Atlantic Ocean and Caribbean Sea junction. Incredible photos of sharp boundaries at the confluence of seas or rivers! Why doesn't water mix? Caribbean Sea and Atlantic Ocean

23-02-2013, 22:07
Of the huge number of islands in the Bahamas archipelago, there is a long and very narrow island of Eleuthera, whose name literally means “free”. This strip of land is located 80 kilometers east of the capital of the Bahamas, Nassau. With a width of 1.6 kilometers, its length is 180 kilometers. On one side of the island flow the blue waters of the Caribbean Sea, and on the other there is a water area of ​​the Atlantic Ocean of a pronounced dark blue color, which creates a surprisingly beautiful contrast around the island.

Glass Window Bridge is one of the best and convenient places to witness this extraordinary spectacle. The structure is located at the narrowest point of Eleuthera near Gregory Town approximately two miles from Upper Bogue. Places like this where you can compare the turquoise green waters of the shallow and calm Caribbean Sea on one side and open waters The Atlantic, rich in underwater life, on the other hand, which is separated only by a narrow strip of land, has only a few on Earth.

The concrete bridge here was built over a natural mountain bridge that connects southern and northern Eleuthera with a paved road.

Perhaps one of the most visited attractions on the island is the Glass Window Bridge.

For many centuries there was a natural connection between the southern and northern halves of Eleuthera. Around the 40s of the last century, the isthmus was destroyed due to several hurricanes, and then it was decided to build a concrete bridge here as a replacement. The artificial structure was maintained through regular repairs, thanks to which the Glass Window Bridge was well preserved. However, hurricanes in 1992 and 1999 again caused significant damage to the bridge. Particularly severe damage was caused by Hurricane Floyd, as a result of which almost nothing remained of the original structure. The bridge was, of course, rebuilt within a few months and the Queen's Highway was reconnected, but the geography of Eleuthera was changed forever. Although more than ten years have passed since this large-scale incident, workers here are still strengthening the coast of the island in order to completely pave the asphalt, which was once completely destroyed.

It should be noted that when visiting Glass Window, as well as the surrounding areas, you need to be careful and careful, since the waves arrive here unexpectedly and can completely cover the nearby cliffs and the bridge itself too. After the hurricanes, there were no reefs left along the ocean coast on the island that previously held back the onslaught and power sea ​​waves and ocean currents that can strike with incredibly strong force. Today, there are cases where not only tourists, but even cars were washed away from the island.

All seas and oceans and rivers on Earth communicate with each other. The water surface level is the same everywhere.

But you rarely see such a border. This is the border between the seas.

And the most amazing mergers are truly those where there is a visible contrast, a clear boundary between seas or flowing rivers.

North Sea and Baltic Sea

Meeting point North Sea And Baltic Sea near the city of Skagen, Denmark. Water does not mix due to different densities. Locals call it the end of the world.

Mediterranean Sea and Aegean Sea

Meeting point Mediterranean Sea And Aegean Sea near the Peloponnese Peninsula, Greece.

Mediterranean Sea and Atlantic Ocean

The meeting point of the Mediterranean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean at the Strait of Gibraltar. Water does not mix due to differences in density and salinity.

Caribbean Sea and Atlantic Ocean

Meeting point of the Caribbean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean in the Antilles region

The meeting place of the Caribbean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean on the island of Eleuthera, Bahamas. On the left is the Caribbean Sea (turquoise water), on the right is the Atlantic Ocean (blue water).

Suriname River and Atlantic Ocean

Meeting point of the Suriname River and the Atlantic Ocean in South America

Uruguay and tributary (Argentina)

The confluence of the Uruguay River and its tributary in the province of Misiones, Argentina. One of them is cleared for needs Agriculture, the other becomes almost red with clay during the rainy season.

Gega and Yupshara (Abkhazia)

The confluence of the Gega and Yupshara rivers in Abkhazia. Gega is blue, and Yupshara is brown.

Rio Negro and Solimões (cf. Amazon section) (Brazil)

The confluence of the Rio Negro and Solimões rivers in Brazil.

Six miles from Manaus in Brazil, the Rio Negro and Solimões rivers join but do not mix for 4 kilometers. Rio Negro has dark water, while Solimões has light water. This phenomenon is explained by differences in temperature and flow speed. The Rio Negro flows at a speed of 2 kilometers per hour and a temperature of 28 degrees Celsius, and the Solimoes at a speed of 4 to 6 kilometers and a temperature of 22 degrees Celsius.

Mosel and Rhine (Germany)

The confluence of the Moselle and Rhine rivers in Koblenz, Germany. The Rhine is lighter, the Moselle is darker.

