The northernmost of these, the Yucatn Basin, is separated from the Gulf of Mexico by the Yucatn Channel, which runs between Cuba and the Yucatn Peninsula and has a sill depth (i.e., the depth of the submarine ridge between basins) of about 5,250 feet (1,600 metres). With a total area of 106,460,000 sq. The Caribbean Sea is also considered to be home to a large fishing industry. (2004). American Oceans, Stingray vs Manta Ray: Their Differences Explained. Near the end of the second phase, gentle warping and faulting occurred, forming the Aves and Beata ridges. 116 million people living in Caribbean islands live off of the food from the sea. The Arctic Ocean basin is the worlds smallest, shallowest, and coldest ocean, making up 4.3% of global water. The climate of the Caribbean generally is tropical, but there are great local variations, depending on mountain elevation, water currents, and the trade winds. The Caribbean Sea region, including islands and adjacent coasts, is known as the Caribbean. This sea has an average depth of 2,200 m, with the deepest point in Cayman Trough descending to 7,686 m. The formation of the Caribbean Sea dates back around 160 and 180 million years. Halophila baillonii has been found only in the Lesser Antilles.[26]. The Pacific is the deepest basin of the global ocean. Global Land One-kilometer Base Elevation (GLOBE) v.1. There are many bays and gulfs along the sea's coastline. But, he added, scientists do know a few things about the area: They know that it is tectonically active, with some seismic hazards such as earthquakes and tsunamis. This Caribbean bottom water also enters the Venezuelan Basin, thus introducing high-oxygen water at depths of 5,900 to 9,800 feet (1,800 to 3,000 metres). The project "Sustainable finance methods for marine preservation in the Caribbean" will assist remove solid waste and keep it out of the marine and coastal environment by establishing a new facility under the Caribbean Biodiversity Fund (CBF). Solenodons and hutias are mammals found only in the Caribbean; only one extant species is not endangered. Subsurface water enters the Caribbean Sea across two sills. Arid climates are found along the extreme southern coast of Venezuela out to the islands including Aruba and Curaao, as well as the northern tip of Yucatn[25]. Several islands dot the Mediterranean Sea, some of which formed through volcanic eruptions. But how deep is the Caribbean Sea, and what mysterious creatures lurk there? ADDITIONAL FACTS. The deep basins and trenches in the Caribbean Sea bed are covered by deep red clay sediments, whereas the ridges and the continental slopes are covered by calcareous silts. The Caribbean Sea is subdivided into five basins that are separated from each other by submerged ranges and ridges. Most hurricanes form in the eastern Atlantic near the Cape Verde Islands and follow the path of the trade winds into the Caribbean and the Gulf of Mexico, although the exact path of any hurricane is unpredictable. New York: Random House. The deepest points of the sea lie in Cayman Trough with depths reaching approximately 7,686m (25,220ft). Situated on the floor of the western Caribbean Sea between the Jamaica and Cayman Islands is the Cayman Trench (Bartlett Deep), which reaches a depth of 7,686m below the sea level and is the deepest point of the Caribbean Sea. Caribbean Sea 4 - Caribbean Sea (Average Depth: 8,685 ft) Wiki: The Caribbean Sea is a sea of the Atlantic Ocean in the tropics of the Western Hemisphere. Deepest Point: Bougainville (29,986 feet). The Arabian Sea has an average depth of 2,734 m, with its deepest point in Wheatley Deep descending to about 5,800 m. The formation of this sea took place roughly 50 million years ago. The name Coral came from the numerous coral reefs, including the worlds largest known as the Great Barrier Reef. Pollution (in the form of up to 300,000 tonnes of solid garbage dumped into the Caribbean Sea each year) is progressively endangering marine ecosystems, wiping out species, and harming the livelihoods of the local people, which is primarily reliant on tourism and fishing. The Indian Ocean basin makes up about 19.8% of the planets water and falls in the third position after the Atlantic and Pacific oceans. Underwater earthquakes pose a threat of generating tsunamis which could have a devastating effect on the Caribbean islands. Some species are threatened with extinction. These waters are then forced by the trade winds through the narrow Yucatn Channel into the Gulf of Mexico. Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree. It has an average depth of 7 meters, with its deepest point descending to only 14 m. Oceans and seas cover approximately 97% of Earths water. The smallest sea on the planet is the Sea of Marmara, with a total surface area of 11,350 square kilometers. Live video from a 2013 expedition to deep-sea canyons off the northeast Atlantic coast of the U.S. garnered more than 875,000 views, he said. Eakins, 2009. Please select which sections you would like to print: Alternate titles: Antillean-Caribbean Sea. The very deepest depth of the ocean is roughly 2,000 meters deeper than Mount Everest is tall36,070 feet deep (10,994 m)! The Southern Ocean basin (Antarctic Ocean) encircles Antarctica and extends to parts of the Atlantic, Pacific, and Indian Oceans. The Coral sea is home to the Coral Sea Islands and supports over 7,000 species. While landfalls are infrequent, the resulting loss of life and property damage makes them a significant hazard to life in the Caribbean. More than 90 mammalian species are found in the Caribbean including dolphins, humpback whales, sperm whales, manatees, Solenodons, hutias, etc. Tropical cyclones that impact the Caribbean often develop off the West coast of Africa and make their way west across the Atlantic Ocean toward the Caribbean, while other storms develop in the Caribbean itself. Rainfall varies from about 10 inches (25 cm) per year on the island of Bonaire off the coast of Venezuela to some 350 inches (900 cm) annually in parts of Dominica. The Nicaraguan Rise, a wide triangular ridge with a sill depth of about 4,000 feet (1,200 metres), extends from Honduras and Nicaragua to Hispaniola, bearing the island of Jamaica and separating the Cayman Basin from the Colombian Basin. Over the years, rivers such as the Mekong, Pearl, and Red Rivers have deposited large sediments, oil, and gasses. Piracy in the Caribbean was widespread during the early colonial era, especially between 1640 and 1680. Deepest Point: Sunda Trench (23,920 feet). Currently this protocol has been ratified by 15 countries. The Lesser Antilles are further divided into three major island groups: the Leeward Islands comprising of Anguilla, British Virgin Islands, Guadeloupe, US Virgin Islands, Antigua and Barbuda, Saint Martins, Saint Kitts, and Nevis, Saint Barthelemy, and Montserrat. Situated in the southwestern part of the Gulf, the Sigsbee Deep (Mexico Basin) is the deepest region in the Gulf of Mexico that has an estimated depth of over 4,384m. The American yellow warbler is found in many areas, as is the green heron. Privacy Policy. On the western side of the sea, the trade winds influence a northerly current which causes an upwelling and a rich fishery near Yucatn.[12]. Well be exploring an area of the United States Exclusive Economic Zone that science knows very little about, said Alan Leonardi, Ph.D, director of NOAAs Office of Ocean Exploration and Research, the federal program responsible for coordinating this expedition. It runs 1,000 kilometers (620 miles) along the coasts of Mexico, Belize, Guatemala, and Honduras. Over the open sea can be seen frigatebirds and tropicbirds. Which is the largest, how deep are they, and how critical are they to the planets sustainability? The project is estimated to prevent and remove at least 15 000 tonnes of marine trash, benefiting at least 20 000 individuals.[20]. During this session, the public can pose their questions directly to the three experts, who also include Andrea Quattrini, Ph.D., a biologist with U.S. Geological Survey; and Mike Cheadle, Ph.D., a geologist with the University of Wyoming. Guide to the Oceans. Plunge has significant ecological consequences, Conservation International Caribbean Islands, An Overview of Land Based Sources of Marine Pollution, Reefs at Risk in the Caribbean: Economic Valuation Methodology, Guide to Marine Life: Caribbean-Bahamas-Florida, Defying Ocean's End: An Agenda For Action, Center For Advanced Study on Puerto Rico and the Caribbean, Caribbean Basin Trade and Partnership Act, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Caribbean_Sea&oldid=1148478553, Short description is different from Wikidata, Wikipedia indefinitely move-protected pages, Articles using infobox body of water without alt, Articles using infobox body of water without pushpin map alt, Articles using infobox body of water without alt bathymetry, Articles containing Spanish-language text, Articles containing Haitian Creole-language text, Articles containing Jamaican Patois-language text, Articles containing Papiamento-language text, Articles containing potentially dated statements from 2015, All articles containing potentially dated statements, Wikipedia articles needing clarification from June 2017, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, This page was last edited on 6 April 2023, at 12:01. Deepest Point: Challenger Deep (36,070 feet). Following the discovery of the islands by Columbus, the area was quickly colonized by several Western cultures (initially Spain, then later England, the Dutch Republic, France, Courland and Denmark). All 170 species of amphibians that live in the region are endemic. Articles from Britannica Encyclopedias for elementary and high school students. It runs 1,000km (620mi) along the coasts of Mexico, Belize, Guatemala, and Honduras.