The 5 Strategies You Must Be Using to Improve 160+ SAT Points, How to Get a Perfect 1600, by a Perfect Scorer, Free Complete Official SAT Practice Tests. The Gulf of Mexico is connected to the Caribbean Sea via the Yucatn Channel (between Cuba and Mexico); and with the Atlantic Ocean through the Straits of Florida (between Cuba and US). These slow-growing, long-living animals thrive in very deep waters300 meters (984 feet) and . However, in portions such as The Sigsbee Deep, which is 2 miles southwest of Brownsville, Texas, the depths reach up to 4,384 meters, or 14,383 feet! These skeletons may have the answer, Scientists are making advancements in birth controlfor men, Blood cleaning? In addition to this, the Gulf of Mexico provides critical habitats, feeding, and nursery grounds for the five species of endangered sea turtles that reside in its waters. Both are partially detailed in a lengthy 1975 National Academy of Sciences report on ocean contaminants. The Gulf of Mexico today is bordered by 1,680 miles (2,700 km) of U.S. coastline and is fed with water from 33 major rivers that flow out of the United States. These nutrients favor the growth of algae and results in an algal bloom. Lines of underwater microphones pulled along the surface behind the ship record how long it takes the reflected waves to reach them, data that can then be translated into topography. Deep below the surface, salt domes protrude from the seafloor and some of the . The Deepwater Horizon oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico is the worst oil spill in history, leaving almost 5 million barrels of oil in the Gulf. The Gulf of Mexico (Golfo de Mxico in Spanish) is located in the Atlantic Ocean, and the majority of it is bordered by the United States and Mexico. The rig was located approximately 50 miles southeast of Venice, Louisiana, and had a 126-member crew onboard. The College Entrance Examination BoardTM does not endorse, nor is it affiliated in any way with the owner or any content of this site. Now that youre familiar with the Gulf of Mexico, its time to start planning a beach trip to Gulf Shores and Orange Beach! Bats and agaves make tequila possibleand theyre both at risk, This empress was the most dangerous woman in Rome. The Gulf of Mexico is bordered by 1,680 miles of US coastline. Its considered one of the worst natural disasters in history, and efforts to reverse some of the damage that was caused are still ongoing. With the consent of the seven companies, the BOEM released the map to the public. A mans world? The Gulf is about 1,000 miles wide, as much as 14,000 feet deep, and receives runoff from vast areas of the continent. The Gulf of Mexico features a wide continental shelf, specifically around Florida and the Yucatn Peninsula. The exceptionally warm sea surface temperatures in the Gulf of Mexico feed the powerful Atlantic hurricanes which in turn cause widespread destruction. . More than 400 species of shellfish are found in the Gulf region. Cuba is located to the southeast of the Gulf of Mexico. In the United States the population of the coastal regions surrounding the Gulf of Mexico is estimated to number more than 60 million people by 2025, as states such as Texas (the second most populous state) and Florida (the third most populous state) are growing quickly. To the southeast, it's bounded by the Caribbean Sea and Cuba. Efforts in May to place a containment dome over the largest leak in the broken riser were thwarted by the buoyant action of gas hydratesgas molecules in an ice matrixformed by the reaction of natural gas and cold water. The Gulf Stream originates here, and it is one of the strongest ocean currents in the world. Animals that wander into the lake dont come out alive. In Florida, for example, Florida state waters are from shore to 9 nautical miles on the Gulf . At that point, the Gulf was probably a separate basin that was filled with seawater that later evaporated, leaving a blanket of salt behind. The Gulf of Mexico is shallower, saltier, and warmer than the Atlantic Ocean. The Mexican material represents new species of the genera Zosime Boeck, 1873, Peresime . They found the Gulf is home to 2,000 year-old deep-sea black corals, many of which are only a few feet tall. Briney, Amanda. The Gulf's geologic origin remains uncertain. No, although many people make that mistake, as the definition of an ocean is actually somewhat vague. The position of the West Florida Escarpment is shown . [3] The actual maximum depth is disputed and estimates range between 3,750 and 4,384 metres (12,303 and 14,383ft). It is largely surrounded by the continent of North America. However, around 300 million years ago, in the late Triassic period, plate tectonics caused rifting within Pangea, and a rich