Why is the Mediterranean called this? Map of the Mediterranean seas: islands, countries, seas, water. Mediterranean Sea: geographical map in Russian, map of currents, resorts Which states are located on the Mediterranean Sea

Despite the widespread popularity of travel to Asian and American countries, tours along the Mediterranean coast have not lost their appeal for many years. The warm sea, mild climate and abundance of historically significant places invariably attract tourists from near and far abroad.

The Mediterranean Sea is a vast body of water that unites Asia, Europe and Africa. Due to its geographical location, the sea is called intercontinental or marginal. Through the Strait of Gibraltar, which is more than 13 km long, the sea flows into the Atlantic Ocean.

The area of the Mediterranean basin is about 3 million km 2. The length of the reservoir from west to east is about 3800 km, and from north to south – about 1700 km. The total volume of sea water resources is more than 3800 km 3 .

The Mediterranean Sea has a long history. It is a “descendant” of the ancient Tethys reservoir, which was located between the two oldest continents. After the displacement of tectonic plates and continental drift, the basin was unable to maintain its former shape.

The first travelers to master movement by sea are the inhabitants of Ancient Egypt. Already in 3000 BC. The Mediterranean basin was used to transport trade goods, people and livestock. In addition to the Egyptians, the Phoenicians, Greeks and Romans used sea communications.

After 1400s trade moved to new lands - India and the East. However, after the opening of the Suez Canal in the 19th century, the Mediterranean basin again became one of the leaders in the development of shipping, tourism and trade, and it continues to be considered as such to this day.

Countries bordering the Mediterranean Sea

The waves of the Mediterranean Sea wash the coasts of Europe, northern Africa and a small part of South-West Asia. Among them:

Seas

The Mediterranean Sea is a vast watershed that includes basins of other bodies of water washing the coastlines of the African and Eurasian continents.

The seas of the Mediterranean region are:

Rivers

Many rivers flow into the Mediterranean Sea.

The most voluminous of them:

Islands

As in any other sea, there are a huge number of islands in the Mediterranean Sea, varying in size and location. Some of them are separate states. Archipelagos, which include several islands, are classified as countries that are washed by the waters of the Mediterranean Sea.

Most populous islands:

Depth of the Mediterranean Sea

Although the Mediterranean Sea is not included in the list of the deepest bodies of water in the world, in some parts of the basin there are areas with depressions more than 4000 m long. The Hellenic Trench is considered the deepest - 5121 m.
It is used for the extraction of minerals - natural gas and oil. The average depth of the watershed is approximately 1500 m.

Geological structure and bottom topography

The bottom relief of the Mediterranean Sea was formed under the influence of the Earth's climate. The depths of the basin are divided into 2 lobes - eastern and western. The first is an uneven surface dotted with many depressions and ridges. The bottom topography of the western sea region is smooth and relatively flat.

At the bottom of the reservoir there are tectonic depressions and hills of active and extinct volcanoes. Also, the depths of the sea conceal an innumerable number of remains of sunken ships.

Among the largest bays of the Mediterranean are:

Genoese.
Gabes.
Sidra.
Lyonsky.
Taranto.
Walensky.

Hydrological regime

The water regime of the Mediterranean Sea is characterized by strong evaporation, which is not replenished by the amount of precipitation entering the basin.

The reason for this is the geographical location of the reservoir, which is influenced by the surrounding countries with climatic conditions that presuppose the predominance of high air temperatures. The shortage of resources is eliminated by waters coming from the Atlantic Ocean.

Salinity of the Mediterranean Sea

The Mediterranean Sea is considered quite warm. The temperature of sea water is controlled by the parameters of salinity and density, increasing during evaporation. The movement of water flows is provoked by winds. In straits, water flows faster - up to 2-4 km/h, while the flow speed in free areas is about 1 km/h.

The transparency of the water of the Mediterranean Sea is 55-60 m. The color of the reservoir in deep water areas is dark blue, and the coastal waters have a blue-blue tint.

Vegetable world

The Mediterranean flora is rich and varied. It is based on colonies of brown, green and red algae, the total number of species of which is close to 800. In the layers of the sea accessible to sunlight, phytoplankton lives, the population of which is poorly developed.

About 700 km of the seabed is occupied by oceanic posidonia. This plant is considered one of the largest in length among the known varieties of algae. Posidonia is also unique for its ancient history, as its age exceeds 100 thousand years.

Animal world

The fauna of the Mediterranean basin is considered meager in number in comparison with the number of representatives of the animal world of other seas. This is due to the small diversity of plankton, which is food for marine inhabitants.

In addition to the well-known species of fish and mammals, in the waters of the Mediterranean Sea there are about 900 species of mollusks and invertebrate animals.

The reservoir is inhabited by:

Fishes of the Mediterranean Sea

Spring and summer are considered the spawning period for fish. At this time, they stay dispersed, without gathering in large schools. However, already in winter you can find large concentrations of underwater inhabitants of various varieties.

Mediterranean waters are home to about 750 species of fish. The reservoir is home to dolphins, tuna and several species of flying fish. Approximately 290 species of waterfowl live in the Israeli part of the sea.

Among them:

mullet;
laurel;
sea bream;
garfish;
zuban;
Silago;
palamid;
marmir;
Spitz;
grouper;
aras;
Saragus;
bluefish

Dangerous inhabitants of the Mediterranean Sea

The waters of the Mediterranean basin are inhabited by many species of fish, animals and plants that can harm humans and pose a danger to their health:

Tourism in the Mediterranean

The Mediterranean Sea opens the holiday season from the end of April, and it lasts until the beginning of October. The most favorable period is considered to be from May to July. In August, jellyfish season begins, so swimming in the sea becomes unsafe. The water of the Mediterranean Sea throughout the year ranges between +12°-+29°C in the coldest and hottest months, respectively.

The Mediterranean Sea offers both a relaxing holiday on coastal beaches and rich active and excursion programs.

The following types of recreation are available to travelers:

diving;
surfing;
yachting;
snorkeling;
boat trips on the sea;
visiting aquariums, water parks, entertainment centers.

Major European resorts

Almost all European resort capitals on the Mediterranean coast combine the opportunity for a beach holiday and a wide program of entertainment. Each tourist spot has its own characteristics and local charm.

However, the largest holiday regions are:

In Greece, tourists will discover a world that combines regularity and the spirit of antiquity. Priceless historical monuments left over from the times of Ancient Greece are located everywhere. Athens, Thessaloniki and Thebes will show the beauty and majesty of the buildings of this era to the fullest.

The tourism infrastructure in the country is very developed, so each resort provides service at the highest level. In addition to relaxing on the beach and sightseeing tours, travelers are offered diving classes, visits to wineries and cheese dairies.

Cities worth visiting in Greece:

The state of Cyprus is an island that is replete with a variety of recreation areas. Here travelers will find sandy beaches with a crystal clear coastline, where they can forget about the bustle of big cities. The major resorts in Cyprus are Limassol, Paphos and Ai-Napa.