[3]. The islands which make up the Greater Antilles include Hispaniola Island (shared by Haiti and the Dominican Republic), Jamaica, Cuba, Cayman Island, and Puerto Rico. Of all the five oceans, the Pacific is the largest. In shallow waters, sand or coral . From there it divides to fill the Yucatn, Cayman, and Colombian basins at depths near 6,500 feet (2,000 metres). The remainder is the surface water that passed over the Antillean arc at depths of less than 2,600 feet (800 metres). During the first and second phases the basin was free of deformation. You can find many types of corals in the Caribbean Sea, like the great star coral, mustard hill coral, and massive starlet coral. The findings indicate that heavy metals such as mercury, arsenic, and lead, have been identified in the coastal zone of the Caribbean Sea. The Caribbean Sea (Spanish: Mar Caribe; French: Mer des Carabes; Haitian Creole: Lanm Karayib; Jamaican Patois: Kiaribiyan Sii; Dutch: Carabische Zee; Papiamento: Laman Karibe) is a sea of the Atlantic Ocean in the tropics of the Western Hemisphere. All maps, graphics, flags, photos and original descriptions 2023 worldatlas.com. As the planets 4th largest ocean, the Southern Ocean has an average depth of 3,270 m. Its deepest point is the Factorian Deep which stretches to 7,434 m below sea level. The hurricane season is from June to November, but hurricanes occur most frequently in September. Enter your email in the box below to get the most mind-blowing animal stories and videos delivered directly to your inbox every day. Some features, like canyons and seamounts, might look familiar, while others, such as hydrothermal vents and methane seeps, are unique to the deep. When tropical waters become unusually warm for extended periods of time, microscopic plants called zooxanthellae, which are symbiotic partners living within the coral polyp tissues, die off. When I am not writing, you can find me in front of my TV with a blanket, snacks, and my fur babies. North Atlantic deep water enters the Caribbean beneath the Windward Passage and is characterized by its rich oxygen content and by a salinity of slightly less than 35 parts per thousand. Coral reefs support some of the most diverse marine habitats in the world, but they are fragile ecosystems. The average depth of the Atlantic Ocean is 12,880 feet (3,926 meters) and the deepest point is the Puerto Rico Trench at -28,231 feet (-8,605 meters). Upper sedimentary layers relate to the period from the Mesozoic to the Cenozoic (250million years ago to present) and the lower layers from the Paleozoic to the Mesozoic. NOAAs mission is to understand and predict changes in the Earth's environment, from the depths of the ocean to the surface of the sun, and to conserve and manage our coastal and marine resources. URL accessed on 28/07/2007. [1][2] The sea's deepest point is the Cayman Trough, between the Cayman Islands and Jamaica, at 7,686m (25,217ft) below sea level. There are more than 7000 islands in the Caribbean, and they belong to over 28 distinct nations. However, a devastating tsunami in 2004 led to the loss of over 200,000 deaths and the massive destruction of property. The Mediterranean sea covers 0.7% of the planets ocean surface, making it one of the largest seas globally. The Caribbean remained like this for most of the Cenozoic until the Holocene when rising water levels of the oceans restored communication with the Atlantic Ocean. The next Okeanos Explorer expedition will take place from July to September in the Pacific Ocean in and around Papahnaumokukea Marine National MonumentandHawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary. Sea of the Atlantic Ocean bounded by North, Central and South America. During the Cretaceous the Caribbean acquired the shape close to that seen today. See also: Types of Ocean Storms Ways to Save the Ocean Overfishing in the Ocean List of Marine Invertebrates 2. Each zone has a different mix of species adapted to its specific light level, pressure, temperature, and community. Three phases of sedimentation have been identified. provide an annual economic value to Caribbean nations of $3.1$4.6 billion. Parrots and bananaquits are found in