But the Gulf is also a habitat for other sea animals including dolphins, whales, sea turtles, and manatees. Get the latest articles and test prep tips! Today, the most serious pollution threats to the Gulf of Mexico come from oil drilling and agricultural runoff. These include: Atlantic Spotted dolphin, Striped dolphin, Frasers dolphin, Pantropical spotted dolphin, Clymene dolphin, and Spinner dolphin. The Sigsbee Deep, 200 miles southeast of Brownsville, Texas, is estimated to be between 12,300 to 14,383 feet. The two designs are sized and analyzed for the new Gulf of Mexico metocean criteria. at about 7,000-8,000 feet deep in the Gulf of Mexico. Shrimp and oysters are among the largest fish products that come from the Gulf. It is surrounded by the Mexican states of Baja California, Baja California Sur, Sonora, Sinaloa and Nayarit. In 2011, the oil taken from the gulf made up 54 percent of U.S. oil. Right, In addition to impacts to the diversity of marine life living on the seafloor, researchers found a conservative chemical tracer of petroleum in surface seafloor sediments extending 15 miles from the Macondo wellhead (Valentine et al. Geography of the Gulf of Mexico Border States - ThoughtCo The explosion Louisiana is an especially important stop along their journey between Latin America and the breeding grounds in North America with nearly 2.5 million landing each day to rest. Still interested in learning more about the Gulf of Mexico? Some bivalve species that are found here include oysters, mussels, clams, and scallops. The Gulf of Mexico is shallower, saltier, and warmer than the Atlantic Ocean. The Gulf of Mexico is a semi-enclosed basin connected, to the south, to the Caribbean Sea, and to the North Atlantic Ocean to the east. Learn more about us & read our affiliate disclosure. Efforts to protect and conserve the thriving ecosystem found here are a serious priority as continuous ecological discoveries are being made and new species are being discovered. Water depths range from about 170 feet deep to about 450 feet deep. One escarpment has a towering drop of 1,220 meters and extends for 560 kilometers, or 348 miles. The 30A Company | 30A, Beach Happy and Life Shines are Registered Trademarks, By: Shannon Serpette | Posted Dec 17, 2021, The Five Beachiest Birds to Look for in the Sand and Skies, As a beach lover its likely you know that birds, much like other beach features, are never the same at every beach. Gulf of Mexico Info & Fun Facts | Gulf Shore & Orange Beach . The Deepwater Horizon oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico was the largest marine oil spill in U.S. history. We end with some fun facts about the Gulf (spoiler alert: its home to a lot of sharks!). "Size of Spill in Gulf of Mexico is Larger than Thought. Red snapper are generally found in waters from 30 to 620 feet deep and are one of the most heavily . This surpassed the 3.3 million barrels that spilled into the Bay of Campeche by the Mexican rig Ixtoc I in 1979. An ocean basin is simply any large area covered with seawater and located below sea level. Located close to the Continental Shelf, you'll find waters as deep as 600 feet just 10-12 miles from shore. ". These complex ecosystems include corals, fish, anemones, sponges, and sea cucumbers-but limited knowledge about these habitats creates challenges for their restoration. Today, there are roughly 27,000 abandoned oil and gas wells underneath the Gulf. Recreational and commercial fishing, water sports, scuba diving, and tourism also forms a significant part of the economy of the surrounding areas. The Gulf has a total area of approximately 1,680,000 square kilometers (650,000 square miles) and a maximum depth of approximately 7,020 meters (23,000 ft). Regardless of region, the Gulf of Mexico has a striking diversity of flora and fauna which support fish, sharks, dolphins, and countless other marine life. A mans world? hbspt.cta.load(360031, '4efd5fbd-40d7-4b12-8674-6c4f312edd05', {}); Have any questions about this article or other topics? The First European Settlement Was at Pensacola Bay, Over 60 Million Americans Live Along the Gulf. