Mediterranean water temperature hmc. Turkey: cities, hotels, prices, interesting places. Major rivers flowing into the Mediterranean Sea

GEOGRAPHY OF THE EARTH

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The Mediterranean Sea is "chained" among 3 continents. It is the 8th largest sea in the world. Its outlines immediately attract attention due to its unusual shape and the number of ancient cities on the banks. long ages of water mediterranean sea were silent witnesses of how the history of mankind was created, on its shores empires were born and faded away on the world map.

The Mediterranean Sea on the world map is located in the northern hemisphere. The sea is inland and runs along the entire northern coast of Africa and the southern coast of Europe. It begins in the west of the so-called Pillars of Hercules and ends on the coast of the Levant. It looks like a huge lake. It got its name according to the ideas about the geography of the people who lived in ancient Greece.

Translated from Greek means "sea in the middle of the Earth." The Greeks thought so, because the sea was a natural barrier between the cities of Europe, Asia Minor and Africa. The name is translated into Russian in an exact translation, and does not sound like its transcription from Greek - Mare Mediterraneum.

The Mediterranean Sea was previously part of the ancient ocean - Tethys.

Now it has broken into a whole cascade of seas, which used to be one body of water:

• Mediterranean Sea.
• Black Sea.
• Caspian Sea.
• Aral Sea.

countries bordering the mediterranean sea

If you start from the extreme western point of the Mediterranean Sea, namely from Gibraltar (property of Great Britain) and go clockwise, the sea washes the following countries:

• Gibraltar (UK).
• Spain, it is also the final country, on the other side Strait of Gibraltar is the Spanish port of Ceuta.
• France, the entire southern coast of this country is one endless resort, not without reason received an unofficial name - Cote d'Azur.
• Monaco.
• Italy, this country has one of the longest coastlines with the Mediterranean Sea.
• Slovenia.
• Croatia, the Mediterranean coast of this country is one of the most picturesque.
• Bosnia and Herzegovina is perhaps the smallest coastline of about 20 km.
• Montenegro.
• Albania.
• Greece, the largest concentration of antiquity per sq. km.
• Turkey, the tourist Mecca of the Mediterranean.
• Syria.
• Lebanon.
• Israel.
• Egypt, like the entire African coast, is mostly lifeless, but sometimes there are small resort oases.
• Libya.
• Tunisia, here are the ruins of Carthage ancient city Rome's rival for dominion in Europe.
• Algeria.
• Morocco.

The island states in the Mediterranean Sea are Malta and Cyprus.

Gibraltar remains a disputed territory to this day. Great Britain received it into its possession as early as 1713 under the Urecht peace treaty. Spain still disputes these territories. In the 18th and 19th centuries, several military attempts were made to reclaim the fort, but they were all unsuccessful.

Cyprus - Island state, officially a single state - the Republic of Cyprus, unofficially - is divided into 2 parts: Greek and Turkish. Republic of Cyprus and Republic of Turkey Northern Cyprus, separated by a buffer zone with a contingent of UN peacekeepers.

Depth of the Mediterranean Sea: maximum and average

6 million years ago, the Mediterranean Sea lost contact with the Atlantic Ocean, it turned into a huge internal “lake” without recharge from the oceans. It quickly dried up, the water level dropped by 100-120 m.

However, about 5 million years ago, an earthquake occurred, which led to the formation of the current Strait of Gibraltar and the sea was recharged from the Atlantic Ocean. This event can be compared with the rebirth of the Mediterranean Sea, it was after this that it received its former appearance.

The Alboran Sea follows immediately after the Strait of Gibraltar, for the most part it is shallow with depths of up to 200 m. Moving further east, the sea gains a depth of up to 2 km.

The maximum depth is located in the Ionian Sea, in the so-called Central Basin and is called the Hellenic Depression. Its depth is 5121 m.

The area between the coasts of Greece and Turkey is strewn with thousands of islands. It's relatively shallow here. average depth reaches 200 m. With increasing depth after the island of Crete towards the coast of Africa, here the average depth is more than 2000 m. To the south of Turkey and along the entire coast of Israel and Egypt, the depth is from 1500 to 2000 m.