oceanic basin created what is now the worlds largest gulf. 30A has raised over $3 million for coastal charities, and has given away 4 million of its famous blue 30A stickers. He was a research editor with Encyclopaedia Britannica, Inc. from 2008 to 2016 and worked on Britannica Blog from 2010 Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree. The oil well over which it was positioned was located on the seabed 4,993 feet (1,522 metres) below the surface and extended approximately 18,000 feet (5,486 metres) into the rock. Theres a pocket of seawater in the Gulf of Mexico near New Orleans that contains salt content thats 5 times higher than neighboring waters. A few hundred years ago, our beaches were home to pirates who hid in Perdido Pass and Perdido Bay while waiting to raid ships in the Gulf. Deepwater Horizon oil spill, also called Gulf of Mexico oil spill, largest marine oil spill in history, caused by an April 20, 2010, explosion on the Deepwater Horizon oil riglocated in the Gulf of Mexico, approximately 41 miles (66 km) off the coast of Louisiana and its subsequent sinking on April 22. Birds were particularly vulnerable to the effects of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. A Comprehensive Guide. Fishing is productive in the Gulf because of the connection with Sarasota Bay and other local estuaries. Several copepods of the family Zosimeidae were found in deep-sea sediment samples from the Gulf of Mexico and the Gulf of California (Mexico). The distance will be displayed below the map in miles or kilometers. Enter your email in the box below to get the most mind-blowing animal stories and videos delivered directly to your inbox every day. 6. Various waterfowl, shorebirds, coral reef, and endangered sea turtles establish their habitats in the Gulf of Mexico which is crucial to their survival. So, while the average depth of the Gulf of Mexico is not incredibly deep, there are some areas that are quite deep. Lets look at some unique facts about this body of water. The Mississippi is the largest river that drains into the Gulf of Mexico and carries with it an extraordinary amount of these contaminants into the Gulf. In the Sarasota area the Gulf is best known for beautiful white-sand beaches and exciting offshore fishing. We end with some fun facts about the Gulf (spoiler alert: its home to a lot of sharks!). It was used by the early Europeans as an exploration route to explore the Americas. Its four times as salty as the nearby seawater and is warmer as well. Today, there are roughly 27,000 abandoned oil and gas wells underneath the Gulf. This in turn stimulates plankton growth and attracts numerous shrimps, small fishes, and squids. The volume of water in the basin is roughly 2.4 10 6 cubic kilometers (5.8 10 5 cubic miles). Located close to the Continental Shelf, you'll find waters as deep as 600 feet just 10-12 miles from shore. ABOARD THE WESTERN NEPTUNE, Gulf of Mexico Every 17 seconds, a small armada of ships trawling 130 miles from the Louisiana coast fire powerful air guns toward the bottom of the sea in a. Who owned the rig responsible for the Deepwater Horizon oil spill? The wetlands here comprise nearly 30% of all wetlands in the United States. The Gulf of Mexico is known for beautiful white-sand beaches and exciting offshore fishing. Some of the notable species include Southern Moon jelly, Mushroom jelly, Upside-down jelly, Cannonball jellyfish, Atlantic Sea Nettle, Pink Meanie, and Portuguese Man of War. . Traveling east from the warm waters of the Gulf of Mexico to the cold waters of the Atlantic Ocean, the Gulf Stream is one of the strongest currents in the world. They die when they enter and are preserved by the high salt content, pickled in their tracks! Nearly half of the basin is compromised of shallow continental-shelf waters and due to the separation from the Atlantic Ocean, there are minimal tidal ranges. Retrieved from https://www.thoughtco.com/geography-of-the-gulf-of-mexico-1435544. The Sigsbee Deep, for example, is estimated to be between 12,300 and 14,383 feet deep. Once released, the natural gas traveled up a riser to the platform of the Deepwater Horizon oil rig that was over the well, where it ignited, killing 11 workers and injuring 17. Can we bring a species back from the brink?, Video Story, Copyright 1996-2015 National Geographic Society, Copyright 2015-2023 National Geographic Partners, LLC. Some bivalve species that are found here include oysters, mussels, clams, and scallops. (April 23, 2010). Our editors will review what youve submitted and determine whether to revise the article. [4] A proposal by the United States renaming Sigsbee Deep, with coordinates of 23 52 N 91 35 W, to "Mexico basin" was rejected by the Sixteenth Meeting of the GEBCO Sub-committee on Undersea Feature Names (SCUFN), the international authority on feature names, in 2003 with the note that it is "an historical name dating back to Sir John Murray." 