisticated diver and connoisseur of underwater landscapes. It is not for nothing that scuba diving enthusiasts from different countries have chosen many places here.
The flora of the sea is not rich in quantitative terms, but it is represented by an extensive species composition. In some places, there are even whole fields of underwater vegetation. In shallow areas, macroflora is concentrated mainly in areas of reef structures. Here you can find such algae as tortoiseshell thalassia, cymodocea algae, sea ruppia. In deeper areas, halophilic algae grow. In total, sea algae are represented by ten species.
Phyto algae are represented very poorly, as in all tropical seas. The zooxanthella species, which forms a biosymbiosis with coral polyps, is greatly affected by the rise in water temperature that has taken place in the Caribbean basin in recent years. This leads to the death of the zooxanthella, the subsequent discoloration and death of coral colonies and the death of the entire reef community of organisms.
The fauna of the sea is more diverse than its flora. It is home to marine mammals, fish, and various benthic animals.
Among the benthic representatives of the fauna, there are numerous marine worms, snakes, molluscs (cephalopods, gastropods, bivalves, etc.), echinoderms (starfish, hedgehogs), crustaceans (crabs, crustaceans, lobsters, etc.). Cavity animals are represented by a wide range of coral polyps, incl. reef-forming, numerous jellyfish.
There are also many sea turtles in the Caribbean, among which you can find soup (or green), loggerheads, byss, ridley.
The famous Columbus, crossing the Caribbean Sea at the beginning of the 16th century, encountered huge herds of green turtles, which literally blocked the way for his ships in the area of the modern Cayman Islands. Struck by the abundance of these animals, Columbus named the islands he discovered Las Tortugas, which means "turtles" in Spanish. 
For many years, turtles have served as a reliable source of food for sailors, filibusters and whalers off Las Tortugas. However, the name was not assigned to the islands, just as the once numerous turtle herds have not survived. Where sailboats used to have difficulty making their way through a continuous barrier of turtle shells, now it is not easy to find even one individual. Many years of uncontrolled fishing, the ruin of egg-laying, pollution of the sea are the results of inhuman human activities.
Settled down in gentle waters The Caribbean and marine mammals. Here you can meet both large cetaceans (sperm whales, humpback whales) and smaller dolphins, of which there are several dozen species. Pinnipeds also live here, which are represented by chippers. Previously, monk seals lived in large numbers in the Caribbean, now this species is considered extinct.
The fish world of the Caribbean is very rich and varied. In not so distant times (by geological standards) the Isthmus of Panama did not exist. The water connection between the two great oceans - the Pacific and the Atlantic - was broken just a few tens of millennia ago. Therefore, the diversity of the fauna here is also explained by the presence of many Pacific species of animals.
Fish are represented by almost half a thousand different species, including small schooling and bottom fish, moray eels and barracudas, stingrays, flounders, gobies, flying fish, and ending with large representatives of the fish community - sharks, swordfish, marlin, tuna, etc.
Mainly sardines, tunas, lobsters are hunted here.
Marlins, sharks, swordfish, large barracudas are prestigious objects of sport fishing in the sea.
One of the most beautiful places on Earth is the Caribbean Sea. It got its name thanks to the Caribbean, who lived in the area. There is also a second name - Antilles, which is used much less often. The beauty of the Caribbean - the sea and the islands that belong to its basin are considered the most interesting and romantic places on the planet. No wonder lovers come here to hold a wedding ceremony or
Geographical position
The Caribbean Sea belongs to the Atlantic Ocean basin. On the one hand, it is limited by the shores of Central and South America, and on the other, by the Antilles. Therefore, the sea is semi-enclosed.
The waters are Caribbean, the sea is connected with the Yucatan Strait, and with the Pacific Ocean - through the Panama Canal. The basin area is about 2,753,000 square kilometers. The sea washes the shores of Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Guatemala, Honduras, Cuba, Jamaica, Haiti, Puerto Rico and the Caribbean Sea is divided into five basins that delimit the islands and underwater ridges. The maximum depth is 7686 meters, although this sea is considered shallow.
Pearl of the Atlantic Ocean
Where the Caribbean Sea is, there is an incredible color, different corners, love and romance reign. This area is famous for its extraordinary coral reefs, a large number of destructive tropical cyclones and, of course, pirates. The coastline of the sea is not uniform, it is heavily indented.
There are many beautiful lagoons, bays, picturesque coves and capes. The seashore is mostly low-lying, with white sandy beaches, but sometimes mountainous terrain. Each country, whose shores are washed by the sea, has its own extraordinary flavor. Therefore, a trip to the Caribbean becomes an unforgettable experience.