Italy is a country with a wide choice of resort holidays. The north of the state is known for its attractions and a huge excursion program. In the south, tourists can expect a warm welcome from local residents, the opportunity to relax on the beach and enjoy world-famous national cuisine. The Italian islands of Sicily, Capri and Sardinia will also give you an unforgettable vacation.

In Italy, cities worth visiting include:

Many travelers consider Spain an exotic country, as it differs from most European countries.

Most Spanish resorts are located on islands and small archipelagos in the Mediterranean Sea:

Ibiza;
Tenerife;
Majorca;
Minorca.

However, there are plenty of places to stay on the mainland. Barcelona will surprise you with its Catalan flavor and open up the world of Gaudi's architecture, and Valencia will show tourists the birthplace of Don Quixote. Travelers will like the Costa Brava, Costa del Sol and the resort of San Sebastian.

France is called a country for luxury holidays. World-famous stars vacation at luxury resorts, but even a budget tourist can relax here without much financial loss. Hotels are graded by class, as are individual resort areas.

The most famous cities of the Cote d'Azur of the Mediterranean Sea are:

Despite the higher cost of a European holiday, the price is worth it thanks to the high quality of service, excellent cuisine and a varied leisure program.

During your vacation, it is worth remembering that in many Mediterranean resort countries, during lunch, all establishments close for a siesta. This happens from approximately 13:00 to 17:00.

Attractive Asian coastline

The tourism business is most common in countries on the Asian shores of the Mediterranean such as Turkey, Israel and Egypt. Travelers come here almost all year round, thanks to the pleasant climate of the region.

Israel is famous for its resorts. In Tel Aviv, tourists will immerse themselves in the contrasting atmosphere of the capital, see the colorful oriental streets and go on excursions to important historical places. All Tel Aviv beach areas are well equipped, and the sand on the sea coast has a golden hue. Tourists consider this the highlight of the Israeli coast.

Holidays in Israel will be provided by the following resort cities:

Haifa;
Sironite;
Herzliya;
Dado;
Bat Yam.

Cairo is the capital of Egypt. Here tourists can get acquainted with the greatest architectural monuments preserved from pre-Christian times.

The Great Pyramids of Giza and a visit to the Sphinx are included in the mandatory excursion program. Exploring the Nile Valley is exciting, where vacationers can enjoy the view of magnificent gardens and ancient rock caves. In Alexandria and Marsa Matruh, in addition to historical attractions, travelers are offered a beach holiday.

Türkiye is considered the most visited resort country in the Mediterranean. Almost every coastal city has resort status. The service, the level of hotels and the quality of recreation amaze even the most severe critics. The Turkish coast is predominantly sandy; pebble beaches are less common.

As an excursion program, tourists are offered:

visiting mosques, museums, palaces;
trips to Troy, Ephesus, Istanbul;
tours to the underground cities of Cappadocia.

The best Turkish resorts:

Side.
Alanya.
Kemer.
Belek.
Antalya.

Popular African cities

The waters of the southern Mediterranean Sea wash the North African states. The most popular tourist destinations are Algeria, Tunisia and Morocco. Every year, countries improve their resorts and improve services, which represents competition for the European Mediterranean.

Despite the fact that the beaches of Algeria are somewhat inferior to the coastlines of other Mediterranean capitals in Africa, the city does not lose its popularity among tourists.

Fans of excursions will appreciate visits to the ruins of Byzantine, Phoenician and Roman buildings. For travelers who prefer an active holiday, tours around the Sahara by jeep or camel are suitable. Holidays by the sea can be spent at Cape Sidi Fredge and the Turquoise Coast.

Tangier is considered one of the main resort destinations in Morocco. The city is attractive because it is simultaneously washed by the Mediterranean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean.

In Tangier, you can not only relax by the water, but also see the famous oriental bazaars, colonial architecture and picturesque gardens with half-century-old trees. In Al Hoceima and Saidia, tourists will enjoy the uniqueness of Moroccan culture and will be able to spend a relaxed holiday.

The most popular resort in Tunisia is Hammamet. It is known for its landscaped beaches and numerous thalassotherapy salons. Tourists are invited to visit architectural monuments, ancient ruins and well-kept gardens, replete with a variety of flora. Other popular resorts are Monastir, Carthage and Djerba.

Mediterranean Cruises

Many tourists choose a cruise vacation in the Mediterranean due to the fact that in a short period of time they can visit several countries and travel at any time of the year. The duration of the tours is 3-13 days.

Depending on the class of travel, the range of services and type of room may differ:

Standard– low prices, a huge selection of services and entertainment, cabins without windows.
Premium– luxurious interiors, high level of service, gourmet cuisine, rooms with portholes.
Lux– the liners are designed for a small number of passengers, the staff fulfills any customer requirements, cabins with a balcony.

A range of leisure activities can be included in the ticket price or purchased separately. On board, vacationers spend time in the room, attend the proposed cultural events or manage their time as they wish.

The ship moves at sea in the evening or at night, so tourists are offered a large selection of entertainment:

cafes, bars, restaurants;
sports grounds and swimming pools;
dance lessons;
spas;
cinemas;
master classes for every taste;
children's playgrounds and animators;
libraries, Internet centers and gambling rooms;
discos, stand-up shows, theatrical performances.

Before you go on a trip, you must arrive at the landing site. The tourist also has the opportunity to join the tour during the trip from any port where the ship stops.

Cruise ships usually depart from European ports:

Civitavecchia;
Trieste;
Savona.

Every day the liner stops at a new port. Daylight hours are reserved for sightseeing on land. While the ship is docked, vacationers go on excursions or explore the city on their own.

Travel by sea is carried out on ships:

Royal Princess;
Pacific Princess;
Queen Vicroria;
Costa.

A special feature of Mediterranean cruises is the abundance of shore excursions. The sea is surrounded by many countries with an ancient and rich history, which allows you to expand your horizons and visit the most significant places in a short time. Mediterranean tours cover the west and east coasts.

The program of cruise ship stops includes the ports of the following cities:

1. Italy:

2. Spain:

Barcelona;
Alicante;
Malaga;
Cadiz;
Ibiza;
Palma de Mallorca.

3. France:

Ajaccio;
Marseilles;
Toulon.

4. Greece:

Santorini;
Corfu;
Katakolon;
Piraeus.

5. Croatia:

Split;
Dubrovnik.

6. Malta - Valletta.

7. Montenegro – Kotor.

8. Portugal - Lisbon.

9. Cyprus – Limassol.

10. Morocco – Casablanca.

11. Monaco - Monte Carlo.

Countries washed by the Mediterranean Sea allow you to learn about their culture and history, in addition to providing a comfortable holiday in the sun. The variety of Mediterranean resorts will help you choose a vacation spot for every taste and income.

