The Gulf Stream - Florida Currents

The Gulf Stream is a warm ocean current in the North Atlantic flowing from the Gulf of Mexico, northeast along the U.S. Coast to Nantucket Island, and from there to the British Isles. Its namesake, the Gulf of Mexico, once thought to be the source of the Stream, actually contributes very little to the Stream's flow. The Gulf Stream really results when two strong currents, the North and South Equatorial Currents, mingle in the passage between the Windward Islands and the Caribbean Sea. Off the southern coast of Florida, it is strengthened by other currents from the northern coast of Puerto Rico and from the Bahamas to the east.

The true Gulf Stream flows between the Straits of Florida, and the Grand Banks. However, it is part of a much larger Gulf Stream System, which covers the entire northward and eastward flow from the Straits of Florida, including the branches crossing the North Atlantic from the region south of the Newfoundland Banks. Water flows through the Straits of Florida at a rate of approximately 26 million cubic meters per second, increasing to 75 - 90 cubic million cubic meters per second by the time it reaches Chesapeake Bay, due to the addition of Sargasso water and deep water. As the water turns southward, beyond the Grand Banks, the flow decreases to less than 40 million cubic meters per second. The first chart showing the course of the Gulf Stream, a collaboration of Benjamin Franklin and Timothy Folger, was published in 1770.

Similar to the above description, Encyclopedia.com provides the following with some additional information: "The Gulf Stream is a warm ocean current of the N Atlantic Ocean, off E North America. It was first described (1513) by Spanish explorer Ponce de León . The Gulf Stream originates in the Gulf of Mexico and, as the Florida Current, passes through the Straits of Florida and along the coast of SE United States with a breadth of c.50 mi (80 km). North of Cape Hatteras, it is separated from the coast by a narrow southern extension of the cold Labrador Current and flows NE into the Atlantic Ocean. Where the warm surface waters of the Gulf Stream meet the cold winds accompanying the Labrador Current, one of the densest concentrations of fog in the world occurs. Parts of the Gulf Stream current are diverted SE, forming the Canary Currents, which carry cooler waters to the Iberian peninsula and NW Africa. An ensuing current, known as the North Atlantic Drift , flows NW and provides temperate, relatively warm waters to W Europe. The Gulf Stream has an average speed of 4 mi (6.4 km) per hr but slows down as it widens to the north. At the beginning of the Gulf Stream the water temperature is 80 (27); the temperature decreases as the current moves north."

The Gulf Stream flows north along the Southeast Florida coast near the ocean harbors of Sebastian, Fort Pierce, Stuart & Jupiter all of which have protected Inlets along the Treasure Coast. In regards to the Treasure Coast, as the Gulf Stream flows north through the Straits of Florida, it is about 2 miles offshore from the Jupiter Inlet, about 6 miles offshore from the Stuart Inlet, 12 miles offshore from the Fort Pierce Inlet, and about 20 miles offshore from the Sebastian Inlet located further north. The warm waters of the Gulf Stream provide world-class fishing for Tuna, Wahoo, Swordfish, Dolphin Fish, Marlin and other billfish, etc. Of the above inlets, Fort Pierce is the most accomodating for larger vessels with a large Fort Pierce City Marina which is home to the popular Pelican Yacht Club, one of the most prestigious yacht clubs in South Florida. There are over 240 slips, nice restaurants, and downtown access within a short walk from the Fort Pierce City Marina. Known as the Sunrise City, Fort Pierce boasts the best fishing in Florida. Recent news articles appearing in the Fort Pierce Tribune & Other Treasure Coast Newspapers reveal that competing yacht builders are in the process of purchasing about eighty acres to build a mega-yacht facility in the Fort Pierce Harbor. The Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute, a Smithsonian facility, the unique Underwater Demolition-Seal Museum and Manatee Center are popular attractions located in the Fort Pierce area. Disney World, Sea World, Nasa Cape Kennedy Space Center & many other attractions in the Orlando area are one and a half hours drive to the north while the West Palm Beach International Airport is a half hour to the south. Miami is one and a half hours drive to the south. Tampa Bay and Busch Gardens Animal Theme Park is about two and a half hours drive northwest of the Treasure Coast. The Florida Everglades National Park is located about two hours to the south.

