What area is recognized as the waters 12 nautical miles outside of the baseline?

The area recognized as the waters 12 nautical miles outside of the baseline is the US Territorial Sea. This concept is grounded in international law, specifically the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), which defines the territorial sea as the waters that extend from the baseline up to 12 nautical miles seaward. In this region, a coastal nation has sovereignty, meaning it can exercise jurisdiction over the water column, seabed, and subsoil, as well as the air space above it.

This level of control allows the country to enforce laws and regulations regarding navigation, fishing, and resource exploitation, making it an essential zone for national security and economic interests. Therefore, the US Territorial Sea is critical for coastal nations, including the United States, to establish their legal authority over adjacent waters, thereby demonstrating why it is the correct answer.

In contrast, the Exclusive Economic Zone extends beyond the territorial sea to 200 nautical miles from the baseline, granting countries rights over the exploration and use of marine resources without full sovereignty. Customs Waters relate to specific enforcement areas for customs regulations, while the High Seas refer to areas beyond national jurisdiction where no single state has sovereignty. Thus, understanding the defined boundaries and rights associated with each of these areas is