Article format: Mila Friedan

Video about the Mediterranean Sea

TOP 10 most dangerous inhabitants of the Mediterranean Sea:

Today the Mediterranean Sea washes the shores of 22 countries. Considering that the states of the Mediterranean Sea are located in the subtropical climate zone, excellent conditions are created for the creation of resort bases. Today, the Mediterranean coast is a favorite destination for most tourists from all over the world.

Mediterranean cruises are an opportunity to see with your own eyes past eras, visiting monuments of antiquity, masterpieces of the Middle Ages and outstanding creations of our time. Every day of such a trip brings new impressions, new states of the Mediterranean: the sandy beaches of Tunisia and Malta, ancient Pompeii and the formidable Vesuvius, the leaning tower of Pisa, the wide boulevards of Nice and Barcelona, the canals of Venice and the museums of Florence.

Cruises most often pass through European Mediterranean countries. Tourists visit Italy - the country of sun and wine, spaghetti and olive oil, haute couture and masterpieces of world architecture. And after a busy trip through its famous cities, you can relax on the sunny beaches of the island of Sardinia or stroll through the gardens and olive groves of picturesque Sicily.

Beautiful Spain is another Mediterranean country - a picturesque area with upscale resorts, rich nature and ancient cities. And, of course, sea cruises in the Mediterranean are not complete without visiting Mallorca and Ibiza.

In France, every city is a cultural monument or historical museum, a winemaking center or a luxury resort. Paris, Nice, Cannes, Bordeaux, Marseille, Avignon – attractions are found here at every step. The country's landscapes are no less picturesque: the snow-white peaks of the Alps, beautiful beaches of the Atlantic and Mediterranean Sea, medieval castles, vast vineyards and charming old distilleries.
Malta is another amazing country included in many Mediterranean cruises. This is a contrasting island, the north-eastern coast of which is densely populated, and the almost lifeless southern coast ends with sheer cliffs towards the waters of the Mediterranean Sea. Here is Valletta, a medieval walled city, one of the few remaining in Europe.

Morocco is a Mediterranean country that brings an oriental flair to Western Mediterranean cruises. It is located at the junction of European and Islamic cultures and lies on the border of the greenest mountains in Africa and the largest desert in the world.

The African countries of the Mediterranean region are no less colorful. For example, Tunisia is one of the world's oldest resorts with many historical monuments, sandy beaches and a dynamically developing tourist infrastructure. In addition to traditional beach holidays and modern hotels, Tunisia is home to ancient oriental architecture, unusual cuisine and numerous colorful markets.

Almost all countries washed by the Mediterranean Sea have their own famous resorts. Most of all, Russians love the countries of the Balkan Peninsula. The resorts of Montenegro and Croatia especially stand out.

Montenegro is a Mediterranean country famous for its resorts. Ada Boyana is the southern beach of the country, with a total length of 3.8 kilometers. The beach is covered with the best sand in the entire Adriatic. Ada Boyana Island has a triangular shape. On two sides the shores of the island are washed by the Boyana River, and on the third by the waters of the Adriatic Sea. On the island you can find excellent hotels, good entertainment - everything your heart desires. The resort town of Becici is another pride of Montenegro. The local resort is famous for its stunning Mediterranean nature, and the 2-kilometer golden pebble beach is famous all over the world.

Another Mediterranean country, Croatia, also has something to boast about. In particular, these are the beaches of Brela. Here the water is so clear that you can see the bottom even at a depth of 50 meters. By far the most popular resort in Croatia, which in 2004 became the sixth in the world and the first in Europe.

Today, the states of the eastern Mediterranean have greatly succeeded in developing tourism infrastructure. The beaches of Egypt, Turkey, Cyprus, and Greece annually attract tens of millions of tourists. But, for example, tourists are in no hurry to go to Lebanon or Syria.
If you want to relax like a king, then the city of Limassol (in Cyprus) is already waiting for you.

If you want to diversify your vacation, then in addition to the already well-known resorts in Greece, Turkey or Italy, you can go to Algeria or Libya. Now countries are actively developing their resort beaches. They certainly have potential.

Countries of the Mediterranean basin, traditions and cultures of different peoples, architecture of different eras, endless sea expanses, picturesque islands and hot sun - all these are sea cruises in the Mediterranean, allowing you to see such different and such distant countries in a short time.

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Its total area is 2,500,000 km², and the deepest point is located off the coast of Greece, and is 5,121 m. However, the average depth of the sea is approximately 1,500 m. The Mediterranean Sea is connected to the Atlantic Ocean through the narrow Strait of Gibraltar between Spain and Morocco, which is only 22 km in width.

The Mediterranean Sea has had a historically important role in international trade, which has been a strong factor in the development of the region around it.

History of the Mediterranean

The region around the Mediterranean Sea has a long history that dates back to ancient times. For example, tools from Stone Age times have been discovered by archaeologists along its shores, and it is believed that the Egyptians began sailing it in 3000 BC. e. The region's early people used the Mediterranean Sea as a trade route and a way to move around or colonize other regions. As a result, the sea was controlled by several ancient civilizations. These include the Minoan, Phoenician, Greek and later Roman civilizations.

However, in the 5th century. BC e. The Roman Empire fell, and the Mediterranean Sea and the region around it came to be controlled by the Byzantines, Arabs and Ottoman Turks. By the 12th century, trade in the region grew as Europeans began their exploration expeditions. Although trade in the region declined in the late 1400s as European traders opened new waterways to India and the Far East. However, in 1869, after the opening of the Suez Canal, trade in the region began to increase again.

In addition, the opening of the Suez Canal, connecting the Mediterranean and Red Seas, also became an important strategic location for many European countries. As a consequence, the United Kingdom and France began to build colonies and naval bases along the sea's shores.

Today the Mediterranean Sea is one of the busiest seas in the world. Trade and shipping are very well developed, and fishing in the sea waters is also significant. In addition, tourism makes up a large part of the region's economy, thanks to its mild climate, beautiful beaches, developed cities and ancient historical sites.

Geography of the Mediterranean Sea

The Mediterranean Sea is a very large sea that is bounded by Europe, Africa and Asia, and extends from the Strait of Gibraltar in the West to the Dardanelles and Suez Canal in the East. Since the Mediterranean Sea is connected to the ocean only by the narrow Strait of Gibraltar, it is characterized by very weak tides, and its waters are warmer and saltier than those of the Atlantic Ocean. This is due to the fact that evaporation exceeds precipitation and runoff, and the circulation of sea water is less active than if the sea were more connected to the ocean. However, enough water flows into the sea from the Atlantic Ocean that the sea level does not fluctuate greatly.

Geographically, the Mediterranean Sea is divided into two different basins - the Western and Eastern Basins. The Western Basin extends from Cape Trafalgar in Spain and Cape Spartel in Africa west to Cape Et-Tib in northeastern Tunisia. The Eastern Basin extends from the eastern border of the Western Basin to the shores of Syria and Palestine.