Islands
The vibrant flowers of the Caribbean are numerous islands. All of them are united in the Antilles archipelago (Lesser and Greater Antilles, Bahamas). Each of the islands has its own unique landscape, flora and fauna. They are inhabited by colorful ethnic groups, and here you can taste exotic cuisine. Each sea is an amazing corner that must be visited in order to feel the atmosphere picturesque nature... It is very difficult to choose one place to visit, because you want to know all the beauty of the Caribbean Sea.
The most picturesque corners
The most passionate corner of the Caribbean is Jamaica. Imaginative nature, exotic music, mountains, hot sun, sandy beaches and local flavor remain in the memory for a long time and make you come back here again and again. Incredible cascades of waterfalls, colorful jungles, beautiful lagoons and rare representatives of the animal world will appear before the eyes of tourists. Saint Lucia is an unusual island that attracts with its white beaches, quiet harbors and pristine nature.
Here you seem to find yourself in virgin forests untouched by man, and you feel like one with environment... Dominica Island is best corner for ecotourism. It is located in the warm waters of the Caribbean Sea. Its surface is covered with impenetrable jungle, among which dormant volcanoes, waterfalls, hot springs and mountain rivers are hidden. Martinique is an island of flowers, where European culture and local exoticism are surprisingly harmoniously mixed. You can endlessly list the beauty of the Caribbean, but it is simply impossible to cover all the amazing features.
Bottom relief of the sea
The bottom relief of the Caribbean Sea is uneven. There are numerous depressions and hills. The entire plateau is conventionally divided into five parts, which are delimited by underwater ridges. Among the features of the seabed are the Cayman Trench, the Puerto Rico Trench and the Haiti Trench. The waters are Caribbean, the sea is a very seismically active area. Therefore, hurricanes and tsunamis often occur here, from which residents of coastal settlements suffer.
Most of the coastal soil consists of sand, but there are also rocky surfaces. White beaches are a distinctive feature of the Caribbean Sea.
Underwater flora
The beauty of the Caribbean, the sea attracts divers. And this is no coincidence. The flora of this reservoir is very rich and varied. Here you can find whole glades of picturesque vegetation, which amaze with their beauty. The pearl of the underwater world are Coral reefs... These are amazing buildings created by nature itself. Numerous types of algae will amaze the most discerning lover of underwater flora. Hurricanes also cause great damage to vegetation, bringing garbage and littering these beautiful corners of nature.
Fauna of the sea
The fauna of the Caribbean is unique. The most exotic marine mammals and fish live here. The peculiarity of the underwater world is that they are represented in a wide variety of species. One of the islands got its name from the huge number of these animals (Las Tortugas). Large mammals (whales, sperm whales) are also found in the basin. The underwater world is the most unique feature the Caribbean has given people. Photos of its beautiful and diverse representatives are the most colorful. This part of the planet is unique and wonderful world, which pleases and caresses the eyes of those who come here.
The marginal semi-enclosed sea of the Atlantic Ocean basin, from the west and south is bounded by Central and South America, from the north and east - by the Greater and Lesser Antilles. In the northwest, through the Yucatan Strait, it is connected to the Gulf of Mexico, in the southwest - with the Pacific Ocean through the artificial Panama Canal.
Lies between 9 ° and 22 ° N. NS. and between 89 ° and 60 ° W. d., its area is approximately 2,753,000 km2. sq.
In the south, it washes Venezuela, Colombia and Panama, in the west - Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Honduras, Guatemala, Belize and the Mexican Yucatan Peninsula, in the north - Cuba, Haiti, Jamaica and Puerto Rico; in the east - the states of the Lesser Antilles
Caribbean coastline
The coastline of the sea is heavily indented, the shores are mountainous in places, low in places (Caribbean lowland). The shallow waters contain a variety of coral deposits and numerous reef structures. There are several bays on the continental coast, the largest of which are Honduran, Mosquito, Darien and Venezuelan. In the northern part are the Batabano, Ana Maria and Guacanayabo bays (southern coast of Cuba), as well as Gonave Bay (western Haiti).
There are several bays on the east coast of the Yucatan, including Asencion, Espiritu Santo and Chetumal. The Gulf of Honduras ends in Amatique Bay, located on the Belize-Guatemala border. The northern coast of Honduras is weakly indented, and several lagoons jut into the Mosquito coast, including the lagoons of Karataska, Bismuna, Perlas and Bluefields Bay. In the east of Panama is the large Chiriqui lagoon. Off the coast of South America, the Darien Gulf ends in the Uraba Gulf, and the Venezuelan Gulf, fenced off by the Guajira Peninsula, with the Maracaibo Lake. To the west of the island of Trinidad lies the Gulf of Paria, which is considered part of the Atlantic Ocean.