The average depth throughout the sea is 1541 m.

Structure of the mediterranean

The Mediterranean Sea on the world map is divided into 3 sections: western, central and eastern.

Visually, they can be clearly separated:

• Western - between the Strait of Gibraltar and peninsula.
• Central - between the Apennine Peninsula and Balkan Peninsula.
• East - between the Balkan Peninsula and the coast of the Levant.

The main "donor" of water for the Mediterranean Sea is the Atlantic Ocean. The influence of rivers on the sea level is not great.

Major rivers flowing into the Mediterranean Sea:

• Ron.

Ebb and flow

The Mediterranean Sea is connected to the Atlantic Ocean by the small Strait of Gibraltar.
Therefore, the influence of the Moon's gravity on this inland sea is minimal. The ebbs and flows are a few cm. Therefore, their influence is quite difficult for a person to assess.

How many seas are in the mediterranean

The Mediterranean Sea has a complex structure and consists of many other seas, which are not even always indicated on the world map.

Officially, it includes the seas recognized by international agreements:

• Alboran.
• Balearic.
• Ligurian.
• Tyrrhenian.
• Ionic.
• Adriatic.
• Aegean.

Flora and fauna of the Mediterranean

The Mediterranean Sea on the world map is connected to the Atlantic Ocean only by a small strait. This greatly affected the ecosystem of the entire sea, primarily because the Atlantic Ocean cannot feed the Mediterranean Sea with plankton as much, unlike open seas.

The reduced content of plankton led to a lower concentration of fish, which in turn provoked a more rapid growth of vegetation and the appearance of the world's longest colony of "oceanic posidonia" - more than 700 km.

Due to the low content of plankton, there are no whales in the sea, but other large mammals are found, whose diet does not include it. There are 47 species of sharks in the Mediterranean Sea, including tiger and white shark.

It is still a mystery to scientists why sharks behave less aggressively in the Mediterranean Sea than in other regions of the oceans. Shark attacks on people in the Mediterranean are extremely rare.

The largest cities of the Mediterranean coast

Major ports:

• Barcelona.
• Monaco.
• Genoa.
• Naples.
• Athens.
• Istanbul.

Barcelona is one of major ports not only the Mediterranean, but also Europe. The climate is mild, not too far away are the Balearic Islands with the world-famous Ibiza and Mallorca.

Nice, Monaco and Genoa- cities located close to each other, but located in 3 different countries. Nice is famous for its resort - the Cote d'Azur and the Promenade des Anglais.

Monaco center of entertainment throughout Europe. Genoa is a major Italian port with a rich history and incredible architecture. During the Renaissance, Genoa was a real financial center Europe and here capitals flocked from all over the world, and the Genoese merchants were considered the wealthiest people of that time.

Athens- the cradle of democracy and the flourishing of the sciences of Ancient Greece, it is here that you can fully feel the spirit of enlightenment of that era. Nowadays, it has not been such a significant and large port for a long time from an economic point of view, but the historical and cultural component of this city is certainly a diamond in the entire Mediterranean.

Istanbul — former Constantinople, the capital of the Byzantine Empire that has sunk into oblivion and the former capital of Ottoman Empire. The city that divides Europe and Asia and is located on both continents across the Bosporus, like no other, absorbed the culture of both civilizations, is still one of the most important historical, cultural and economic centers of the world.

Climate, water temperature by months

The climate in the Mediterranean is subtropical. The sea is inland and surrounded by three continents, which has formed its own unique climatic balance, which cannot be found anywhere else in the world. Sometimes it is even distinguished as a separate type or as a certain subspecies of the subtropical climate and is called "Mediterranean".

In winter, the sea lowers the pressure along the entire coast, which leads to fairly large storms and waves up to 8 m. The sea during this period is almost always not calm, and the weather is rainy and cloudy

As celestial compensation for the “bad” winter, in summer, on the contrary, increased pressure prevails and almost all summer days the sea is calm and the sky is clear. What residents and guests of the coast can enjoy.