In total, the Mediterranean Sea is bordered by 22 states, as well as several different territories. Some of the countries with borders along the Mediterranean coast include: Spain, France, Monaco, Malta, Turkey, Lebanon, Israel, Egypt, Libya, Tunisia and Morocco. It also borders several smaller seas and is home to more than 3,000 islands. The largest of these islands include Sicily, Sardinia, Corsica, Cyprus and Crete.

The landforms around the Mediterranean Sea are varied, with highly indented coastlines in the northern regions. High mountains and steep, rocky cliffs are common in the region. In other areas, although the coastline is flat, deserts predominate. The water temperature of the Mediterranean Sea also varies, but in general it fluctuates between 10° and 27° C.

Environmental threats to the Mediterranean Sea

The Mediterranean Sea is home to countless different species, and the majority of its waters come from the Atlantic Ocean. However, because the Mediterranean Sea is warmer and saltier than the ocean, these species have had to adapt. Porpoises, bottlenose dolphins and loggerhead sea turtles are common in the sea.

There are a number of threats to the Mediterranean Sea. Invasive species are one of the most common threats, as ships from other regions often bring non-native species, as well as Red Sea inhabitants entering the Mediterranean through the Suez Canal. Pollution is also a big problem, with coastal cities dumping chemicals and waste into the sea. Overfishing and tourism threaten biodiversity and integrity, as both industries put pressure on the natural environment of the Mediterranean Sea.

Mediterranean countries

Due to the large size of the Mediterranean Sea and its intercontinental location, it borders 22 countries in Europe, Africa and Asia. Below is a list of all Mediterranean countries, sorted by continent and with information on area, population and capitals.

Mediterranean countries of Africa

1) Algeria:

Area: 2381741 km²
Population: 40,400,000 (as of 2016)
Capital: Algiers

2) Egypt:

Area: 1010408 km²
Population: 96,492,600 (as of 2017)
Capital: Cairo

Note: The bulk of Egypt's territory is in Africa, with the exception of the Sinai Peninsula, which is located in Asia.

3) Libya:

Area: 1759541 km²
Population: 6,293,253 (as of 2017)
Capital: Tripoli

4) Morocco:

Area: 710850 km²
Population: 33,848,242 (as of 2015)
Capital: Rabat

5) Tunisia:

Area: 163610 km²
Population: 11,304,482 people (as of 2016)
Capital: Tunisia

Mediterranean countries of Asia

6) Israel:

Area: 20770-22072 km²
Population: 8,816,440 (as of 2018)
Capital: Jerusalem

7) Lebanon:

Area: 10452 km²
Population: 6,006,668 people (as of 2017)
Capital: Beirut

8) Syria:

Area: 185180 km²
Population: 17,064,854 (as of 2014)
Capital: Damascus

Mediterranean countries of Europe

10) Albania:

Area: 28748 km²
Population: 2876591 (as of 2017)
Capital: Tirana

11) Bosnia and Herzegovina:

Area: 51129 km²
Population: 3,531,159 (as of 2016)
Capital: Sarajevo

12) Croatia:

Area: 56594 km²
Population: 4,154,200 (as of 2017)
Capital: Zagreb

13) Cyprus:

Area: 9251 km²
Population: 1,170,125 (as of 2017)
Capital: Nicosia

14) France:

Area: 640679 km²
Population: 67,201,000 (as of 2017)
Capital: Paris

15) Greece:

Area: 131957 km²
Population: 11,183,716 (as of 2017)
Capital: Athens

16) Italy:

Area: 301338 km²
Population: 60,589,445 (as of 2017)
Capital: Rome

17) Malta:

Area: 316 km²
Population: 445,426 (as of 2014)
Capital: Valletta

18) Monaco:

Area: 2.02 km²
Population: 37,863 (as of 2016)
Capital: Monaco

19) Montenegro:

Area: 13810 km²
Population: 622,387 (as of 2016)
Capital: Podgorica

20) Slovenia:

Area: 20273 km²
Population: 2,065,895 (as of 2017)
Capital: Ljubljana

21) Spain:

Area: 505990 km²
Population: 46354321 (as of 2016)
Capital: Madrid

22) Türkiye:

Area: 783562 km²
Population: 79,463,663 (as of 2016)
Capital: Ankara

Mediterranean Sea

The Inland Mediterranean Sea is located between 30 and 45° N latitude. and 5.3 and 36° E.

It is deeply cut into the land and represents one of the most isolated large sea basins in the World Ocean. In the west, the sea communicates with the Atlantic Ocean through the narrow (15 km wide) and relatively shallow Strait of Gibraltar (depths at the threshold to the west of the strait are about 300 m); in the northeast - with the Black Sea through the even shallower straits of the Bosphorus (the depth of the threshold is less than 40 m) and the Dardanelles (the depth of the threshold is about 50 m), separated by the Sea of Marmara. The transport connection between the Mediterranean Sea and the Red Sea is carried out through the Suez Canal, although this connection has practically no effect on the processes occurring in the sea.

At the entrance to the Suez Canal

The area of the Mediterranean Sea is 2,505 thousand km 2, the volume is 3,603 thousand km 3, the average depth is 1438 m, the greatest depth is 5121 m.

The complex contours of the coastline, a large number of peninsulas and islands of different sizes (among which the largest are Sicily, Sardinia, Cyprus, Corsica and Crete), as well as the highly dissected bottom topography, determine the division of the Mediterranean Sea into several basins, seas and bays.

In the Venetian lagoon

Apennine Peninsula and about. Sicily is divided by the sea into two basins. In the western basin, the Tyrrhenian Sea is distinguished, and in a number of works also the Alboran Sea, the Balearic (Iberian) Sea, the Gulf of Lion, the Ligurian Sea and the Algerian-Provencal basin. The shallow Tunisian (Sicilian) Strait and the narrow Strait of Messina connect the western basin of the sea with the eastern, which in turn is divided into central and eastern. In the northern part of the central basin is the Adriatic Sea, which communicates through the Strait of Otranto with the Ionian Sea, which occupies the central part of the basin. In its southern part there are the gulfs of Greater and Lesser Sirte. The Creto-African Strait connects the central basin of the sea with the eastern one, often called the Sea of Levant. In the northern part of the eastern basin is the island-rich Aegean Sea.

Turkish port of Alanya in the Mediterranean Sea

The relief of the northern coast of the sea is complex and varied. The shores of the Iberian Peninsula are high, abrasive, and the Andalusian and Iberian mountains come close to the sea. Along the Gulf of Lyon, west of the Rhone delta, there are swampy lowlands with numerous lagoons. To the east of the Rhone, spurs of the Alps approach the sea, forming shores with rocky headlands and small bays. The western coast of the Apennine Peninsula along the Tyrrhenian Sea is quite rugged, steep and steep banks alternate with low ones, and there are flat alluvial lowlands composed of river sediments. The eastern shores of the Apennine Peninsula are more leveled, in the north they are swampy, low, with a large number of lagoons, in the south they are high and mountainous.

