Location of the Mediterranean Sea on the map. Mediterranean Sea: map, beaches, recreation. Tourism in the Mediterranean

Mediterranean Sea- Mediterranean, intercontinental sea of the Atlantic Ocean, connected to it in the west by the Strait of Gibraltar.

The seas of the Mediterranean basin wash the shores of the states: Montenegro, Croatia, Bosnia, Albania, Bulgaria, Ukraine, Russia, Syria, Lebanon, Libya, Algeria, Morocco.

In the northeast, the Dardanelles Strait connects with Sea of Marmara and further along the Bosporus Strait - with the Black Sea, in the southeast by the Suez Canal - with the Red Sea.

Area 2500 thousand sq. km.

The average depth is 1541 m, the maximum is 5121 m.

The most significant bays are: Valencia, Lyon, Genoa, Taranto, Sidra (B. Sirte), Gabes (M. Sirte).

Largest islands: Balearic, Corsica, Sardinia, Sicily, Crete and Cyprus.

The large rivers Ebro, Rhone, Tiber, Po, Nile, etc. flow into the Mediterranean Sea; their total annual flow is approx. 430 cubic km

Vegetation and animal world The Mediterranean Sea is characterized by a relatively weak quantitative development of phyto- and zooplankton, which entails. the small number of larger animals that feed on them, including fish. The amount of phytoplankton in surface horizons is only 8-10 mg/cubic meter; at a depth of 1000-2000 m it is 10-20 times less. Algae are very diverse (peridinea and diatoms predominate).

The fauna of the Mediterranean Sea is characterized by great species diversity, but the number of representatives of the department. there are few species. There are dolphins, one type of seal (the white-bellied seal); sea turtle. There are 550 species of fish (sharks, mackerel, herring, anchovies, mullet, coryphenidae, tuna, bonito, horse mackerel, etc.). About 70 species of endemic fish, including stingrays, anchovy species, gobies, and mora. blennies, wrasse and needlefish. From edible shellfish highest value have oyster, Mediterranean-Black Sea mussel, sea date. Of the invertebrates, octopuses, squids, sepia, crabs, lobsters are common; numerous species of jellyfish and siphonophores; In some areas, especially in the Aegean Sea, sponges and red coral are found.

Fishing in the Mediterranean Sea is of secondary importance compared to other Atlantic basins. Industrialization of the coast, urban growth, and development of recreational areas lead to intense pollution of the coastal strip.

Widely known resorts Cote d'Azur(Riviera) in France and Italy, resorts of the Levantine coast and Balearic Islands in Spain, etc.

Photos of the Mediterranean Sea:

Menton, France

Mediterranean Sea surrounded on all sides by earth. One glance at the map is enough to agree with this judgment. This was also known ancient Greek scientist.

Features of geographical location and climate

Mediterranean Sea it's not named in vain, from all sides it touches with continents.

This has not yet been found anywhere in the world. large indoor pool, which is connected to the ocean by only a tiny, for this scale, bridge - Strait of Gibraltar.

The sea in its own way geographical location is between: Asia, , Africa.

Total area - 2,500 square kilometers. Maximum depth amounts to 5,121 meters.

It is connected by channels and straits with, Red And Seas of Marmara.

Concerning bottom relief, then everything is typical for the sea peculiarities:

continental slope cut by canyons;
shelf narrow.

Part Mediterranean Sea includes inland seas:

Aegean;
Alboran;
Adriatic;
Balearic;
Ionian;
Ligurian;
Tyrrhenian.

in winter the weather is very changeable, regularly there are storms, and pass heavy rainfall. The temperature drops significantly due to the influence northern winds.

In summer observed here dry fog and not a large number of precipitation.

Tourists come en masse to these places closer to mid-summer. By July the reservoir warms up to +27 degrees.

Countries and islands

To the Mediterranean include vast territories of countries and islands. We give examples of some of them below.