The average temperature on the southern and northern coasts is different. The influence of the deserts of Africa is affecting the southern borders of the sea. Therefore, in the south average temperature is 16 gr., and in the north - 10 gr. In the "velvet" season (August-September), the average temperature is 30 and 22 degrees, respectively, along the coasts.

Water warms up to 27 degrees in areas of Tunisia and the coast of Israel. The Spanish and Turkish coasts warm up to 22 degrees, which provides comfortable tourist conditions.

The average value of water temperature throughout the sea is presented in the table below:

Holidays in the Mediterranean: when is the best time to go?

The Mediterranean Sea on the world map is located in the northern hemisphere, so it is better to go on vacation in the summer, August, September throughout the Mediterranean Sea - the Velvet season. The warm sea and pleasant coolness in the evening will provide an unforgettable vacation for the most fastidious tourist at any point on the map.

This is true for European resorts, African countries in the southern part of the sea and the coast of Israel and Cyprus are suitable for swimming almost all year round. In winter, they can often go heavy rains, so the vacation may be spoiled by these circumstances. And even if you choose more warm countries Mediterranean it is better to visit them in summer or early autumn.

The best resorts in the Mediterranean

By far the best tourist countries everyone in this region has long known:

These countries have long been chosen by our compatriots and are famous for their excellent beaches and good service some of them are very popular.

Greece: cities, hotels, prices, interesting places.

Greece is one of the best resort regions of this country is the island of Corfu.

Located in the Ionian Sea, far from the noise of big cities on a secluded island, there are 200 km of transparent beaches, coupled with ancient buildings, shrouded in thickets of olive groves and cypress forests, gives an unforgettable entourage to this place.

The capital of the island is the city of Kerkyra. Previously, the whole island was called so in honor of the mythological nymph Kerkyra - the beloved of the god of the sea, Poseidon.

Most hotels are located in the following cities of the island:

• Kerkyra.
• Paleokastritsa.
• Benitses.
• Kavos.

The most expensive hotels are located in Kerkyra and Paleokastritsa, the price reaches 10-12 thousand rubles per night. In Benitses and Kavos, prices are more democratic - from 1923 rubles. per night.

The selection of the best hotels, according to visitor reviews, is as follows for each city.

Corfu:

• Hotel Locandiera — 8 463 rubles.
• Hotel Bella Venezia — 9 386 rubles.
• Hotel Konstantinoupolis — 6 386 rubles.
• Hotel Mayor Mon Repos Palace — 8 628 rubles.
• Corfu Palace Hotel — 10,502 rubles.

Paleokastritsa:

Benitses:

• Eros Beach Hotel — 4 616 rubles.
• Hotel Hotel Kaiser Bridge - 6 386 rubles.
• Bella Vista Beach Hotel — 2,770 rubles.
• Bella Vista Beach Hotel – 8 463 rubles.
• Benitsa Beach Hotel — 2 539 rubles.
• Hotel Karina Hotel — 4 154 rubles.

Kavos:

• Hotel Melissa Apartments — 1 923 rubles.
• Hotel Mediterranean Blue — 2 389 rubles.
• Hotel Seaside Resorts — 2 308 rubles.
• Hotel Erofili Hotel – 3,000 rubles.
• Hotel Kavos Plaza Hotel — 5 297 rubles.
• Hotel Oula Maisonettes – 2 077 rubles.

Turkey: cities, hotels, prices, interesting places

Antalya is the tourist capital of Turkey, all tourists arrive at the airport of this particular city, and then go to nearby resorts on transfers. The historic center has many “artifact buildings” for history buffs. The Byzantine Church of Panagia and the Minaret of Ivli are among the oldest buildings in the city.

You should definitely visit the Museum of Archeology. A selection of the best hotels according to guest reviews, during the velvet season (August-September, prices per night):

Kemer - the "greenest" resort in Turkey, located near the city national park and the beaches are considered the cleanest in the country. The lack of cultural and historical sights is fully compensated by ecological and healthy recreation and unity with nature.

