Countries on the Mediterranean Sea. Mediterranean Sea: description, history, interesting facts. Which countries are washed by the Mediterranean Sea? Largest cities

This question is asked much more often by tourism enthusiasts than by schoolchildren. This sea plays an important role in the lives of not only the modern inhabitants of its coast, it has influenced the emergence of many civilizations.

"The Sea in the Middle of the Earth"

The Mediterranean Sea began to be used long before new continents were discovered. It seemed to people that this large body of water was located in the very center of the planet. This is how the sea got its name.

“The sea in the middle of the Earth” became the most important trade route. It helped transport from Eurasia to Africa. Not only trade relations were established between peoples. Ethnic groups living on the coast sought to establish diplomatic contacts with other countries. Alliances were formed with some, and hostilities were fought with others. But even wars to some extent had a positive effect on the development of mankind. Captured peoples adopted the experience and culture of the occupiers. As a result of cultural exchange, new civilizations emerged.

Today, the Mediterranean Sea continues to facilitate contacts between different cultures. The main source of income for the ancient inhabitants of the coast was trade with foreigners. Nowadays tourism has also been added to trade. Having learned which countries are washed by the Mediterranean Sea, tourists plan their vacation.

Where to go on a trip?

Located on the sea coast great amount countries It will take more than one vacation to get to know everyone:

Malta. Many people mistakenly believe that the state consists of just one island. In fact, in addition to the main part, Malta, the state includes the island of Gozo (also called Gozo) and several sparsely inhabited islands. The small state is inhabited by only about 500,000 thousand people. Thanks to its climate in 2011, Malta was recognized as one of the... best countries to live in peace.
Italy. Here tourists will find relaxation for body and soul. In Italy you can lie on the beach and visit a huge number of museums. The rich culture of this country will not leave anyone indifferent. Italy is famous for its gastronomic delights. National cuisine is not just tasty, but also healthy. Beach holidays in this country are suitable for lovers of nudism. In 2006, being on the beach without clothes was legalized. Sunbathing in this way is not possible in every country on the Mediterranean Sea. In some states, travelers and the local population will face a large fine or arrest for such behavior. More than half a million people visit Italian nudist beaches every year.
Spain. This country seems like a place for endless celebrations. Some celebrations are terrifying foreign tourists. Tomatina is a holiday during which people throw tomatoes at each other. Not every traveler will appreciate this way to spend free time. You can give preference to less exotic entertainment. Some tourists, returning from Spain, decide to take a flamenco or guitar course.
France. The southeast of this country is washed by the Mediterranean Sea. French culture is very diverse. The specifics of a region will be determined by its location. Being in the south of the country, travelers often feel like they are in some Spanish or Italian town. And this feeling is not far from the truth. Most Mediterranean cities are really similar to each other. Some settlements in the south of France were founded by representatives of other ethnic groups. Marseille, for example, was founded by the Greeks. It was originally called Massilia.
Türkiye. This country is most popular among Russian tourists. Europeans are much less common here. For thousands of Russians, Antalya, Mersin, Istanbul and some other Turkish cities are a permanent destination summer holiday during several years. Türkiye attracts cozy beaches, architectural landmarks and local cuisine. Prices in this country are significantly lower than in Europe. The Turkish lira is cheaper than the dollar or euro. It is noteworthy that while in Turkey, you can relax not only on the Mediterranean, but also on the Black Sea.

Since ancient times, the waters of this sea have been a means of communication between the three parts of the world. It is no coincidence that the entire area around was considered the center of the world, the Mediterranean.

Geology

According to most scientists, the Mediterranean Sea is all that remains of the vast prehistoric Tethys Ocean. The geomorphological process of the formation of this giant depression over millions of years is influenced by movements and faults of the earth's crust. Until now, the Mediterranean region is characterized by high seismic activity and part of the seabed there is formed by volcanic rocks.

This is why the depth varies so radically Mediterranean Sea in its different parts.

To imagine the approximate nature of the bottom relief, it is enough to analyze its coast, especially the European part. In the underwater depths lie mountain ranges and gorges comparable to the Alps or the Caucasus.