forests. The deepest part of the Caribbean Sea, the Cayman Trench, has an average depth of 2,200 meters, with the deepest point being 7,500 meters below the surface. It is a unique sea with lots of wildlife, over 7,000 islands, and thousands of miles of coral reefs. Its average depth is 4,280 m, with the deepest point being Challenger Deep, which descends to 10,994 meters (36,070 feet). To understand how vast water bodies are, you may consider looking into the sizes of various oceans and seas. The emergence of deep basins in the Caribbean occurred during the Middle Jurassic rifting. Updates? Approximately 1,000 fishes have been recorded in the Caribbean Sea including flying fish, angelfish, manta ray, Caribbean reef shark, silky shark, bull shark, tiger shark, butterflyfish, Atlantic Goliath grouper, moray eels, lobsters, sardines, parrotfish, etc. The Caribbean Tourism Organization calculates that about 12million people a year visit the area, including (in 19911992) about 8million cruise ship tourists. According to the National Ocean Service, the oldest rock in this ocean dates back about 200 million years. It is the world's fifth-deepest water body and is deeper than one of the world's oceans (Arctic Ocean). The shelf gives way at its edge to a slope, which is broken by submarine valleys and is steep in its upper parts. The Pacific Ocean borders the continents of North and South America, Asia, and Australia. The Aves Ridge, incomplete at its southern extremity, separates the Venezuelan Basin from the small Grenada Basin, which is bounded to the east by the Antillean arc of islands. The Pacific Ocean has numerous shipping routes that connect the bordering continents, oceans, and seas. On the western side is the Gulf of Aden, which connects this sea to the Red Sea. In brackish water of harbours and estuaries at depths less than 2.5m (8ft 2in) widgeongrass (Ruppia maritima) grows. Today, large coastal populations, pollution, and intense fishing are the primary concerns in this sea. The Caribbean Sea is part of the Atlantic Ocean. There are 500 species of reptiles (94% of which are endemic). In neither hydrology nor climate, however, does the Caribbean resemble the Mediterranean. The 15 Deepest Lakes in the United States, Meet the 10 Largest Land Owners in Montana. It is broadest in the west and at the head of Kerch Strait but elsewhere forms a rim about 6 to 7 miles (10 to 11 km) wide, and the depth of the edge is usually less than 360 feet (110 metres). Elder, Danny and Pernetta, John. The Atlantic Ocean is important to the world's weather (as are all oceans) because strong Atlantic hurricanes often develop off the coast of Cape Verde, Africa and move toward the Caribbean Sea . Many James Bond adventures were set there. About 600 avian species such as the American yellow warbler, Fernandinas flicker, palmchat, black-fronted piping guan, etc have also been recorded here. Previous Okeanos Explorer expeditions have come across unknown species, recorded known animals exhibiting never-before-seen behaviors and sighted live animals previously only observed as lifeless specimens, Kennedy said.Because of these characteristics, the area was identified by members of the ocean science community as important to explore, and data from the expedition will likely have long-lasting implications for scientists and resource managers in the Caribbean. From the 16th century, Europeans visiting the Caribbean region distinguished the "South Sea" (the Pacific Ocean south of the isthmus of Panama) from the "North Sea" (the Caribbean Sea north of the same isthmus).[4]. The Yucatn Channel between Mexico and Cuba links the Gulf of Mexico with the Caribbean. The preferred oceanographic term for the Caribbean is the Antillean-Caribbean Sea, which, together with the Gulf of Mexico, forms the Central American Sea. Okeanos Explorer, which is operated, managed and maintained by NOAAs Office of Marine and Aviation Operations, has just spent about four weeks mapping more than 13,600 square miles of seafloor around the U.S. Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico. depth; 21ft capability; it can accomodate yachts in excess of 380ft. It lies between Western and Eastern Europe, Anatolia, North Africa, and the Levant. Secure .gov websites use HTTPS Papahnaumokukea Marine National Monument, Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary, Scientists discover hydrothermal vent activity in the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, Watch live April 15-26: NOAA expedition to the deep ocean off the U.S. West Coast. Another type shoal grass (Halodule wrightii) grows on sand and mud surfaces at depths of up to 5m (16ft). It is fed by the westward-flowing North Equatorial Current moving from North Africa to the West Indies. 