Selection by hotels:

• Hotel Maxx Royal Kemer Resort — 75,781 rubles.
• Hotel Camyuva Beach Hotel – 10 254 rubles.
• Hotel Simena Sun Club — 13 399 rubles.
• Hotel Berke Ranch&Nature — 4 039 rub.

Alanya is a choice for those who love the golden mean. The city has both historical sights and an active night life. The entire coast is strewn with an endless string of hotels. Here, with equal success, you can wander through the ruins of the ancient city and the oriental bazaars and arrange an entertaining curtsy with a long auto-party.

Best hotels:

Spain: cities, hotels, prices, interesting places

Spain is a country that has access not only to the Mediterranean Sea. She also has famous resorts in the Canary Islands and San Sebastian, located in the Atlantic Ocean and in Bay of Biscay respectively. However, we are talking about the Mediterranean, so they will be discussed.

Among them, the most famous are naturally the Balearic Islands (Ibiza and Mallorca) and the Costa Brava. The Costa Brava is located on the Spanish mainland near Barcelona.

Ibiza is the center of parties throughout Europe, and local discos are famous far beyond its borders.

Best hotels (prices per night):

Mallorca - famous for its unforgettable beaches and mild climate. Not as busy party life as in Ibiza, makes this place ideal for families with children. Of the sights, lovers of architecture, be sure to visit the Almudaina Palace. A rather extravagant building, made in the Arabic style, is located in the capital of the island, Palma de Mallorca.

Top hotels:

• Hotel Rural Sa Posada d’Aumallia – 11,065 rubles.
• Hotel Red house Mallorca – 16,002 rubles.
• Hotel Myseahouse Flamingo — 21,676 rubles.
• Hotel Europe Playa Marina – 15,061 rubles.
• Hotel Sa Casa Rotja — 9 797 rubles.

Italy: cities, hotels, prices, interesting places

Italy is a special country for travel and beach tourism not an exception. The atmosphere of this country will forever remain in your heart wherever you are. And the kitchen will take your gastronomic requests to a new level. Italy has one of the longest coastlines and you can literally relax on the Mediterranean coast all over the country. Let's highlight some of the best resorts in Italy.

Sorrento, located near Naples, a city on the Tyrrhenian Sea. One of the features is a short beach area and large steep banks. The Basilica of St. Anthony, named after the patron saint of the city, is one of the best examples of Italian architecture, painted inside with the colors of the famous Giambattista Lama.

Top hotels:

On the other side of the Italian boot, Rimini is considered one of the best resorts, despite the fact that the city is located in the north, thanks to the shallow water, the water here warms up quickly and the swimming season begins in May.

Holidays in Remini are also good because it is easy to get to any continental city from here. northern Italy Milan, Turin and Venice are very close by. And these places are undoubtedly famous all over the world, the sights of which can be listed endlessly.

Best deals:

• Hotel Parco dei Principi — 10,095 rubles.
• Hotel La Gradisca — 8 485 rubles.
• Hotel Polo — 6 234 rubles.
• Hotel Diplomat Palace — 7 772 rubles.

Egypt: cities, hotels, prices, interesting places

In Egypt, the main direction of tourism is the Red Sea, and not the Mediterranean at all. The Red Sea has one indisputable advantage, the beach season here is open all year round. Historically, it so happened that the resorts of the Mediterranean prefer to visit locals.

The coastline of Egypt with the Mediterranean Sea is more than a thousand km and is conditionally divided into three regions: the Sinai, the Nile Delta and the West Coast.

The Sinai direction is practically not represented as a tourist destination, due to its proximity to the “hot spots” of the Gaza Strip. The Nile Delta is not suitable for recreation, as it is a large swampy area.

The western direction is represented by resorts concentrated near Alexandria and Mersa Matruh.

Alexandria - "Oxford" of the ancient world, a city-museum, history buffs will appreciate this city on merit. And near Mersa Matruh is the “Cleopatra Bay”. According to legend, the Egyptian queen loved to swim here.