600000 surface area (sq mi) 17070 max. The casual observer would need to watch the coral for many years possibly hundreds to notice any difference in its growth, however. These include Kemps ridley, loggerhead, green turtle, leatherback, and hawksbill. The Gulf of Mexico is a 'sea' and is part of the Atlantic Ocean. On April 20, 2010, an explosion on the Deepwater Horizon platform caused the largest oil spill in history. Due to its large size and the complex current system, the Gulf of Mexico has a diverse ecology, ranging from the coastal zone, which serves as a nursery for all types of marine life, to the deep waters of the abyssal plain where colonies of deep-sea coral grow on the seafloor. Copyright 1996-2015 National Geographic SocietyCopyright 2015-2023 National Geographic Partners, LLC. Half of the crater is located on land while the other half is under the waters of the Gulf of Mexico. The rig capsized and sank on the morning of April 22, rupturing the riser, through which drilling mud had been injected in order to counteract the upward pressure of oil and natural gas. I'm actually a little scared to get in a boat with you.". A well-preserved shipwreck is seen in the Gulf of Mexico. The average depth of the Gulf of Mexico by shore is roughly 5,200 feet. Final Reports FINAL REPORT: Congressional Letters - Offshore Whistleblower Protection The Gulf of Mexico is the largest gulf in the world, with 600,000 sq miles bordered by 1,680 miles of US coastlines. Some of the notable species include Blacktip shark, Bonnethead shark, Bull shark, Great hammerhead shark, Lemon shark, Nurse shark, and Sand Tiger Shark. Contact the AZ Animals editorial team. The entire basin is about 600,000 square miles (1.5 million sq km). The bureaus job is to manage exploration and development of the countrys offshore mineral and energy resources. The average depth of the Gulf is roughly 5,200 feet, but other parts of the Gulf of Mexico are surprisingly deep. Here are 11 facts about the Gulf. It has been estimated by researchers that the Gulf of Mexico was formed as a result of seafloor subsidence, due to the movement of the Tectonic Plates over 300 million years ago. Before the Gulf of Mexico exists the landscape was a continuous mountain range that spanned from Central Mexico up to West Texas, Oklahoma, and Alabama where it connected to the Appalachia Mountains. Red tide algae blooms in the Gulf have led to large die-offs of marine species, and the Gulf of Mexico is reported to contain one of the highest levels of microplastics in the world. The average depth of the Gulf of Mexico is 5,299 feet (1,615 meters) and the maximum depth is estimated to be 14,383 feet (4,384 meters). The Flower Garden Banks are brightly colored coral reefs that are located about 185km to the southeast of Galveston, in the northwestern part of the Gulf of Mexico. The Gulf is about 1, 000 miles wide, as much as 14, 000 feet deep, and receives runoff from vast areas of the continent. Unfortunately, yes. The cited reference discusses differences in United States and IHO committee views and variations between names recommended by the Advisory Committee on Undersea Features (ACUF) of the U. S. BGN and the GEBCO committee. Construction of two such wells had begun in May. 9. The deepest part of the Gulf of Mexico, Sigsbee Deep, is estimated to be around 14,383 feet deep while the average depth is around 5,300 feet. Updates? These are not coastal dead zones, like the one that sprawls across the Gulf of Mexico, but great swaths of deep water that can reach thousands of miles offshore. Due to the warm waters, moist air, and strong current of the Gulf Steam when storms originating in the cold waters of the Atlantic Ocean move west and collide it creates the perfect conditions for hurricanes to form. A National Geographic team has made the first ascent of the remote Mount Michael, looking for a lava lake in the volcanos crater. Hurricane Season of Gulf of Mexico: The hurricane season officially begins at the beginning of June and ends in late November. Ukraine Russia War Crisis: Everything You Wanted to Know. A gulf is an inlet of the ocean into the land. This region consists of about 1,394 miles (2,243 km) of coastline. In early July the LMRP cap was removed for several days so that a more permanent seal could be installed; this capping stack was in place by July 12. "Dude, you have some terrible luck. The Gulf of Mexico is a large ocean basin near the Southeastern United States. ". All maps, graphics, flags, photos and original descriptions 2023 worldatlas.com. All rights reserved. Its