Which channel separates Cuba from the Yucatán Peninsula?

The Yucatán Channel separates Cuba from Mexico’s Yucatán Peninsula.

This channel connects the Caribbean Sea with the Gulf of Mexico. It lies between the western end of Cuba and the northeastern coast of Mexico, forming an important boundary between two major marine regions.

The channel is also significant in oceanography because water from the Caribbean enters the Gulf of Mexico through it. That inflow contributes to the Loop Current, a powerful current that can later shed large circular eddies in the Gulf. These currents affect marine ecosystems, navigation, and the development of tropical systems.

The Yucatán Channel is sometimes confused with the Florida Straits, which lie between Florida and Cuba and connect the Gulf of Mexico region with the Atlantic Ocean. The two waterways are separated by Cuba and the western end of the Florida peninsula.