Countries

. There are resorts here that are very popular Russian tourists. Most of the service staff are talking in Russian, which simplifies holidays in a foreign country for our tourists. There are a lot of excellent ones here beaches, inexpensive hotels and one of the best in the world kitchens. The reservoir washes the following large Turkish cities – Mersin, Istanbul, Antalya And Izmir.
Italy. It is located in the western Mediterranean. People come here to eat delicious pizza And spaghetti and also enjoy warm sun. Resort towns are considered Rome, Sicily And Milan.
Spain. Ibiza, Barcelona And Majorca- these are exactly the settlements where travelers come who want to have fun and have a good time. Especially it concerns youth, loving noisy parties.
Croatia. A country attractive for tourists, first of all, quickly gaining momentum yachting. For this purpose the state allocates multi-million dollar investment.
Montenegro. The beach is especially worth a look Ada Boyana. Here the purest sand, which can only be found throughout Adriatic. In addition, tourism is actively developing here among nudists.
Albania. Chic kitchen, beautiful landscapes– this is how local resorts are characterized.

In ancient times it was believed that the Mediterranean Sea was located in the center of the world. The Roman aborigines called it Inland Sea , since all its shores were conquered by them.

. Intersect here European And Islamic traditions and cultures. This fact attracts tourists. According to statistics, people also come here to see cultural attractions. Particularly popular Casablanca.
Tunisia. Ancients museums, mysterious artifacts, monuments architecture, memorable markets- on local resorts which ones are not found miracles.

Islands

Kara is clickable, click on it to enlarge.

There is also a bunch of large and small Mediterranean islands, interesting for travelers. Among them stand out:

Djerba. Located in the north Africa. Translated from ancient Arabic as "wheat town". The island is mentioned in the famous "Odyssey" Homer. Pink flamingos , ancient synagogue, fireballs, local delicious rice– something like this simply cannot be missed if you find yourself in Djerba.
Sardinia. Located next to Dirk And Sicily. Archaeologists constantly find various tombs And ziggurats. These are the main attractions of the island.
Vulcano. Tourists come here to see the numerous volcanic craters.

Scientists have found out that due to the catastrophic floods, which occurred 5.3 million years ago, is precisely filling occurred Mediterranean Sea. In two years such a large water basin was formed! useful salts and No dangerous poisonous plants And animals.
Can be inspected attractions absolutely different countries world and get to know them culture. After all, the Mediterranean Sea washes the shores of a good half continents of the world.
In Mediterranean resorts there is a very developed resort and medical infrastructure. Therefore, people suffering diseases of various origins, can easily find a place for relaxation and recovery.

There are no cons. Unless, of course, you consider the scorching summer sun a disadvantage.

Perhaps the most amazing and unusual sea on the planet is the Mediterranean. It separates three different ones, but at the same time serves as a meeting place for a wide variety of cultures, nations and religions. Which countries are washed by the waters of the Mediterranean Sea and which of them do tourists most like to visit? You will learn about this from our interesting article.

Mediterranean: history and geography of the region

Which countries are washed by the Mediterranean Sea? Which famous cities located on its banks? Before answering these questions, you need to study geography and history in detail of this region.

Mediterranea - this is the name of the Mediterranean in English language. This historical region occupies the entire basin of the sea of the same name - the cradle of European and Arab navigation. Ancient civilizations and powers arose on its shores - Phenicia, Ancient Hellas, the Roman Empire. The latter at one time controlled the entire region. Which countries are washed by the Mediterranean Sea today?

The total area of the region, according to various scientists, ranges from 4 to 5 million square kilometers. On its territory there are states from two continents and three parts of the world.

Which countries are washed by the Mediterranean Sea? Largest cities

Geographically, culturally and mentally, the Mediterranean is divided into three zones (parts): European, Asian and African.

So, which countries are washed by the Mediterranean Sea with its waters? These include 21 independent states. These are Spain, France, Italy, Monaco, Malta (an island republic located directly in the water area), Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Albania, Greece, Cyprus, Turkey, Syria, Lebanon, Israel, Egypt, Libya, Tunisia, Algeria and Morocco.

The unrecognized countries of Palestine and Northern Cyprus, as well as two overseas territories Great Britain (Gibraltar, Akrotiri and Dhekelia).

What cities are washed by the Mediterranean Sea? On the shores of its waters there are thousands settlements. Among the largest and most famous cities The Mediterranean can be distinguished as follows: Barcelona, Marseille, Cannes, Genoa, Napoli, Dubrovnik, Athens, Istanbul, Antalya, Alexandria, Tripoli.

Structure of the Mediterranean: islands, archipelagos, seas

Scientists claim that the Mediterranean Sea is nothing more than a relic of an ancient body of water on a planetary scale - the Tethys Ocean. Black, Caspian and Aral Sea are also its remnants.

