The Yucatán Channel links the Gulf of Mexico with the Caribbean Sea between Cuba and Mexico’s Yucatán Peninsula.
It is about 217 kilometres wide and reaches great depths, allowing substantial Caribbean water to enter the Gulf of Mexico. This inflow contributes to the Loop Current, which travels through the Gulf and eventually exits toward the Florida Straits.
The channel is important to oceanographers because its currents help connect Caribbean and Gulf of Mexico circulation. Strong flow through the channel also affects marine ecosystems, fisheries, navigation, and the distribution of heat in the region.
The Yucatán Channel should not be confused with the Florida Straits, which lie between Florida and Cuba and connect the Gulf of Mexico with the Atlantic Ocean. The Windward Passage is farther east, between Cuba and Hispaniola. The channel’s name reflects the Yucatán Peninsula on its western side.