Aegean Sea in May Aegean Sea: islands, resorts and water temperature. Location of the Aegean Sea on the map
In fact, the Aegean Sea in translation means "white". But it is not that it is not white at all, but even more than blue. It seems that someone accidentally touched the Saturation engine in Photoshop and added saturation to the blue color to the maximum ...
Among this blue, a huge number of islands are concentrated, on which, since ancient times, different time various civilizations arose, prospered and fell into disrepair.
Shipping is very well developed here, and in our time also yachting. IN high season the sea is literally strewn with flaps of white sails and needles of masts. But it's in season.
And in May ... in May, when the active tourist season has not yet begun, you can enjoy the endless bright blue expanses with islands on the horizon, sometimes ferries, speedboats, tankers or bulk carriers passing by or far away and visit numerous Greek islands, not yet overcrowded with crowds of tourists ....
2. The Aegean Sea was previously called the Sea of the Archipelago. However, at the end of the Pliocene and in the Pleistocene, the land (Aegeis) sank into the sea, and the remnants of the Aegean are numerous islands, of which there are more than 2000. Largest islands- Euboea, Crete, Lesbos, Rhodes, Samos. 
3. The Aegean Sea is one of the cradles of antiquity, and of several major civilizations. At different times, the Ancient Greek, Ancient Roman civilizations, the Byzantine and Latin empires, the Bulgarian kingdom, the Venetian Republic and the Ottoman Empire developed in the sea basin.
In addition, a volcano was located here, which became the fault of one of the most known eruptions in a story that buried Minoan civilization. In addition, it was the volcano of Santorini that caused the death of Atlantis, which, according to some assumptions, was located on the island of Strongyla (now the group of islands of Santorini is what was left of Strongyla after the monstrous explosion of the volcano) 
4. Islands in the Aegean Sea of various sizes - from large Crete and Rhodes to very small ones, on which there is only one house .. 
5. If desired, secluded from the whole world here is not a huge problem 
6. There are churches on many small and deserted islands. 
7. Yachting is one of business cards Aegean Sea. This direction is very well developed here, almost every island inhabited by people has yacht marinas ( varying degrees equipment and comfort, but they are).
At sea, it is fashionable to meet a variety of boats - from small 30-foot yachts to huge multi-foot catamarans. 
8. As a rule, the weather in the Aegean Sea is as comfortable as possible for vacationers and tourists. Rains and storms happen here, but not so often.
And some islands of the basin are completely different in that they practically do not experience precipitation and storms.
During our 10-day sailing trip across the Aegean Sea, we only once got not even a storm, but only cloudy weather - on the last day during the transition from Hydra to the port of Piraeus, where we had to hand over yachts to a charter company. 
9. The main shipping directions are quite busy here - hundreds of tankers and dry cargo ships go to the ports of Piraeus, Thessaloniki, Izmir, etc. 
10. In addition, there is a very well developed ferry network that connects a huge number of large and medium-sized islands both among themselves and with major ports on the mainland (this afternoon I will write a separate short post about ferry service in Greece. Perhaps this information will be useful to someone) 
11. Rich in the Aegean animal world- found here a large number of fish, octopuses, dolphins, etc. 
12. If you are traveling on a yacht, it is very likely that in some places you will be accompanied by an honorary escort from one or a whole flock of dolphins. 
13. They deftly plow the surface of the sea ... 
14. ... put on a little show... 
15. ... and jump out of the sea 
16. Aegean - beautiful place for yachting. Relative calm and good winds allow skippers with the most different levels training 
17. And, of course, the Aegean Sea has incredible sunrises and sunsets. In my posts over the past month, I have shown them more than once, so in this general post there will only be the sunset of our last day under sail, when clouds gathered over the sea. From which a single ray of light made its way, indicating the direction towards the port of Piraeus in Athens, where we were going 
18. Sunset over the island of Aegina 
19.
20. Our whole small big company and a group photo for memory 
21. Two yachts Beneteau 57 from the top of the mast 
Our sailing trip ended on the 10th day at the port of departure - Piraeus. Closing the circle, consisting of more than 400 nautical miles.