Strong ruggedness and complexity of the relief are characteristic of the entire coast of the Balkan Peninsula. High, steep shores with small bays predominate; a huge number of small islands are scattered along the coast in the sea. The coast of the Asia Minor Peninsula on the side of the Aegean Sea has the same complex relief, while the southern shores of the peninsula are composed of larger landforms. The entire eastern coast of the sea is flat, without capes or bays.

The southern coast of the Mediterranean Sea, in contrast to the northern one, is much more leveled, especially the smoothed relief in the eastern basin of the sea. In the west the shores are high, and the Atlas Mountains stretch along the sea. Towards the east, they gradually decrease and are replaced by low-lying sandy shores, the landscape of which is characteristic of the huge African deserts located to the south of the sea. Only in the southeastern part of the sea, in the vicinity of the Nile delta (about 250 km), is the coast composed of sediments from this river and has an alluvial character.

Climate

The Mediterranean Sea is located in a subtropical climate zone; coastal mountain systems prevent the invasion of cold air masses from the north. In winter, a pressure trough stretches over the sea from west to east, around which centers of high pressure are located. In the west there is a spur of the Azores anticyclone, in the north there are spurs of the European High. The pressure is also increased over North Africa. Intensive formation of cyclones occurs along the frontal zone.

In summer, a ridge of high atmospheric pressure forms over the Mediterranean Sea, and only over the Levant Sea there is an area of low pressure.

A clearly defined seasonal change in wind directions is observed only along the southern shores of the western part of the Mediterranean Sea, where predominantly westerly winds blow in winter and easterly winds in summer. Over most areas of the sea, north-west winds prevail all year round, and over the Aegean Sea - north and north-east.

In winter, due to the development of cyclonic activity, there is a significant recurrence of storm winds; in summer, the number of storms is insignificant. The average wind speed in winter is 8-9 m/s, in summer about 5 m/s.

Some areas of the sea are characterized by different local winds. In the eastern regions, stable northerly winds (aetesia) are observed in the summer season. In the area of the Gulf of Lyon, the mistral is often repeated - a cold, dry north or northwest wind of great strength. The eastern coast of the Adriatic Sea is characterized by bora - a cold, dry northeast wind, sometimes reaching the strength of a hurricane. The warm southerly wind from the deserts of Africa is known as sirocco.

It carries a large amount of dust, causes an increase in air temperature to 40-50° and a drop in relative humidity to 2-5%. Most of the Mediterranean coast has strong breezes.

The lowest air temperature is in January: it varies from 14-16° on the southern coast of the sea to 7-8° in the north of the Aegean and Adriatic seas and to 9-10° in the north of the Algerian-Provencal basin.

During the summer season, the highest temperature is observed in August. This month it rises from 22-23° in the north of the Algerian-Provencal basin to 25-27° on the southern coast of the sea, and reaches a maximum (28-30°) off the eastern shores of the Levant Sea. In most of the Mediterranean Sea, the average annual change in air temperature is relatively small (less than 15°), which is a sign of a maritime climate.

The amount of precipitation over the sea decreases in the direction from northwest to southeast. Near the European coast, annual precipitation exceeds 1000 mm, and in the southeast of the sea it is less than 100 mm. Most of the annual precipitation falls in the autumn-winter months; in summer, rain is very rare and has the character of thunderstorms.

Hydrology

River flow along most of the coast is low. The main rivers flowing into the sea are the Nile, Rhone and Po.

In general, due to the predominance of evaporation over precipitation and river runoff, a freshwater deficit is created in the sea. This leads to a decrease in the level, which in turn causes a compensatory influx of water from the Atlantic Ocean and the Black Sea. At the same time, in the deep layers of the Strait of Gibraltar and the Bosphorus, saltier and denser Mediterranean waters flow into neighboring basins.

Sea level

Seasonal changes in sea level are insignificant, their average annual value for the entire sea is about 10 cm, with a minimum in January and a maximum in November.

Tides in the Mediterranean Sea are predominantly semidiurnal and irregular semidiurnal; only in some areas of the northeastern coast of the Adriatic Sea are diurnal tides observed. The tide in most of the water area does not exceed 1 m. The highest tides are recorded in the area of the Strait of Gibraltar and the Alboran Sea (from 3.9 to 1.1 m). Tidal currents in the open sea are weakly expressed, but in the Straits of Gibraltar, Messina and Tunis they reach significant values.

Non-periodic level fluctuations caused by storm surges (sometimes in combination with high tide) can reach large values. In the Gulf of Lyon, with strong southern winds, the level can rise by 0.5 m; in the Gulf of Genoa, with a stable sirocco, a rise of up to 4 m is possible. Almost the same increase in level (up to 3.5 m) is observed with storm winds of the southwestern quarter in the northern parts of the Tyrrhenian Sea. In the Adriatic Sea, with southeastern winds, the level can rise to 1.8 m (for example, in the Venetian Lagoon), and in the bays of the Aegean Sea, with strong southern winds, the range of surge fluctuations reaches 2 m.

The strongest waves in the sea develop in autumn and winter, during the period of active cyclonic activity. At this time, the height of the waves quite often exceeds 6 m, and in strong storms reaches 7-8 m.

Bottom relief

The topography of the seabed has many morphological features characteristic of an oceanic basin. The shelf is quite narrow - mostly no wider than 40 km. The continental slope along most of the coast is very steep and cut by submarine canyons. Most of the western basin is occupied by the Balearic Abyssal Plain with an area of about 80 thousand km 2. In the Tyrrhenian Sea there is a central abyssal plain, on which many seamounts stand out. The highest seamount rises 2850 m above the sea floor. The peaks of some mountains on the mainland slope of Sicily and Calabria rise above the surface of the sea, forming the Aeolian Islands.

The morphology of the bottom of the eastern basin of the sea differs markedly from the morphology of the western basin. In the eastern basin, vast areas of the bottom represent either a complexly dissected median ridge or a series of deep-sea depressions. These depressions stretch from the Ionian Islands, south of the islands of Crete and Rhodes. In one of these depressions the greatest depth of the Mediterranean Sea is located.

Currents

Circulation on the surface of the Mediterranean Sea is formed by Atlantic waters entering the sea through the Strait of Gibraltar and moving east along the southern shores in the form of the meandering North African Current. On its left side there is a system of cyclonic gyres, on the right - anticyclonic ones. The most stable cyclonic gyres in the western basin of the sea are formed in the Alboran Sea, the Algerian-Provencal basin, and the Tyrrhenian Sea; anticyclonic - off the coast of Morocco and Libya.

