Detailed map of the Mediterranean Sea in Russian. Mediterranean Sea: map, coastal countries, islands. Mediterranean: history and geography of the region

Mediterranean Sea

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

It is deeply incised into the land and is one of the most isolated large marine basins of the World Ocean. In the west, the sea communicates with Atlantic Ocean through the narrow (15 km wide) and relatively shallow Strait of Gibraltar (depths on 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 Bosporus (threshold depth less than 40 m) and the Dardanelles (threshold depth about 50 m), separated by the Sea of Marmara. The transport connection of the Mediterranean Sea with 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, average depth- 1438 m, greatest depth- 5121 m.

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

In the Venetian lagoon

Apennine Peninsula and about. Sicily divides the sea into two basins. The Tyrrhenian Sea is distinguished in the western basin, 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. Shallow Tunisian (Sicilian) Strait and narrow Strait of Messina the western basin of the sea is connected with the eastern one, which in turn is subdivided into the central and eastern proper. 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 bays of Greater and Lesser Sirte. The Strait of Crete and Africa connects the central basin of the sea with the eastern one, often called the Levant Sea. In the northern part of the eastern basin lies the island-rich Aegean Sea.

Turkish port of Alanya in the Mediterranean

Relief north coast the seas are complex and varied. The shores of the Iberian Peninsula are high, abrasive, and the massifs of the Andalusian and Iberian mountains approach the sea. Along the Gulf of Lion, west of the Rhone delta, there are swampy lowlands with numerous lagoons. To the east of the Rhone, the spurs of the Alps approach the sea, forming coasts with rocky capes and small bays. West Coast Apennine Peninsula along Tyrrhenian Sea quite strongly indented, steep and steep banks alternate with low ones, there are flat alluvial lowlands composed of river sediments. The eastern shores of the Apennine Peninsula are more even, in the north they are marshy, low, with a large number of lagoons, in the south they are high and mountainous.

Strong indentation 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 from 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 and 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 coasts are high, the Atlas Mountains stretch along the sea. To the east, they gradually decrease and are replaced by low-lying sandy shores, the landscape of which is typical for the huge African deserts located from 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 the subtropical climate zone, coastal mountain systems prevent the intrusion of cold air masses from the north. In winter, a baric trough stretches over the sea from west to east, around which centers of increased pressure are located. In the west there is a spur of the Azores anticyclone, in the north - spurs of the European maximum. Above North Africa pressure is also increased. Along the frontal zone, intensive formation of cyclones occurs.

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

A clearly pronounced seasonal change in wind directions is observed only along southern shores the western part of the Mediterranean Sea, where mainly westerly winds blow in winter, and east winds in summer. Northwest winds prevail over most areas of the sea all year round, and north and northeast winds prevail over the Aegean Sea.

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

Some areas of the sea are characterized by different local winds. IN eastern regions V summer season stable northern winds(ethesia). In the area of the Gulf of Lion, the mistral is often repeated - a cold, dry north or northwest wind of great strength. For the east coast Adriatic Sea bora is characteristic - a cold, dry northeast wind, sometimes reaching the strength of a hurricane. The warm southerly wind from the deserts of Africa is known as the 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%. Breezes are developed along most of the Mediterranean coast.

The lowest air temperature is in January: it changes from 14-16° to south coast seas up to 7-8 ° in the north of the Aegean and Adriatic seas and up 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 Algiers-Provencal basin to 25-27° on the southern coast of the sea, and reaches a maximum (28-30°) at eastern shores seas of the Levant. 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 the northwest to the 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, rains are very rare and are in the nature of thunderstorms.

Hydrology

River runoff is low on most of the coast. The main rivers flowing into the sea are the Nile, the Rhone and the 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 inflow of water from the Atlantic Ocean and the Black Sea. At the same time, in the deep layers Strait of Gibraltar and the Bosphorus, more saline 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.

The tides in the Mediterranean Sea are predominantly semidiurnal and irregular semidiurnal, only in some areas northeast coast The Adriatic Sea experiences daily tides. The magnitude of 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 they are weakly expressed, but in the Gibraltar, Messina and Tunis straits they reach a significant value.

