Warm and Cold C^lrrenls. 43 



northern and southern [the teacher pointing to 

 them on a globe or map], and the hottest parts 

 are midway between them, or on each side of a 

 great circle called the Equator. 



3. In the oceans are great streams or cur 

 rents which flow like rivers. The warm stream 

 is called the Equatorial Current, and the cold 

 streams are called Arctic and Antarctic Currents. 



4. One of the principal branches of the Equa- 

 torial Current is called the Gulf Stream, which, 

 as you may see in the drawing, issues from the 

 Gulf of Mexico. 



5. Of course it is only that part of the great Equatorial 

 Current which is turned northwest by the eastern part or 

 elbow of South America, entering the Gulf of Mexico 

 between Cuba and Yucatan, and leaving it between 

 Cuba and Florida. 



6. This Gulf Stream, flowing in a northeast 

 direction across the Atlantic, is, therefore, a 

 stream of warm water rushing through and 

 over the cold waters of that part of the ocean. 



7. The Gulf Stream and winds from the 

 southwest carry heat all the way to the west 

 coast of Europe, keeping the fields of Eng- 

 land and Ireland fresh and green even in 

 winter, and protecting those countries from 

 a climate similar to that of Labrador, where 

 for five or six months in the year the waters 

 are frozen and the ground is all covered over 