Through the Strait of Tunis, Atlantic waters enter the central and eastern basins of the sea. Their main flow continues to move along the African coast, and part of it deviates to the north - into the Ionian and Adriatic, as well as into the Aegean seas, being involved in a complex system of cyclonic gyres. Among them, the Ionian, Adriatic, Athos-Chios, Cretan (in the Aegean Sea) and Levantine gyres should be mentioned. To the south of the North African Current, anticyclonic gyres are distinguished in the gulfs of Little and Greater Sirte and the Cretan-African one.

In the intermediate layer, Levantine water moves from the eastern basin of the sea to the west, towards the Strait of Gibraltar. However, the transfer of Levantine waters from east to west does not occur in the form of a single intermediate countercurrent, but in a complex way, through a system of numerous circulations. Two-layer, oppositely directed flows of Atlantic and Levantine waters are clearly visible only in the Straits of Gibraltar and Tunis.

The average speeds of the resulting water transfer are low: in the upper layer - up to 15 cm/s, in the intermediate layer - no more than 5 cm/s.

In the deep layers, water moves weakly from the formation centers in the northern regions of the sea to the south, filling the sea basins.

Vertical distribution of salinity (‰) on a longitudinal section through the Strait of Gibraltar (arrows - current directions)

The nature of water exchange in the straits plays an important role in the formation of the hydrological structure of waters in different basins of the Mediterranean Sea. Thus, the depth of the threshold in the Strait of Gibraltar completely isolates the Mediterranean Sea from the influx of cold deep waters of the Atlantic Ocean. Atlantic waters cover layers from the surface to 150-180 m, current speeds in which are 20-30 cm/s, in the narrowest part of the strait - up to 100 cm/s, and sometimes significantly higher. Intermediate Mediterranean waters move in the deep part of the strait relatively slowly (10-15 cm/s), but above the threshold their speed increases to 80 cm/s.

The Strait of Tunis, with depths above the rapids of no more than 400-500 m, is important for water exchange between the western and eastern parts of the sea. This excludes the exchange of deep waters in the western and central basins of the sea. In the strait zone, in the surface layer, Atlantic waters are transported to the east, and in the bottom layer, Levantine waters flow through the rapids in a westerly direction. The transport of Levantine waters predominates in winter and spring, and that of Atlantic waters in summer. The two-layer water exchange in the strait is often disrupted, and the current system becomes very complex.

The Strait of Otranto, in the form of a narrow trench, connects the Adriatic and Ionian seas. The depth above the threshold is 780 m. Water exchange through the strait has seasonal differences. In winter, at depths of more than 300 m, water moves from the Adriatic Sea; at a horizon of 700 m, speeds of 20-30 cm/s are recorded. In summer, in the deep layers of the strait, a current from the Ionian Sea to the north is observed at a speed of 5-10 cm/s. However, even in summer there may be a southerly current in the bottom layer above the threshold.

The Bosphorus and Dardanelles straits, as well as the Sea of Marmara, connect the Mediterranean Sea (via the Aegean) with the Black Sea. The shallow depth in the straits significantly limits water exchange between the Mediterranean and Black Seas, the hydrological conditions of which are very different. Water exchange in the straits is determined by differences in water density, differences in levels of neighboring seas, and synoptic conditions.

The denser, highly saline waters of the Aegean Sea in the bottom layers of the Dardanelles Strait penetrate into the basin of the Sea of Marmara, fill it and then enter the Black Sea in the bottom layer of the Bosphorus Strait. Desalinated, much less dense Black Sea waters flow into the Aegean Sea with a surface current. Throughout the straits there is a sharp vertical density stratification of water layers.

The boundary of multidirectional flows rises from north to south from 40 m at the entrance to the Bosphorus to 10-20 m at the exit from the Dardanelles. The highest flow rate of Black Sea water is observed on the surface and quickly decreases with depth. Average speeds are 40-50 cm/s at the entrance to the strait and 150 cm/s at the exit. The lower current carries the waters of the Mediterranean Sea at a speed of 10-20 cm/s in the Dardanelles and 100-150 cm/s in the Bosphorus.

The influx of Black Sea waters into the Mediterranean Sea is approximately two orders of magnitude less than the influx of Atlantic waters. As a result, the waters of the Black Sea influence the hydrological structure only within the Aegean Sea, while the Atlantic waters are present almost everywhere, right up to the eastern regions.

Water temperature

In summer, the surface water temperature increases from 19-21° in the northwestern part of the sea to 27° and even higher in the Levant Sea. This temperature pattern is associated with increasing continentality of the climate with distance from the Atlantic Ocean.

In winter, the general nature of the spatial distribution of temperature remains the same, but its values are significantly lower. In February, in the northwestern part of the sea and in the north of the Aegean Sea, the temperature is 12-13°, and off the northern shores of the Adriatic it even drops to 8-10°. The highest temperatures are observed off the southeastern coast (16-17°).

The magnitude of annual fluctuations in water temperature in the surface layer decreases from 13-14° in the north of the Adriatic Sea and 11° in the Aegean Sea to 6-7° in the area of the Strait of Gibraltar.

The thickness of the upper, heated and mixed layer in summer in cyclonic gyres is 15-30 m, and in anticyclonic gyres it increases to 60-80 m. At its lower boundary there is a seasonal thermocline, under which a decrease in temperature occurs.

During winter cooling, convective mixing actively develops in the sea. In the Algerian-Provencal basin and some other northern areas of the sea, convection extends to great depths (2000 m or more) and contributes to the formation of deep waters. Favorable conditions for the development of convection also exist in the Tyrrhenian, Ionian and Levantine seas, where it covers a layer of up to 200 m, sometimes more. In other areas, winter vertical circulation is limited to the upper layer, mainly up to 100 m.

Spatial differences in temperature decrease rapidly with depth. Thus, at a horizon of 200 m, its values vary from 13° in the western part of the sea to 15° in the central basin and to 17° in the Levant Sea. Seasonal temperature changes at this depth are no more than 1°.

Water temperature on a latitudinal section in the Mediterranean Sea in summer

In the layer of 250-500 m there is a maximum temperature associated with the spread of warm and salty Levantine waters. In summer, it appears over most of the sea, with the exception of the eastern basin and the southern part of the Aegean Sea; in winter it is less pronounced. In this layer, the temperature drops from 14.2° in the Strait of Tunis to 13.1° in the Alboran Sea.

The deep water column is characterized by a very uniform temperature. At a horizon of 1000 m its values are 12.9-13.9°, in the bottom layer - 12.6-12.7° in the Algerian-Provencal basin and 13.2-13.4° in the Levant Sea. In general, the temperature of the deep waters of the Mediterranean Sea is characterized by high values.

Salinity

The Mediterranean Sea is one of the saltiest in the World Ocean. Its salinity almost everywhere exceeds 36‰, reaching 39.5‰ on the eastern shores. Average salinity is about 38‰. This is due to a significant fresh water deficit.