Ahead there will be several stories from these places - a ferry, fishermen, real estate for sale and cats ....
My previous photo essays and photo stories:
Ancient Greece, Rome, the Byzantine Empire - all these ancient civilizations originated in the basin Aegean Sea , forever securing the status of the marine cradle of antiquity for the reservoir.
The reservoir arose 20,000 years ago, when a huge piece of Egenid land sank under water. Today, only the islands of Crete, Rhodes and others, once the highest sections of the flooded territory, testify to this fact.
A reliable translation is not exactly known, but there are two options: either "Aegean" means "water" and "wave", or translated as "white". The most famous local legend says that King Aegeus threw himself off a cliff into the Aegean Sea, deciding that his son Theseus was killed by the Minotaur.
The Aegean Sea is closed between Balkan Peninsula, p-th Asia Minor and acute Crete. Connects with Sea of Marmara the Dardanelles, in fact, being a continuation mediterranean sea. Belongs to the waters of Turkey and Greece.
- Area - 191,000 square kilometers;
- Max Depth- 2529 meters in the south (average 377 meters);
- Salinity - 38 ppm;
- Islands - more than 2000, among which Euboea, Crete, Lesvos, Rhodes and others;
- largest bay- Thermaikos.
Aegean Sea water temperature map
Climate and water temperature in the Aegean Sea
Sea features
mediterranean climate The Aegean Sea means that winters are quite warm but rainy and summers are not very hot but dry. In November-March it is damp and humid, and from June to August it is dry and warm.
Etesian or meltem - that's what they call northern winds blowing over the Aegean from May to October. The winter winds are called burs.
2000 islands - so many pieces of land towering above the water surface remained from the ancient Egenis. But only about two hundred are inhabited today. Among the largest and famous islands: Crete, Rhodes, Lesvos . From time immemorial, they have become the main scene of legends and ancient legends. Today, these are popular highly developed resorts visited by tourists, for the most part spoiled by service.
In the Aegean Sea, below 350 meters, the water temperature almost does not change at all, throughout the year it remains within + 12 + 13 ° С. The bottom is rocky, thanks to which diving is very good here, tours to sunken ships are popular, which archaeologists have already found about fifty. This fact only confirms that the Aegean has been a strategically important trade route for centuries.
One of the ships wrecked in the Aegean famous liners- the floating hospital "Britanic" - the twin brother of the "Titanic". The tragedy occurred on November 21, 1916, four years after the sinking of the Titanic. The curse of the Royal Navy will later be called a series of events that led to a sad outcome for such powerful flagships. navy. And if the cause of the death of the Titanic is clear as day, what happened to the Britannic has remained a mystery until recently. The ship followed to the Greek Madros from the English Southampton and on November 21 entered the waters of the Aegean Sea. Passengers slowly waking up in the morning suddenly heard two explosions, the ship began to sink. First lifeboats together with the passengers, they “ground” the propeller blades. Of the 1,066 people, 1,035 survived due to the fact that help arrived in time. An hour later, the liner itself sank. Only in 1975 on seabed discovered by Jacques Yves Cousteau. The version that the ship ran into a mine was not confirmed, but officially the cause of the crash was a torpedo attack. On this moment the remains of the ship rest on the seabed. The owner of one of the diving centers on the island of Kea offers to open the sunken "Britanic" for diving enthusiasts. Previously, ideas were expressed to make an underwater museum there, however, while the Britanic is under the protection of the state, it is forbidden to dive in the area of its flooding.
From time immemorial, the Aegean Sea has been a part or even the main scene of many legends. According to legend, it was here that ancient civilization, and modern finds of scientists never cease to amaze. Every year, expeditions of archaeologists, oceanographers and biologists plunge into the waters of the Aegean Sea to uncover the secrets that have been kept under water for centuries. But the most interesting finds are known to show up unexpectedly. An accidental discovery was made by underwater archaeologists from the University of Geneva in 2014 during training dives. They found a whole underwater city at a depth of three meters under water, which is more than four thousand years old. pavement, fortifications and many household items, including obsidian blades - the age of the city found under the water column of the Aegean Sea coincided with the time of the construction of the pyramids in Giza.