Directly east of the Treasure Coast are the beautiful waters of the Bahamas, only a few hours away by boat and just a hop and a skip by plane. Aside from being a popular tourist destination, the Bahamas provide excellent fishing, particularly for world-class tuna and wahoo in the Gulf Stream which flows north between the Treasure Coast and the Bahama Islands. The Bimini Islands, a famous sportfishing and tourist community only fifty miles east of Miami in the Bahamas, is considered the Game Fish Capital of the World. Key West and the Carribean Islands are just a short flight from the Treasure Coast. Sport fishermen and charter boat captains of Fort Pierce and Stuart claim that the ocean waters off the treasure coast between Florida and the Bahamas represent "The Sailfish Capital of the World!" More sailfish are caught in this area of South Florida along the Treasure Coast during the winter months than anywhere else in the world. The southern tip of Hutchinson Island, immediately north of the Stuart inlet, is appropriately named Salfish Point. Aside from providing world-class sportfishing and scuba diving, the South Florida Treasure Coast provides excellent boating and treasure hunting opportunities. The Treasure Coast receives it's nick-name from the Spanish fleets which wrecked in 1715 & 1733 depositing their sunken treasures along the eastern coast of Hutchinson Island. For the recreational divers as well as the commercial divers, treasure hunting is a multi-million dollar industry along the Treasure Coast.

Our real estate agents specialize in the Treasure Coast area which extends from Sebastian Inlet south to the Jupiter Inlet including the rapidly growing communities of Wabasso, Vero Beach, Lakeland Park, historic Fort Pierce, White City (an unincorporated area of Fort Pierce located next to Port St. Lucie), Port St. Lucie (including the planned community of St. Lucie West - winter home of the New York Mets with their own ballpark stadium and the popular PGA Golf Village), Jensen Beach, Hutchinson Island, Stuart, Palm City, Port Salerno, Hobe Sound, Indiantown & Jupiter Island. The PGA Golf Village boasts that it has one of the finest golf course facilities in the world with seventy two holes. In fact the PGA (Professional Golf Association) is headquartered there. The PGA owns the golf courses and many professional golfers own homes in the PGA Golf village, a beautifully maintained private community with an exceptional tennis facility, beautifull well maintained landscaping and gated access. This area in St. Lucie West is the most popular residential golfing community in Florida. St. Lucie West is among the top ten planned communities in the U.S.

Whether you are looking for a luxury home, waterfront home or luxury home construction, we specialize in South Florida Real Estate and we would be delighted to assist you as your real estate agent in order to represent your best interests. Our RE/MAX Midway Realty office is strategically located in the center of the Treasure Coast in White City between Fort Pierce and Port St. Lucie in St. Lucie County. To the north is Indian River County, home of the Vero Beach & Sebastian communities while Stuart & Palm City are located to the south in Martin County. Palm City & Wellington are known for their exceptional equestrian facilities. Further inland to the west of the Treasure Coast is Lake Okeechobee which is world-renowned for its fresh water bass fishing and alligator hunting.

As South Florida real estate agents, our primary emphasis is locating homes and real estate properties suitable for our buyers. In addition to the Treasure Coast of South Florida, through our Network of Florida Real Estate Agents, we can assist you with locating property anywhere in the Sunshine State from Pensacola to Key West. For your convenience click on the following link to search a Statewide Data Base of Florida Real Estate. This information is provided via the MLS (Multiple Listing Service). Once you locate a property which you are interested in, please contact us and we will be delighted to provide you with additional information and arrange for showing you the property.

If you're selling your South Florida luxury home or real estate, we will develop a custom marketing and Internet advertising campaign for your property; ensuring that your property is seen only by qualified prospective buyers. Your South Florida real estate will sell faster with less time wasted. If you are concerned about capital gains taxes resulting from the sale of your property, we can assist you with a 1031 Exchange, which may allow you to defer paying costly capital gains taxes from the sale of your current property in exchange for buying another property of similar or greater value. For more information, please refer to our web-site page on 1031 exchanges or call us!