Sources of water replenishment

Replenishment of water reserves and their evaporation also plays an important role in the fullness of the reservoir. The average depth of the Mediterranean Sea directly depends on these factors. Looking at the map, it is not difficult to name all the most significant water donors. In the west is the Atlantic Ocean through the Strait of Gibraltar; in the east - the Black and Marmara seas through the Bosphorus and Dardanelle straits. It is also replenished with fresh water from the rivers of both continents. The largest of them are the Nile and Po in Africa, the Rhone, Tiber and Ebro in Europe. However, the mild Mediterranean climate and deep volcanic processes provoke active evaporation of its waters. Therefore, the prevailing depth of the Mediterranean Sea is relatively small - about 1541 m.

It has a negative water level balance relative to the Atlantic.

Division of territories

Conventionally, the entire sea is divided into three basins:

Western - consists of the basins of the Balearic, Ligurian, Tyrrhenian and Alboran Seas;
Central - includes the depressions of the Adriatic and Ionian seas, where the depth of the Mediterranean Sea is greatest, as well as the middle waters;
Eastern - unites the basins of the Aegean, Marmara and Levantine seas.

Historically, different territories of this sea have had their own names since ancient times, which have been preserved to this day and have official status.

Far West

Sandy and rocky shallows stretch for many kilometers. Here, the average depth of the Mediterranean Sea off the coast ranges from 2 to 15 meters. Luxury resorts are located along the coast.

The Alboran Sea begins at the Strait of Gibraltar. Average depths range from 1000 to 1500 meters. It is noteworthy that the strip of shallows near the coast is extremely narrow, this can be seen on the map. The deepest place (2407 m) is located at its eastern outskirts. The bottom topography is extremely heterogeneous and consists of extended mountain ranges and depressions. The largest ridge gave the name to the sea.

Seas off the coasts of France and Italy

Next is the Balearic Sea. Here the picture of the coastline is radically different. Sandy beaches and the relatively shallow depth of the Mediterranean Sea of about 200 m have turned these places into an amazing tourist paradise. The abundance of islands also contributes to this.

The most picturesque - Ibiza, Menorca, Mallorca, world famous tourist centers. This area is shallower, on average 500-1000 m. In addition, the nature of the relief is quite calm, the bottom is muddy and sandy. The maximum depth here is 2132 m.

The Ligurian Sea washes the coasts of France, Italy and Monaco. Its eastern borders are delineated by the island of Corsica. The waters are relatively shallow. Near the coast there are many kilometers of shallow waters, where there are also resort areas. The depth on the shelf barely reaches 200 m. This is clearly visible on the map. Further east, the average and greatest depth of the Mediterranean Sea ranges from 1200 m to 2546 m. Such places are found off the coast of Corsica.

Central pool

Further to the east, bounded by the islands of Corsica, Sicily and Sardinia on one side, and the Apennine Peninsula on the other, stretches the Tyrrhenian Sea. The earth's crust in this place has a fault that separates Europe and Africa. Therefore, the entire bottom is cut up by a chain of underwater mountain ranges, where they meet active volcanoes. Although the depth of the Mediterranean Sea here is relatively small, approximately 500-1500 m, in deep places the depth reaches 3719 m. The sea is limited by five straits with depths: Corsican (500 m); Bonifacio (69 m); Sicilian (316 m); Messinsky (500 m). It is in the Strait of Messina that the famous ancient Greek myths are located. In modern geography they are identified with a lonely pointed rock and a whirlpool in the local waters.

On the other side of the peninsula is the Adriatic Sea. It is a bay and seems to be sandwiched between neighboring coasts. The main sea is connected only by the Strait of Otranto, so the sea is now very shallow. The city of Adria, which gave it its name, was once a port. Now it is 25 km away from the coast. The entire north of the sea is relatively shallow (20-70 m).

Mild climate, not great depths on the shelf, the uniform bottom topography created all the conditions for the development of tourism. It is not for nothing that the entire coastline belonging to Italy and the countries of Eastern Europe has long become a favorite vacation spot. Almost everywhere the depth does not exceed 150 m, only in the very south it reaches 1230 m.
The Ionian Sea communicates with the Adriatic and Tyrrhenian through the straits. The map shows that it is formed by a giant cauldron-shaped depression. Its fairly flat bottom is covered with sand, gravel and lime deposits. There is a very narrow strip of the coastal shelf here, almost immediately the continental plate goes deep to 2000 m, and the maximum depth of the Mediterranean Sea in the bottom crevices reaches 5121 m. However, off the coast of Italy and Greece there are long beaches with narrow shallow waters, which are occupied by resorts.

