What is a gulf?

A gulf landform is the sea or ocean that reaches into land. The two main characteristics of a gulf are that they are part of a sea or ocean and that a gulf reaches into the land.

A gulf has 2 main characteristics

1. Part of a sea or ocean

2. Reaches into land

      small gulf

When looking from outer space the land looks like it is indented with a large body of water that may look like an arm. As you can see in the pictures above, it is a beautiful sight from outer space.

Two of the most famous gulf landforms in the world are the Gulf of Mexico and the Persian Gulf. The Gulf of Mexico has water from the Atlantic Ocean and the Caribbean Sea going around Florida into some of the Southern United States and Mexico. The Gulf of Mexico is also the largest gulf in the world.

The Persian Gulf is also another popular type of gulf. It is located between the Middle Eastern countries of Iran, Kuwait, United Arab Emirates, Qatar and Saudi Arabia. It receives most of its water from the Indian Ocean.

How is a Gulf Formed?

A gulf is formed naturally throughout time. There are a few probable ways a landform is created. The first way is through deposits and erosions. The ocean has currents when can take sand and rocks away. The deposits have to go somewhere too.
The more probable way the gulfs have formed is through crustal movement and volcanoes. The Earth shifts it land even under the oceans. This leaves strange gaps through the lands creating gulf landforms.

Places Gulfs are Found

The Gulf of Mexico along the Florida, Lousiana, and Texas coast

The Persian Gulf in the Middle East

Saginaw Bay in Michigan

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