Straits of Florida

The Straits of Florida are a sea passage connecting the Gulf of Mexico with the Atlantic Ocean, between the Florida Keys, Cuba, and the Bahamas.

Florida Current: A powerful northward ocean current flowing through the Straits of Florida and along the southeastern United States. It carries water out of the straits and becomes the Gulf Stream.
Gulf of Mexico: A large ocean basin bordered by the United States, Mexico, and Cuba. The straits form its principal outlet toward the Atlantic.
Straits of Florida shipping lanes: Established maritime routes used by vessels crossing the waters between Florida, Cuba, and the Bahamas. Deep-water routes carry traffic through the narrow passage.
Battle of the Florida Straits: A 1748 naval engagement between British and Spanish forces during the War of Jenkins’ Ear. The battle demonstrates the passage’s long-standing strategic importance.
Gulf Stream: A major warm Atlantic current flowing from the Gulf of Mexico toward the North Atlantic. The Florida Current feeds this larger current system.
Atlantic Ocean: The second-largest ocean, extending between the Americas, Europe, and Africa. The straits open into the Atlantic east of the Florida Keys.
Florida lobster fishery: A commercial and recreational fishery for spiny lobster in Florida waters, especially the Florida Keys. The straits’ reefs and currents support lobster habitat and fishing.
1994 Cuban rafters crisis: A mass migration crisis in which thousands of Cubans attempted to reach the United States by sea. The straits became the route for a major migration surge.
Loop Current: A warm-water current that enters the Gulf of Mexico through the Yucatán Channel and exits through the Florida Straits. It supplies the current that flows through the straits.
Cuba: An island country in the Caribbean Sea, south of Florida. Cuba forms the southern side of the passage.

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