Aegean Sea in autumn and winter
In winter, the temperature of the Aegean Sea remains at +11+14°C. In autumn, like in early spring The Aegean Sea is stormy - this is facilitated by cyclones that come from the Atlantic Ocean.
The largest amount of precipitation falls in December-January.
Winter winds of 9 on the Beaufort scale usually prevail in the Kafirefs strait, as well as in the Cyclades. What else is typical for winter in the Aegean Sea is the sirocco winds, bringing with them heavy black clouds, high humidity and rains to the south and west.
Aegean Sea in spring and summer
In spring (until mid-May), the sea is still very cold and not suitable for swimming, but this is more than compensated by the coastal beauty. Picturesque bays, hills and mountains rising along the sea are covered with lush green vegetation, and comfortable weather allows you to enjoy excursion tours along the coast.
In summer, the Aegean Sea warms up to an average of +24 °C.
In July and August, the northern winds reach their greatest strength, then windy weather persists for two to four days in a row. At night the wind subsides. Resuming from new force around eight in the morning, it gains momentum by two in the afternoon, and weakens only by eight in the evening. The strongest winds can be felt on south coasts and the Cyclades.
Holidays on the Aegean Sea
Greek Santorini and Rhodes, Turkish Marmaris and Bodrum, and, of course, the magnificent Izmir - the resort capital of the Aegean coast ... The Aegean Sea annually receives millions of tourists on its coast, it is especially popular with domestic travelers and Europeans, who are happy to relax on its well-maintained beaches .
Many beaches within the Aegean Sea hold the prestigious EU Blue Flag for cleanliness, environmental friendliness and infrastructure level. The water is clear and azure throughout, and the high salinity allows even the smallest to swim - they can perfectly float on the water. It has developed diving (good visibility underwater and incredible underwater diversity) and paragliding with windsurfing (strong dry winds are ideal for extreme entertainment)
The best place for diving is the resort of Kas between the Aegean and the Mediterranean Sea.
Most Popular Resorts
To the most popular resorts in Turkish waters include:
Greece boasts well-equipped resorts on the Aegean Sea:
Aegean by country
Greece
Some of the best, in terms of infrastructure, resorts are located in Greece - the waters of the Aegean Sea gently splash at eastern shores countries. Most of the beaches are pebbly. The season starts in May and ends in October. Most scenic spots Greek coast The Aegean Sea is the island of Kos and the peninsula of Halkidiki. And on the mainland on the seashore are Athens and Thessaloniki. The sea warms up slowly and not very strongly. Maximum +25°С, average +23°С.
Turkey
The Aegean Sea washes the shores of Turkey in the west and southwest - everywhere the coast looks picturesque: bays bordered by evergreen coniferous forests, mountains and the infinitely beautiful expanse of the Aegean Sea.
Water does not warm up as fast as mediterranean coast. It is rightly believed that the Aegean Sea is quite cold here. bathing season opens in June and lasts until September. The temperature maximum is + 26 ° С, which is caused by a rather dry type of subtropical climate.
Turkish Coast - Miscellaneous weather patterns. If in the north, where Kusadasi is located, it is rather cool even at the height of summer, then Bodrum, popular with many, is the most comfortable in terms of weather, without extreme temperature indicators. Southern Fethiye is considered the hottest - the water is warmer there, but the air is hotter.
The Aegean coast in Turkey will be of interest to those who do not like the sweltering heat in summer, and prefer to combine holidays on sunny beach with trips to ancient sights.
An obvious plus of a holiday on the Aegean coast of Turkey, and not Greece, is the number of attractions. About 80% of all “treasures” are located in a relatively small area ancient history and culture.
Ecology and the future
Despite having quite major ports(Thessaloniki, Piraeus, Izmir), the water in the Aegean Sea is relatively clean, and the beaches comply with environmental standards. Even with the ever-growing problems with oil tankers, environmental friendliness coastal zone currently confirmed by a string of " blue flags» EU. Only the sea near Athens is characterized by unfavorable environmental conditions.
