The countries of the Mediterranean region on the map. Mediterranean Sea. Ebb and flow

One of the largest seas. The adjective "Mediterranean" is widely used in describing peoples, countries, climate, vegetation; for many, the concept of "Mediterranean" is associated with a particular way of life or with a whole period in the history of mankind.

It divides Europe, Africa and Asia, but it also closely connected Southern Europe, North Africa and Western Asia. The length of this sea from west to east is approx. 3700 km, and from north to south (at its widest point) - approx. 1600 km. On the northern coast are Spain, France, Italy, Slovenia, Croatia, Yugoslavia, Albania and Greece. From the east to the sea there is a row Asian countries– Turkey, Syria, Lebanon and Israel. Finally, Egypt, Libya, Tunisia, Algeria and Morocco are located on the south coast. Square mediterranean sea 2.5 million sq. km, and, since only narrow straits connect it with other bodies of water, it can be considered an inland sea.

In the west, through the Strait of Gibraltar, 14 km wide and up to 400 m deep, it has access to the Atlantic Ocean. In the northeast, the Dardanelles, narrowing in places to 1.3 km, connects it with the Sea of Marmara and through the Bosporus with the Black Sea. In the southeast, an artificial structure - the Suez Canal - connects the Mediterranean Sea with the Red. These three narrow water passages have always had a very great importance for trade, navigation and strategic purposes. IN different time they were controlled - or sought to be controlled - by the British, the French, the Turks and the Russians. The Romans of Roman times referred to the Mediterranean as mare nostrum ("our sea").

Coastline mediterranean sea it is strongly indented, and numerous protrusions of the land divide it into many semi-isolated water areas that have their own names. These seas include: the Ligurian, located south of the Riviera and north of Corsica; the Tyrrhenian Sea, enclosed between peninsular Italy, Sicily and Sardinia; the Adriatic Sea, washing the shores of Italy, Slovenia, Croatia, Yugoslavia and Albania; Ionian Sea between Greece and southern Italy; the Cretan Sea between the island of Crete and peninsular Greece; Aegean Sea between Turkey and Greece. There is also a row large bays, for example, Alicante east coast Spain; Lyon - at south coast France; Taranto - between the two southern ledges of the Apennine Peninsula; Antalya and Iskenderun - off the southern coast of Turkey; Sidra - in the central part of the coast of Libya; Gabes and Tunisian - off the southeastern and northeastern coasts of Tunisia, respectively.

Contemporary is a relic of the ancient Tethys ocean, which was much wider and stretched far to the east. The relics of the Tethys Ocean are also the Aral, Caspian, Black and Marmara Seas, confined to its most deep depressions. Probably, Tethys was once completely surrounded by land, and between North Africa and the Iberian Peninsula, in the region of the Strait of Gibraltar, there was an isthmus. Same land bridge connected southeastern Europe with Asia Minor. It is possible that the Bosphorus, Dardanelles and Gibraltar straits were formed on the site of flooded river valleys, and many island chains, especially in the Aegean Sea, were connected to the mainland.

In the Mediterranean Sea, the western and eastern depressions are distinguished. The border between them is drawn through the Calabrian ledge of the Apennine Peninsula, Sicily and the underwater bank Adventure (up to 400 m deep), stretched almost 150 km from Sicily to Cape Bon in Tunisia. Within both depressions, even smaller ones are isolated, usually bearing the names of the corresponding seas, for example, the Aegean, Adriatic, etc. The water in the western depression is slightly colder and fresher than in the eastern one: in the west average temperature surface layer approx. 12° C in February and 24° C in August, and in the east - 17° C and 27° C, respectively. One of the coldest and most stormy areas mediterranean sea is the Gulf of Lyon. The salinity of the sea varies widely, since less salty water comes from the Atlantic Ocean through the Strait of Gibraltar.

tides here they are low, but quite significant in very narrow straits and bays, especially during the full moon. However, rather strong currents are observed in the straits, directed both into the Mediterranean Sea and out of it. Evaporation is higher than Atlantic Ocean or in the Black Sea, therefore, surface currents arise in the straits, carrying more fresh water to the Mediterranean. At a depth below these surface currents, countercurrents occur, but they do not compensate for the influx of water near the surface.

Bottom The Mediterranean Sea in many places is composed of yellow carbonate silt, below which lies blue silt. Near the mouths of large rivers, blue oozes are overlain by deltaic deposits, which occupy large area. Depths mediterranean sea very different: the highest mark - 5121 m - is registered in the Hellenic deep sea trench at the southern tip of Greece. The average depth of the western basin is 1430 m, and its shallowest part - the Adriatic Sea - has average depth only 242 m.

