Elaine Di Mora., age 11, of Rochester, N.Y

How wide is the Gulf of Mexico?

The Gulf of Mexico takes a big bite out of the United States and Mexico, Its beautiful, blue‑green waters cover a total area of 600,000 square miles. From north to south it measures 800 miles ‑ which makes it 800 miles long. From east to west it measures 1,100 miles ‑ which makes the Gulf of Mexico 1,100 miles wide,

Where the Gulf meets the Atlantic, between the tip of Florida and Yucatan, it is only 450 miles across. The island of Cuba noses over a line drawn between these two points. Here is where ships leave the Gulf for the Atlantic. They can go through the Straits of Florida or the Straits of Yucatan,