Cecille's Creativity

The Gulf Stream, is a warm, ocean curremt which begins in the Gulf of Mexico and flows across the North Atlantic toward Europe.

The Gulf Stream bursts into the Atlantic through the Straits of Florida, between the USA and Cuba. It flows close to the coast of America as far as Cape Hatteras and then continues northeast toward Europe. In the open ocean it is driven along by the westerly winds.

The Gulf Stream is a meandering current about 62 miles wide. Its average speed is less tan .62 mile an hour. To the north of the Gulf Stream there is a very sudden change to cold water. And as it is only a surface current, the water temperature cools rapidly below 1,148 feet.

The warm water of the Gulf Stream is vital to northern Europe. Ports are ice-free and the weather is warm enough for farming much farther north in Europe than in eastern Canada on the opposite side of the Atlantic.