The warm waters of the Aegean Sea wash the shores of Turkey from the east, and Greece from the west. From the south, it borders on the Mediterranean, or rather, on Crete (a water area adjacent to the island of Crete). In the northeast, the Aegean Sea connects with the Marmara through the Dardanelles. Its area is 180 thousand square kilometers, and it is semi-closed. It was here, on the islands and coastal areas, that the great civilizations of ancient Byzantium and Greece were born.
legendary name
The name of the sea is associated with a sad and very beautiful legend. In ancient times, the Athenians pledged to pay tribute to Minos, the ruler of Crete. Every year, King Aegeus sent 7 young men and the same number of girls to the island, who were given to be torn to pieces by the monster Minotaur. Until one day the son of Aegeus, the beautiful Theseus, went to fight the beast. Theseus defeated the monster, and his beloved Ariadne (daughter of King Minos) helped him, giving him magic threads and a sword. King Aegeus handed over to his son two sails before departure: white and black. Black - in case of defeat, and white - victory. But Theseus, separated from his beloved Ariadne, forgot to hang a white sail. Or, as Soviet cinema claims, during a strong storm the sail was torn to pieces by the wind. Aegeus was waiting for his son, peering from the cliff into the sea, and when he saw a black sail, he threw himself off the cliff into the water. Since then, the sea has been called the Aegean...
Sea of a thousand islands
If you look at the Aegean Sea on the map, you can see that its entire water area is dotted with islands. There are about two thousand such pieces of land, and a little more than 200 are inhabited. Frequent earthquakes shake the islands of the Aegean Sea, however, they have a small amplitude. The communication between the patches of land is well developed, travelers are offered exciting yacht trips with overnight stays in various unforgettable places. island resorts this area is incredibly popular. Tourists simply adore the legendary Rhodes, quiet Lesbos, snow-white Santorini and picturesque Karpathos.
Coast climate
The water in the Aegean Sea is slightly colder than in the Mediterranean, but the air temperature is high in summer. A light breeze refreshes the hot air and allows you not to suffer from the heat. The water is salty and very clean, much cleaner than, for example, in the Black Sea, which is why diving is so popular in this place. Diving, you can see everything that happens in a few tens of meters. The Aegean will not disappoint anyone. The water temperature in summer in it rises to 26 degrees (near the island of Rhodes and Thessaloniki). Off the Greek coast the waters in paradise slightly colder than around Turkey.
Temperature
hottest months in turkish east coast Aegean - July and August. average temperature at this time it reaches 28 degrees Celsius. The coldest time is in January and February. Then the temperature drops to 10 degrees. The most comfortable are May, June, September and October. At this time, the temperature is not exhaustingly high, but sufficient to warm the water and air well.
The climate of the Aegean and its impact on health
The even climate is favorable for those suffering from pressure drops. It is also useful to relax on the coast for those who have problems with diseases of the respiratory system (pneumonia, bronchitis, asthma, tuberculosis). The Aegean Sea is especially healing for all kinds of skin diseases. Sunbathing is best taken before eleven o'clock and resume procedures after four in the evening.
Onward to Turkey!
The eastern coast of the Aegean Sea, belonging to Turkey, is dotted with bays. They are considered ideal for yachting. Some connoisseurs sailing convinced that no best place for swimming on water transport. The water here is of an extraordinary aquamarine color, which is why the Turkish Aegean coast is so in demand among tourists from Western Europe. Travel business in this region has been developing for a long time and is perfectly debugged.
Turkish Aegean Coast Resorts
Marmaris
They often fly to Turkey in order to see the Aegean Sea and enjoy an excellent vacation. One of the most popular is the resort of Marmaris. It is becoming more and more popular day by day. Due to the abundance of bars, nightclubs and discos, crowds of young people come here. City at peak tourist season more like a European resort than an Arabic one. Marmaris, with its mild climate and air filled with the aromas of pines, gives a unique healing holiday. It is also quite suitable for family vacation: the seabed is gently sloping, the bay protects the city from the wind, the waves do not rise high. The yachting season opens with the May International Sailing Regatta.