Ilz, Danube and Inn (Germany)

The confluence of the three rivers Ilz, Danube and Inn in Passau, Germany.

Ilts is a small mountain river (in the 3rd photo in the lower left corner), the Danube in the middle and the light-colored Inn. Although the Inn is wider and fuller than the Danube at its confluence, it is considered a tributary.

Kura and Aragvi (Georgia)

The confluence of the Kura and Aragvi rivers in Mtskheta, Georgia.

Alaknanda and Bhagirathi (India)

The confluence of the Alaknanda and Bhagirathi rivers in Devaprayag, India. Alaknanda is dark, Bhagirathi is light.

Irtysh and Ulba (Kazakhstan)

The confluence of the Irtysh and Ulba rivers in Ust-Kamenogorsk, Kazakhstan. The Irtysh is clean, the Ulba is muddy.

Thompson and Fraser (Canada)

Confluence of the Thompson and Fraser Rivers, British Columbia, Canada. The Fraser River is fed by mountain waters and therefore has muddier water than the Thompson River, which flows through the plains.

Jialing and Yangtze (China)

The confluence of the Jialing and Yangtze rivers in Chongqing, China. The Jialing River, on the right, stretches for 119 km. In the city of Chongqing it flows into the Yangtze River. Clear waters Jialing meets the brown waters of the Yangtze.

Argut and Katun (Russia)

The confluence of the Argut and Katun rivers in the Ongudai region, Altai, Russia. Argut is muddy, and Katun is clean.

Oka and Volga (Russia)

The confluence of the Oka and Volga rivers Nizhny Novgorod, Russia. On the right is Oka (gray), on the left is Volga (blue).

Irtysh and Om (Russia)

The confluence of the Irtysh and Om rivers in Omsk, Russia. The Irtysh is muddy, the Om is transparent.

Cupid and Zeya (Russia)

The confluence of the Amur and Zeya rivers in Blagoveshchensk, Amur region, Russia. On the left is Cupid, on the right is Zeya.

Big Yenisei and Small Yenisei (Russia)

Confluence of the Greater Yenisei and the Lesser Yenisei near Kyzyl, Tyva Republic, Russia. On the left is the Big Yenisei, on the right is the Small Yenisei.

Irtysh and Tobol (Russia)

The confluence of the Irtysh and Tobol rivers near Tobolsk, Tyumen region, Russia. The Irtysh is light, muddy, the Tobol is dark, transparent.

Ardon and Tseydon (Russia)

The confluence of the Ardon and Tseydon rivers North Ossetia, Russia. The muddy river is Ardon, and the light turquoise, clear river is Tseydon.

Katun and Koksa (Russia)

The confluence of the Katun and Koksa rivers near the village of Ust-Koksa, Altai, Russia. The Koksa River flows to the right, its water is dark in color. On the left is Katun, water with a greenish tint.

Katun and Akkem (Russia)

The confluence of the Katun and Akkem rivers in the Altai Republic, Russia. Katun is blue, Akkem is white.

Chuya and Katun (Russia)

The confluence of the Chuya and Katun rivers in the Ongudai region of the Altai Republic, Russia

The waters of the Chuya in this place (after the confluence with the Chaganuzun River) acquire an unusual cloudy white lead color and seem dense and dense. Katun is clean and turquoise. Combining together, they form a single two-color stream with a clear boundary, and for some time they flow without mixing.

Belaya and Kama (Russia)

The confluence of the Kama and Belaya rivers in Agidel, Bashkiria, Russia. The Belaya River is blue, and the Kama is greenish.

Chebdar and Bashkaus (Russia)

The confluence of the Chebdar and Bashkaus rivers near Mount Kaishkak, Altai, Russia.

Chebdar is blue, originates at an altitude of 2500 meters above sea level, flows through a deep gorge, where the height of the walls reaches 100 meters. The Bashkaus is greenish at the confluence.

Ilet and mineral spring (Russia)

The confluence of the Ilet River and mineral spring in the Republic of Mari El, Russia.

Green and Colorado (USA)

Confluence of the Green and Colorado Rivers in national park Canyonlands, Utah, USA. Green is green and Colorado is brown. The beds of these rivers run through different compositions rocks, that’s why the colors of the water are so contrasting.

Ohio and Mississippi (USA)

Confluence of the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers, USA. Mississippi is green and Ohio is brown. The waters of these rivers do not mix and have a clear boundary at a distance of almost 6 km.

Monongahela and Allegheny (USA)

The confluence of the Monongahela and Allegheny rivers joins the Ohio River in Pittsburgh Pennsylvania, USA. At the confluence of the Monongahela and Allegheny rivers they lose their names and become new river Ohio.