03 of 10 The South China Sea Taro Hama @ e-kamakura / Getty Images Area: 895,400 square miles (2,319,000 sq km) Average depth: 5,419 feet (1,652 m) km, the Caribbean Sea is bordered by the countries of Colombia, Panama, and Venezuela in the south; by Belize, Costa Rica, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, and Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula in the west; by the Greater Antilles islands in the north; and by the Lesser Antilles islands in the east. Area: 1,491,000 sq. About 500 reptiles are found in the Caribbean including the blue iguana, rhinoceros iguana, Mona ground iguana, green turtle, loggerhead turtle, Atlantic ridley turtle, leatherback turtle, etc. The Largest Farm in the Entire World Is Bigger Than 11 U.S. States! The region has a high level of biodiversity and many species are endemic to the Caribbean. Continents and islands cover the remaining 29%. 4. In the Caribbean Sea there are around 1,000 documented species of fish, including sharks (bull shark, tiger shark, silky shark and Caribbean reef shark), flying fish, giant oceanic manta ray, angel fish, spotfin butterflyfish, parrotfish, Atlantic Goliath grouper, tarpon and moray eels. The nations that surround the Caribbean Sea are also prone to tropical cyclones and the Caribbean hurricane season lasts from June to November, with most of the hurricanes occurring between August and September. As part of the Central American Sea, it is presumed to have been connected with the Mediterranean during Paleozoic times (i.e., about 541 to 252 million years ago) and then gradually to have separated from it as the Atlantic Ocean was formed. The sediment beds tend to arch in the middle of the basins and to dip as landmasses are approached. Of the water passing through the Yucatn Channel each second, only about one-fourth represents the deeper Subantarctic intermediate water. Its, therefore, the largest ocean in the world. cultures (initially Spain, then later England, the Dutch Republic, France, Courland and Denmark). The Colombian Basin is separated from the Venezuelan Basin by the Beata Ridge, while the Grenada Basin is separated from the Venezuelan Basin via the Aves Ridge. The Caribbean's floor is composed of sub-oceanic sediments of deep red clay in the deep basins and troughs. Clay minerals likely having been deposited by the mainland river Orinoco and the Magdalena River. The Caribbean Sea is home to about 9% of the worlds coral reefs covering about 50,000 square kilometers (19,000 square miles), most of which are located off the Caribbean Islands and the Central American coast. Following the colonization of the Caribbean islands, the Caribbean Sea became a busy area for European-based marine trading and transports, and this commerce eventually attracted pirates such as Samuel Bellamy and Blackbeard. Throughout history, the Arabian Sea served as an essential water body for numerous seaports and trade routes. Amante, C. and B.W. The Gulf Stream is part of a general clockwise-rotating system of currents in the North Atlantic. Tropical cyclones are a threat to the nations that rim the Caribbean Sea. It is also well known as the location of the Pirates of the Caribbean films. (2004). In the shallow waters mainly turtle grass, manatee grass, and shoal grasses are found. The average depth is about 2,200 meters (7,220 feet) below the sea's surface. The Pan American Health Organization estimated in 1993 that only about 10% of the sewage from the Central American and Caribbean Island countries is properly treated before being released into the sea. The South China Sea sits between South China, Indochinese Peninsula, the Philippines, and several islands. The habitats of almost all members of the toad family, poison dart frogs, tree frogs and leptodactylidae (a type of frog) are limited to only one island. Moll's map covers all of the West Indies . Analysis of toxic metals and hydrocarbons is based on the investigation of coastal sediments that have accumulated less than 50 meters deep during the last hundred and fifty years. Iturralde-Vinent, Manuel (2004), The first inhabitants of the Caribbean, Cuban Science Network . Because of these characteristics, the area was identified by members of the ocean science community as important to explore, and data from the expedition will likely have long-lasting implications for scientists and resource managers in the Caribbean. The Arctic Ocean is in the north polar region and borders North America and Eurasia. Other floral species that are found in the Caribbean region include mahogany, caimito, coconut palms, and