The largest gulfs and bays in the world, ranked by surface area — from the Bay of Bengal to the Bay of Fundy.
Quick answer: 1. Bay of Bengal, 2. Gulf of Mexico, 3. Gulf of Guinea, 4. Gulf of Alaska, 5. Hudson Bay, 6. Great Australian Bight, 7. Gulf of Carpentaria, 8. Persian Gulf, 9. Gulf of St. Lawrence, 10. Bay of Fundy.
Gulfs and bays are coastal indentations of oceans and seas. They range from small sheltered coves to vast bodies of water spanning millions of square kilometers. This list ranks the ten largest gulfs and bays by surface area. Boundaries between gulfs and open oceans are often defined by convention rather than sharp geographical lines, so the figures below are approximate.
The Bay of Bengal is the largest bay in the world, bordered by India, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, and Indonesia. It receives the waters of the Ganges, Brahmaputra, and several other major rivers.
The Gulf of Mexico is the largest gulf in the world. It is bounded by the United States, Mexico, and Cuba, and connects to the Atlantic Ocean via the Florida Strait.
The Gulf of Guinea is the northeasternmost part of the tropical Atlantic Ocean off the coast of West Africa. It is defined by the intersection of the Prime Meridian and the Equator.
The Gulf of Alaska is a curved stretch of the North Pacific Ocean along the southern coast of Alaska. It is known for its stormy weather and rich marine ecosystem.
Hudson Bay is a vast inland sea in northeastern Canada. It is connected to the Atlantic Ocean through the Hudson Strait and to the Arctic Ocean through the Foxe Basin.
The Great Australian Bight is a large open bay off the central and western portions of the southern coast of mainland Australia. It is known for its dramatic limestone cliffs.
The Gulf of Carpentaria is a large, shallow gulf on the northern coast of Australia. It is known for its extreme tidal ranges and as a major site for prawn fishing.
The Persian Gulf is a shallow marginal sea between Iran and the Arabian Peninsula. It is the world's largest single source of crude oil, with the world's largest offshore oil fields.
The Gulf of St. Lawrence is the largest estuary in the world by volume. It connects the Great Lakes to the Atlantic Ocean through the St. Lawrence River system.
The Bay of Fundy is famous for having the highest tidal range in the world — up to 16 meters between high and low tide. It is bordered by Nova Scotia and New Brunswick in Canada, and Maine in the US.
| # | Name | Type | Bordering countries | Connected to | Max depth |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bay of Bengal | Bay | India, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, Indonesia | Indian Ocean | ~4,694 m |
| 2 | Gulf of Mexico | Gulf | United States, Mexico, Cuba | Atlantic Ocean (Florida Strait) | ~4,384 m |
| 3 | Gulf of Guinea | Gulf | Nigeria, Ghana, Ivory Coast, Cameroon, and others | Atlantic Ocean | ~6,000 m |
| 4 | Gulf of Alaska | Gulf | United States (Alaska) | Pacific Ocean | ~5,659 m |
| 5 | Hudson Bay | Bay | Canada | Atlantic Ocean (Hudson Strait), Arctic Ocean | ~270 m |
| 6 | Great Australian Bight | Bight | Australia | Southern Ocean, Indian Ocean | ~5,600 m |
| 7 | Gulf of Carpentaria | Gulf | Australia | Arafura Sea, Pacific Ocean | ~70 m |
| 8 | Persian Gulf | Gulf | Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Qatar, UAE, Oman | Gulf of Oman, Arabian Sea (Strait of Hormuz) | ~90 m |
| 9 | Gulf of St. Lawrence | Gulf | Canada | Atlantic Ocean (Cabot Strait, Strait of Belle Isle) | ~530 m |
| 10 | Bay of Fundy | Bay | Canada, United States | Gulf of Maine, Atlantic Ocean | ~210 m |
Gulfs and bays are ranked by approximate surface area in square kilometers, drawn from encyclopedic sources including Encyclopaedia Britannica, national hydrographic offices, and published oceanographic references. Boundaries are based on conventional definitions used by the International Hydrographic Organization where available.
The Bay of Bengal is the largest bay, covering approximately 2,600,000 square kilometers.
The Gulf of Mexico is the largest gulf, covering approximately 1,600,000 square kilometers.
The distinction is largely conventional. Gulfs are generally larger and more enclosed than bays, but there is no strict scientific definition separating the two.