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. ", Robertson, Campbell and Leslie Kaufman. The Overwater Argument. Hurricane Harvey is tied with Hurricane Katrina as the costliest in U.S. history. A study has dated the coral to be at least 2,000 years old. Scientists think the salt probably accumulated around the time when Africa was just starting to separate from the Americas around 200 million years ago. It is one of the largest bodies of water in the world and it is a part of the Atlantic Ocean. From the floor of the basin rise the Sigsbee Knolls, some of which attain heights of 1,300 feet (400 metres); these are surface expressions of the buried salt domes. The strength and wind speed of a hurricane vary from a Category 1, which is 74-95 mph, to Category 5, which has wind speeds over 157 mph. These include Kemps ridley, loggerhead, green turtle, leatherback, and hawksbill. The Alabama Gulf Coast boasts the largest artificial reef program in the nation, with 1,136 square miles of artificial reefs located at the bottom of the Gulf of Mexico. South of Cocodrie at 28.09 degrees North and 90.71 degrees West, Diaphus Bank covers about 20 square miles. A Coral Reef Sanctuary in the Gulf of Mexico Could Triple in Size When these algae die, they lead to deterioration in the water quality and depletion of dissolved oxygen in the water bodies. The agricultural activities inland of the Gulf of Mexico coast have led to an increase in nitrogen-rich chemical fertilizers and pesticides and phosphorus-based detergents that are eventually washed away by rains or by rivers into the aquatic ecosystems. The new year once started in Marchhere's why, Jimmy Carter on the greatest challenges of the 21st century, This ancient Greek warship ruled the Mediterranean, How cosmic rays helped find a tunnel in Egypt's Great Pyramid, Who first rode horses? Cuba is located to the southeast of the Gulf of Mexico. Read our guide on transcendentalism for everything you need to know about key transcendentalist beliefs, an overview of the movement's history, and key players. The volume of oil escaping the damaged welloriginally estimated by BP to be about 1,000 barrels per daywas thought by U.S. government officials to have peaked at more than 60,000 barrels per day. SAT is a registered trademark of the College Entrance Examination BoardTM. The Chicxulub Crater is a large impact crater that is buried underneath the Yucatn Peninsula in Mexico. How deep are the oil rigs in the Gulf of Mexico? Data gathered by oil exploration companies was combined to create the highest resolution map ever made of the area. The Gulf of Mexico is a large ocean basin near the Southeastern United States. Fish caught in the Gulf of Mexico make up about of the total catch in the US. Yes! It has been estimated by researchers that the Gulf of Mexico was formed as a result of seafloor subsidence, due to the movement of the Tectonic Plates over 300 million years ago. Description [ edit] The basin is located in the southwestern quadrant of the Gulf, with its closest point to the U.S. coast at 200 miles (320 km) southeast of Brownsville, Texas. How many miles deep is the Gulf of Mexico? After numerous shipwrecks, the explorers decided to establish settlements in the lands surrounding the Gulf, to minimize the number of shipments from Europe. In Florida, for example, Florida state waters are from shore to 9 nautical miles on the Gulf . Unfortunately, oil spills have caused irreparable damage while overfishing, pollution, and more threaten this critical resource. It borders the coasts of Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and Florida as well as the island of Cuba and parts of Mexico. For over 10 years, scientists and researchers have come a long way in restoring, recovering, and researching the . Fishing is also an important industry and the economies of many states that lie along the Gulf of Mexico are driven by the fishing industry. Gulf of Mexico Oil Spill Milestones | Smithsonian Ocean The Sigsbee Deep, for example, is estimated to be between 12,300 and 14,383 feet deep. The Gulf formed about 300 million years ago, and in all it encompasses 600,000 square miles. The Gulf covers approximately 600,000 square miles. The Gulf of Mexico is the largest Gulf in the world and the tenth biggest body of water in the world. About 60% of the Gulf is less than 700 feet deep. Looking for more fun facts? Cleanup crews attempted to burn the oil off of the water, gather the oil and move it, and block it from hitting the coast. I'm actually a little scared to get in a boat with you.". Long COVID patients turn to unproven treatments, Why evenings can be harder on people with dementia, This disease often goes under-diagnosedunless youre white, This sacred site could be Georgias first national park, See glow-in-the-dark mushrooms in Brazils other rainforest, 9 things to know about Holi, Indias most colorful festival, Anyone can discover a fossil on this