The Gulf of Mexico is a marginal sea of the Atlantic Ocean, largely bordered by North America. It is bounded by the Gulf Coast of the United States to the north, the Mexican states to the southwest and south, and Cuba to the southeast. The U.S. states bordering the Gulf are occasionally called the "Third Coast" or the "Gulf Coast."
On July 30, 1942, the SS Robert E. Lee was torpedoed by the German submarine U-166. The explosion destroyed the No. 3 hold and damaged the engines, radio compartment, and steering gear. The ship sank within 15 minutes, resulting in the loss of one officer, nine crew members, and 15 passengers. The USS PC-566 dropped depth charges on a sonar contact, sinking U-166.
In 1952, earthquake tremors were last felt in Florida, recorded in Quincy, 32 km (20 miles) northwest of Tallahassee.
From 1970 to 2020, surface temperatures warmed at about twice the rate observed for the global ocean surface.
In 1973 the United States Environmental Protection Agency prohibited the dumping of undiluted chemical waste by manufacturing sediment interests into the gulf, and the military confessed to similar behavior in waters off Horn Island.
By 1975, the Gulf of Mexico hosted 400 offshore drilling rigs, accommodating a temporary population of more than 10,000 workers on any given day. These workers operated on a weekly staggered schedule.
In December 1977, the United States of America and the Republic of Cuba signed a maritime boundary agreement.
In May 1978, a treaty on maritime boundaries between the United States of America and the United Mexican States (Caribbean Sea and Pacific Ocean) was signed.
In June 1979, the Ixtoc I oil platform in the Bay of Campeche suffered a blowout and a catastrophic explosion, initiating the largest oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico to date.
Since 1979, specimens collected by the former Minerals Management Service were deposited in the national collections of the National Museum of Natural History.
In April 1980, the Ixtoc I oil well, which had been leaking since June 1979, was finally capped.
Between 1985 and 2008, researchers reported that the hypoxic dead zone in the Gulf of Mexico roughly doubled in size. The increase in nitrogen and phosphorus led to algae blooms and a lack of available oxygen.
In 1999, the average volumetric flow rate through the Yucatan Channel varied between 15.8 and 28.1 Sverdrups (hectometers per second).
In June 2000, a treaty on the delimitation of the continental shelf in the western Gulf of Mexico beyond 200 nautical miles (370 km; 230 mi) was signed between Mexico and the United States.
In 2001, the wrecks of U-166 and Robert E. Lee were found during the C & C Marine survey. The submarine was located in 5,000 feet (1,500 m) of water, about three km (1.9 miles) from where it had attacked the liner.
In 2002, an oilfield inspection crew working for the Okeanos Gas Gathering Company (OGGC) discovered a shipwreck, later named the Mardi Gras, dating back to the early 19th century, approximately 56 km (35 mi) off the coast of Louisiana in 1,200 m (3,900 feet) of water.
In 2005, the gulf's warm sea surface temperatures fed powerful, deadly, and destructive Atlantic hurricanes such as Hurricane Katrina.
On September 10, 2006, a magnitude 6.0 earthquake occurred about 400 km (250 miles) west-southwest of Anna Maria, Florida, as reported by the U.S. Geological Survey National Earthquake Information Center. The quake was felt from Louisiana to Florida, with items knocked from shelves and seiches observed in swimming pools, though no damage or injuries were reported.
In December 2007, Mexico submitted information to the Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf (CLCS) regarding the extension of Mexico's continental shelf beyond 200 nautical miles.
A 2007 study of the Atlantic croaker found a disproportioned sex ratio of 61% males to 39% females in hypoxic sites. This was compared with a 52% to 48% male-female ratio found in reference sites, showing impaired reproductive output for fish populations inhabiting hypoxic coastal zones.
In 2007, an expedition led by Texas A&M University and funded by OGGC was launched to study the Mardi Gras shipwreck site on the seafloor. Artifacts were recovered for public display in the Louisiana State Museum.
In July 2008, researchers reported that between 1985 and 2008, the hypoxic dead zone in the Gulf of Mexico roughly doubled in size.
In March 2009, the CLCS accepted Mexico's arguments for extending its continental shelf up to 350 nautical miles (650 km; 400 mi) into the Western Polygon, requiring a bilateral agreement with the United States.
On April 20, 2010, the Deepwater Horizon oil platform, operated by BP, suffered a catastrophic explosion and later sank, leading to a major oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. The spill threatened marine life, coastal wetlands, and Gulf Coast livelihoods.
In 2013, the average volumetric flow rate through the Yucatan Channel varied between 15.8 and 28.1 Sverdrups (hectometers per second).
In 2014, a brine pool was discovered on the Gulf of Mexico sea floor at a depth of 3,300 feet (1,000 m). This pool, with a circumference of 100 feet (30 m) and a depth of 12 feet (4 m), is four to five times saltier than the surrounding water and has been named the "Jacuzzi of Despair" due to its warmer temperature of 18 °C (65 °F) compared to the surrounding water at 4 °C (39 °F).
As of 2015, BP had spent $54 billion on cleanup, penalties, and to repair environmental and economic damage.
On May 12, 2016, 2,100 barrels of oil were released from subsea infrastructure on Shell's Brutus oil rig. This leak created a 5 to 34 km (3.1 to 21.1 mi) oil slick in the sea about 156 km (97 miles) south of Port Fourchon, Louisiana.
In 2017, the hypoxic dead zone in the Gulf of Mexico reached 22,730 km (8,780 square miles), the largest ever recorded.
From 1970 to 2020, surface temperatures warmed at about twice the rate observed for the global ocean surface.
In January 2025, United States president Donald Trump directed federal agencies to adopt the name Gulf of America for the waters bounded by the U.S. This decision led to controversy, including objections from Mexican president Claudia Sheinbaum, despite major online map platforms and several U.S.-based media outlets voluntarily adopting the change.
Donald John Trump is an American politician media personality and...
A submarine is a watercraft capable of independent operation underwater...
An earthquake is a shaking of the Earth's surface caused...
Florida a southeastern U S state boasts the longest coastline...
Claudia Sheinbaum Pardo is a Mexican politician scientist and academic...
New Orleans is the most populous city in Louisiana and...
57 minutes ago SFO Introduces Touchless TSA PreCheck; Clear Launches New Airport eGates for Faster Security
57 minutes ago Jasmine Paolini Dominates Iga Swiatek in Wuhan Quarterfinals with Stunning Performance
57 minutes ago Djokovic overcomes fatigue to reach Shanghai Masters Semifinals; Vacherot's dream run continues.
58 minutes ago Priscilla Hon unlocks new brain part, Beijing success elevates her into top 100.
2 hours ago Luque Warns Alvarez About Welterweight Power; Alvarez Returns From Injury at UFC Rio.
3 hours ago Jaiswal and Sudharsan shine, Gill involved in runout drama during India-West Indies test.
Candace Owens is an American political commentator and author known...
Charlie Kirk is an American right-wing political activist entrepreneur and...
Greta Thunberg is a Swedish climate activist who gained international...
Jupiter is the fifth and largest planet from the Sun...
Kashyap Pramod Patel is an American lawyer and former federal...
Adam Schiff is an American politician and lawyer currently serving...