White and Blue Nile (Sudan)

The confluence of the White Nile and Blue Nile rivers in Khartoum, the capital of Sudan.

Araks and Akhuryan (Türkiye)

The confluence of the Araks and Akhuryan rivers near Bagaran, on the Armenia-Türkiye border. On the right is Akhuryan (clean water), on the left is Araks (muddy water).

Rhone and Saone (France)

The confluence of the Saone and Rhone rivers in Lyon, France. The Rhone is blue, and its tributary the Saone is grey.

Drava and Danube (Croatia)

Confluence of the Drava and Danube rivers, Osijek, Croatia. On the right bank of the Drava River, 25 kilometers upstream from the confluence with the Danube, is the city of Osijek.

Rhone and Arv (Switzerland)

The confluence of the Rhone and Arve rivers in Geneva, Switzerland.

The river on the left is the transparent Rhône, which emerges from Lake Leman.

The river on the right is the muddy Arve, which is fed by many glaciers in the Chamonix valley.

We discussed something once and it turns out that many people did not know the exact number. Check yourself using the link earlier. And now about the seas.

When you see the seas on a map, you probably get the impression that they simply smoothly transform into each other and into the oceans. But in fact, the boundaries of the seas extend not only along the seabed. Different densities, salinity and temperatures lead to the fact that at the junction of the seas it is as if two walls are bumping into each other. In several places on Earth this is even visually noticeable!

The boundaries of the seas (or sea and ocean) are most clearly visible where a vertical halocline appears. What is this phenomenon?

Oceanic wedges are clear boundaries in the middle of the ocean between water masses with different physical and biological characteristics. There are several types of them. For example, thermoclines are boundaries between waters with a significant temperature difference. The largest and most obvious thermoclines are, of course, the boundaries between the North Atlantic waters and the warm Gulf Stream.

The most amazing ones are chemoclines, boundaries between waters with different microclimates and chemical compositions. Before the oil spill disaster, the most famous chemocline was the border of the famous Sargasso Sea. Now this chemocline has almost been covered with a copper basin; fish from the external oceans have burst into the original get-together and have ravaged the cozy sea.

And the most visually impressive, perhaps, are haloclines—barriers between waters with different degrees of salinity.

Jacques Cousteau discovered the same phenomenon while exploring the Strait of Gibraltar. Layers of water of different salinity seem to be separated by a film. Each layer has its own flora and fauna!

For a halocline to arise, one body of water must be five times saltier than another. In this case, physical laws will prevent the waters from mixing. Anyone can see a halocline in a glass by pouring a layer of fresh water and a layer of salt water into it.

Now imagine a vertical halocline that occurs when two seas collide, one of which has a salt percentage five times higher than the other. The border will be vertical.

To see this phenomenon with your own eyes, go to the Danish city of Skagen. This is where you will see the place where the North Sea and the Baltic Sea meet. At the border of the watershed you can often observe even small waves with caps: these are waves of two seas bumping into each other.

The watershed boundary is so prominent for several reasons:

The Baltic Sea is much inferior in salinity to the North Sea, their density is different;
- the meeting of the seas occurs in a small area and, moreover, in shallow water, which complicates the mixing of waters;
- The Baltic Sea is tidal, its waters practically do not extend beyond the basin.

But, despite the spectacular border of these two seas, their waters gradually mix. This is the only reason why the Baltic Sea has at least a little salinity. If it were not for the influx of salty currents from the North Sea through this narrow meeting point, the Baltic would generally be a huge freshwater lake.

A similar effect can be seen in southwest Alaska. There the Pacific Ocean meets the waters of the Gulf of Alaska. They also cannot mix right away, and not only because of the difference in salinity. The ocean and the bay have different water compositions. The effect is very colorful: the waters vary greatly in color. The Pacific Ocean is darker, and the glacier-fed Gulf of Alaska is light turquoise.

Visual boundaries of water basins can be seen on the border of the White and Barents seas, in the Bab el-Mandeb and Gibraltar straits. In other places, water boundaries also exist, but they are smoother and not noticeable to the eye, since the mixing of waters occurs more intensely. And yet, while vacationing in Greece, Cyprus and some other island resorts, it is easy to notice that the sea on one side of the island behaves completely differently than the sea washing the opposite shore.

So, once again the most spectacular merge points:

1. North Sea and Baltic Sea

The meeting point of the North Sea and the Baltic Sea near Skagen, Denmark. Water does not mix due to different densities.

2. Mediterranean Sea and Atlantic Ocean

The meeting point of the Mediterranean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean at the Strait of Gibraltar. Water does not mix due to differences in density and salinity.

