Detailed maps of the Mediterranean. Hospitable countries and the best resorts of the Mediterranean Mediterranean sea currents map detailed

One of the largest seas in terms of size. The adjective "Mediterranean" is widely used to describe peoples, countries, climate, vegetation; for many, the concept of "Mediterranean" is associated with a special way of life or with a whole period in the history of mankind.

Divides Europe, Africa and Asia, but it also closely linked South 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 the widest point) - approx. 1600 km. On the north coast are Spain, France, Italy, Slovenia, Croatia, Yugoslavia, Albania and Greece. From the east to the sea there are a number of Asian countries - Turkey, Syria, Lebanon and Israel. Finally, on the south 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, 14 km wide and up to 400 m deep, it has an outlet 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 Bosphorus Strait with the Black Sea. In the southeast, a man-made structure - the Suez Canal - connects the Mediterranean with the Red Sea. These three narrow waterways have always been very important for trade, navigation and strategic purposes. At various times they were controlled - or sought to control - by the British, French, Turks and Russians. The Romans during the Roman Empire called the Mediterranean Sea mare nostrum ("our sea").

Coastline Mediterranean Sea is heavily indented, and numerous land protrusions dissect it into many semi-isolated water areas that have their own names. These seas include: the Ligurian, located south of the Riviera and north of Corsica; The Tyrrhenian Sea, enclosed between peninsular Italy, Sicily and Sardinia; The Adriatic Sea, washing the shores of Italy, Slovenia, Croatia, Yugoslavia and Albania; The Ionian Sea between Greece and southern Italy; Cretan Sea between Crete and Peninsular Greece; Aegean Sea between Turkey and Greece. A number of large bays also stand out, for example Alicante - off the east coast of Spain; Lyons - off the southern coast of France; Taranto - between 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 Tunis - respectively, off the southeastern and northeastern coasts of Tunisia.

Modern is a relic of the ancient Tethys Ocean, which was much wider and extended far to the east. The relics of the Tethys Ocean are also the Aral, Caspian, Black and Marmara seas, confined to its deepest depressions. Probably, Tethys was once completely surrounded by land, and between North Africa and the Iberian Peninsula, in the area of the Strait of Gibraltar, there was an isthmus. The same land bridge connected southeastern Europe with Asia Minor. It is possible that the Bosporus, 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 near-surface layer is approx. 12 ° С in February and 24 ° С in August, and in the east - 17 ° С and 27 ° С, respectively. One of the coldest and stormiest areas Mediterranean Sea is the Gulf of Lyon. The salinity of the sea varies widely, as less saline water flows from the Atlantic Ocean through the Strait of Gibraltar.

Tides here they are not high, 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 the Mediterranean Sea and from it. Evaporation is higher than in the Atlantic Ocean or in the Black Sea, therefore surface currents arise in the straits, carrying more fresh water into the Mediterranean Sea. At depths below these surface currents, countercurrents occur, but they do not compensate for water inflow at the surface.

Bottom 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 deposits occupying a large area. Depths Mediterranean Sea very different: the highest mark - 5121 m - is recorded in the Gellen deep-water trench at 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.

Above the common bottom surface Mediterranean Sea in some places significant areas of rugged relief rise, 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 the 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 north of Sicily - Stromboli and Lipari. Island of Malta (south of Sicily) is located within the Eastern Mediterranean Basin, and further to the east - 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 and Rhodes - off the southwestern coast of Turkey.

Large rivers flow into the Mediterranean Sea: Ebro (in Spain); Rona (in France); Arno, Tiber and Volturno (in Italy). The Po and Taglimento (in Italy) and the Isonzo (on the border between Italy and Slovenia) flow into the Adriatic Sea. The rivers Vardar (in Greece and Macedonia), Struma, or Strimon, and Mesta, or Nestos (in Bulgaria and Greece) belong to the basin of the Aegean Sea. The largest river in the Mediterranean basin, the Nile, is the only major river that flows into this sea from the south.