Above the common bottom mediterranean sea in some places, significant sections of dissected relief rise, the peaks of which form islands. Many (though not all) of them have volcanic origin. Among the islands, we note, for example, Alboran, located east of the Strait of Gibraltar, and a group of Balearic Islands (Menorca, Mallorca, Ibiza and Formentera) east of the Iberian Peninsula; mountainous Corsica and Sardinia - west of the Apennine Peninsula, as well as a number small islands in the same area - Elba, Pontine, Ischia and Capri; and north of Sicily, Stromboli and Lipari. Within the Eastern Mediterranean Basin is the island of Malta (south of Sicily), and further to the east - Crete and Cyprus. Small islands are numerous in the Ionian, Cretan and Aegean seas; among them stand out Ionian - to the west of mainland Greece, Cyclades - east of the Peloponnese and Rhodes - off the southwestern coast of Turkey.

Major rivers flow into the Mediterranean Sea: Ebro (in Spain); Rhone (in France); Arno, Tiber and Volturno (in Italy). The rivers Po and Tagliamento (in Italy) and Isonzo (on the border of Italy and Slovenia) flow into the Adriatic Sea. The rivers Vardar (in Greece and Macedonia), Struma or Strymon, and Mesta or Nestos (in Bulgaria and Greece) belong to the Aegean Sea basin. The largest river in the Mediterranean basin, the Nile, is the only major river flowing into this sea from the south.

The Mediterranean Sea is famous for its calmness and beauty, but, like other seas, it can be stormy in certain seasons, and then big waves crashing on the coast. The Mediterranean has long attracted people with its favorable climate. The term "Mediterranean" itself is used to refer to a climate with long hot, clear and dry summers and short cool and wet winters. many coastal areas mediterranean sea, especially the southern and eastern ones, are characterized by semiarid and arid features of the climate. In particular, semiaridity with an abundance of clear sunny days considered typical of mediterranean climate. However, there are many cold days in winter when damp cold winds bring rain, drizzle and sometimes snow.

The Mediterranean is also famous for the attractiveness of its landscapes. Especially picturesque French and Italian Riviera, neighborhood of Naples, adriatic coast Croatia with numerous islands, the shores of Greece and Lebanon, where the steep slopes of the mountains rise to the very sea. Through the main islands Eastern Mediterranean important trade routes passed and culture spread - from the Middle East, Egypt and Crete to Greece, Rome, Spain and France; another route ran along the southern coast of the sea - from Egypt to Morocco.

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

Fauna mediterranean sea characterized by high species diversity, but the number of representatives of the sep. species are small. There are kaki, one species of seals (white-bellied seal); sea turtle. 550 species of fish (sharks, mackerels, herrings, anchovies, mullets, dolphins, tunas, bonitos, horse mackerels, etc.). About 70 species of endemic fish, including stingrays, anchovy species, gobies, sea. blenny, wrasse and needlefish. Of the edible mollusks, the most important are the oyster, the Mediterranean-Black Sea mussel, and the sea date. Of the invertebrates, octopuses, squids, sepia, crabs, spiny lobsters are common; numerous species of jellyfish, siphonophore; sponges and red coral live in some areas, especially in the Aegean.

Coastal countries of the Mediterranean Sea:

Spain
France
Monaco
Italy
Malta
Montenegro
Croatia
Slovenia
Bosnia
Albania
Greece
Bulgaria
Romania
Ukraine
Russia
Georgia
Turkey
Syria
Lebanon
Israel
Egypt
Libya
Tunisia
Algeria
Morocco

The largest islands in the Mediterranean:

Balearic
Corsica
Sardinia
Sicily

Mediterranean Sea surrounded on all sides by land. One glance at the map is enough to agree with such a judgment. This was also known ancient Greek scientists.

Features of geographical location and climate

mediterranean sea named for a reason, from all sides it touches with continents.

Nowhere else in the world has one been found large indoor pool, which is connected to the ocean only by a tiny, for such a scale, jumper - Strait of Gibraltar.

Sea in your own way geographic location located between: Asia, , Africa.

Total area - 2,500 square kilometers. Max Depth is 5 121 meters.

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

Concerning bottom topography, then he has all typical for the sea peculiarities:

continental slope carved 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 storms happen, and pass heavy rainfall. The temperature drops significantly due to the influence northern winds.

In summer observed here dry fog and a small amount precipitation.

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

Countries and islands

to the mediterranean includes vast territories of countries and islands. We give examples of some of them below.