beach. Because salt also flows easily, it can deform and get squeezed, which results in blobs of salt pushing up into the layers above, making domes and ridges and faults. It is widely believed, that the impact that led to the creation of this crater had triggered a series of catastrophic events, which ultimately led to the mass extinction at the end of the Cretaceous Period. Some dolphins are also found in the waters of the Gulf of Mexico. That project also supported efforts in the characterization of surface oil spills from . WATCH: Sharks biting alligators, the most epic lion battles, and MUCH more. Some of the important fishes include Albacore tuna, Red snapper, greater amberjack, tarpon, grouper, Atlantic spadefish, king mackerel, Gulf flounder, bluefish, etc. On September 17 the bottom kill maneuver was successfully executed through the first relief well. ???? In this guide, we explain exactly where the Gulf of Mexico is and what its boundaries are, and we include a Gulf of Mexico map so you can see a visual of it. The paper presents and discusses two semisubmersible designs that assume a common topsides and riser payload. Scientists just confirmed a 30-foot void first detected inside the monument years ago. Looking at a map you may not realize that the Gulf of Mexico is the ninth largest body of water in the world. 1. Natural gas wasnt far behind, comprising 47 percent of the U.S. totals. It later emerged through documents released by Wikileaks that a similar incident had occurred on a BP-owned rig in the Caspian Sea in September 2008. Since that time thousands of wells have followed. In addition to this, the Gulf of Mexico provides critical habitats, feeding, and nursery grounds for the five species of endangered sea turtles that reside in its waters. The wetlands along the Gulf of Mexico cover around 5 million acres (2.02 million hectares). The average depth of the Gulf is roughly 5,200 feet, but other parts of the Gulf of Mexico are surprisingly deep. The United States' proposal to rename the 23 52 N 91 35 W point "Mexico basin was rejected while the ACUF Mexico basin with "Sigsbee deep" as an alternate name is given in the NGA database as 25 N 92 W.[4][5], There are other features with BGN approved names in the region in recognition of this pioneer in deep ocean sounding and commander of the first true bathymetric survey of the Gulf of Mexico conducted while commanding USC&GS George S. Blake:[4][6], Coordinates: .mw-parser-output .geo-default,.mw-parser-output .geo-dms,.mw-parser-output .geo-dec{display:inline}.mw-parser-output .geo-nondefault,.mw-parser-output .geo-multi-punct{display:none}.mw-parser-output .longitude,.mw-parser-output .latitude{white-space:nowrap}2352N 9135W / 23.867N 91.583W / 23.867; -91.583, The name "Sigsbee Deep" has sometimes been applied to. The Gulf of Mexico is somewhat shallow, along the coastal continental shelf areas, and has an average depth of 1,615m. The Sigsbee Deep[Note 1] (Mexico basin in the U. S. Board on Geographic Names Advisory Committee on Undersea Features (ACUF) Gazetteer),[1] is a roughly triangular basin that is the deepest part of the Gulf of Mexico named for Commander Charles Dwight Sigsbee, USN, Assistant U. S. Coast and Geodetic Survey, commanding officer of the USC&GS George S. Blake which discovered the feature during its mapping of the Gulf of Mexico. With the consent of the seven companies, the BOEM released the map to the public. The roughly 5,000-year-old human remains were found in graves from the Yamnaya culture, and the discovery may partially explain their rapid expansion throughout Europe. Natural gas is also extracted. (Weird fact: not all black coral is black.). To the south and southwest, the Gulf of Mexico is bordered by Mexico. The first . In high school she scored in the 99th percentile on the SAT and was named a National Merit Finalist. The Gulf of Mexico is somewhat shallow, along the coastal continental shelf areas, and has an average depth of 1,615m. All maps, graphics, flags, photos and original descriptions 2023 worldatlas.com. Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions. They are known to be one of the smartest creatures in the animal kingdom. "IHO-IOC GEBCO Gazetteer of Undersea Feature Names (Microsoft Excel spreadsheet/Adobe PDF document formats)", "Sixteenth Meeting of the GEBCO Sub-committee on Undersea Feature Names (SCUFN)", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Sigsbee_Deep&oldid=1009657881, This page was last edited on 1 March 2021, at 17:52. A deep dive into the Gulf of Mexico's catastrophe 'dead zone' The average depth of the Gulf of Mexico is 5,299 feet (1,615 meters) and the maximum depth is estimated to be 14,383 feet (4,384 meters). Have some feedback for us? Both are partially detailed in a lengthy 1975 National Academy of Sciences report on ocean contaminants. A Deep Dive into the United States First Underwater Museum, This article appears in the inaugural issue of 30AsBeach HappyMagazine. The black coral that lives in the Gulf has been found recently to be in the running for one of the oldest living things on earth. It is enclosed largely by North America. Northern GoM Deepwater Bathymetry Grid from 3D Seismic In the paper, Mishonov and his co-authors analyzed the first measurements of bottom nepheloid layers in the central and southern deep waters of the Gulf of Mexico west of the Yucatan peninsula made from Mexican and NOAA research vessels in 2015-2017. They start at the state waterline (nine nautical miles out) and go all the way to the edge of the continental shelf, 100 miles offshore. 600000 surface area (sq mi) 17070 max. The Sigsbee Deep, 200 miles southeast of Brownsville, Texas, is estimated to be between 12,300 to 14,383 feet. The fisheries in the Gulf of Mexico are considered to be one of the most productive in the world and the many Gulf Coast States have their economies centered on fishing in the gulf area. Some of the devastating hurricanes in the Gulf of Mexico region include Hurricane Katrina (2005), Hurricane Ike (2008), Hurricane Harvey (2016), Hurricane Michael (2018), Hurricane Rita, Galveston Hurricane, etc. The Gulf of Mexico is one of the most important offshore petroleum . Gulf of Mexico - Atlantic Oceanographic and Meteorological Laboratory The wetlands here comprise nearly 30% of all wetlands in the United States. What Went Wrong? Additionally, the storm surge for each Category increases with severity, a Category 1 is 4 5 feet, while a Category 5 is 19 feet or more! The average depth of the Gulf of Mexico by shore is roughly 5,200 feet. Not only does it border five U.S. states Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, and Florida but the Gulf of Mexico also borders Cuba and part of Mexico. Introduction. One hundred miles southeast of Galveston's muddy shoreline, the Gulf of Mexico becomes a dazzling, vibrant blue. There is a thriving range of wildlife living in the Gulf of Mexico and along its coastlines. A sea lily (Crinoidea) rests in the middle of a mushroom coral (Anthomastus sp.) https://www.thoughtco.com/geography-of-the-gulf-of-mexico-1435544 (accessed March 4, 2023). Currently, there are about 27,000 wells, both oil and gas, that have been drilled and abandoned in the Gulf. Ask questions; get answers. GMZ001-280215- Synopsis for the Gulf of Mexico 901 AM EST Mon Feb 27 2023 .SYNOPSIS.A ridge will continue to dominate the Gulf waters through Wed night. It is the center of the United States oil refining and petrochemical industry and hence more than 18% of the US oil production is derived from the offshore wells in the Gulf of Mexico. In early July the LMRP cap was removed for several days so that a more permanent seal could be installed; this capping stack was in place by July 12. Nice beaches and all, and warm for nine months a year, but if youre going anywhere west of about 85 degrees longitude, youll have the argument with yourself about cutting the corner across the Gulf. The coastal population of the five US states on the Gulf of Mexico is projected to increase from 44.2 million in 1995 to about 61.4 million in 2025. The Florida Panhandle becomes a magical realm when you put on scuba gear, dive in the ocean, and breathe underwater. The area of the Gulf of Mexico is about 615,000 square mi (1.6 million square km). There Are Massive Chemical Dumps In The Gulf We Know Almost - HuffPost . The Deepwater Horizon oil spill in pictures, The Perils of Industry: 10 Notable Accidents and Catastrophes, https://www.britannica.com/event/Deepwater-Horizon-oil-spill, National Ocean Service - Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill, Deepwater Horizon oil spill of 2010 - Student Encyclopedia (Ages 11 and up), Deepwater Horizon oil spill: debris and oil, Deepwater Horizon oil spill of 2010: path of the oil, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. "By clicking OK or by using this Website, you consent to the use of cookies. Thats great news when it comes to reaching those shipwrecks. A study showed that up to 800,000 birds were thought to have died. [3] The Sigsbee Abyssal Plain is the deepest and flattest sector of the deep basin.