Salinity on the sea surface generally increases from west to east, but in the northern regions of the sea it is higher than along the African coast. This is explained by the spread of less saline Atlantic waters along the southern coasts to the east. The difference in salinity between the northern and southern regions of the sea reaches l‰ in the west and decreases to 0.2‰ in the Levant Sea. However, some coastal areas in the north are influenced by river flow (Gulf of Lion, northern Adriatic Sea) or desalinated Black Sea waters (northern Aegean Sea) and are characterized by low salinity.

The Levant Sea and the southeastern Aegean Sea experience the highest salinity in summer, due to intense evaporation. In the central basin, where Levantine and Atlantic waters mix, there are large salinity ranges (37.4-38.9‰). The minimum salinity is in the western basin, which is directly influenced by the Atlantic Ocean. It varies here from 38.2‰ in the Ligurian Sea to 36.5‰ in the Alboran Sea.

Salinity on a latitudinal cross-section in the Mediterranean Sea in summer. 1 - advection of Atlantic waters; 2 - advection of Levantine waters

In winter, salinity is distributed basically the same as in summer. Only in the Levant Sea does it decrease slightly, and in the western and central basins does it increase. The magnitude of seasonal changes in surface salinity is about 1‰. As a result of the development of wind and convective mixing in winter, a layer of uniform salinity is formed, the thickness of which varies from region to region.

Almost the entire Mediterranean Sea is characterized by the existence of a salinity maximum, the formation of which is associated with Levantine water. The depth of its occurrence increases from east to west from 200-400 to 700-1000 m. Salinity in the maximum layer gradually decreases in the same direction (from 39-39.2‰ in the eastern basin to 38.4‰ in the Alboran Sea).

In the water column deeper than 1000 m, salinity remains virtually unchanged, remaining within the range of 38.4-38.9‰.

There are three main water masses in the Mediterranean Sea: Atlantic surface water, Levantine intermediate water and deep waters of the western and eastern basins.

The Atlantic water mass is present in almost all parts of the sea, occupying an upper layer 100-200 m thick, sometimes up to 250-300 m. The core of the Atlantic waters, characterized by a minimum salinity in summer, is mainly located at horizons of 50-75 m, which mostly corresponds to the layer thermocline. In winter, the depth of its occurrence increases in the direction from west to east from 0-75 to 10-150 m. The temperature in the core in summer in the western basin is 13-17 °, in the eastern - 17-19 °, in winter - 12-15 and 16, respectively ,9°. Salinity increases from west to east from 36.5-38.5 to 38.2-39.2‰.

The Levantine intermediate water mass is distinguished throughout the entire sea area in a layer of 200-700 m and is characterized by a maximum salinity. It is formed in the Levant Sea, where intense salinization of the surface layer of water occurs in summer. During the cold season, this layer cools and, during the development of winter vertical circulation, sinks to intermediate horizons. From the place of formation, Levantine water moves towards the Strait of Gibraltar towards the surface Atlantic water. The speed of movement of Levantine waters is several times less than that of the Atlantic (about 4-5 cm/s); it takes about three years to travel to the Strait of Gibraltar.

The core of intermediate water descends as it moves west from 200-300 m in the eastern basin to 500-700 m near Gibraltar. The temperature in the core decreases accordingly from 15-16.6 to 12.5-13.9°, and salinity - from 38.9-39.3 to 38.4-38.7‰.

Deep waters are formed in the northern regions of the Mediterranean Sea due to winter cooling and the intensive development of convective mixing, reaching depths of 1500-2500 m in some areas. These areas include the northern part of the Algerian-Provencal basin, the Adriatic and Aegean seas. Thus, each sea basin has its own source of deep water. The threshold of the Strait of Tunis divides the Mediterranean Sea into two large deep basins. The temperature of the deep and bottom waters of the western basin is in the range of 12.6-12.7°, salinity - 38.4‰; east of the Strait of Tunis, the temperature rises to 13.1-13.3°, reaching 13.4° in the Levant Sea, and salinity remains very uniform - 38.7‰.

The significantly isolated Adriatic Sea is distinguished by its unique hydrological structure. Its shallow northern part is filled with surface Adriatic water, which is a product of mixing the waters of the Ionian Sea with coastal runoff. In summer, the temperature of this water mass is 22-24°, salinity is 32.2-38.4‰. In winter, with intense cooling and the development of convection, the surface water is mixed with the transformed Levantine water entering the sea and the deep Adriatic water mass is formed. Deep water fills the basins of the Adriatic Sea and is characterized by uniform characteristics: temperature is in the range of 13.5-13.8°, salinity is 38.6-38.8‰. Through the Strait of Otranto, this water flows into the bottom layers of the central basin of the Mediterranean Sea and participates in the formation of deep waters.

Port Said

Fauna and environmental issues

The fauna of the Mediterranean Sea is characterized by great species diversity, which is associated both with the long geological history of the sea and with environmental conditions. Fish are represented by 550 species, and about 70 of them are endemic: certain types of anchovy, gobies, stingrays, etc. Here you can find anchovy, sardine, mackerel, horse mackerel, flying fish, mullet, bonito, plume, etc. However, there are few large concentrations of fish, the number individual species is small. The largest concentrations of fish form in winter, while in spring and summer, during fattening and spawning, they remain more scattered. Longfin and common tuna, sharks, and stingrays also live in the Mediterranean Sea. Longfin tuna is constantly present here, and common tuna, like many other fish species, migrates in the spring and summer to feed in the Black Sea.

One of the most productive areas of the Mediterranean Sea was its southeastern part, influenced by the river flow. Nile. Every year, a significant amount of nutrients and various suspended minerals entered the sea with the river waters. A sharp reduction in river flow and its intra-annual redistribution after the regulation of the Nile by the construction of the Aswan hydroelectric station in the early 60s. worsened the living conditions of all marine organisms and led to a decrease in their numbers. The decrease in the desalination zone and the flow of nutrient salts into the sea led to a decrease in the production of phyto- and zooplankton, the reproduction of fish stocks (mackerel, horse mackerel, sardine, etc.) decreased, and commercial catches decreased sharply. Due to increased economic activity, pollution of the Mediterranean Sea is progressively increasing, where the environmental situation has become threatening.

The Mediterranean Sea is considered intercontinental. It washes Europe, Africa, Asia and is connected to the Atlantic Ocean through the Strait of Gibraltar (length 65 km, minimum width 14 km). The water surface area of the intercontinental reservoir is 2.5 million square meters. km. The average depth is 1540 m. The maximum depth reaches 5267 m in the Ionian Sea, near the city of Pylos in southern Greece. The volume of water is 3.84 million cubic meters. km.

The length of the sea from west to east is 3800 km. The southernmost point of the reservoir is located in Africa in the Gulf of Sirte. The northernmost in the Adriatic Sea. The western one is in Gibraltar, and the eastern one is in Iskanderun Bay (southern Turkey).