Bodrum
Bodrum is attractive with a combination of rich modern life and a special spirit of antiquity. Once ancient Bodrum was called Halicarnassus. Now, ironically, this is the name of the largest disco. Not in the city itself convenient place for swimming in the sea, but you can get to the nearest equipped beaches. Of the sights, the amphitheater, spread out under open sky. During the heyday of Halicarnassus, it accommodated 13,000 spectators. Now the amphitheater is declared a museum. Christian historical monument is the fortress of St. Peter. It is impossible not to see it - the fortress is visible from almost anywhere in the resort. A beautiful sight is a yacht parking, located in a natural bay.
Kusadasi
The word "Kusadasi" means "island of birds". A road leads to this very island, and many birds nest on it. It is better to go to Kusadasi in the summer, because in other months the weather can be disappointing. Strong winds will not allow you to relax and enjoy your vacation. But what will definitely not let you down is excursion program. Those who can't sit still will like ancient Ephesus, Pamukkale, temple of Artemis and the fortress of the pirate Barbarossa.
Fethiye
Calm resort place- city of Fethiye. It is located in beautiful bay and is surrounded by small islands. Hidden from the winds of the sandy spit, the beaches are ideal for a relaxing holiday. The sea warms up very well, it is comfortable to be in it almost all year round. Turtle Beach is a natural attraction. You can’t be on it at night, since it is at this time that the turtles crawl out, and visitors can harm them. Underwater grottoes, caves and clear waters fit for diving.
ancient greece
The Greeks are actively engaged in shipbuilding, so the coast is completely built up port cities, which peculiarly adorn the Aegean Sea. Greece is a country where seafood is valued like nowhere else. This is a rather windy region, so it is attractive for lovers of active marine species sports. There are many monuments along the seashore. ancient culture. There is no more valuable place for those who are fond of history. The capital of Greece, Athens, turned its face towards the waters of the Aegean Sea in anticipation of travelers.
Greek Aegean Coast Resorts
Chalkidiki
Every tourist hopes at least once to see the Greek resorts of the Aegean Sea, which are completely different from Turkish ones. One of the most popular tourist spots is the peninsula of Chalkidiki. It resembles a trident in its shape, each prong of which is separate peninsula and resort.
Cassandra
Peninsula Kassandra - perfect place for relax. Here is the cleanest sea, dry hot weather and pine forests.
Sithonia
The second "finger" of Halkidiki is called Sithonia. It is not as crowded as Kassandra. The population lives mainly in small coastal villages. This place will appeal to lovers of a relaxing holiday and untouched nature.
Athos
The third prong is called Athos. Takes your breath away mountain views And azure sea! The cleanest beaches suitable for families with children.
Thessaloniki
Great resort mainland Greece- Thessaloniki. This ancient city, at the same time absorbing all the delights of modern life. Architectural monuments, souvenir shops, winding streets are combined with shops, restaurants and beauty salons. Like everyone Big City, Thessaloniki cannot boast of an excellent city beach, because it is constantly crowded, so it is better to go swimming in the suburbs.
Hair
The resort of Volos is conveniently located: from it you can comfortably get to both Athens and Thessaloniki. This is a large port, which is constantly visited by ships. This spectacle can be enjoyed at any time of the day. Tourists in Volos are very fond of, so they entertain them in every possible way. Here and tasty food, and a trip around the neighborhood on a trailer, and live music in restaurants, and good beaches.
Finally
Experienced travelers will say that you should definitely see the Aegean Sea, the photo of which will then delight you on cloudy winter days. Best Resorts, great food, incredible excursions and smiling people - this is what you should definitely go to the Aegean for.
Winter temperatures in December, January and February The Aegean Sea has some of the most popular resort areas Greece and Turkey, but winter period hardly anyone wants to go into the water, as its temperature drops noticeably. For example, if the sea is warm in Bodrum and Marmaris in December up to 18-21 degrees, in January this figure drops to 17 degrees, and in February - to 16.
It is even cooler in Izmir, and 16 degrees there already in December, and in February the water temperature is only 14 degrees Celsius.