The main advantage of the Egyptian-Mediterranean resorts over the Red Sea resorts is a much cheaper price tag for accommodation and food.

Top hotels:

While abroad, any tourist needs to make adjustments for local customs and culture when communicating with the local population. Many things characteristic of the national culture will not always be understood and accepted in another country.

You can often hear Russian speech and meet many people who understand Russian, namely in Turkey and Egypt. It is not at all necessary to buy dollars or change rubles when traveling to these countries - they are accepted there on a par with the local currency.

The countries located on the shores of the Mediterranean Sea have a multi-confessional composition and completely different peoples live in its different points in terms of their culture, religion and mentality. The world map shows that both Christian, Muslim and Jewish countries are located on the coast.

Article formatting: Vladimir the Great

Video about holidays in the mediterranean sea

Overview of holidays in Turkey on the Mediterranean Sea:

Turkey - Dreamland washed by four seas. It is located in two parts of the world at once - in Europe and Asia. Due to this, any area of ​​the country is characterized by a special climate, nature and color. Many people dream of visiting Turkey. After all, this amazing country is famous for its beautiful nature and many amazing sights that have been preserved since the time of Byzantium and the Ottoman Empire.

Looking at the map of Turkey, you can see that a significant part of it is located in Southwest Asia, and all the rest of the lands of this country lie in Europe. In the east, Turkey borders with countries such as Azerbaijan, Georgia, Iran and Armenia, and in the southeast it touches Iraq and Syria. As for the European territories, the Republic of Turkey borders Bulgaria in the north and Greece in the west.

Turkey has a favorable continental climate, with tropical features. Due to the mountains and plateaus, comfort is ensured in the summer heat.
The country has an inland sea - Marmara. From three sides it is washed by other seas: in the north - the Black, in the west - the Aegean, in the south - the Mediterranean. Now let's find out more about each of them.

Sea of ​​Marmara

The location of this inland sea is between the European and Asia Minor territory of the state. The Sea of ​​Marmara connects to the Black Sea through the Bosporus Strait, and to the Mediterranean through the Dardanelles Strait.
The sea got its name not by chance. It was named after the island of Marmara, where mining once took place. white marble. If you find yourself in Turkey, you can book an excursion to this island and see the prey rock with my own eyes.

On the coast Sea of ​​Marmara located The largest city country is Istanbul. It is rich in history, culture and traditions. Istanbul is also considered to be a major center of trade, where you can buy almost everything your heart desires. Numerous markets have a huge variety of souvenirs, clothes, jewelry, popular Turkish carpets and much more.
The coast stretches for about 1000 km. It's famous amazing rocks and narrow beaches, which will surely appeal to fans of extreme recreation. If you prefer to relax on sandy beaches, then pay attention to the cities of Yalova and Tekirdag. You can also relax on Turkele Island.

Black Sea

The Black Sea belongs to the Atlantic Ocean basin. The Bosporus allows you to get to the Sea of ​​Marmara, and the Dardanelles - to the Aegean and Mediterranean. The Black Sea has a conditional water line separating the European part of the mainland from the Asian one. The Turkish coastline stretches for 1598 km.

As for the climatic conditions, they are not as pleasing as in other seas of the country. Summer here Nice weather and warm water. But in winter the water is ice cold. Resorts on the Black Sea are preferred mainly by residents of Turkey itself. In the old days Black Sea coast was considered inhospitable. And it had nothing to do with weather conditions. Once upon a time, warriors lived on the shores, who fought fiercely, defending their territory.

Aegean Sea

Crystal water and beautiful landscape - all this can be said about the Aegean Sea. The sea has a beautiful emerald hue. Together with the Tauride Mountains, adjacent to the water, are created magnificent scenery. The Aegean Sea is also called the White Sea. The sea surface is dotted with numerous islets.