East Basin

The expanses of water enclosed between the Turkish coast of Eurasia and Balkan Peninsula, are called the Aegean Sea. Navigation along it has been widely mentioned in ancient Greek chronicles since antiquity. In some countries it is called the White Sea, which is confirmed by the color of the sea on a special depth map. The sea is quite shallow, the average depth of the Mediterranean Sea is 200-1000 m. There are many islands scattered throughout the sea, about 2000 of them. This is all that remains of the sunken ancient land- Aegean. For this reason, it received a third name - the Sea of the Archipelago. It is this circumstance that explains the shallowness of the local waters. All areas of land, as elsewhere, are given over to resort towns, which are distinguished by a special antique flavor.

Interestingly, the southern region also has its own name - the Cretan Sea. This closed body of water is clearly visible on the map, separated by an archipelago on one side and the island of Crete on the other. There are quite large depths here, up to a maximum of 2529 m.

The Sea of Marmara communicates with the Mediterranean only through, but also belongs to its basin. It was formed as a result of a prehistoric giant continent. It is distinguished by its shallow depths, up to 1355 m, as the water level is constantly equalized through straits from two seas - the Mediterranean through the Dardanelles and the Black through the Bosphorus.

Asia-Africa region

The Levantine Sea is a large area of water that is located in the east. It washes the territories of several states - Turkey, Syria, Lebanon, Israel, Egypt and Libya. The general name of these lands is Levant, which gave the name to the sea. Formed by one of the underwater basins. Therefore, the bottom morphology is calm. It is here that one of the deepest water points is located - 4384 m.

The western water boundary is delineated by the island of Cyprus. The map shows the depth of the Mediterranean Sea that prevails here - from 500 to 1500 m.

The central, most extensive part of the Mediterranean Sea is called the Libyan Sea. On one side it is bounded by the island of Crete, on the other by the northern African coast. There are no extremely deep places in these waters, on average - 500-1500 m. The very wide coastal strip of the Libyan coast consists of shallow waters up to 200 m.

Mediterranean Sea- the cradle of humanity! Powerful and great civilizations arose on the Mediterranean coasts, on the ruins of which the modern world developed and flourishes.

Its area can easily absorb Western Europe, its color can surprise you with its beauty and richness, the sound of the waves can calm you down, and fishing can be a pleasure...

What is this amazing part of the World Ocean like? Where it is located, what countries it washes, what depths and shores it has, what peaceful and dangerous animals and plants it hides in the abyss of its waters, what secrets it keeps - all this and a little more you will learn from this article.

1. Where is the Mediterranean Sea located?

The Mediterranean Sea is located between Asia, Africa and Europe, surrounded by continents, and only through the Strait of Gibraltar is it connected to Northern part Atlantic, Bosporus - with the Black Sea, and with the help of the Suez Canal - borders with the Red Sea.

2. Which countries does it wash?

The Mediterranean Sea is named so due to its location - among the continents (lands). The waters of this sea wash the coasts of more than 22 countries from west to east, including: Spain, France, Monaco, Italy, Malta, Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia, Montenegro, Albania, Greece, Turkey, Cyprus, Turkey, Syria, Lebanon, Israel, Egypt, Libya, Tunisia, Algeria and Morocco.

The coastal area of the sea is represented by many islands, varying in area and population, the largest of which are considered:

O. Corsica;
O. Balearic;
O. Sardinia;
O. Sicily;
O. Cyprus;
O. Crete.

The Mediterranean coastline has many independent water areas - seas: Ligurian, Adriatic, Tyrrhenian, Black, Ionian, Azov, Balearic, Aegean, Cretan, Levantine, Libyan and Alboran seas.

3. History and secrets of the Mediterranean Sea

The modern Mediterranean Sea is a remnant of the ancient Tesis basin, which once occupied the territory of Europe, North Africa, southern and western Asia. Over many millions of years, the strait connecting to the ocean was repeatedly closed and opened. Subsequently, the sea dried up and could no longer fill to its former size. The modern relief was formed due to changes in the Earth's climate.

The Mediterranean territory was one of the first to be inhabited by humans, and it was here that writing was first born, many great states were formed, and world religions were born.

In 1833, an Englishman, a geologist by profession, Charles Lyell, began to study this ancient sea.