over 600,000 square miles and from east to west it covers 932 miles. The gulfs peculiar history gave rise to a landscape riddled with domes, pockmarks, canyons, faults, and channels all revealed in more detail than ever before by a new 1.4 billion-pixel map. ThoughtCo. The roughly 5,000-year-old human remains were found in graves from the Yamnaya culture, and the discovery may partially explain their rapid expansion throughout Europe. "Sigsbee Deep" applied to the entire deep basin appears on some of the earliest charts of the Gulf of Mexico. of Mexico before you plan a fishing trip. Our area is home to the largest fleet of charter fishing boats on the Gulf of Mexico, with over 100 in the destination. Unfortunately, oil spills have caused irreparable damage while overfishing, pollution, and more threaten this critical resource. While most of the Gulf of Mexico is fairly shallow, its deepest point is Sigsbee Deep, which has an estimated maximum depth of 14,383 feet! Old cells hang around as we age, doing damage to the body. ", Robertson, Campbell and Leslie Kaufman. It is estimated that around 10,000 bottlenose dolphins live in the coastal waters of the Gulf of Mexico. Anglers can check out the most common fish found on Alabamas beaches here. The Annual John L. Borom Alabama Coastal Birdfest is a fantastic opportunity to witness these birds in action. The US states of Texas and Florida are recognized as the most rapidly growing states. Later, as the basin became a gulf, the salt was covered with sediment deposited by rivers. They are known to be one of the smartest creatures in the animal kingdom. This cross section has been derived from recently collected deep-penetration seismic reflection profiles collected by industry. The effect of the microscopic oil droplets on the ecosystem was unknown, though their presence, along with that of a layer of oil several inches thick discovered on portions of the seafloor in September, cast doubt on earlier predictions about the speed with which the discharged oil would dissipate. Her family is still awaiting justice. In this guide, we explain exactly where the Gulf of Mexico is and what its boundaries are, and we include a Gulf of Mexico map so you can see a visual of it. The explosion Go the Distance. With the damaged riser shorn from the LMRPthe top segment of the BOPthe cap was lowered into place. . Recreation and the tourism sector are important industries in the regions that surround the Gulf of Mexico. The Gulf formed about 300 million years ago, and in all it encompasses 600,000 square miles. Looking for more fun facts? Here's where to find more lumps to fish in the gulf. Eleven people died in the explosion and an estimated 5,000 barrels of oil per day leaked into the Gulf of Mexico from the 18,000-foot (5,486 m) well on the platform. Thank you for reading! However, the hurricanes which do reach land can cause catastrophic devastation. It is surrounded by the Mexican states of Baja California, Baja California Sur, Sonora, Sinaloa and Nayarit. The Gulf of Mexico was likely formed roughly 300 million years ago when part of the ocean floor gradually sank due to plate tectonics. The Gulfs basin is unusually flat, with a gradient of only about 1 foot per every 8,000 feet. The Gulf of Mexico is the ninth largest body of water in the world at a width of 810 nautical miles (1,500 km). An important feature of the Gulf of Mexico is the Gulf Stream, which is a warm Atlantic current that begins in the region and flows north into the Atlantic Ocean. . Fishing in the Gulf of Mexico: - Top spots & species - How to fish (charter fishing, deep sea fishing, shore fishing) - When to come | For beginners and pros . Currently, there are about 27,000 wells, both oil and gas, that have been drilled and abandoned in the Gulf. 2014). The Gulf of Mexico is a large oval-shaped oceanic basin, that is located on the southeastern coast of North America and is bounded by the US states of Mississippi, Louisiana, Texas, Alabama, and Florida to the north, northeast and northwest; by the Mexican states of Campeche, Quintana Roo, Tabasco, Tamaulipas, Veracruz and Yucatan to the south and southwest; and by the island of Cuba to the southeast. With millions of gallons of oil spilled in the sea, the response effort was large and has lasted for over a decade. The area then filled with seawater, forming the Gulf of Mexico. The grid defines water depth with 1.4 billion 40-by-40 ft cells and is available in feet and meters. An ocean basin is simply any large area covered with seawater and located below sea level. Cuba, crossed some of the deepest parts of the Gulf of Mexico over 100 miles offshore, which therefore increases the . The strange geology of the floor of the Gulf is mostly caused by thick underlying