Discover the 7 Largest Gulfs in the World

Traveling and learning about the world is one of the many gifts of life! There is so much to explore in this vast world, and so many beautiful locations to see. Ocean gulfs are a few of these amazing places! Any bodies of water that penetrate somewhat into land are a gulf! These water bodies are important to humans, not only as a place of relaxation but also for trade and shipment.

1. Gulf of Mexico

The Gulf of Mexico is between the countries of the United States and Mexico and borders Belize on the southern half. The gulf as we know it today was first named during the Spanish colonization in the 1500s. In total, the Gulf is 1,743 miles in length Aside from being the largest bay in the world, the Gulf of Mexico is also the 10th largest body of water in the world! This beautiful body of water is home to a lot of biodiversity from plants to aquatic life as well. One of the fun activities for many who visit the beach is the coral reefs. Coral reefs are slow growing, growing only roughly 2000 times slower than a human fingernail. This makes the coral reefs at the gulf incredibly special. The reefs here are estimated to be a few thousand years old and offer shelter and homes to a multitude of aquatic life!

There is a large amount of aquatic life living in the Gulf of Mexico! Dolphins and whales are common in the gulf, and tours are also available to visitors who want a closer look! Whale tours are amazing as you can see the whales jump out of the water. There are also plenty of fish to see in the reefs. Common fish such as bass and bluefish are popular! Manta rays are also popular amongst visitors to reefs! The way the rays swim around is mesmerizing and beautiful to view!

2. Gulf of Guinea

The Gulf of Guinea is the second largest gulf in the world at around 1,000 miles in total length. The gulf runs along the western side of the continent of Africa between the countries of Ghana and Gabon. This gulf is home to a number of minerals and gems! Gems such as topaz and quartz are popular to mine here! There is also a large and diverse aquatic life here!

The aquatic life of the Gulf of Guinea is commonly farmed for food. Fish like anchovies and sardines are commonly found throughout the water here. There is a noticeable lack of ocean animals here due to the low level of salt in the water. The waters of the ocean here are low in saline due to lots of rainfall along the coast as well as high intake from surrounding rivers.

3. Gulf of Alaska

The Gulf of Alaska is one of the largest gulfs in the world! The length of the coastline can be difficult to estimate given the vast amount of land and islands, but the total area is roughly 1,533,000 km²! This gulf is geographically very interesting given its history along tectonic plates! It is believed by scientists that the gulf was actually created due to shifts in the tectonic plates, leading to the deeping of the gulf. There are also many mountains in the land surrounding the gulf, another feature of the tectonic plate movement!

Given the climate of this gulf, unique cold coral reefs are able to thrive here! An example of this is bubblegum reefs. These reefs get their name from the bright pink color they adorn! Lots of seals and otters live in this gulf, and you can interact with them on tours! In more rural areas along the coast as well, there are polar bears that make their rounds! This gulf has so much fun to explore, so if you can bear the cold, try to visit!

4. Persian Gulf

The Persian Gulf, as in the name, is located on the border of Iran! The Gulf also borders Iraq, Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain, and the United Arab Emirates! This gulf is a major center for trading given its size and proximity to other nations! The gulfs coast is roughly 615 miles in length! The gulf is home to lots of global trade, but also coral reefs and amazing aquatic life!

Similar to other gulfs, there is a lot of aquatic life to explore here! Beyond just the beautiful coral, there are also amazing ornamental fish to see! Goldfish, neon tetra, and zebrafish are some of the amazing fish that you can see here! These kinds of fish are great as pets, but they are even more beautiful to see in the wild! The gulf here was formed over 500,000 years ago! This history has caused over 700 species of fish to thrive in this environment!

5. Gulf of Oman

The Gulf of Oman is roughly 350 miles in length! This gulf actually neighbors the Persian Gulf, but is technically classified separately. As in the name, the Gulf borders both Oman and Iran and acts as the entryway to the Persian Gulf. This gulf, given its proximity, shares a lot of the same features and characteristics of the Persian Gulf. Similar fish species and coral are found here!

6. Gulf of Carpentaria

The Gulf of Carpentaria is located north of Australia, just between the continent and the countries of Papua New Guinea and Indonesia. This gulf is very big with the mouth of the body being around 370 miles long and the length being around 430 miles! This gulf is one of the more naturally kept gulfs on the list! One amazing feature of this gulf is the way the indigenous people still help to maintain it! The Marine Park in the gulf is famous for its care for the turtles of the area, helping to assist them in being safe during the breeding season. This amazing feat helps to maintain the culture of the indigenous people of Australia!

Like other gulfs, there is a lot of wildlife to be seen! Common wildlife such as dolphins are present, but there is also a lot to explore on the land! Because of the way the land has been maintained, animals such as horses, pigs, cows, and kangaroos are commonly found in the local area! This is perfect for all animal lovers who are looking to learn more about the wildlife of Australia!

7. Gulf of Finland

The Gulf of Finland is one of the smaller on the list, only extending 250 miles east to west, and 80 miles north to south. This bay, as in the name, is in Europe, between Finland and Estonia! Since the gulf is located in a colder climate, there are many unique features that make it stand out amongst the rest! One super interesting fact is that the entire gulf will freeze over at the peak of winter! This is perfect for those who like a bit of adventure or are interested in ice fishing!

Like others on the list, marine animals like seals are common due to the colder environment. One of the reasons seals are able to survive these colder environments is because of their thick blubber. Blubber is found on other mammals such as whales, but seals use it as a form of insulation against the cold water. This allows them to survive the harsh climate that humans cannot bear!

Summary

There are many gulfs throughout the entire world, all with their own unique traits and quirks. Getting to explore and learn more about these gulfs is one of the best parts of life, and provides so much enjoyment and fun! This list introduced some of the largest gulfs in the world and some of the fun traits to explore and learn about! Hopefully one day, you’ll be able to explore some of the amazing gulfs of this list!

The photo featured at the top of this post is © CurtisC Photoography/iStock via Getty Images