Taking into account its shape, the intercontinental reservoir is divided into 2 basins. Western from Gibraltar to Sicily, and eastern from Sicily to the coast of Syria. The minimum width of sea waters is 130 km and runs between Cape Granitola (Sicily) and Cape Bona (Tunisia). The maximum width is 1665 km between Trieste (a city in Italy) and Greater Sirte (a bay on the coast of Libya).

The Mediterranean basin includes seas such as Marmara, Black and Azov. Communication with them is carried out through the Dardanelles and Bosphorus straits. Through the Suez Canal, a huge body of water is connected to the Red Sea and the Indian Ocean.

The intercontinental body of water itself has its own internal sea - the Adriatic. It is located between the Apennine and Balkan peninsulas. The Adriatic Sea is connected to the main waters by the Strait of Otranto, 47 km wide.

Mediterranean coast

Geography

Countries

The waters of a huge reservoir wash countries in which people with completely different cultures and mentalities live.

On the European coast there are states such as Spain (population 47.3 million people), France (66 million people), Italy (61.5 million people), Monaco (36 thousand people), Malta (453 thousand people ), Slovenia (2 million people), Croatia (4.4 million people), Bosnia and Herzegovina (3.8 million people), Montenegro (626 thousand people), Albania (2.8 million people), Greece (10.8 million people), Turkish Eastern Thrace (7.8 million people).

The following states are located on the African coast: Egypt (82.3 million people), Libya (5.6 million people), Tunisia (10.8 million people), Algeria (38 million people), Morocco (32.6 million people), Spanish Ceuta and Melilla (144 thousand people).

On the Asian coast there are states such as Turkey in Asia Minor (68.9 million people), Syria (22.5 million people), Cyprus (1.2 million people), Lebanon (4.2 million people), Israel (8 million people), Sinai Peninsula of Egypt (520 thousand people).

Seas

The huge body of water has its own seas. Their names and boundaries were formed historically many centuries ago. Let's look at them from west to east.

Alboran Sea located in front of the Strait of Gibraltar. Its length is 400 km and its width is 200 km. The depth varies from 1000 to 1500 meters.

Balearic Sea washes the eastern part of the Iberian Peninsula. It is separated from the main body of water by the Balearic Islands. Its average depth is 770 meters.

Ligurian Sea located between the islands of Corsica and Elba. It washes France, Italy and Monaco. The average depth is 1200 meters.

Tyrrhenian Sea splashing along the western coast of Italy. Limited to the islands of Corsica, Sardinia and Sicily. This is a deep tectonic basin with a depth of 3 thousand meters.

Adriatic Sea lies between the Balkan and Apennine peninsulas. It washes Albania, Montenegro, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Slovenia, and Italy. In the northern part, the depth of the reservoir is only a few tens of meters, but in the south it reaches 1200 meters.

Ionian Sea located south of the Adriatic Sea between the Apennine and Balkan Peninsulas. It washes the shores of Crete, Peloponnese, and Sicily. The average depth corresponds to 2 km.

Aegean Sea located between Asia Minor and the Balkan Peninsula, limited to the south by the island of Crete. Connects through the Dardanelles with the Sea of Marmara. The depth ranges from 200 to 1000 meters.

Cretan Sea located between Crete and the Cyclades archipelago. The depth of these waters varies from 200 to 500 meters.

Libyan Sea located between Crete and North Africa. The depth of these waters reaches 2 thousand meters.

Cyprus Sea located between Asia Minor and the northern African coast. This is the warmest and sunniest part of the Mediterranean. Here the depth reaches 4300 meters. This body of water is conventionally divided into the Levantine and Cilician seas.

Mediterranean Sea on the map

Rivers

Such large rivers as the Nile (the second longest river in the world), the largest river in Italy, the Po River with a length of 652 km, the Italian Tiber River with a length of 405 km, the largest river in Spain, the Ebro (910 km) and the Rhone (812 km), flow into the Mediterranean Sea. km), flowing through Switzerland and France.

Islands

There are many islands. These are Cyprus, Crete, Euboea, Rhodes, Lesvos, Lemnos, Corfu, Chios, Samos, Kefalonia, Andros, Naxos. All of them are located in the eastern Mediterranean. In the central part there are islands such as Corsica, Sicily, Sardinia, Malta, Cres, Korcula, Brac, Pag, Hvar. In the western part are the Balearic Islands. These are 4 large islands: Mallorca, Ibiza, Menorca, Formentera. Near them there are small islands.

Climate

The climate is strictly specific, Mediterranean. It is characterized by hot and dry summers and mild winters. In winter, the sea experiences frequent storms and rain. Local winds, bora and mistral, dominate. Summer is characterized by clear weather, minimal clouds and light precipitation. There are fogs. Sometimes there is a dusty haze, which is blown out of Africa by the Sirocco wind.

The average winter temperature in the southern part of the reservoir is 14-16 degrees Celsius. In the northern part of the reservoir it is 8-10 degrees Celsius. In summer, average temperatures in the north are 22-24 degrees Celsius, and in the south, respectively, 26-30 degrees Celsius. The minimum precipitation occurs in August, and the maximum occurs in December.

View of the Mediterranean Sea from space

Sea level rise

According to experts, by 2100 the level of Mediterranean waters may rise by 30-60 cm. As a result of this, most of the island of Malta will disappear. 200 square meters will be flooded. km in the Nile Delta, which will force 500 thousand Egyptians to leave their ancestral lands. Salt levels in groundwater will increase, which will reduce the amount of drinking water along the entire Mediterranean coast. In the 22nd century, sea water levels may rise by another 30-100 cm. This will cause significant economic, political and natural changes in the Mediterranean.

Ecology

In recent years, extremely high levels of seawater pollution have been observed. According to the UN, 650 million tons of wastewater, 129 tons of mineral oils, 6 tons of mercury, 3.8 tons of lead, and 36 thousand tons of phosphates were discharged into the Mediterranean Sea annually. Many marine species are on the verge of extinction. This primarily concerns white-bellied seals and sea turtles. There is a huge amount of garbage at the bottom. Most of the seabed is dotted with it.

Environmental problems have hit the fishery. Fish such as bluefin tuna, hake, swordfish, red mullet, and sea bream are on the verge of destruction. The size of commercial catches is decreasing from year to year. Tuna has been fished in the Mediterranean for thousands of years, but currently stocks are extremely low. Over the past 20 years they have decreased by 80%.

Tourism

The unique climate, beautiful coastline, rich history and culture attract millions of tourists to the Mediterranean every year. Their number is one third of all tourists in the world. Hence the enormous economic importance of tourism for this region.

But large financial flows cannot justify the degradation of the marine and coastal environment. Huge crowds of tourists pollute the Mediterranean coast. The situation is aggravated by the fact that visitors from all over the world are concentrated in those areas where the highest level of natural resources is observed. All this causes irreparable damage to flora and fauna. Their destruction and destruction will reduce the flow of tourists. They will begin to look for new places on the planet where they can once again destroy the unique gifts of nature with impunity.