The modern Mediterranean Sea is connected to Atlantic Ocean narrow it passes between two high cliffs named in ancient times An interesting fact: in the Mediterranean Sea, hydrographs identify a number of smaller seas. For example, on the maps of this part of the planet you can find the Adriatic, Aegean, Ionian, Cyprus and others.

What washes the Mediterranean Sea? Several large Apennine and Pyrenean islands protrude deeply into its waters. In the waters of the Mediterranean there are also a large number of islands, varying in size. And almost each of them is very attractive to tourists. It is worth mentioning a few of the most famous islands Mediterranean: Crete, Malta, Sicily, Rhodes, Ibiza and Mallorca.

Synthesis of cultures and peoples

“The sea in the middle of the Earth” - that’s what it was called in ancient times. This geographical toponym, having been slightly transformed, has survived to this day. Indeed, this is where various peoples, cultures, religions and civilizations have met for centuries. As a result, a unique ethnocultural situation has formed in the Mediterranean.

Already in the third millennium BC, the so-called Aegean civilization, which consisted of several cultures and was complicated by Sumerian influences. Mixed ethnic groups could also be observed within the state of Carthage. Even later, the synthesis of European and Eastern traditions formed a powerful power here - Byzantium.

Thus, cultural syncretism is more than typical for Mediterranean region. It is this fact that makes it extremely popular among tourists from all over the world.

Tourism in the Mediterranean

The Mediterranean countries are visited annually by tens of thousands of tourists from different corners of our planet. The attractiveness of this region is further enhanced by the fact that it is entirely located within a mild subtropical climate.

Of course, the most The best way to experience the Mediterranean is a cruise vacation. It allows you to visit several countries and dozens of interesting cities. During such a cruise, a tourist can see with his own eyes how monuments combine with modern creations.

In the Mediterranean, tourists most often visit Italy, Spain, Turkey, Greece, Tunisia and Croatia.

Holidays in Turkey

Each Mediterranean country boasts its own first-class resorts. And the most famous resort country in this region it is, of course, Türkiye!

This state today has been very successful in developing its tourism infrastructure. Relaxing here is both interesting and very comfortable. Moreover, Türkiye is ready to offer holidays for every taste and wallet size.

Excellent hotels, wonderful beaches, delicious cuisine and getting to know the vibrant local culture - this is what awaits every tourist who decides to visit Turkey. In addition, in a very short time you can see many interesting sights here.

Which cities in Turkey are washed by the Mediterranean Sea? This largest metropolis Istanbul, Izmir, Antalya and Mersin.

Spain and Italy

In the western part of the region is the state of Spain. This Mediterranean country tourists value it for its picturesque landscapes, beautiful nature, sunny first-class resorts and ancient architectural monuments. As a rule, no cruise bypasses Mallorca and Ibiza. But true connoisseurs of architecture should definitely visit the city of Barcelona.

Another European Mediterranean state is Italy. The land of sun, pizza and spaghetti attracts a huge number of foreign tourists. Lovers of unity with virgin nature go to Sicily, but connoisseurs of cultural and historical monuments go to Rome. The internationally recognized center of high fashion - the city of Milan - is also located here.

Balkan countries of the Mediterranean

Five of them have access to the Mediterranean Sea and all of them have enormous tourism potential.

The most attractive of Balkan countries for tourists is Croatia. Even 20 years ago it fought for its independence, and today it receives thousands of tourists every year. Vacationers are amazed by the unique cleanliness sea water in Croatia and a huge number of coastal islands.

Famous for its excellent resorts and Montenegro. In particular, the 3.8 kilometer long Ada Boyana beach boasts the most clean sand throughout the Adriatic.

Albania is gradually gaining popularity among tourists. This country benefits from its beautiful landscapes and extraordinary color. Only in Albania can you taste delicious dishes local cuisine in an abandoned concrete bunker from the last century!

African Mediterranean countries

Of course, tourists do not ignore African states this region. Egypt has long gained fame as a resort and tourist country. But even countries such as Libya and Algeria are actively developing their resorts and cities for potential holidaymakers.

They are swimming more and more often cruise ships and to the ports of Morocco. This state, being located right at the junction of East and West, Islamic and European cultures, a priori arouses interest among tourists.