[1]. Endangered sea turtles also use the coast as their nursery and require the Sargassum, seaweed that floats on the surface of the water, to feed, along with fish, seahorses, and other marine life. Facts About Marine Life in the Gulf of Mexico, 10 Facts About the Geography of Baja California. The evaporation and filling of saltwater in the basin over the millennia created deposits and mounds that today appear as cliffs bordering Sigsbee Deep. Some of the notable species include Blacktip shark, Bonnethead shark, Bull shark, Great hammerhead shark, Lemon shark, Nurse shark, and Sand Tiger Shark. She has taught English and biology in several countries. She holds a Certificate of Advanced Study in Geographic Information Systems (GIS) from California State University. Covering an area of 1,507,639 km2, the Gulf of Mexico is a marginal sea of the Atlantic Ocean and the worlds largest gulf. The Gulf of Mexico encompasses around 617,800 square miles of water and stretches around 932 miles across from east to west. PDF NRDC: Summary of Information concerning the Ecological and Economic This beautiful body of water is what brings people from all over to our destination. The Gulf of Mexico, located between Florida and Yucatan peninsulas, is a great place to vacation, live, and work. Go the Distance. As per different reports, about 11 people had lost their lives and about 5,000 barrels of oil/day had leaked into the Gulf of Mexico from the 5,486m deep well on the platform. Thank you for reading! The Flower Garden Banks are brightly colored coral reefs that are located about 185km to the southeast of Galveston, in the northwestern part of the Gulf of Mexico. In the fall of 2021, nine new . All major bodies of saltwater, including the oceans, are ocean basins. Fishing Regulations and Seasonal Closures - Gulf of Mexico Construction of two such wells had begun in May. An important feature of the Gulf of Mexico is the Gulf Stream, which is a warm Atlantic current that begins in the region and flows north into the Atlantic Ocean. At least 49 different species of sharks have been known to hang out in the gulf waters. We had been planning a trip to run deep into the Gulf, but . Please be respectful of copyright. Now that's deep! The Gulf of Mexico has a maximum width of 932.06 miles and a surface area of approximately 600,000 square miles. Its no secret that the Gulf of Mexico is a great vacation spot! Because the Gulf of Mexico borders a portion of Mexico, Cuba, and five states Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, and Texas, it is divided into seven regions based on specific geological and geographical factors. The climate of the Gulf of Mexico region varies from tropical to subtropical type. (2021, September 8). Gulf Of Mexico - WorldAtlas In addition to the oil, nearly 2 million gallons of toxic dispersants were sprayed into the Gulf's waters. The 5 Strategies You Must Be Using to Improve 4+ ACT Points, How to Get a Perfect 36 ACT, by a Perfect Scorer. It is rumored that they buried some of their stolen loot on the bay. The average depth of the Gulf is roughly 5,200 feet, but other parts of the Gulf of Mexico are surprisingly deep. Birds were particularly vulnerable to the effects of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. Deepwater Horizon oil spill | Summary, Effects, Cause, Clean Up 2,000 Year-old Deep-sea Black Corals call Gulf of Mexico Home Contact the AZ Animals editorial team. The Gulf of Mexico, under ordinary conditions, has tides of two feet or less, but on the wide and shallow shelf such a variation is quite noticeable. Eco-friendly burial alternatives, explained. ThoughtCo. The first European exploration of the Gulf of Mexico occurred in 1497 when Amerigo Vespucci sailed along Central America and entered the Atlantic Ocean through the Gulf of Mexico and the Straits of Florida (the strip of water between present-day Florida and Cuba). Copyright 1996-2015 National Geographic SocietyCopyright 2015-2023 National Geographic Partners, LLC. . It often raises the Gulf of Mexico water temperature, which can also lead to the formation and strengthening of hurricanes. . Retrieved from https://www.thoughtco.com/geography-of-the-gulf-of-mexico-1435544. The groundbreaking promise of cellular housekeeping. The exploration companies use 3-D seismic imaging to map areas of the Gulf they are interested in. Scientists warn that the "dead zone" wreaking havoc on marine life in the Gulf of Mexico will cover almost 9,000 square miles