Educational film on English language about the Mediterranean Sea

4. Natural characteristics of the Mediterranean Sea

The Mediterranean Sea has an area of 2965.5 thousand square meters. km. The average depth of the sea is 1,500 m. The greatest is 5,092 m and is located in the depression of the Ionian Sea (the western part of the Peloponnese peninsula). Total length sea – 3,800 m.

Salinity level of some seas:

Black Sea - 18%;
Adriatic Sea - 36%;
Aegean Sea - 37%;
Ligurian Sea - 38%;
Mediterranean Sea - 39%.

4.1 Climate

The word “climate” is translated from ancient Greek as “slope” and refers to the inclination of the sun’s rays in relation to the earth’s surface. Climate is a long-term, established weather pattern, as opposed to weather conditions, which are changeable.

Climatic conditions are determined by the location of the sea - the subtropical zone determines this climate into an independent type “Mediterranean”.

For countries washed by the waters of this sea, winter is characterized by a decrease in atmospheric pressure, which leads to precipitation and storms. During such a period, a cyclone hangs over the sea, accompanied by cloudiness, winds increase in different directions. The height of the waves can exceed 8 m. In summer there is an anticyclone, the pressure rises and during this period clear, sunny, not rainy weather prevails.

The temperature in the southern part of the sea in January ranges from 14 to 16 degrees, in the northern part - from 7 to 10 degrees. Summer (August) average temperature air temperature is 22 - 24 degrees in the northern part and up to 30 degrees in the southern regions.

Air humidity in summer is 50 - 65%, and in winter from 65 to 80%. Cloudiness in summer is from 0 to 3 points, in winter – 6 points.

Hot cities: Larnaca, Limassol, Tel Aviv and Antalya. In these regions, the water temperature in the summer months reaches 27 degrees. Next come the cities with water temperatures of no more than 25 degrees: Valencia, Malta and Heraklion. The coasts of Barcelona, Athens and Malaga are considered even less hot (up to 22 degrees of water).

4.2 Bottom topography

The bottom relief of the Mediterranean Sea is represented by rapids, basins, ridges, depressions, bays and volcanic cones. The sea basin is divided into Western and Eastern parts. Thus, the bottom of the western basin is more flat, and the bottom of the eastern basin has depressions and ridges stretching from Cyprus to the Apennine Peninsula.

Here, under the water column, there are cones of active and extinct volcanoes and tectonic depressions. Yes, most deep place in the sea - the Hellenic Trench, 5121 m deep. The bottom of the sea is rich in deposits of rock salt, potassium and sulfur. Natural gas and oil are produced here.

The largest bays of the Mediterranean Sea:

Valencian;
Lyonsky;
Genoese;
Taranto;
Sidra or Greater Sirte;
Gabes or Little Sirte.

Interestingly, at the bottom of the sea there are many remains of ships, the exact number of which, to this day, has not been established.

4.3 Water

The amount of water evaporation in the Mediterranean Sea exceeds the amount of precipitation, since the sea is surrounded by countries with arid climates. The water deficit is replenished by North Atlantic waters entering through the Strait of Gibraltar. During the process of evaporation, the salinity and density of water increases, which settles at depth, which makes this water area warmer. Depending on the season, the density of water changes. Interestingly, the Mediterranean Sea is one of the warmest and saltiest seas.

Water circulation occurs due to wind currents. The current speed in open sea areas reaches up to 1 km/h, in the straits – from 2 to 4 km/h. Water transparency is from 50 to 60 m. The water has a rich blue color.

4.4 Ebbs and flows

Does the sea have ebbs and flows (periodic fluctuations in water levels up and down as a result of changes in the position of the sun and moon relative to the Earth)? Yes, they are not large, on average from 1 to 2 cm in both directions. This is due to the fact that the sea is cut off from the Atlantic by the narrow Strait of Gibraltar and, accordingly, the gravitational force of the moon does not act on it.

You can read more about the ebb and flow of tides on the Wikipedia pages

Also, the ebb and flow of tides are influenced by depth, salinity of water, Atmosphere pressure, coastal terrain. The highest tides are observed in the bay called “Gabes”, which is located in the northern part of Africa and this is due to its huge shape (100 km in length and width).

Peak tide is when the sun and moon are either on the same side of the Earth (new moon) or on opposite sides (full moon) and the gravitational forces of these objects are combined, which affects the appearance of tides.

