What is the Gulf Stream?
Quick Answer
The Gulf Stream is a powerful warm ocean current that flows from the Gulf of Mexico up the US East Coast and across the Atlantic towards Europe.
The Full Story
The Gulf Stream begins where warm water leaves the Gulf of Mexico through the Straits of Florida, then flows north along the US coast before heading north-east across the Atlantic. Its extension, the North Atlantic Current, carries warmth towards north-western Europe, helping give places like Ireland and Britain milder winters than other places at similar latitudes. It is one of the fastest ocean currents, with surface speeds reaching around 2.5 m/s. The Spanish explorer Juan Ponce de León noted its strength in 1513. Benjamin Franklin, working with his cousin, the ship captain Timothy Folger, helped publish an early chart of it to speed up mail ships.
Key Facts
YouTube Angle
Suggested video title for this topic:
"The river inside the ocean that keeps Europe warm."