The Mediterranean Sea is famous for its tranquility and beauty, but, like other seas, it can be stormy in certain seasons, and then large waves hit the coast. The Mediterranean has long attracted people with its favorable climate. The term "Mediterranean" itself is used to denote a climate with long hot, clear and dry summers and short, cool and humid winters. Many coastal areas Mediterranean Sea, especially the southern and eastern ones, are characterized by semiarid and arid features of the climate. In particular, semiarism with an abundance of clear sunny days is considered typical of the Mediterranean climate. However, there are many cold days in winter when a damp cold wind brings rain, drizzle and sometimes snow.

The Mediterranean is also famous for the attractiveness of its landscapes. Especially picturesque are the French and Italian Riviera, the vicinity of Naples, the Adriatic coast of Croatia with numerous islands, the shores of Greece and Lebanon, where steep mountain slopes approach the sea itself. Important trade routes and culture spread 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.

Vegetation and fauna Mediterranean Sea differs in the relatively weak quantitative development of phyto- and zooplankton, which entails attributing. the small number of larger animals that feed on them, including fish. The amount of phytoplankton in the surface horizons is only 8-10 mg / m2, at a depth of 1000-2000 m it is 10-20 times less. Algae are very diverse (peridineas and diatoms predominate).

Fauna Mediterranean Sea characterized by great species diversity, however, the number of representatives of dep. species is small. There are kaki, one species of seals (white-bellied seal); sea turtle. There are 550 species of fish (sharks, mackerel, herring, anchovy, mullet, coriphenoid, tuna, bonito, horse mackerel, etc.). About 70 species of endemic fish, including stingrays, anchovy, gobies, pestilence. dogs, wrasse and needlefish. Of the edible molluscs, the most important are oysters, Mediterranean-Black Sea mussels, and sea dates. Invertebrates include octopuses, squids, sepia, crabs, lobster; numerous types of jellyfish, siphonophores; some areas, especially the Aegean Sea, are home to sponges and red coral.

Mediterranean coastal countries:

Spain
France
Monaco
Italy
Malta
Montenegro
Croatia
Slovenia
Bosnia
Albania
Greece
Bulgaria
Romania
Ukraine
Russia
Georgia
Turkey
Syria
Lebanon
Israel
Egypt
Libya
Tunisia
Algeria
Morocco

The largest islands in the Mediterranean:

Balearic
Corsica
Sardinia
Sicily

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Today, the states of the eastern Mediterranean have made great strides in the development of tourism infrastructure. The beaches of Egypt, Turkey, Cyprus, Greece, annually collect tens of millions of tourists. But, for example, in Lebanon or Syria, tourists go until they are in a hurry.
If you want to have a royal rest, then the city of Limassol (in Cyprus) is already waiting for you.

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

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

Together with this material, they usually read:

For lovers of unconditionally comfortable rest, cruise ships have been created and special routes and programs of entertainment on board have been developed. Having bought such a cruise, you will not need anything! Your ship will carry you along the waves like a floating luxury hotel.

Everyone in the school was reading ancient Greek legends. And if he did not read voraciously, then the names of the gods and heroes obviously heard. A trip to Rhodes can completely immerse you in the atmosphere of the past millennia, give you a chance for a miracle. You may be lucky! Take a chance!

If you are going on a New Year's tour of the Mediterranean, be sure to include Greece in your itinerary. Holidays in this country will give you the feeling of a never-ending miracle, which is so important to feel at this time of year for both adults and children.

Another Mediterranean country that you should definitely visit on a cruise is Israel. The Promised Land will amaze a traveler of any religion with its inner greatness, and visiting religious shrines will be interesting not only for believers.

In the Mediterranean Sea, the following seas are distinguished: Alboran, Balearic, Ligurian, Tyrrhenian, Adriatic, Ionian, Cretan, Aegean. The Mediterranean Sea basin includes the Sea of Marmara, the Black Sea, and the Sea of Azov.

The modern Mediterranean Sea is a relic of the ancient Tethys Ocean, which was much wider and extended far to the east. The relics of the Tethys Ocean are also the Aral, Caspian, Black and Marmara seas, confined to its deepest depressions. Probably, Tethys was once completely surrounded by land, and between North Africa and the Iberian Peninsula, in the area of the Strait of Gibraltar, there was an isthmus. The same land bridge connected southeastern Europe with Asia Minor. It is possible that the Bosporus, 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.

The Mediterranean Sea juts into the land between Europe, Africa and Asia.

