answers.input_text: short
answers.span_text: Atlantic ocean
questions: the gulf stream the world's fastest ocean current flows along the western side of this water body
name: Gulf Stream
contexts: The Gulf Stream , together with its northern extension the North Atlantic Drift , is a warm and swift Atlantic ocean current that originates in the Gulf of Mexico and stretches to the tip of Florida , and follows the eastern coastlines of the United States and Newfoundland before crossing the Atlantic Ocean . The process of western intensification causes the Gulf Stream to be a northward accelerating current off the east coast of North America . At about 40 ° 0 ′ N 30 ° 0 ′ W ﻿ / ﻿ 40.000 ° N 30.000 ° W ﻿ / 40.000 ; - 30.000 , it splits in two , with the northern stream , the North Atlantic Drift , crossing to Northern Europe and the southern stream , the Canary Current , recirculating off West Africa .