You can find the forecast of Mediterranean wave heights and tides on the Mediterranean coast of Israel on the website of Oceanographic and Limnological Research https://isramar.ocean.org.il/isramar2009/TideHadera/default.aspx

5. Mediterranean life

The fauna of the Mediterranean Sea is represented by animals and flora, which is related to the geological history of the sea and living conditions.

5.1 Plant life

Despite the scarce phytoplankton found in the upper layers of the sea, the vegetation here is diverse: more than 800 species of green, brown, red algae and plants. Notable is the world's largest sea grass, Posidonia oceanica, which has proliferated in colonies (more than 700 km). This is one of the oldest plants, more than 100 thousand years old.

5.2 Fauna

The fauna of the Mediterranean Sea is diverse, but the number of resident species is not large, which is due to the poor development of plankton in Mediterranean waters.

Plankton– various organisms freely floating in water (bacteria, algae, invertebrate larvae, small mollusks, etc.). You can find out more about this type of life on the Wikipedia pages.

The fauna is represented by more than 800 species of various mollusks: squid, cuttlefish, octopus, crabs, shrimp and others.

5.3 Fishes of the Mediterranean Sea

The winter period is the most widespread for the accumulation of different species of fish, since in other months (spring-summer) they spawn and feed, so they stay more dispersed.

Among the inhabitants there are more than 700 species of various fish, more than 290 of which live in the coastal waters of Israel:

The blue shark also lives in the Mediterranean Sea. There are more than 40 species of Mediterranean sharks. There are also stingrays, moray eels, reaching 0.5 m in length, dolphins, seals, porpoises and killer whales. There are also sea turtles, which are represented by 3 species.

A detailed list of fish living in the Mediterranean Sea can be found on the pages of Wikipedia

There are 4 species of flying fish off the Israeli coast:

exocoetus obtusirostris;
exocoetus volitans;
hirundichthys rondeletii;
parexocoetus mento.

5.4 Dangerous inhabitants of the Mediterranean Sea

Sharks- not only terrifying inhabitants of the sea, but also irreplaceable cleaners of the sea spaces from various types of sick, weak inhabitants. Their population is declining. For example, the hammerhead shark was last observed only in 1955.

stingray– has poisonous spines located in the tail part of the body.

Electric Stingray– capable of giving any attacker an electric shock.

6. Coastal features

North coast has a complex topography: the shores are high, rocky and steep with large bays.

South coast– smooth. Mountains stretch from the western part, and in the east they disappear and the coast becomes smooth and sandy (almost deserted).

The total length of the Mediterranean coast is 46 thousand km. Interestingly, this area of water would easily be enough to swallow Western Europe!

6.1 Israel's sea coast

The coast of Israel is washed by the western waters of the Mediterranean Sea. The Mediterranean territory extends from Israel's northern border to the Gaza Strip. Also on the coast there is a plain called “Coastal”, stretching for 187 km from Lebanon to the Gaza Strip. The plain is divided into cultural and geographical areas and has many sandy beaches.

The Mediterranean coast consists not only of plains and beaches, but also rocky shores and reefs.

6.2 Port cities of Israel

adaptation to the Mediterranean climate - unhurried summer walks along the sunny coast;
apply protective creams against sun rays;
beware of marine life;
Don't forget about high waves, rocky bottom and very dangerous rip currents.

You can read more about the phenomenon of rip currents on Wikipedia.

A short video on what to do if you get caught in a rip current in the Mediterranean Sea

The ancient Mediterranean Sea had many names:

"Akdeniz" or "White Sea" (Turks);
"Our Sea" or "Inland" (ancient Romans);
"Sea of Sunset" (Babylonians).
“Great Sea” (Hebrew ‏הַיָּם הַגָּדוֹל‏‎, Ha-Yam Ha-Gadol).

This sea includes in its expanses many small seas and different islands, which in ancient times were independent states.

The Mediterranean Sea is famous for the habitat of such an animal as the “sponge”, which later received the name “toilet sponge”, since the dried skeletons of this inhabitant were used as washcloths.

In 2016, Spanish archaeologists discovered a ship from the Roman Empire that sank more than 1.5 thousand years ago at a depth of 70 m.

In the Strait of Messina, you can see a mirage.

What will happen if this Great Basin is drained? You will find the answer to this question if you watch this entertaining film (published by I. Garkalikov)

9. Useful links

— the book of general misconceptions contains many interesting facts about the Mediterranean Sea.

— interesting article, which characterizes the Mediterranean Sea.

