Rhode Island Sound facts for kids
Rhode Island Sound is a part of the Atlantic Ocean located near the coast of the Rhode Island state in the United States. It's like a wide waterway or "strait" that connects to Narragansett Bay.
This sound is the eastern part of Block Island Sound. It opens up into the big Atlantic Ocean between two islands: Block Island and Martha's Vineyard.
What is Rhode Island Sound Like?
The Rhode Island Sound is a large area of water. It stretches out to the east from Block Island Sound. To its northeast, you'll find another body of water called Buzzards Bay.
The Rhode Island Sound covers about 2,500 square kilometers (which is about 965 square miles). At its deepest point, the water can be up to 60 meters (about 197 feet) deep.
Waves and Water Movement
On average, the waves in Rhode Island Sound are usually between 1 to 3 meters (about 3 to 10 feet) high.
The way the water moves, called "circulation," and how strong the "currents" are, is mostly affected by the shape of the land and sea floor around it. It's not mainly controlled by how strong the wind blows. Because of this, the places where animals and plants live on the bottom of the sea, called "sea floor habitats," are always changing in Rhode Island Sound.
