The body of water that separates Florida from Cuba is the Florida Straits. This narrow body of water connects the Gulf of Mexico to the Atlantic Ocean and is approximately 90 miles wide at its narrowest point. The Florida Straits are significant for both ecological and economic reasons, serving as a major shipping route and supporting diverse marine ecosystems. The straits are historically important as well, often serving as a migration path for various species and a point of interest in U.S.-Cuba relations.