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One of the largest salt-water seas in the world, the Caribbean Sea has an area of 2,754,000kmē. A part of the Atlantic Ocean lying southeast of the Gulf of Mexico the Caribbean sea is a marginal one covering most of the Caribbean Plate.
Bordered in the south by South America, on the west and south by Central America, and on the north and east by the Antilles, the entire area of the Caribbean Sea, the numerous islands of the West Indies, and adjacent coasts, are collectively known as the Caribbean.
"Caribbean" derives its name from the Caribs, one of the dominant American Indian groups in the region. Today, the entire sea has 22 island territories and borders 12 continental countries. One of the unique factors of the sea is a year-round high temperature, which is the main reason why tourists throng the place.
The Gulf Stream and Humboldt Current ocean currents influence the weather of the Caribbean. These strong ocean currents raise most of the hurricanes in the region. In fact, the Caribbean Sea is the birthplace of most of the hurricanes in the western hemisphere. On an average, around nine tropical storms are formed each year among which five reach hurricane strength.
The entire Caribbean region has seen a significant increase in human activity since the colonization started. The Caribbean Sea is one of the largest oil bearing areas in the world producing around 170 million tons per year. Apart from this, the area also generates a large fishing industry for the surrounding countries, accounting for half a million metric tons of fish a year.
However, the main revenue generating industry in the Caribbean is tourism. It is estimated that about 12 million people visit the area each year. The area is a main destination for cruise ships. With such impressive opportunities, a visit to the Caribbean is something which everyone should think about at least once if not more.
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