The Sigsbee Deep is the deepest part of the Gulf of Mexico

Gulf of Mexico

The Gulf of Mexico is a partially landlocked ocean basin largely surrounded by the North American continent and the island of Cuba. It is bounded on the northeast, north and northwest by the Gulf Coast of the United States, on the southwest and south by Mexico, and on the southeast by Cuba. In...

. The actual maximum depth is disputed and estimates range between 3750 and 4384 m (12,303.1 and 14,383.2 ft). The average depth of the Gulf is roughly 1615 metres (5,298.6 ft). The Sigsbee Deep is a trough

Trough (geology)

In geology, a trough generally refers to a linear structural depression that extends laterally over a distance, while being less steep than a trench.A trough can be a narrow basin or a geologic rift....

 that extends more than 300 miles (482.8 km) and is often called the "Grand Canyon

Grand Canyon

The Grand Canyon is a steep-sided canyon carved by the Colorado River in the United States in the state of Arizona. It is largely contained within the Grand Canyon National Park, the 15th national park in the United States...

 under the sea." It is located in the southwestern quadrant of the Gulf, with its closest point to the U.S.

United States

The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...

 coast at 200 miles (321.9 km) southeast of Brownsville, Texas

Brownsville, Texas

Brownsville is a city in the southernmost tip of the state of Texas, in the United States. It is located on the northern bank of the Rio Grande, directly north and across the border from Matamoros, Tamaulipas, Mexico. Brownsville is the 16th largest city in the state of Texas with a population of...

. The Sigsbee Deep was discovered by ships under the command of Captain Charles Dwight Sigsbee

Charles Dwight Sigsbee

Charles Dwight Sigsbee was a Rear Admiral inthe United States Navy. In his earlier career he was a pioneering oceanographer and hydrographer. He is best remembered as the captain of the USS Maine, which exploded in Havana harbor, Cuba, in 1898...

, during his time with the United States Hydrographic Office

United States Hydrographic Office

The United States Hydrographic Office prepared and published maps, charts, and nautical books required in navigation.The office was established by an act of 21 June 1866 as part of the Bureau of Navigation, Department of the Navy....

. The feature was named in his honor. He would later be captain of the USS Maine

USS Maine (ACR-1)

USS Maine was the United States Navy's second commissioned pre-dreadnought battleship, although she was originally classified as an armored cruiser. She is best known for her catastrophic loss in Havana harbor. Maine had been sent to Havana, Cuba to protect U.S. interests during the Cuban revolt...

, which exploded in the harbor of Havana

Havana

Havana is the capital city, province, major port, and leading commercial centre of Cuba. The city proper has a population of 2.1 million inhabitants, and it spans a total of — making it the largest city in the Caribbean region, and the most populous...

, Cuba

Cuba

The Republic of Cuba is an island nation in the Caribbean. The nation of Cuba consists of the main island of Cuba, the Isla de la Juventud, and several archipelagos. Havana is the largest city in Cuba and the country's capital. Santiago de Cuba is the second largest city...

, in 1898.