Gulf of Mexico

The southern reaches of the Gulf of Mexico stretch north of the Yucatán shelf and the Bay of Campeche. Along the coast, low limestone land meets shallow water, while the open basin deepens farther offshore. Warm Caribbean water enters the Gulf between Yucatán and Cuba, contributing to currents that circulate through the wider sea. The coast curves southwest toward Campeche and Veracruz, whose ports faced these waters.