Gulf of Mexico

"Whale sharks meander through its waters, bottlenose dolphins jump through its currents and sea turtles nest on its beaches. As one of the most staggeringly productive places on this planet, the Gulf is home to fish, coral, whales, sea turtles, dolphins and thousands of bird species." Despite being a critical habitat, the Gulf faces many environmental perils. The Gulf has been the site of some of the most catastrophic oil spills in history, most notably the BP Deepwater Horizon in 2010, which killed thousands of animals and contaminated their habitat. Additionally, the drainage of fertilizers into the Gulf from the Mississippi River has created a huge oxygen-deprived dead zone that promotes the growth of algae and kills marine life. "Today, the Gulf continues to face ongoing threats such as invasive species, extreme storms and flooding, and land loss. Future issues like sea level rise and a growing coastal population add further stress to the people and wildlife who call the Gulf home."