The Caribbean Sea
The Caribbean Sea, a part of the Atlantic Ocean, lies between the West Indies and Central and South America.Caribbean Sea, an arm of the Atlantic Ocean. It is enclosed by Central and South America, the West Indies, and Mexico. The Caribbean covers an area of 750,000 square miles (1,940,000 km 2 ). The sea floor is divided into three basins more than 12,000 feet (3,660 m) deep, separated by undersea ridges. Cayman Trench, south of Cuba, reaches a depth of 25,190 feet (7,678 m), the deepest part of the Caribbean. There are long periods of calms that are interrupted by storms and hurricanes.
The Caribbean was discovered by Columbus, who named it for the Carib Indians. Because of Spanish colonization, from the 15th to the 18th century, the bordering mainland—and later the sea itself—became known as the Spanish Main. Pirates raided the fortified cities on its shores and the ships carrying treasure to Spain. The building of the Panama Canal converted the Caribbean into a major sea lane. Caribbean islands attract many tourists, especially in winter.