3. Caribbean Sea and Atlantic Ocean

The meeting point of the Caribbean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean in the Antilles region.

The meeting place of the Caribbean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean on the island of Eleuthera, Bahamas. On the left is the Caribbean Sea (turquoise water), on the right is the Atlantic Ocean (blue water).

4. Suriname River and Atlantic Ocean

The meeting point of the Suriname River and the Atlantic Ocean in South America.

5. Uruguay River and its tributary

The confluence of the Uruguay River and its tributary in the province of Misiones, Argentina. One of them is cleared for agricultural needs, the other becomes almost red with clay during the rainy season.

6. Rio Negro and Solimões (Amazon section)

Six miles from Manaus in Brazil, the Rio Negro and Solimões rivers join but do not mix for 4 kilometers. Rio Negro has dark water, while Solimões has light water. This phenomenon is explained by differences in temperature and flow speed. The Rio Negro flows at a speed of 2 km/h and a temperature of 28 degrees Celsius, and the Solimoes at a speed of 4 to 6 km/h and a temperature of 22 degrees Celsius.

7. Moselle and Rhine

The confluence of the Moselle and Rhine rivers in Koblenz, Germany. The Rhine is lighter, the Moselle is darker.

8. Ilts, Danube and Inn

The confluence of the three rivers Ilz, Danube and Inn in Passau, Germany. Ilts is a small mountain river (in the 3rd photo in the lower left corner), the Danube in the middle and the light-colored Inn. Although the Inn is wider and deeper than the Danube at its confluence, it is considered a tributary.

9. Alaknanda and Bhagirathi

The confluence of the Alaknanda and Bhagirathi rivers in Devaprayag, India. Alaknanda is dark, Bhagirathi is light.

10. Irtysh and Ulba

The confluence of the Irtysh and Ulba rivers in Ust-Kamenogorsk, Kazakhstan. The Irtysh is clean, the Ulba is muddy.

11. Jialing and Yangtze

The confluence of the Jialing and Yangtze rivers in Chongqing, China. The Jialing River stretches for 119 km. In the city of Chongqing it flows into the Yangtze River. The clear waters of Jialing meet the brown waters of the Yangtze.

12. Irtysh and Om

The confluence of the Irtysh and Om rivers in Omsk, Russia. The Irtysh is muddy, the Om is transparent.

13. Irtysh and Tobol

The confluence of the Irtysh and Tobol rivers near Tobolsk, Tyumen region, Russia. The Irtysh is light, muddy, the Tobol is dark, transparent.

14. Chuya and Katun

The confluence of the Chuya and Katun rivers in the Ongudai region of the Altai Republic, Russia. The water of the Chuya in this place (after confluence with the Chaganuzun River) acquires an unusual cloudy white lead color and seems dense and thick. Katun is clean and turquoise. Combining together, they form a single two-color stream with a clear boundary and flow for some time without mixing.

15. Green and Colorado

Confluence of the Green and Colorado Rivers in Canyonlands National Park, Utah, USA. Green is green and Colorado is brown. The beds of these rivers run through rocks of different composition, which is why the colors of the water are so contrasting.

16. Rona and Arv

The confluence of the Rhone and Arve rivers in Geneva, Switzerland. The river on the left is the clear Rhône, which emerges from Lake Leman. The river on the right is the muddy Arve, which is fed by the many glaciers of the Chamonix valley.

Haloclines are common in water-filled caves near the ocean. Less dense fresh water from the ground forms a layer above the salt water from the ocean. For underwater cavers, this can cause an optical illusion airspace in the caves. Swimming through the halocline causes disturbance and mixing of the layers.

The halocline can be easily reproduced and observed in a glass or other transparent vessel. If fresh water is slowly poured over salt water, preventing mixing (for example, using a spoon held horizontally at the water level), the halocline will be visible to the eye. This is a result of the fact that salt and fresh water have different refractive indexes.

A not-so-rare phenomenon is a visible boundary between connected bodies of water: two seas, a sea and an ocean, a river and a tributary, etc. And yet, it always looks so unusual that you can’t help but wonder: why don’t their waters mix?

1. North Sea and Baltic Sea

The meeting point of the North Sea and the Baltic Sea near Skagen, Denmark. Water does not mix due to different densities.

2. Mediterranean Sea and Atlantic Ocean

3. Caribbean Sea and Atlantic Ocean

The meeting point of the Caribbean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean in the Antilles region.

The meeting place of the Caribbean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean on the island of Eleuthera, Bahamas. On the left is the Caribbean Sea (turquoise water), on the right is the Atlantic Ocean (blue water).