But in the area Aegean Sea is warmer than in the Greek part. So, the temperature of the water washing the coast of the island in December can be 20 degrees, then there is a decrease by one degree, and in February it is kept at 17 degrees, which is the highest figure.
In and the temperature difference is 2 degrees. For example, at the beginning of winter in Santorini, the water is warm up to 17-19 degrees, and in Halkidiki - 15-17. Every month it cools down by an average of one degree, and in February the Aegean Sea in Santorini is at least 16 degrees, and in Halkidiki - 14.
Coldest in : here minimum winter water temperature is 11 degrees.
The temperature in spring in March, April and May In March, the most cold water in the Aegean Sea in Thessaloniki, its temperature is only 12 degrees, but in Santorini, Halkidiki and near the island of Rhodes there are no special changes, and the water is still 14-16 degrees. In the Turkish part of the Aegean Sea, the water begins to warm up slowly, and if in March the difference with the winter temperature is maximum one degree, in April the situation changes.
Closer to May, the water warms up to 20-21 degrees almost everywhere, even in Thessaloniki. Only in Santorini and Chalkidiki the temperature indicator stops at around 20 degrees above zero.
Summer temperature in June, July and August At the beginning of summer, the water of the Aegean Sea off the coast of Turkey is practically the same. In its temperature is 21-24 degrees of heat, and in Izmir and - 21-25 degrees. Halkidiki and Santorini the temperature also fluctuates at 24 degrees, but near the island of Rhodes and in Thessaloniki it is a little warmer. There the water warms up to 25-26 degrees.
In July, the indicators are preserved, only in Halkidiki the water becomes five degrees warmer.
In August, the Aegean Sea is the warmest, especially near the island of Rhodes, in Thessaloniki and Halkidiki - 27-28 degrees. In Santorini, the temperature is kept at 25 degrees.
As for the Turkish part of the sea, the water is warmest in the resort of Marmaris, in Bodrum 25-26, in Izmir the sea cools down closer to autumn up to 23 degrees.
Temperatures in autumn in September, October and November In autumn, the temperature of the Aegean Sea, as a rule, does not fall below 20 degrees Celsius. Only in Izmir, Thessaloniki and Chalkidiki the water can cool down up to 18 degrees in November, but in general in the resorts the temperature is about 22-24 degrees above zero.
In September In Marmaris and on the island of Rhodes maximum value maybe 27 degrees Celsius, but it's still a little cooler off the coast of Turkey. This also applies to other resorts, where temperature indicators linger at 24 degrees. This trend continues in October as well. The only thing is that in Marmaris the water cools down to 24 degrees, and in Thessaloniki to 21.
Noticeable in November decrease in water temperature in the Aegean by about two degrees, but it still remains quite warm. .
May is the last spring month before the start of summer. The water temperature in the Aegean Sea in May is approximately the same. So, if the average water temperature at the beginning is +18°C, then the average water temperature at the end in the Aegean Sea is +21°C.
The average air temperature in the Aegean in May is 20°C.
Water temperature in May in the Aegean Sea in different years
The day with the coldest sea in the Aegean was in 2011. The average water temperature in the sea was only +15°C. It was May 1, 2011
day with the most warm sea in the Aegean Sea was in 2018. The average water temperature in the sea reached +23.8°C. It was May 31, 2018
Water temperature for each day in May in the Aegean Sea in different years shown in the chart below:
Average sea water temperature in May in the Aegean Sea
The coldest sea in the Aegean was in 2011. The average water temperature in the sea was only +18.4°C.
The warmest sea in the Aegean Sea happened in 2018. The average water temperature in the sea reached +21°C.
Schedule average monthly temperature water in the sea in the Aegean Sea in May for different years clearly demonstrates this:
Record water temperature in the Aegean Sea in May
Monitors sea water temperatures in the Aegean since 2010. And, I must say, water temperature records happen quite often. Almost every day at a particular resort, the water is either the coldest or the warmest. Below are the minimum and maximum temperatures waters in the sea in the Aegean Sea in May.