Non-periodic level fluctuations caused by storm surges (sometimes combined with high tide) can be large. In the Gulf of Lion, with strong southerly 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. parts of the Tyrrhenian Sea. In the Adriatic Sea, with southeast 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 southerly winds, the range of surge fluctuations reaches 2 m.

The strongest excitement in the sea develops in autumn and winter, during the period of active cyclonic activity. At this time, the wave height quite often exceeds 6 m, and in severe storms it reaches 7-8 m.

Bottom relief

The relief of the sea bottom has many of the 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 is 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 to 2850 m above the seabed. The tops of some mountains on the continental 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 bottom of the western one. In the eastern basin, vast areas of the bottom are either a complexly dissected median ridge, or a series of deep sea trenches. These depressions stretch from the Ionian Islands, south of the islands Crete and Rhodes. In one of these depressions is the greatest depth of the Mediterranean Sea.

currents

The 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 coasts in the form of a meandering North African Current. On its left side, a system of cyclonic gyres is distinguished, on the right - anticyclonic ones. The most stable cyclonic gyres in the western basin of the sea are formed in the Alboran Sea, the Algiers-Provencal basin, 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 deviates to the north - to the Ionian and Adriatic, as well as to the Aegean Seas, being involved in a complex system of cyclonic gyres. Among them, one should indicate the Ionic, Adriatic, Athos-Chios, Cretan (in the Aegean Sea) and Levantine gyres. To the south of the North African current, anticyclonic gyres are distinguished in the bays of Little and Great Sirte and Crete-African.

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 velocities 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 foci of formation to northern regions seas to the south, filling the basins of the sea.

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

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

Important for water exchange between western and eastern parts The sea has the Tunisian Strait with depths above the thresholds of no more than 400-500 m. This excludes the exchange of deep waters of the western and central basins of the sea. In the strait zone, in the surface layer, the Atlantic waters are transported to the east, while in the near-bottom layer, the Levantine waters flow through the rapids in a westerly direction. The transfer of Levantine waters prevails in winter-spring time, Atlantic waters - in summer. The two-layer water exchange in the strait is often disturbed, and the system of currents becomes very complex.

The Strait of Otranto, in the form of a narrow trough, 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 greater than 300 m, waters move from the Adriatic Sea; at a depth of 700 m, velocities of 20–30 cm/s are recorded. In summer, in the deep layers of the strait, a current is observed from the Ionian Sea to the north at a speed of 5-10 cm/s. However, in the summer, in the near-bottom layer above the threshold, there may be a current of a southerly direction.

The Bosphorus and Dardanelles, as well as the Sea of Marmara, connect the Mediterranean Sea (through the Aegean) with the Black Sea. The shallow depth in the straits significantly limits the 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, level difference neighboring seas, synoptic conditions.

The denser highly saline waters of the Aegean Sea in the bottom layers of the Dardanelles penetrate into the basin Sea of Marmara, fill it and then in the bottom layer of the Bosporus enter the Black Sea. 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 Bosporus to 10-20 m at the exit from the Dardanelles. The highest flow rate of the Black Sea water is observed on the surface and rapidly decreases with depth. Average velocities are 40-50 cm/s at the entrance to the strait and 150 cm/s at the exit. downstream 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.

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

Water temperature

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

In winter, the general nature of the spatial distribution of temperature is preserved, but its values are much lower. In February, in the northwestern part of the sea and in the north of the Aegean Sea, the temperature is 12-13 °, and northern shores Adriatic, it drops even to 8-10 °. The highest temperature is observed near the southeastern shores (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 the temperature drops.

During winter cooling, convective mixing actively develops in the sea. In the Algiers-Provencal basin and some other northern regions of the sea, convection spreads 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 up to 200 m, sometimes more. In other areas, winter vertical circulation is limited by the upper layer, mainly up to 100 m.