Countries

. Here are the resorts that are very fond of Russian tourists. Most of the attendants are talking in Russian, which simplifies the rest in a foreign country for our tourists. There are many excellent beaches, inexpensive hotels and one of the best in the world kitchens. The reservoir washes the following major 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 Rome, Sicily And Milan.
Spain. Ibiza, Barcelona And Majorca- those are the ones 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, rapidly gaining momentum yachting. To do this, the state allocates multi-million investment.
Montenegro. Especially worth a look at the beach Ada Bojana. 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 is located in the center of the world. Roman natives called him by inland sea , since all its shores were conquered by them.

. Here intersect 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. ancient museums, mysterious artifacts, monuments architectures that are memorable markets- on local resorts which only does not occur miracles.

Islands

Kara is clickable, click on it to enlarge.

Also exists 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 city". The island is mentioned in the famous "Odyssey" Homer. pink flamingos , ancient synagogue, fireballs, local delicious rice- this is simply not to be missed if you find yourself on Djerba.
Sardinia. Located next to Dagger 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 that because of the catastrophic floods, which occurred 5.3 million years ago, just filling has occurred Mediterranean Sea. For two years such a large water basin was formed! Useful salts and No dangerous poisonous plants And animals.
Can be viewed attractions absolutely different countries the world and get to know them culture. After all, the Mediterranean Sea washes the shores of a good half continents of the world.
In the resorts of the Mediterranean is very developed resort medical infrastructure. Therefore, people suffering diseases of various origins can easily find a place for recreation and recreation.

There are no cons. Unless, of course, the scorching summer sun is not considered a disadvantage.

Part Mediterranean countries includes European, Asian and African states. Tourists are attracted by picturesque nature, clean sea waters, a large number of monuments of architecture and history.

On the coast you can find pebble and sandy beaches. On the wide and long coastline of the Mediterranean Sea, there are many places for budget holiday and resorts that amaze with their luxury.

Mediterranean Sea on a world map with countries around it

Bizerte;
Kelibia;
Monastir;
Sfax.

IN Lately Tunisia is serious competition Turkey and Egypt. The gap in the level of service with European and Asian resorts is constantly shrinking. Tourists come to Tunisia not only for beach holiday but also for treatment. In most hotels in Tunisia you can find centers traditional medicine. They are no less popular than the Mediterranean coast.

Destinations by interests

Most quiet beaches the Mediterranean Sea must be sought on its northeast coast- in Croatia. In these places beach tourism is under development, so the rest is available for a large number tourists.

Sandy and pebbly beaches are surrounded by picturesque mountains covered with dense vegetation.

The beautiful beaches of Malta are worth a visit not only for those who love a comfortable stay on the ennobled beaches, but also for those who want to get practice in English . He is one of official languages island state.
Behind noise and fun, as well as for comfortable rest By affordable price it is worth going to Greece, Egypt and Turkey.
exotic vacation can be found on the coast North Africa. Best Resorts in the southeast of the Mediterranean Sea are found in Tunisia and Morocco. In these regions you will feel not only exotic, but also comfortable.
Resting people talking Russian language, will surround you on the beaches of Israel. The excellent service provided by local hotels will not overshadow the cost of a holiday in the Promised Land. competition mediterranean beaches here they make up the Red and Marmara seas.

It is not easy to find any other place on our planet other than the Mediterranean, where crowds of multinational tourists tend to visit throughout the calendar year. Thanks to the incredible variety of Mediterranean resort areas, it will not be difficult for travelers - even overly demanding ones - to find 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 worth visiting more than others, because in each of them there is a variety of entertainment and the delights of relaxing on the long sandy and pebble coasts. Yet the most active and knowledgeable travelers manages to identify several mediterranean resort towns which are considered real gems this amazing region.

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

Most often, young people prefer to have a noisy and fun vacation on Nissi, a rather 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 different styles and directions of advanced Western European music.

The beach also has a lot of exciting activities for passionate fans who require privacy. fishing and windsurfing, beloved by young travelers. The same entertainment awaits vacationers on the glamorous Makronissos - a fairly long sandy beach, known for its low population and excellent conditions for diving that has become fashionable.

The resort will delight all vacationers with the variety of local club life. It is unlikely that any of the young travelers will 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 are waiting for meetings with famous European DJs and progressive musicians.

Russian tourists have long been accustomed to relaxing on great resorts picturesque Turkish Riviera. In each of them, vacationers will find a wide variety of entertainment both on sandy 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 old buildings and modern well-appointed pebble beaches, . At the sea central embankment resort you can always see a lot luxury yachts, for the sake of riding on which groups of wealthy Europeans come here. Thanks to thick pine forests And orange orchards the local beaches are like giant well-groomed parks.