The sea borders Greece and Turkey. In summer, there is a comfortable temperature regime. Air warms up to +30°C, and water - up to +26°C. The resorts of the Aegean Sea attract the attention of both tourists and yachting enthusiasts. Among the world-famous resorts are Marmaris, Kusadasi and Chemshi.

Mediterranean Sea

The Mediterranean Sea is famous for its warm climate, because it is located in the southern part of Turkey. Many tourists fell in love with this sea for its warm water, rich fauna and the presence of the most comfortable hotels.
The Mediterranean Sea has an advantageous geographical location: Africa is in the south, Europe is in the north, and Asia is in the east. The Strait of Gibraltar leads to the Atlantic Ocean, and the Suez Canal leads to the Red Sea. A thousand-kilometer coastline is sandy beaches that alternate with citrus plantations and olive trees. The water of the Mediterranean Sea is saltier than that of other seas.

The duration of the holiday season reaches about 300 days a year. If you do not know which place to choose for your vacation, pay attention to such worldwide famous resorts like: Antalya, Kemer, Aksu, Belesk and Side. This area is often called the Turkish Riviera.

The seas of Turkey: what features do they have?

Each sea is unique and unrepeatable in its own way. In order to choose exactly what you need, it would be useful to learn about the features of all the seas. First of all, they differ in temperature indicators. Take, for example, the Mediterranean Sea. Here holiday season very long. This is due to the fact that the air and water temperatures are much higher than in other seas. Starting from May, the water becomes comfortable for swimming (+21-22 °C). The season lasts until December.

Also, the seas washed by Turkey can be distinguished by such features as salinity. The most salty is the Mediterranean Sea. In second place is the Aegean, followed by the Marble. The Black Sea is the least salty. It is better to teach young children to swim in the Mediterranean Sea, because salty water perfectly holds on the surface.

Water temperature in the seas of Turkey by months

Now, you know what seas Turkey is washed by. This amazing fairyland will allow you to get to know the enchanting nature, plunge into the traditions and unique flavor. And if you do not know which of the seas to choose, first of all, decide for yourself what type of vacation you prefer. And do not forget to read our recommendations, after which you can go towards an amazing vacation and bright emotions!

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 the 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, the average depth is 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 central part pool. 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

The relief of the northern coast of the sea is 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. The western coast of the Apennine Peninsula along the Tyrrhenian Sea is quite indented, steep and precipitous coasts alternate with low ones, and flat alluvial lowlands composed of river sediments are encountered. 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 the southern shores of the western Mediterranean Sea, where predominantly western winds blow in winter, and eastern 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 the eastern regions in summer season persistent northerly winds (etesias) are observed. 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 varies from 14-16° on the southern coast of the sea 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 of the Strait of Gibraltar and the Bosporus, more saline and denser Mediterranean waters enter the 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 are weakly expressed, but in the Straits of Gibraltar, Messina and Tunis 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 of 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 stream continues to move along the African coast, and part deviates to the north - to the Ionian and Adriatic, as well as to Aegean Sea, 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 slightly moves 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)

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.

The Strait of Tunis is of great importance for the water exchange between the western and eastern parts of the sea, with depths above the rapids 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 high-salinity waters of the Aegean Sea in the bottom layers of the Dardanelles penetrate into the basin of the Sea of ​​Marmara, fill it, and then enter the Black Sea in the bottom layer of the Bosporus 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 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. 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.

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 the 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 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 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. thermocline. 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. In connection with the intensification of economic activity, the pollution of the Mediterranean Sea is progressively growing, where the ecological situation has become threatening.

The Mediterranean Sea is a real pearl of Europe. Since ancient times, ports have been built here, bloody sea battles have been fought, ships and new lands have been conquered. The bottom of the sea is littered with the wreckage of sunken ships and their cargo, there are many legends about treasures hidden under the water column. Today the Mediterranean Sea is a center of tourism and recreation. France, Italy, Spain, Turkey are just some of the countries hosting tourists on their Mediterranean coast.