Spatial temperature differences 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 up 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, a maximum temperature is observed, associated with the spread of warm and salty Levantine waters. In summer, it manifests itself in most of the sea, with the exception of the eastern basin and the southern part of the Aegean Sea; less pronounced in winter. 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 Algiers-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's oceans. Its salinity almost everywhere exceeds 36‰, reaching 39.5‰ near the eastern shores. The 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 African coast. This is due to the spread of less saline Atlantic waters along the southern coasts to the east. The difference in salinity between northern and southern regions sea reaches l‰ in the west and decreases to 0.2‰ in the Levant Sea. However, some coastal areas in the north, they are influenced by river runoff (the Gulf of Lion, the northern part of the Adriatic Sea) or freshened Black Sea waters (the northern part of the Aegean Sea) and are characterized by low salinity.

The Levantine Sea and the southeastern Aegean Sea have 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 section in the Mediterranean Sea in summer. 1 - advection of Atlantic waters; 2 - advection of Levantine waters

In winter, salinity is generally distributed in the same way as in summer. Only in the Levant Sea does it decrease slightly, and in the western and central basins it increases. Value seasonal changes salinity on the surface is about 1‰. As a result of the development of wind and convective mixing in winter, a layer uniform in 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. The 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 practically does not change, remaining within the range of 38.4-38.9‰.

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

The Atlantic water mass is present in almost all parts of the sea, occupying the upper layer with a thickness of 100–200 m, sometimes up to 250–300 m. for the most part corresponds to the thermocline layer. In winter, the depth of its occurrence increases in the direction from west to east from 0-75 to 10-150 m. .9°. Salinity increases from west to east from 36.5-38.5 to 38.2-39.2‰.

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

The core of the intermediate water subsides as it moves westward from 200-300 m in the eastern basin to 500-700 m near Gibraltar. The temperature in the core accordingly decreases 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 intensive development of convective mixing, reaching depths of 1500-2500 m in some areas. Such 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 waters. The threshold of the Strait of Tunis divides the Mediterranean Sea into two large deep basins. The temperature of deep and bottom waters of the western basin is in the range of 12.6-12.7 °, salinity - 38.4‰; east of the Tunis Strait, the temperature rises to 13.1-13.3°, reaching 13.4° in the Levant Sea, and the salinity remains very uniform - 38.7‰.

The significantly isolated Adriatic Sea is distinguished by a peculiar hydrological structure. Its shallow northern part is filled with Adriatic surface water, which is the product of mixing the waters of the Ionian Sea with coastal runoff. In summer, the temperature of this water mass is 22-24°, salinity - 32.2-38.4‰. In winter, with intensive cooling and the development of convection, mixing occurs surface water from the transformed Levantine water entering the sea and the formation of the deep Adriatic water mass. Deep water fills the basins of the Adriatic Sea and is characterized by uniform characteristics: the temperature is in the range of 13.5-13.8 °, salinity - 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 high 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 anchovies, gobies, stingrays, etc. Anchovy, sardine, mackerel, horse mackerel, flying fish, mullet, bonito, sultanka, etc. are found here. However, there are few large concentrations of fish, the number individual species is small. The most massive accumulations of fish are formed in winter, while in spring and summer, during fattening and spawning, they are more scattered. Longfin and common tunas, sharks, rays also live in the Mediterranean Sea. Longfin tuna is constantly here, and common tuna, like many other fish species, migrates in spring and summer to fatten in the Black Sea.

One of the most productive areas of the Mediterranean was its southeastern part, which is under the influence of the runoff of the river. Nile. Every year, a significant amount of biogenic substances, various mineral suspensions, entered the sea with the waters of the river. A sharp reduction in river flow and its intra-annual redistribution after the regulation of the Nile by the construction of the Aswan hydroelectric power station in the early 1960s. worsened the conditions for the existence of all marine organisms and led to a decrease in their numbers. The decrease in the desalination zone, the influx 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 dropped sharply. Due to the strengthening economic activity the pollution of the Mediterranean Sea is progressively growing, where the ecological situation has become threatening.

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.

Countries and islands
Countries
Islands
Eastern Mediterranean

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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, Europe, Africa.

total area – 2,500 square kilometers. The maximum depth is 5 121 meters.

It is connected by canals and straits with black, 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;

If you are going to relax on the Adriatic Sea, find out detailed information about its resorts from this article

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

Turkey. 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.