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

Here, vacationers can unexpectedly become grateful participants in a short, but exciting journey into the little-known past, having visited the remains of the Pirate fortress and the ruins of the once gigantic temple complex. Adult travelers and their children will be pleased with the shallow sea and the cleanliness of several sand and pebble beaches mentioned Tekirov.

True legends go about " moonlight» - picturesque park complex located along the long sandy coast of Kemer. Little tourists are attracted here first of all by a sincere desire to visit a bright and memorable performance in their favorite Dolphinarium. Adult travelers are also always in a good mood during the incendiary performance of two talented dolphins and a good-natured sea lion.

In endless streams, travelers of different ages head 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 are on our planet during the period of domination of these gigantic creatures.

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

Most often, lovers of distant wanderings choose serene rest on the ten-kilometer coast of ancient Sousse. Vacationers can enjoy clean white sand and small waves of the turquoise sea on Bu Jafar, one of the two crowded beaches of this Tunisian resort. There are also many ordinary and floating fish restaurants, always crowded with overseas visitors. On Las Vegas, another fine-sand beach of hospitable Sousse, fans of fashionable windsurfing will be pleased with the local rather strong waves.

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

The coast of this famous suburb has long been chosen by numerous divers. To visit the local "Hannibal Park", which surprises with a 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 kids and their caring parents.

Vacationers make up whole legends about the variety of recreation in the Spanish resort areas of the Mediterranean Sea. Travelers of different ages in conversations most often mention the beaches of the picturesque Salou - a calm resort town, comfortably located on the famous Costa Dorado.

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

Here, decorated with flowers and palm groves, the coast is always crowded and interesting at the same time. In the morning and afternoon hours, travelers enjoy a pleasant pastime on the local fine sandy beaches. On the kilometer East Beach specially equipped and fenced off areas are waiting for parents and their naughty kids.

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

Among the numerous French Mediterranean resorts truly reverent feelings arise among Russian travelers to luxurious Nice, which is closely associated with compatriots who emigrated to these parts. Along the Promenade des Anglais, chosen by multinational tourists, there are several wonderful large-pebble beaches at once. 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 carried among the 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 vacation here. Of the three local dive centers, they most often gather at Club nautique - a sought-after club, relatively expensive, but suitable for even picky fans of this extreme entertainment. Nice will delight connoisseurs of high art with a wonderful opportunity to become grateful spectators of the many times reconstructed Opera House or visitors to the Museum of Modern Art, which always surprises with its avant-garde exhibitions.

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

Which resort on the Mediterranean coast is better?

Due to the large number and variety of Mediterranean resorts located on the territories of states that differ markedly from each other, it is both easy and difficult for travelers to choose a place for their vacation. long-awaited vacation. Difficulties are, first of all, in almost identical conditions of rest and comfort.

Each resort tries to keep up with its neighbors, having prepared for travelers many often not even completely foreseen opportunities for entertainment and pleasant pastime. But it is thanks to the truly fierce competition that exists here that travelers in any of the above and many others resort towns Mediterranean always remain enchanted wonderful holiday on this famous coast.

This sea is called Mediterranean because it is surrounded on all sides by lands or continents: Europe, Asia and Africa. It has a huge basin and is connected to the Atlantic by the relatively small Strait of Gibraltar.

Scientists believe that more than 5 million years ago there was a downpour on Earth for two years in a row, a catastrophic flood occurred, as a result of which this wonderful sea was formed.

A map of the Mediterranean Sea indicates that it is divided into several more seas, and is also connected to the Black, Red and Marmara Seas through the straits.

Cards

Climate

In winter, storms and prolonged rains very often occur in the Mediterranean Sea. Cold winds blow from the north, the temperature of air and water drops noticeably. In summer - a warm and fairly dry maritime climate.

The high sea season begins in May, and the peak is in the middle of summer, when the sea warms up to + 27C - + 30C, like fresh milk, and tens of millions of tourists come from all over the world.

Countries and islands

Turkey has been loved by Russians for many years great resorts, quality service, Russian-speaking staff and inexpensive prices. Travel to Italy for pizza and sightseeing ancient rome, Naples, Venice.

Spain is famous for its classic English-style resorts. Yachting is rapidly developing in Croatia, Montenegro is known for its the cleanest beaches and Albania with magnificent seaside landscapes.

In Morocco and Tunisia, you can see unique ancient monuments and artifacts, oriental bazaars, the interweaving of traditions of the West and the East, but few tourists come here today due to political situation in countries.