The Bahamas is not bordered by oceans in the typical sense of vast standalone bodies like the Atlantic or Pacific but rather lies within the Atlantic Ocean and is surrounded by several major seas and marine features. Here’s a breakdown of the large oceanic bodies around The Bahamas:
Large Marine Bodies Around The Bahamas
1. Atlantic Ocean
- The entire Bahamian archipelago lies within the Atlantic Ocean.
- This is the primary ocean surrounding The Bahamas.
- It influences the nation’s climate, weather systems (including hurricanes), and marine biodiversity.
2. Caribbean Sea (nearby, but not directly part of The Bahamas)
- Located south of the Bahamas, primarily influencing the Greater and Lesser Antilles.
- Sometimes mistakenly said to include The Bahamas, but The Bahamas is technically in the Atlantic, not the Caribbean.
Major Marine Zones and Basins in the Region
3. Bahama Banks
- Little Bahama Bank and Great Bahama Bank are large underwater carbonate platforms.
- These are critical to The Bahamas’ unique shallow turquoise waters and are rich in marine life.
4. Tongue of the Ocean
- A deep oceanic trench between Andros and New Providence islands.
- One of the most important geographical features, it’s used for marine research and submarine testing.
5. Straits and Passages
- Straits of Florida (to the northwest): Separates The Bahamas from Florida.
- Old Bahama Channel (to the south): Between Cuba and the southeastern Bahamas.