Italy - beautiful place for recreation not only in summer but also in winter. Read about winter resorts this country here

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. posh 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.

Morocco. 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

Also in the Mediterranean a bunch of big and small 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!

Eastern Mediterranean

Most often to Eastern Mediterranean include the coasts of Greece, Italy and Turkey, this opinion is wrong. If we approach this issue in terms of geography and look at the map, it turns out that the Eastern Mediterranean includes:

Syria;

Palestine;

Cyprus;

Decided to relax in Cyprus? Find out what others think of the island's hotels in this article.

Lebanon;

Jordan.

Israel;

Pros and cons of holidays in the Mediterranean

On the Mediterranean ideal holiday in september. At this time already the heat subsides while the water stays warm. An additional plus is that the reservoir contains a large amount 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 drawback.

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, Europe, Africa.

Total area - 2,500 square kilometers. The maximum depth is 5 121 meters.

It is connected by canals and straits with black, 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

Turkey. There are 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- these are exactly the settlements that travelers come to 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. posh 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.

Morocco. 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- at local resorts which are not found miracles.

Islands

Also in the Mediterranean a bunch of big and small 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.

Eastern Mediterranean

Syria;
Palestine;
Cyprus;
Lebanon;
Jordan.
Israel;

Pros and cons of holidays in the Mediterranean

Can be viewed attractions completely different countries of the world and get to know their culture. After all, the Mediterranean Sea washes the shores of a good half continents of the world.

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

The Mediterranean Sea is a unique basin that separates three continents. The countries of the Mediterranean include European Union, Asia and Africa. Tourists always associate the Mediterranean with a mild climate, warm water, delicious food And good rest. The area of this largest sea in the world is more than 3 million square meters. km, and it includes the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov. Consider which countries are washed by the waters of the Mediterranean and where it is better to relax according to your interests.

It washes 21 states. All these countries are located on the gentle coasts of the big sea in the world, and the coastal zone of these countries is distinguished by comfortable beaches and warm gentle waters. Consider where the Mediterranean Sea is located on the world map with the countries around it. On the coastline of the Mediterranean Sea there are resorts of the following countries:

Morocco - Tangier and Saidia.
Spain - Alicante, Almeria, Barcelona, Cartagena, Ibiza, Malaga.
Algeria - Bejaia, Oran, Annaba.
France - Cote d'Azur, Nice, Cannes, Saint-Tropez, Corsica.
Tunisia - Kelibia, Monastir, Bizerte.
Italy - Alghero, Sardinia, Syracuse.
Libya - Tripoli, Kufra, Misrata, Ubari, Tobruk.
Monaco - The whole state is one whole resort.
Egypt - Alexandria, Dellis, El Alamen, Baltim.
Malta - Valletta, Sliema, St. Julian's, Bujiba.
Israel - Nahariya, Haifa, Ashdod, Akko, Herzliya.
Slovenia - Portorož, Izoloa.
Lebanon - Juni, Tyre.
Croatia - Dalmatia, Istria.
Syria - Latakia, Badrousseikh, Al-Samra.
Bosnia and Herzegovina - Neum.
Turkey - Izmir, Bodrum, Marmaris, Kemer, Antalya, Alanya, Belek.
Montenegro - Budva, Milocer, Petrovac.
Cyprus - Larnaca, Limassol, Protaras, Tuscany.
Albania - Vlora, Himara, Saranda.
Greece - Crete, Kitira, Methoni, Rhodes.

Also, such countries on the Mediterranean Sea as the Palestinian state and the Northern region of Cyprus, as well as Dakelia, Gibraltar and Akrotiri have access to sunny beaches. Undoubtedly, Greece, Spain, Turkey, Cyprus, Egypt, Italy and France are recognized as the most favorite among tourists from this list of states. This is where lovers go beach holiday from all over the planet, because here they are equipped best beaches and resort areas.

