Gulf of Maine

High school (ages 12+)
Geography

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/gulf-of-maine

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. How big is the Gulf of Maine?Approximately 93,000 square kilometers (36,000 square miles)
2. What is the key jurisdictions?United States (Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Maine) and Canada (New Brunswick, Nova Scotia)
3. What is the ecological status?Recognized as a global biodiversity hotspot and a critical marine ecosystem
4. Why is the Gulf of Maine important for fish and animals?Its waters are rich in nutrients and have good temperature and salinity conditions. This helps many fish, lobsters, whales, dolphins, and seabirds grow and find food.
5. Where does the Bay of Fundy fit into the Gulf of Maine?The Bay of Fundy is a deep part of the Gulf that has the world’s largest tides, with waves that can be more than 15 meters high.

Semi-enclosed marine basin: A large body of saltwater that is mostly surrounded by land but has an opening to the ocean.
Bathymetry: The measurement of the depth of water in oceans, seas, or lakes.
Biodiversity hotspot: A region with a high number of different plant and animal species, many of which are found nowhere else.
Oceanographic conditions: The physical and chemical characteristics of ocean water, such as temperature, salinity, and currents.