— an informative article about the currents and tides of the Mediterranean Sea, temperature, flora and fauna.

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

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

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

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

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

Mediterranean coast

Geography

Countries

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

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

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

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

Seas

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Mediterranean Sea on the map

Rivers

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

Islands

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

Climate

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

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

View of the Mediterranean Sea from space

Sea level rise

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

Ecology

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

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

Tourism

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

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

(Mage Internum) . And only at the beginning of VII V. the name Mediterranean appears (Mare Mediterraneum) , which received universal recognition. Nowadays it is transmitted into all languages through semantic translation: English Mediterranean Sea, Italian Mare Mediterraneo, German Mittellandisches Meeg, Russian Mediterranean Sea, etc. Cm. also Alboran, Rif.

Geographical names of the world: Toponymic dictionary.- M: AST

. Pospelov E.M.

the intercontinental sea of the Atlantic Ocean between Europe and Africa. The Strait of Gibraltar (length 59 km, width 14-44 km, minimum depth 53 m) is connected to the ocean through the Dardanelles Strait (length 120 km, width 1.3-27 km, depth 29-153 m). The Sea of Marmara (depth up to 1273 m) and the Bosphorus Strait - with the Black Sea, through the Suez Canal - with the Red Sea. The greatest depth is 5121 m. In the north. parts are distinguished by seas separated by islands and peninsulas: Alboran, Balearic, Ligurian, Tyrrhenian, Adriatic, Ionian, Aegean and Cyprus. Large islands: Balearic (Spain), Corsica (France), Sardinia, Sicily (Italy), Crete (Greece) and Cyprus (sovereign state). The rivers Nile, Po, Rhone, and Ebro flow into it. In winter, the water temperature is 12-17 °C, in summer - from 19 to 27-30 °C. Salinity from 36 ppm. Fishing for tuna, mackerel, mackerel, offshore oil production, the most important sea routes, resorts.

Concise geographical dictionary.

EdwART.

(2008. Mediterranean Sea Mediterranean Sea, ), divides Europe Asia And Africa. Pl. 2505 thousand km², avg. depth 1438 m, max. 5121 m. According to some geological theories, a remnant of the ancient Tethys ocean. Associated with Atlantic Ocean through Strait of Gibraltar , across the strait. Dardanelles with the Marmara and Black Seas. Happy opening Suez Canal connected through the Red Sea with Indian Ocean, . Ancient civilizations (Egyptian, Hellenic, Roman, etc.) arose on the shores of the Sea. In ancient times, the sea was called the Inland Sea, the Great Sea, and even the ocean. Within the Northern Sea, the following seas are distinguished:, Adriatic, Balearic, Ionian, Ligurian Tyrrhenian Aegean Europe . Often the Sea of Sirte or the Libyan Sea is distinguished (bays Gabes Sidra), the Levantine Sea (to the east of the Creto-African Strait) and the Phoenician Sea (the extreme eastern part). Sometimes in the bass. S. m. include Azovskoye, Mramornoe and Black Sea, . The water temperature on the surface is from 8–17 °C (in winter) to 19–30 °C (in summer). Due to high evaporation, salinity is increased, from 36 ‰ in the west to 39.5 ‰ in the east. The tides are semidiurnal, up to 0.5 m. The continental shallows are narrow, the slopes are steep, cut by canyons. There are many islands, the largest: , Balearic , Corsica , Sardinia , Sicily Cyprus Crete , . High seismicity. Numerous rivers flow in, the largest: , Rona Nile By: . The courts are developed, the most important routes connect Europe, Africa and the countries of the South. and Vost. Asia. Fish (sardines, mackerel, tuna, mackerel, etc.), sponge collection. Oil is produced on the shelf of the Adriatic and Aegean seas. Largest ports Barcelona (Spain), Marseilles , (France), Genoa Trieste Europe (Italy), Piraeus Thessaloniki (Greece), Alexandria Europe Port Said (Egypt), Tripoli (Libya), Algeria (Algeria). On the banks famous resorts: Cote d'Azur , Levantine and Dinaric coasts, Balearic Islands, etc. The sea is heavily polluted by industrial activities. and household waste.

Dictionary of modern geographical names. - Ekaterinburg: U-Factoria. Under the general editorship of academician. V. M. Kotlyakova. 2006 .