Characteristics of the Mediterranean Sea

The name Mediterranean Sea appeared in antiquity and reflected the idea of ​​the people of that time about the structure of the world. All countries were around this sea - African civilizations reigned in the south, Persia in the east, northern lands belonged to ancient Rome and Greece.

The area of ​​this largest intercontinental sea is about 2,500,000 square kilometers, the maximum depth is more than 5 thousand meters. It washes the shores of Africa, Europe and Asia. Along the coastline there are also several inland Ligurian, Adriatic, Aegean and others.

Animal and vegetable world in the Mediterranean Sea is quite scarce. Perhaps this is due to the active development and use of the coast and water, which led to the disappearance of many species of animals and plants.

Mediterranean climate

The Mediterranean climate is singled out in a separate category and applies to most coastal countries. It is a subtropical climate with warm and long summers characterized by high pressure zones. In summer, air masses with pockets of high pressure prevail over the coast, blocking precipitation. Thanks to this phenomenon, the Mediterranean is so popular - in tourist season There are almost no cloudy days here.

The water temperature of the Mediterranean now, in February, averages about 15 degrees Celsius. Precipitation falls during the winter mountainous areas in the form of snow, on the plain in the form of rain. The main annual rainfall occurs in winter. Interestingly, in the summer, rains may be absent for several months in a row.

Mediterranean sea map

Since ancient times, explorers and navigators have been trying to create an accurate map of the Mediterranean Sea, on which all cities and countries, seas and straits would be located. Cartographers used the sea as a reference point for the middle of the Earth, drawing axes from it.

First General Map appeared in the Middle Ages. Ptolemy, a well-known scientist today, compiled a table of points, where he recorded the latitude and longitude of each of them. The Arab astronomer Abul-Ghassan supplemented and corrected this map - and it became the first serious ancestor of the modern one, bringing the data of those times closer to the real ones.

Today, the map of the Mediterranean Sea displays all data and coordinates as accurately and reliably as possible. This has become possible thanks to the development of technology and the emergence of satellites that transmit photographs from space. On modern maps not only the boundaries are marked, but also the reliefs, the movements of the currents, and even the temperature of the water in the Mediterranean Sea.

countries of the mediterranean basin

The Mediterranean Sea washes the shores of 22 two countries on three continents. In Europe, the most famous are the resorts of Spain, France, Italy, Croatia. The famous Cote d'Azur of France is one of the most expensive resorts in the world; celebrities, aristocrats and politicians flock there every year. Yachting is well developed there, cruise tours along the Mediterranean coast. In Spain, the most popular are Valencia, Barcelona and many small resort towns located between them.

Greece and Italy attract tourists picturesque rocks. The water temperature in the Mediterranean Sea on the European coast allows you to provide beach holiday during the long warm summer. Egypt is waiting for tourists on the African coast. In Asia, the leader representing among the resorts of the Mediterranean Sea is Turkey. The water temperature is always stable, and the rest is notable for its low cost and excellent service.

water

The average temperature varies by region. IN southern regions sea, off the coast of Egypt, in winter the water temperature averages 14-16 degrees Celsius. In the northern parts of the sea, the decrease in temperature is more noticeable: the average water temperature in the Mediterranean Sea off the coast of Italy and France in winter is 8-12 degrees Celsius. In the central part, the sea warms up to 15 degrees.

The situation is different in summer. The average water temperature in the Mediterranean in August ranges from 20-25 degrees. On the east coast, off the coast of Turkey, it can reach 27-30 degrees Celsius.

The Turkish coast is considered one of the warmest and most comfortable. Here is the longest beach season - it starts in May and ends in October. However, the most daring and seasoned tourists are not afraid to swim in other months.

Mediterranean sea water temperature map

If you look at a map that shows the water temperature of the Mediterranean Sea throughout its basin, it becomes clear that the warmest areas are on Far East- off the coast of Turkey, and on the territory East Africa- in the coastal waters of Egypt and Libya. Average annual temperature here is 17-18 degrees Celsius.

The coolest is off the coast of Italy, in the northern regions of the Mediterranean. There, the average water temperature is only 13-14 degrees.