this summer. Population along the Gulf coast exploded in the 1950s, and the rising number of people living along the Gulf resulted in increased pollution problems. (April 23, 2010). How Deep is the Gulf of Mexico | Gulf of Mexico Depth The addition of an ancillary collection system comprising several devices, also tapped into the BOP, increased the collection rate to approximately 25,000 barrels of oil a day. However, it was verified in June that the plumes were in fact from the Deepwater spill. Public domain image from the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration Padre Island has its origins in the Gulf of Mexico. By fintasticinc March 22, 2016 Capt's. Corner. Zoom and drag the map to find the location of marker 2. A well-preserved shipwreck is seen in the Gulf of Mexico. While most of the Gulf of Mexico is fairly shallow, its deepest point is Sigsbee Deep, which has an estimated maximum depth of 14,383 feet! The Gulf of Mexico The graphic above shows the varying depths of the Gulf, which can range to over 12,000 feet deep (the darker the blue the deeper the water). Left, scientists launch a seafloor sampling device off a research vessel into the Gulf of Mexico. Situated in the southwestern part of the Gulf, the Sigsbee Deep (Mexico Basin) is the deepest region in the Gulf of Mexico that has an estimated depth of over 4,384m. 30A is the #1 Guide to Floridas Scenic Highway 30-A. Warning: THIS DATA IS NOT TO BE USED FOR NAVIGATION When does spring start? Check out our guide on the 13 colonies for everything you need to know about the colonies and how the US came to be. What does this mean? The Western Gulf of Mexico, and. Most of the basin consists of shallow intertidal areas, but its deepest point is called Sigsbee Deep and has an estimated depth of about 14,383 feet (4,384 m). The Deepwater Horizon oil spill occurred after a surge of natural gas blasted through a concrete core recently installed to seal an oil well for later use. There are over a thousand types of fish in the Gulf of Mexico, including pelagic species, reef species. 11 Facts You Should Know. To the north of the Gulf of Mexico are the US states of Alabama, Texas, Florida, Louisiana, and Mississippi. Fishing is productive in the Gulf because of the connection with tidal streams and local estuaries. Cleanupand fines cost BP $65 billion. Home Fishing Ocean Depth Maps Florida and Eastern Gulf of Mexico. The gulf's peculiar history gave rise to a landscape riddled with domes,. This striking view of the ocean floor off the coasts of Louisiana and Texas was created by a government agency youve likely never heard of called the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM). Oceans Are Losing Oxygenand Becoming More Hostile to Life - Science Gulf of Mexico - New World Encyclopedia The Ultimate Guide to Campgrounds in Gulf Shores & Orange Beach, How to Plan a Budget-Friendly Beach Vacation, 10 Fun Family Activities in Gulf Shores & Orange Beach, 10 Cheap & Free Things To Do in Gulf Shores & Orange Beach, Take The Kids On A Catch & Release Crabbing Adventure On Alabama's Gulf Coast, The Best Restaurants for Fine Dining on Alabama Beaches, The Four Best Coffee Shops in Gulf Shores & Orange Beach, 4 Beach Restaurants Perfect for Date-Night, 10 Things to Know Before Your Gulf Shores & Orange Beach Vacation, 5 Things I Learned From My Alabama Beach Vacation, Easy Options for a Pet-Friendly Beach Vacation, Bike-Sharing at Gulf State Park: Share the Trails, Share the Wheels, 10 Things to do with Teens in Gulf Shores & Orange Beach, 5 Thrilling Amusement Parks Gulf Shores Orange Beach, The Gulf State Park Fishing and Education Pier. Some of these beaches are Malaquite Beach (Texas), Crystal Sands Beach (Florida), Biloxi Beach (Mississippi), Grand Isle State Park (Louisiana), East Beach (Texas), Dauphin Island Beach (Alabama), and Orange Beach (Alabama). With so much marine life dependent upon the delicate ecosystem the future of the Gulf of Mexico depends on the proper management of resources and conservation of marine life. The basin is roughly circular in shape and approximately 810 nautical miles (1,500 km) wide. Gulf Of Mexico | Encyclopedia.com The first oil well was drilled in the Gulf in 1938. The biota of the Gulf includes different chemosynthetic and non-chemosynthetic organisms ranging from microorganisms like benthos, meiofauna to other macro-organisms like crabs, sea pens, crinoids, and other marine fauna. The Gulf State Park Fishing and Education Pier is the second-longest pier in the Gulf of Mexico.