layers of salt. One escarpment has a towering drop of 1,220 meters and extends for 560 kilometers, or 348 miles. This involves towing high-powered underwater air guns behind a ship. Because salt also flows easily, it can deform and get squeezed, which results in blobs of salt pushing up into the layers above, making domes and ridges and faults. . When the guns fire, they create sound waves that travel down and are reflected back up by the sea floor. The Gulf of Mexico is fed by the waters of 33 American rivers, the largest of which is the Mississippi River. The entire coastline felt the effects of Hurricane Katrina: 1,800 lives were lost and damages caused by the storm totaled $125 billion. The two reefs the East Flower Garden Bank and the West Flower Garden Bank were designated as a marine sanctuary in 1992. Plenty of marine life lives on its borders but its a rare occurring killer lake for sure. Interested in early American history? From April through October 2022, NOAA and a diverse set of collaborators embarked on a set of eight scientific cruises in some of the Gulf of Mexico . The Gulf of Mexico is believed to contain over 660 quadrillion gallons of water. The narrow subtropical sea is 1,130km (700 miles) long and 80-209km (50-130 miles) wide. The Deepwater Horizon rig, owned and operated by offshore-oil-drilling company Transocean and leased by oil company BP, was situated in the Macondo oil prospect in the Mississippi Canyon, a valley in the continental shelf. The Deepwater Horizon oil spill damaged deep-sea habitats over a large area. The Gulf of Mexico The graphic above shows the varying depths of the Gulf, which can range to over 12,000 feet deep (the darker the blue the deeper the water). These islands are Galveston, Follets, Matagorda, St. Josephs (San Jos), Mustang, Padre, and Brazos. The Jacuzzi of Despair as its called, is a combination of methane gas and hydrogen sulfide that kills all creatures who enter it. Claims by several research groups that subsurface plumes of dispersed hydrocarbons had been detected in May were initially dismissed by BP and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). Fishermen found Heather Strickland's body in a trash bag miles off the coast of Pinellas County, Florida, in December 2022. The Deepwater Horizon oil spill in pictures, The Perils of Industry: 10 Notable Accidents and Catastrophes, https://www.britannica.com/event/Deepwater-Horizon-oil-spill, National Ocean Service - Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill, Deepwater Horizon oil spill of 2010 - Student Encyclopedia (Ages 11 and up), Deepwater Horizon oil spill: debris and oil, Deepwater Horizon oil spill of 2010: path of the oil, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Monster Mahi Mahi, Grouper, Snapper, Cobia, and . . Brown pelicans and laughing gulls were among the species most affected. Without any opposing force, oil began to discharge into the gulf. Kramer and Shedd report that after the 2010 Deep Water Horizon oil spill, marine biologists wanted a detailed map of the Gulf to help locate ecological communities that might have been impacted. Only about 25 percent of the oil was recovered, leaving more than 154 million gallons of oil at sea. Although Native Americans living in the region used the Gulf of Mexico for centuries as a source of food and building materials, the first European to explore the Gulf was Italian Amerigo Vespucci in 1497. Often referred to as the Mediterranean of the Americas, the Gulf of Mexico is the 9th largest water body, measuring approximately 1,600 km from west to east and about 900 km from north to south. Shrimp and oysters are the most common fish products harvested from the Gulf. Marc Pagani Photography/Shutterstock.com. at about 7,000-8,000 feet deep in the Gulf of Mexico. Further exploration of the Gulf of Mexico continued throughout the 1500s, and after numerous shipwrecks in the region, settlers and explorers decided to establish a settlement along the northern Gulf Coast. The Gulf of Mexico is a part of the Atlantic Ocean and is considered an ocean basin and marginal sea. Hurricane Harvey is tied with Hurricane Katrina as the costliest in U.S. history. There are nearly 2,000 different species! Which travel companies promote harmful wildlife activities? She has taught English and biology in several countries. Forensic analysis of the BOP completed the following year determined that a set of massive blades known as blind shear ramsdesigned to slice through the pipe carrying oilhad malfunctioned because the pipe had bent under the pressure of the rising gas and oil. Natural gas is also extracted. Heres why each season begins twice. These animals can sniff it out. In addition to being home to so many incredible beaches, it