b'R O W I N G U R T U R I N L I V I N G R O M O T I N X P L O R I NG N G P G E GEconomy Environment Communities Education TourismSURFACE WATERWritten byChristinaMohrmanSpanning over 1,600 miles of shoreline, the Gulf of Mexico is the worlds ninth-largest body of water and provides significant natural and economic resources to the region and beyond. The areas 15.6 million acres of wetlandsincluding bays, estuaries, barrier islands, and mangrove swampsrepresent half of the coastal wetlands in the entire United States.In terms of economics, if the Gulf of Mexico region were a country, it would rank in the top 10 worldwide based on gross domestic product. Sugar-white sand beaches, recreational fishing, and rich cultural traditions such as Mardi Gras draw in visitors from around the world,THE GULF IS creating more than 2.6 million jobs in the tourism industry. The region also providesHOME TO OVER 40% of the United States total petroleum15,420 SPECIES.refining capacity and 33% of the nations commercial seafood production.22 MISSION: WATER'