Mediterranean Sea

one of the largest seas in size. The adjective “Mediterranean” is widely used to describe peoples, countries, climates, vegetation; For many, the concept of “Mediterranean” is associated with a particular way of life or with an entire period in human history.
The Mediterranean Sea separates Europe, Africa and Asia, but it also closely connected Southern Europe, North Africa and Western Asia. The length of this sea from west to east is approx. 3700 km, and from north to south (at its widest point) - approx. 1600 km. On the northern coast are Spain, France, Italy, Slovenia, Croatia, Yugoslavia, Albania and Greece. A number of Asian countries – Türkiye, Syria, Lebanon and Israel – reach the sea from the east. Finally, on the southern coast are Egypt, Libya, Tunisia, Algeria and Morocco. The area of the Mediterranean Sea is 2.5 million square meters. km, and since it is connected with other bodies of water only by narrow straits, it can be considered an inland sea. In the west, through the Strait of Gibraltar, which is 14 km wide and up to 400 m deep, it has access to the Atlantic Ocean. In the northeast, the Dardanelles Strait, narrowing in places to 1.3 km, connects it with the Sea of Marmara and, through the Bosporus Strait, with the Black Sea. In the southeast, an artificial structure - the Suez Canal - connects the Mediterranean Sea with the Red Sea. These three narrow water passages have always been of great importance for trade, navigation and strategic purposes. At various times they were controlled - or sought to be controlled - by the British, French, Turks and Russians. The Romans of the Roman Empire called the Mediterranean Sea mare nostrum ("our sea")
The coastline of the Mediterranean Sea is highly indented, and numerous protrusions of land divide it into many semi-isolated water areas that have their own names. These seas include: Ligurian, located south of the Riviera and north of Corsica; Tyrrhenian Sea, enclosed between peninsular Italy, Sicily and Sardinia; Adriatic Sea, washing the shores of Italy, Slovenia, Croatia, Yugoslavia and Albania; Ionian Sea between Greece and southern Italy; Cretan Sea between the island of Crete and peninsular Greece; Aegean Sea between Turkey and Greece. There are also a number of large bays, for example Alicante - at east coast Spain; Lyonsky - at south coast France; Taranto - between the two southern protrusions of the Apennine Peninsula; Antalya and Iskenderun - off the southern coast of Turkey; Sidra - in the central part of the coast of Libya; Gabes and Tunisian - respectively, off the southeastern and northeastern coasts of Tunisia.
The modern Mediterranean Sea is a relic of the ancient Tethys Ocean, which was much wider and extended far to the east. Relics of the Tethys Ocean are also the Aral, Caspian, Black and Marmara seas, confined to its deepest depressions. It is likely that Tethys was once completely surrounded by land, and there was an isthmus between North Africa and the Iberian Peninsula, in the area of the Strait of Gibraltar. The same land bridge connected southeastern Europe with Asia Minor. It is possible that the Bosphorus, Dardanelles and Gibraltar straits were formed on the site of flooded river valleys, and many island chains, especially in the Aegean Sea, were connected to the mainland.
In the Mediterranean Sea there are western and eastern depressions. The border between them is drawn through the Calabrian ledge of the Apennine Peninsula, Sicily and the underwater Adventure Bank (up to 400 m deep), stretching for almost 150 km from Sicily to Cape Bon in Tunisia. Within both depressions, even smaller ones are isolated, usually bearing the names of the corresponding seas, for example, the Aegean, Adriatic, etc. The water in the western depression is slightly colder and fresher than in the eastern: in the west, the average temperature of the surface layer is approx. 12° C in February and 24° C in August, and in the east - 17° C and 27° C, respectively. One of the coldest and stormiest areas of the Mediterranean Sea is the Gulf of Lyon. The salinity of the sea varies widely, as less salty water comes from the Atlantic Ocean through the Strait of Gibraltar.
The tides here are low, but quite significant in very narrow straits and bays, especially during the full moon. However, quite strong currents are observed in the straits, directed both into and out of the Mediterranean Sea. Evaporation is higher than in the Atlantic Ocean or the Black Sea, so surface currents arise in the straits, carrying fresher water to the Mediterranean Sea. At depths below these surface currents, countercurrents occur, but they do not compensate for the influx of water at the surface.
The bottom of the Mediterranean Sea in many places is composed of yellow carbonate silt, below which lies blue silt. Near the mouths of large rivers, blue silts are overlain by deltaic sediments, occupying large area. The depths of the Mediterranean Sea vary greatly: the highest level - 5121 m - was recorded in the Hellenic deep-sea trench off the southern tip of Greece. The average depth of the western basin is 1430 m, and its shallowest part, the Adriatic Sea, has an average depth of only 242 m.
In some places, significant areas of dissected relief rise above the general surface of the Mediterranean Sea bottom, the tops of which form islands. Many (though not all) of them are of volcanic origin. Among the islands, we note, for example, Alboran, located east of the Strait of Gibraltar, and the group of Balearic Islands (Menorca, Mallorca, Ibiza and Formentera) east of the Iberian Peninsula; mountainous Corsica and Sardinia - to the west of the Apennine Peninsula, as well as a number of small islands in the same area - Elba, Pontine, Ischia and Capri; and to the north of Sicily - Stromboli and Lipari. Within the Eastern Mediterranean Basin is the island of Malta (south of Sicily), and further to the east are Crete and Cyprus. There are numerous small islands in the Ionian, Cretan and Aegean seas; Among them are the Ionian - to the west of mainland Greece, the Cyclades - to the east of the Peloponnese Peninsula and Rhodes - off the southwestern coast of Turkey.
Large rivers flow into the Mediterranean Sea: Ebro (in Spain); Rhône (in France); Arno, Tiber and Volturno (in Italy). The rivers Po and Tagliamento (in Italy) and Isonzo (on the border of Italy and Slovenia) flow into the Adriatic Sea. To the pool Aegean Sea belong to the rivers Vardar (in Greece and Macedonia), Struma, or Strymon, and Mesta, or Nestos (in Bulgaria and Greece). The largest river in the Mediterranean basin, the Nile is the only large river, flowing into this sea from the south.
The Mediterranean Sea is famous for its calm and beauty, but like other seas, it can be rough during certain seasons, and then big waves hitting the coast. The Mediterranean has long attracted people due to its favorable climate. The term "Mediterranean" is used to describe a climate with long, hot, clear, and dry summers and short, cool, wet winters. Many coastal areas of the Mediterranean Sea, especially the southern and eastern ones, have semiarid and arid climate features. In particular, semiarid conditions with an abundance of clear sunny days are considered typical of the Mediterranean climate. However, in winter there are many cold days when damp, cold winds bring rain, drizzle and sometimes snow.
The Mediterranean is also famous for the attractiveness of its landscapes. The French and Italian Riviera, the outskirts of Naples, the Adriatic coast of Croatia with numerous islands, the shores of Greece and Lebanon, where steep mountain slopes approach the sea itself, are especially picturesque. Important trade routes and cultural spread passed through the main islands of the eastern Mediterranean - from the Middle East, Egypt and Crete to Greece, Rome, Spain and France; another route ran along the southern coast of the sea - from Egypt to Morocco.