Tunisia is another Mediterranean state, on whose territory a large number of historical and architectural monuments, museums with ancient artifacts. And after a busy cultural program a tourist here will also be able to fully relax on one of beautiful beaches. Another feature of Tunisia is its colorful and colorful markets.

Finally...

Now you know how many countries are washed by the Mediterranean Sea. There are 21 of them in total. The Mediterranean is a unique and very attractive region for tourists. First of all, they strive to get to Turkey, Italy, Spain, Tunisia and Croatia. After all, these countries have a lot of attractions, and the infrastructure is in perfect order.

It is not easy to find any other place on our planet other than the Mediterranean, where crowds of multinational tourists strive to get to throughout the calendar year. Thanks to the incredible variety of Mediterranean resort areas, travelers - even the most demanding ones - will have little difficulty finding wonderful beaches for a pleasant and at the same time useful pastime.

It is not easy for tourists to determine which of the picturesque cities of this wonderful region are more worthy of visiting than others, because in each of them vacationers will find a variety of entertainment and the delights of relaxing on long sandy and pebble coasts. And yet the most active and for knowledgeable travelers manages to highlight several Mediterranean resort towns which are considered real pearls this amazing region.

Travelers who choose a holiday in hospitable Cyprus are attracted to these regions, first of all, by the opportunities for a quiet pastime, necessary for many contemporaries, away from noisy and overpopulated large and medium-sized cities. However, for the majority of young tourists who come to picturesque Ayia Napa - a cozy resort town famous for its fine sandy coast - these places are primarily associated with vibrant and varied entertainment.

Most often, young people prefer to relax noisily and cheerfully on Nissi, a fairly crowded two-kilometer beach. Thanks to fashionable British DJs, in the evenings almost the entire coast turns into a stylish disco, where famous melodies of the most famous different styles and directions of advanced Western European music.

There are also many exciting activities on the beach for passionate fans of a game that requires privacy. fishing and windsurfing, beloved by young travelers. The same entertainment awaits vacationers on the glamorous Makronissos - quite a long sandy beach, known for its sparse crowds and excellent conditions for the now fashionable diving.

The resort will delight all vacationers with the variety of local club life. It is unlikely that any young traveler would not want to attend fun parties in medieval fortress or cozy ice cave. It is in this exotic style that the halls and facades of the giant Castle and the small and cozy Ice are decorated - two famous clubs. Both in them and in other similar entertainment establishments hospitable resort Vacationers can expect to meet famous European DJs and progressive musicians.

Russian tourists have long been accustomed to holidays on magnificent resorts picturesque Turkish Riviera. In each of them, vacationers will find a wide variety of entertainment both on the sand and pebble beaches and on the almost always warm azure sea. Most often, most tourists who know Turkish resorts well dream of a serene pastime in Kemer and its picturesque surroundings.

Both in the town itself and in the neighboring villages, multinational travelers will be surprised by the harmonious coexistence ancient buildings and modern well-appointed pebble beaches, . By the sea central embankment resort you can always see a lot luxury yachts, for the sake of riding which groups of wealthy Europeans come here. Thanks to the thick pine forests And orange gardens The local beaches look like giant, well-kept parks.

Young people love the small-pebble beaches of cozy Tekirova and Olympos, famous for its ancient buildings, two hospitable villages included in the resort area of the above-mentioned Kemer. Young travelers are attracted to the last of them not only by noisy evenings at local discos, but also by a unique opportunity to live for a while in one of the tree houses.

Here vacationers can unexpectedly become grateful participants in a short but have a fascinating trip into the little-known past, visiting the remains of the Pirate Fortress and the ruins of the once gigantic temple complex. Adult travelers and their children will be delighted shallow sea and somewhat clean sand and pebble beaches the mentioned Tekirova.

Real legends go about " Moonlight» – picturesque park complex, located along the long sandy coast of Kemer. Little tourists are drawn here primarily by a sincere desire to attend a bright and memorable performance at their favorite Dolphinarium. Adult travelers also always lift their spirits during the incendiary performance of two talented dolphins and a good-natured sea lion.

In endless streams of travelers of all ages are heading to the territory of “Dino” - a giant park that looks like a fantastic city. Walking past the huge figures of dinosaurs moving and frightening with strange sounds, visitors feel like they find themselves on our planet during the period of dominance of these gigantic creatures.