is also a very unique region of the world. Although it has its own name and boundaries, the Gulf of Mexico can be considered part of the Atlantic Ocean as oceans have no hard boundaries. It is a warm Atlantic Ocean current and the warmth of this current is the cause of the formation of devastating Atlantic hurricanes. The 'extreme cruelty' around the global trade in frog legs, What does cancer smell like? The BP Deepwater Horizon catastrophe in 2010 spilled 205.8 million gallons of oil and 225,000 tons of methane into the Gulf of Mexico. Your personal data will be governed by Mapsofworld, When Did Alaska Become Part of the United States. National Geospatial Intelligence Agency's Undersea Features History. How many miles deep is the Gulf of Mexico? The Gulf of Mexico supports different species of flora and fauna and is widely recognized for its diversity and productivity. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Houston, New Orleans, Cancun, Tampa, Key West, Havana, San Francisco de Campeche, Mobile, Gulfport, Tampico, Veracruz, Ciudad del Carmen, Coatzacoalcos, Corpus Christi are some of the major urban settlements along the Gulf. The deepest part of the Gulf of Mexico, Sigsbee Deep, is estimated to be around 14,383 feet deep while the average depth is around 5,300 feet. Zoom and drag the map to find the location of marker 2. Climate change that's warming waters further is also making them larger, as in increased intensity and amount of water. Some of the devastating hurricanes in the Gulf of Mexico region include Hurricane Katrina (2005), Hurricane Ike (2008), Hurricane Harvey (2016), Hurricane Michael (2018), Hurricane Rita, Galveston Hurricane, etc. 1. Without a doubt, the sugar-white sand beaches on the Alabama and Florida gulf coast are among the most beautiful on the planet. A study has dated the coral to be at least 2,000 years old. The Florida Panhandle becomes a magical realm when you put on scuba gear, dive in the ocean, and breathe underwater. Leopard is located in OCS block Alaminos Canyon (AC) 691, approximately 20 miles (32 kilometers) east of the Whale discovery, 20 miles (32 km) south of the recently appraised Blacktip discovery . These hurricanes are either formed or make their way into the Gulf and eventually make landfall in the areas surrounding the Gulf of Mexico. These floating feeding grounds can grow to be so large theyre detectable from space! It is one of the largest bodies of water in the world and it is a part of the Atlantic Ocean. Louisiana is an especially important stop along their journey between Latin America and the breeding grounds in North America with nearly 2.5 million landing each day to rest. Some of these Gulf of Mexico sharks include bull sharks, hammerhead sharks, and lemon sharks. Hydrology They write new content and verify and edit content received from contributors. West views and deep water! The average depth of the Gulf is roughly 1,615 metres (5,299ft). The United States' proposal to rename the 23 52 N 91 35 W point "Mexico basin was rejected while the ACUF Mexico basin with "Sigsbee deep" as an alternate name is given in the NGA database as 25 N 92 W.[4][5], There are other features with BGN approved names in the region in recognition of this pioneer in deep ocean sounding and commander of the first true bathymetric survey of the Gulf of Mexico conducted while commanding USC&GS George S. Blake:[4][6], Coordinates: .mw-parser-output .geo-default,.mw-parser-output .geo-dms,.mw-parser-output .geo-dec{display:inline}.mw-parser-output .geo-nondefault,.mw-parser-output .geo-multi-punct{display:none}.mw-parser-output .longitude,.mw-parser-output .latitude{white-space:nowrap}2352N 9135W / 23.867N 91.583W / 23.867; -91.583, The name "Sigsbee Deep" has sometimes been applied to. The Gulf covers approximately 600,000 square miles. Though fitted loosely over the BOP and allowing some oil to escape, the cap enabled BP to siphon approximately 15,000 barrels of oil per day to a tanker. [3] The Sigsbee Abyssal Plain is the deepest and flattest sector of the deep basin.[1]. Read our guide on transcendentalism for everything you need to know about key transcendentalist beliefs, an overview of the movement's history, and key players. What SAT Target Score Should You Be Aiming For? The Deepwater Horizon oil spill began on April 20, 2010, when an explosion damaged the Deepwater Horizon oil rig. http://articles.latimes.com/2010/apr/23/nation/la-na-oil-rig-20100423, http://www.nytimes.com/2010/04/29/us/29spill.html, http://www.epa.gov/gmpo/about/facts.html#resources, M.A., Geography, California State University - East Bay, B.A., English and Geography, California State University - Sacramento, Fausset, Richard. The Gulf of Mexico produces nearly 20% of all U.S. crude oil.