Encyclopedia Around the World. 2008 .

See what "MEDITERRANEAN SEA" is in other dictionaries:

Mediterranean Sea- A sea located between continents and connected to the ocean by one or more straits, for example, the Mediterranean and Red Seas. Syn.: intercontinental sea... Dictionary of Geography

The Mediterranean Sea, otherwise the Great Sea, Western, Philistine, or simply the sea (Numbers 34:6, Joshua 19:29, Exodus 23:31) lies between Europe, Asia and Africa, representing a huge bay of the Atlantic Ocean, connecting with it Gibraltar... ... Bible. Old and New Testaments. Synodal translation. Biblical encyclopedia arch. Nikifor.

MEDITERRANEAN SEA, Atlantic Ocean, between Eurasia and Africa. The Strait of Gibraltar connects with the Atlantic Ocean, the Dardanelles Strait, the Sea of Marmara and the Bosphorus Strait with the Black Sea, the Suez Canal with the Red Sea. Area 2.5 million... Modern encyclopedia

Atlantic approx. between Eurasia and Africa. Connected by the Strait of Gibraltar. with the Atlantic Ocean, across the Strait. Dardanelles, Mramornoe metro and strait. Bosphorus with the Black Sea, Suez Canal with the Red Sea 2.5 million km². Average depth 1438 m, maximum… Big Encyclopedic Dictionary

Mediterranean Sea- — EN Mediterranean Sea The largest inland sea between Europe, Africa and Asia, linked to the Atlantic Ocean at its western end by the Strait of Gibraltar, including the Tyrrhenian,… … Technical Translator's Guide

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