For most Russian travelers Holidays on the North African coast of the Mediterranean Sea are associated primarily with well-developed Egyptian resorts. But none of them are associated with the Mediterranean coast. Throughout the African Mediterranean, tourists are attracted by the long coastal strip, on which several quite famous resorts ancient Tunisia.

Most often, lovers of distant travels choose relaxing holiday on the ten-kilometer coast of ancient Sousse. Pure white sand and small waves of the turquoise sea can be enjoyed by holidaymakers on Bou Jafar, one of two crowded beaches in this Tunisian resort. There are also many ordinary and floating fish restaurants, always crowded with overseas visitors. On Las Vegas, another fine sandy beach of hospitable Sousse, fans of fashionable windsurfing will be delighted by the rather strong waves here.

ABOUT rich history Tunisia, associated with the name of the famous and not fully explored Carthage, can be recognized by visiting Medina, which is striking in its ancient age. That's what the Arabs call it ancient quarters a city where travelers have a unique opportunity to find themselves inside the fairly well-preserved Ribat, a fortress often visited by tourists. In the evenings, resort guests flock in droves to romantic musical fountains, located in nearby Port El Kantaoui.

The coast of this famous suburb has long been favored by numerous divers. To visit the local “Hannibal Park”, which has an amazing variety of attractions, is a sincere dream of little travelers. Becoming miniature car drivers or children's train drivers is a real big and exciting adventure for naughty children and their caring parents.

Vacationers create whole legends about the variety of holidays in Spanish resort areas Mediterranean Sea. Travelers of all ages most often mention in their conversations the beaches of picturesque Salou - calm resort town, comfortably located on the famous Costa Dorado.

Travelers usually flock to these wonderful lands not for the sake of a luxurious pastime on the local beaches, but with the goal of visiting the famous “Port Aventura” - a complex of attractions loved by both children and their compassionate parents. Find yourself in the Enchanted Garden, the intricate Labyrinth of the Wild West, or in other unusual areas of this giant theme park- the sincere desire of not only young travelers, but also representatives of other generations of different ages.

The coast here, decorated with flowers and palm groves, is always both crowded and interesting. In the morning and afternoon, travelers enjoy a pleasant pastime on the local fine sandy beaches. On a kilometer East Beach specially equipped and fenced-off areas await parents and their naughty children.

Western European travelers, primarily British, can always be found on Long Beach. Lovers of solitude and silence will appreciate the pleasant and relaxing holiday on miniature Lengudents and Capellans, cut off from other places by rocks - two cozy sandy beaches.

Among the many French Mediterranean resorts Russian travelers have truly reverent feelings about luxurious Nice, which is closely connected with their compatriots who emigrated to these parts. Along the Promenade des Anglais, favored by multinational tourists, there are several wonderful large-pebble beaches. Each of them belongs to one of the magnificent hotels located on the coast.

Located in the central part of the resort Blue Beach vacationers can enjoy not only the delights of sunbathing, but also the exquisite taste of drinks that are served among vacationers by the waiters of the local luxurious restaurant. Practically no different conditions await travelers on the long Galion, wide Neptune and other cozy beaches of Nice.

Divers who have chosen the resort are never disappointed with their holiday here. Of the three local diving centers, they most often gather at Club nautique - a popular club, relatively expensive, but suitable even for picky fans of this extreme entertainment. Nice will delight connoisseurs of high art with a wonderful opportunity to become grateful spectators of the repeatedly reconstructed Opera House or visitors to the Museum of Modern Art, which always surprises with its avant-garde exhibitions.

In the evening in summer, not only tourists, but almost the entire city can be seen on the Promenade des Anglais, brightly lit with colorful lights. Travelers are no less delighted by walks along the medieval Place Massena. She surprises harmonious combination standing here ancient buildings and colorful statues located on special pillars, as if they came here from a science fiction film.

Which resort on the Mediterranean coast is better?

Thanks to the large number and variety of Mediterranean resorts, located on the territories of countries markedly different from each other, it is both easy and not entirely easy for travelers to choose a place for their long-awaited vacation. The difficulties lie, first of all, in almost identical conditions of relaxation and comfort.

Each resort tries to keep up with its neighbors, preparing for travelers many, often not entirely foreseen, opportunities for entertainment and a pleasant pastime. But it is precisely thanks to the truly fierce competition that exists here that travelers to any of the mentioned and many others resort towns The Mediterranean always remains enchanted wonderful holiday on this famous coastline.