4. Suriname River and Atlantic Ocean

The meeting point of the Suriname River and the Atlantic Ocean in South America.

5. Uruguay River and its tributary

The confluence of the Uruguay River and its tributary in the province of Misiones, Argentina. One of them is cleared for agricultural needs, the other becomes almost red with clay during the rainy season.

6. Rio Negro and Solimões (Amazon section)

7. Moselle and Rhine

The confluence of the Moselle and Rhine rivers in Koblenz, Germany. The Rhine is lighter, the Moselle is darker.

8. Ilts, Danube and Inn

The confluence of the three rivers Ilz, Danube and Inn in Passau, Germany. Ilts is a small mountain river (in the 3rd photo in the lower left corner), the Danube in the middle and the light-colored Inn. Although the Inn is wider and deeper than the Danube at its confluence, it is considered a tributary.

9. Alaknanda and Bhagirathi

The confluence of the Alaknanda and Bhagirathi rivers in Devaprayag, India. Alaknanda is dark, Bhagirathi is light.

10. Irtysh and Ulba

The confluence of the Irtysh and Ulba rivers in Ust-Kamenogorsk, Kazakhstan. The Irtysh is clean, the Ulba is muddy.

11. Jialing and Yangtze

The confluence of the Jialing and Yangtze rivers in Chongqing, China. The Jialing River stretches for 119 km. In the city of Chongqing it flows into the Yangtze River. The clear waters of Jialing meet the brown waters of the Yangtze.

12. Irtysh and Om

The confluence of the Irtysh and Om rivers in Omsk, Russia. The Irtysh is muddy, the Om is transparent.

13. Irtysh and Tobol

The confluence of the Irtysh and Tobol rivers near Tobolsk, Tyumen region, Russia. The Irtysh is light, muddy, the Tobol is dark, transparent.

14. Chuya and Katun

The confluence of the Chuya and Katun rivers in the Ongudai region of the Altai Republic, Russia. The water of the Chuya in this place (after confluence with the Chaganuzun River) acquires an unusual cloudy white lead color and seems dense and thick. Katun is clean and turquoise. Combining together, they form a single two-color stream with a clear boundary and flow for some time without mixing.

15. Green and Colorado

Confluence of the Green and Colorado Rivers in Canyonlands National Park, Utah, USA. Green is green and Colorado is brown. The beds of these rivers run through rocks of different composition, which is why the colors of the water are so contrasting.

16. Rona and Arv

The confluence of the Rhone and Arve rivers in Geneva, Switzerland. The river on the left is the transparent Rhône, which emerges from Lake Leman. The river on the right is the muddy Arve, which is fed by the many glaciers of the Chamonix valley.

Eleuthera is one of several islands in the Bahamas archipelago, approximately 80 km east of the capital Nassau. This long island, approximately 180 km, and very thin - only 1.6 km wide. The blue waters of the shallow Caribbean Sea on one side of the island stand out in stark contrast to the deep blue of the Atlantic Ocean on the other side. One of best places to see this extraordinary sight - the Glass Window Bridge. The Glass Window Bridge is located approximately two miles east of Upper Bogue near Gregory Town at the narrowest point of Eleuthera. This is one of the few places on Earth where you can compare the rich open waters of the Atlantic Ocean on one side of the road to the calm turquoise green waters Caribbean Sea on the other hand, separated only by a narrow strip of land.

The concrete bridge was built over a natural mountain bridge that connects the northern and southern points of Eleuthera by a paved road.

Glass Window Bridge is one of the most visited attractions on the island.

For many centuries there was a natural connection between northern and southern Eleuthera. But in the 1940s, several hurricanes destroyed the isthmus, and a concrete bridge was built as a replacement. For many decades this bridge was preserved through functional periodic repairs, but in 1992 and 1999 hurricanes caused significant damage to the bridge. After Hurricane Floyd of 1999, virtually nothing remained of the original Glass Window Bridge. Although the bridge was rebuilt and the Queen's Highway reconnected within a few months, the geography of Eleuthera was changed forever. Even decades later, workers are still strengthening coastline to re-pave completely destroyed asphalt.

One must be very careful when visiting Glass Window and the surrounding cliff areas. The waves here suddenly arrive and cover the bridge and nearby cliffs. Since then, there have been no reefs left along the ocean coast to hold back their onslaught. Waves can hit with great force and there have been cases where not only people, but also cars were washed into the ocean.

The land on the shores of Eleuthera is subject to long-term erosion from the force of the water, so the shore is constantly changing, and from the marks you can trace what it was like at certain periods of time.