Islands
It is customary to include the Antilles and Bahamas in the West Indies concept. The Caribbean Sea is washed only by the Antilles, which are subdivided into the Greater Antilles and the Lesser Antilles. The Greater Antilles border the northern border of the sea and include four large islands: Cuba, Haiti (formerly called Hispaniola), Jamaica and Puerto Rico, as well as small nearby islands - the Los Canarreos archipelagos ( largest island Juventud) and Jardines de la Reina, lying near southern shores Cuba.
The Lesser Antilles are subdivided into the Windward and Leeward Islands (South Antilles), so named in relation to the northwest trade wind. The first group lies on the eastern border of the sea and consists of about 50 islands, the largest of which are: Santa Cruz, St. Thomas ( Virgin Islands), Anguilla, Saint Martin, Saint Kitts, Barbuda, Antigua (Antigua and Barbuda), Grande-Terre and Basse-Terre (Guadeloupe), Dominica, Martinique, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent, Barbados, Grenada, Tobago and Trinidad ... The South Antilles are located along the coast of South America and include the islands of Aruba, Curacao, Bonaire (the Netherlands), Margarita, the Las Aves and Los Roques archipelagos (Venezuela) and a number of others smaller in area.
The western Caribbean has several archipelagos such as the Cayman Islands, Terneff Islands, Islas de la Bahia and Miskitos, as well as a number of individual islands (Providencia, San Andres) and reefs (Lighthouse, Glover, Media Luna and other).
Climate
The Caribbean Sea has a tropical climate influenced by trade winds. Average monthly air temperatures range from 23 to 27 ° C. Cloudiness is 4-5 points.
Average annual rainfall in the region varies from 250 mm on Bonaire Island to 9,000 mm in the windward parts of Dominica. Northeast trade winds prevail with average speeds of 16-32 km / h, however, tropical hurricanes occur in the northern regions of the sea, the speed of which can exceed 120 km / h. On average, 8-9 such hurricanes occur per year from June to November, and they are most frequent in September-October.
Vegetation of the Caribbean
The vegetation of the region is predominantly tropical, but differences in topographic, soil and climatic conditions increase the species diversity. The islands' porous limestone terraces are generally poor in nutrients. An estimated 13,000 plant species grow in the Caribbean, of which 6,500 are endemic, such as the guaiac tree and mahogany rolls. In coastal areas, the coconut tree is widespread, lagoons and river estuaries are overgrown with dense mangroves (red and black mangroves).
Animal world
The marine biota of the region originated from representatives of the Indian and Pacific oceans that entered the Caribbean Sea before the emergence of the Isthmus of Panama about 4 million years ago. The Caribbean Sea is home to approximately 450 species of fish, including sharks (bull shark, tiger shark, silk shark and Caribbean reef shark), flying fish, sea devils, orange fin surgeon, angel fish, ocellated butterfly fish, parrotfish, giant perch, tarpon and moray eels. All over the Caribbean region there is an industrial harvest of lobsters, sardines (off the coast of the Yucatan) and some types of tuna. Albuleds, barracudas, marlins and wahoo are popular with hobby fishermen.
Mammals Caribbean represented by 90 species, there are sperm whales, humpback whales and dolphins. Seals and American manatees live off the island of Jamaica. The Caribbean monk seal, previously inhabited in the region, is considered extinct; representatives of the family of snipes, native to the region, are under the threat of extinction.
All 170 amphibian species found in the region are endemic. The habitats of almost all representatives of the families of toads, poison dart frogs, tree frogs and whistlers are limited to any one island.
There are 600 bird species recorded in the Caribbean region, 163 of which are endemic to the region, such as the Todi, the Cuban Awl-billed woodpecker and the Chinchum. Of the endemics, 48 species are threatened with extinction: the Puerto Rican Amazon, the Cuban ratchet, the Cuban wren, etc. The Antilles, along with Central America, lie on the migration route of birds from North America, so the size of bird populations is subject to strong seasonal fluctuations. Parrots, sugar birds and toucans are found in the forests, above open sea you can find frigates and phaetons.
Tourism
The warm climate and stunning beaches make the Caribbean region one of the main resort areas the world. The rich marine fauna attracts divers; in addition to natural beauty, the region is rich in cultural monuments of pre-Columbian civilizations and the colonial era. The tourism industry is an important part of the economy of the Caribbean region, serving mainly travelers from the USA, Canada, Brazil and Argentina. Air traffic between North America and the Caribbean is better developed than within the region.
