Gulf Stream

A great ocean current flowing out from the Gulf of Mexico through the Straits of Florida, and progressing along the Atlantic coast, following its trend, and widening as it flows, until off New Foundland it separates, one branch flowing north-east toward Spitzenbergen, and the other branch continuing an easterly course to the coast of Europe where it recurves to the southward and finally joins the Great Equatorial Current and pursues a westerly course until it completes the circuit by again entering the Gulf of Mexico to be expelled anew through the Straits of Florida.