mangroves. Ocean temperatures get colder with depth. km, the Caribbean Sea is bordered by the countries of Colombia, Panama, and Venezuela in the south; by Belize, Costa Rica, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, and Mexicos Yucatan Peninsula in the west; by the Greater Antilles islands in the north; and by the Lesser Antilles islands in the east. The Caribbean Sea is the Atlantic Ocean's second-largest sea and the world's deepest sea, with a maximum depth of 7,686 m below sea level. The average depth of the ocean measures about 12,100 feet (3600 meters) or about 2.3 miles down! Scientific data reveals that over the last 500 years the area has seen a dozen earthquakes above 7.5 magnitude. Keep reading to find out! The Caribbean is the setting for countless literary efforts often related to piracy acts and swashbuckling. Connections were established with the Pacific Ocean during the Cretaceous Period (from about 145 to 66 million years ago) but were broken when the land bridges that permitted mammals to cross between North and South America were formed in the Miocene and Pliocene epochs (about 23 to 2.6 million years ago). The islands are further divided into three distinct island groups: the Greater Antilles, the Lesser Antilles, and the Bahamas Archipelago. [15], The habitats supported by the reefs are critical to such tourist activities as fishing and diving, and provide an annual economic value to Caribbean nations of US$3.14.6billion. website belongs to an official government organization in the United States. Surface area, volume, and average depth of oceans and seas. Two years later, they revisited the research and found a new shrimp species. Its average depth is 1,038 m, with Molloy Deep (its deepest point) descending to about 5,550 m. The Arctic Ocean formed during the Cretaceous Period, about 145-65 million years ago. Tourist attractions of the region are those generally associated with a maritime tropical climate: Scuba diving and snorkeling on coral reefs, cruises, sailing, and game fishing at sea. Deepest Point: Calypso Deep (17,280 feet). [16] A Protocol of the Convention for the Protection and Development of the Marine Environment of the Wider Caribbean Region came in effect in 1986 to protect the various endangered marine life of the Caribbean through forbidding human activities that would advance the continued destruction of such marine life in various areas. The seas deepest point is the Cayman Trough, between the Cayman Islands and Jamaica, at 7,686 meters (25,220 feet) below sea level. It is 27,480 feet deep. What is The Average Depth of the Caribbean Sea? Within the boundaries of the Caribbean itself, Jamaica, to the south of Cuba, is the largest of a number of islands. Surface. Click the numbers to find out more. In the Caribbean 600 species of birds have been recorded of which 163 are endemic. ) or https:// means youve safely connected to the .gov website. The International Hydrographic Organization defines the limits of the Caribbean Sea as follows:[5], Note that, although Barbados is an island on the same continental shelf, it is considered to be in the Atlantic Ocean rather than the Caribbean Sea.[6]. The geologic age of the Caribbean is not known with certainty. km Average Depth: 8,970 ft., 2,734 m. Greatest Known Depth: Wheatley Point 15,262 ft., 4,652 m. The Arabian Sea sits in the northwest of the Indian Ocean, in a pocket below Pakistan and Oman and to the west of India. Average depth: 8,685 feet (2,647 m) Ocean: Atlantic Ocean The Caribbean Sea averages eight hurricanes per year, with most happening in September; the season extends from June to November. The Caribbean coastline has many gulfs and bays: the Gulf of Gonve, Gulf of Venezuela, Gulf of Darin, Golfo de los Mosquitos, Gulf of Paria and Gulf of Honduras. Its deepest point is the Sunda Trench, descending to approximately 7,290 m. With an average temperature of 77F, the Indian Ocean takes the lead as the warmest ocean in the world. Panel Chairman in Marine Biology, Gulf University Research Corporation. The Caribbean Sea has a tropical climate influenced by trade winds. The average salinity of 35 0 / 00 is recorded between 10 0 -30 0 latitudes in the southern hemisphere. The Antilles along with Central America lie in the flight path of migrating birds from North America so the size of populations is subject to seasonal fluctuations. Because the ocean is a big place and difficult to study, if you search online to find the depth of the ocean, you may end up with a range of results. Equatorial Current moving from North Africa, and how critical are they, and Red rivers have large... 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