Depth of the Mediterranean Sea - maximum and average

The depth of the Mediterranean Sea is quite diverse and depends on the region. Conventionally, the Mediterranean can be divided into three main basins - western, central and eastern. What depth in each of the basins can be seen on the depth map, because the bottom topography of such a huge reservoir differs in structure in each region. The maximum depth is observed in southern Greece at deep sea trench and is 5120 m. However, the average depth of the Mediterranean Sea does not exceed 1540 m.

The length and width of the Mediterranean Sea is not indicated exactly, the fact is that the basin is constantly changing its boundaries and it is almost impossible to calculate the exact values. Length mediterranean sea from the extreme northern to the southernmost section is approximately 3200 km, and from the western to the extreme eastern point 1200 km. The total area is 2,500 sq. km. The water temperature in the winter months is 12C°, and in the high summer season 25C°.

An interesting fact, scientists believe that the Mediterranean basin is nothing more than the remains of the ancient prehistoric oceanic basin Tethys, which covered the main part of the planet with water. In addition to the Mediterranean, these remnants also include the Aral and the Caspian. Today, the Mediterranean is connected to the Atlantic Ocean by a strait called Gibraltar, everyone knows this, but not many people know that this strait passes between two rocks that were on Earth in the time of ancient heroes and were then called the Pillars of Hercules.

To understand what washes the Mediterranean Sea, you should look at the geographical images of the planet. On satellite footage and paper maps, you can see that four largest peninsula, this is the Apennine, Balkan, Iberian Peninsula and Asia Minor. Also in the Mediterranean there is an accumulation largest islands, which are also loved by tourists, in the first place are Sicily, Ibiza, Crete, Mallorca, Malta and Rhodes.

The Mediterranean Sea is a semi-enclosed sea located at the junction of three continents: Europe, Asia and Africa. 22 UN member states are located on its shores, of which Spain, France, Italy and Greece have the longest coasts in the Mediterranean Sea in Europe, Turkey in Asia, Egypt, Libya and Algeria in Africa. In the waters of the Mediterranean Sea, up to eleven separate seas are distinguished, the largest of which is the Levantine Sea with an area of 320 thousand km², in the waters of which the island of Cyprus is located, and the smallest is the Ligurian Sea, with an area of 15 thousand km², however, on the shores of the Ligurian Sea there are such big port cities like Genoa and Nice.

There are many ways to get to the Mediterranean Sea from Russia: by land, by air and by water. When traveling by car or bus, you will have the opportunity to visit Belarus, Poland, then to Germany, from there to France, along the way you can visit the Czech Republic, Austria, Switzerland, Italy and Spain. The duration of such a journey depends only on the route and time for walking around the cities of Europe. When flying by aircraft of leading airlines, it all depends on the country on the coast on the coast of which you want to enjoy the waters of the Mediterranean Sea: a flight from Moscow to Monaco, Barcelona, or Athens will take about 4 hours, but direct flights to Naples, Rome or Tunisia from Moscow no, you will have to fly with at least one transfer and the flight will take from seven hours to a day. And for those who prefer sailing, a trip to the Mediterranean Sea is a great opportunity to spend a couple of months sailing. Having sailed from the Crimea, from Novorossiysk or Sochi to the Black Sea, all that remains is to get to the Bosphorus Strait, stroll around Istanbul, then to the Sea of Marmara and from there through the Dardanelles to get into the waters of the Aegean Sea and you can sail to any port of the Mediterranean Sea.

Fishing is developed in the Mediterranean Sea, and this is a real paradise for tourists. Moreover, it has recently appeared new opportunity for wealthy citizens to provide themselves great vacation on the islands of the Mediterranean. Because of the internal economic problems Greece began selling off its islands in the Ionian and Aegean Seas. Hollywood star Brad Pitt and his wife Angelina Jolie have already bought one. However, Greece knows the value of its islands: the "cheapest" of them costs more than three million dollars. But, if for some reason you don’t have three million bucks, or you just don’t need an island, you can rent a house in Malta for only $350 a month.

Mediterranean resorts

Storm on the coast of Crete

Resort town Budva in Montenegro on the Mediterranean coast

Shark on the Cretan beach

Monaco beach, Monte Carlo

Fish on the Mediterranean beach of Monaco loves a bun

Malta - the pearl of the Mediterranean!