The seas of the Mediterranean basin are washed by the shores of 21 states:

Europe (from west to east): Spain, France, Monaco, Italy, Malta, Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia, Montenegro, Albania, Greece, Turkey, Cyprus; Asia (north to south): Turkey, Syria, Cyprus, Lebanon and Israel; Africa (from east to west): Egypt, Libya, Tunisia, Algeria, Morocco. In the northeast, by the Dardanelles Strait, it connects with the Sea of Marmara and further by the Bosphorus Strait - with the Black Sea, in the southeast by the Suez Canal - with the Red Sea.

The area is 2500 thousand km².

The volume of water is 3839 thousand km³.

The average depth is 1541 m, the maximum depth is 5121 m.

The shores of the Mediterranean Sea near the mountainous coasts are predominantly abrasive, leveled; near the low ones, they are lagoon-estuary and deltaic; the eastern coast of the Adriatic Sea is characterized by shores of the Dalmatian type. The most significant bays: Valencian, Lyons, Genoese, Taranto, Sidra (B. Sirte), Gabes (M. Sirte).

The largest islands are the Balearic Islands, Corsica, Sardinia, Sicily, Crete and Cyprus.

The large rivers Ebro, Rhone, Tiber, Po, Nile and others flow into the Mediterranean Sea; their total annual flow is approx. 430 km³.

The bottom of the Mediterranean Sea splits into several basins with relatively steep continental slopes, 2000-4000 m deep; along the shores of the basin, they are bordered by a narrow strip of shelf, extending only between the coast of Tunisia and Sicily, as well as within the Adriatic Sea.

Geomorphologically, the Mediterranean Sea can be divided into three basins: Western - Algerian-Provencal basin with a maximum depth of over 2800 m, uniting the depressions of the Alboran, Balearic and Ligurian Seas, as well as the Tyrrhenian Sea depression - over 3600 m; Central - over 5100 m (Central basin and depressions of the Adriatic and Ionian seas) and Eastern - Levantinsky, about 4380 m (depressions of the Levant, Aegean and Marmara seas).

The bottom of some basins is covered with Neogene-Anthropogenic strata (in the Balearic and Ligurian Seas up to 5-7 km thick) of sedimentary and volcanic rocks. Among the Messinian (Upper Miocene) deposits of the Algerian-Provencal Basin, a significant role belongs to the saline evaporite stratum (over 1.5-2 km thick), which forms structures characteristic of salt tectonics. Along the sides and in the center of the Tyrrhenian Basin, there are several large faults with extinct and active volcanoes confined to them; some of them form large seamounts (Lipar Islands, Vavilov volcano, etc.). Volcanoes on the outskirts of the basin (in the Tuscany archipelago, on the Pontine Islands, Vesuvius, as well as the Lipari Islands) erupt acid and alkaline lavas, volcanoes into the center, parts of the Mediterranean Sea - deeper, basic lavas (basalts).

Part of the Central and Eastern (Levantinsky) basins are filled with sedimentary strata, including powerful products of river flows, especially the Nile. At the bottom of these basins, according to geophysical studies, the Gellen deep-water trench and the Central Mediterranean swell are distinguished - a large vault up to 500-800 m high.Along the foot of the continental slope of Cyrenaica, the Libyan trench is traced, very clearly expressed in the relief and weakly filled with sediments. The basins of the Mediterranean Sea are very different in time of occurrence. A significant part of the Eastern (Levantine) basin was formed in the Mesozoic, the Algerian-Provencal basin - from the end of the Oligocene - the beginning of the Miocene, some basins of the Mediterranean Sea - in the beginning - the middle of the Miocene, Pliocene. At the end of the Miocene (Messianic Age), shallow depressions already existed in most of the Mediterranean. The depth of the Algerian-Provencal Basin during the deposition of salts in the Messinian Age was about 1-1.5 km. Salts were accumulated as a result of strong evaporation and concentration of brine due to the influx of seawater into an enclosed body of water through the strait that existed south of Gibraltar.

The present-day depths of the Tyrrhenian Basin were formed as a result of the subsidence of the bottom during the Pliocene and the Anthropogenic period (over the last 5 million years); as a result of the same relatively rapid subsidence, some other basins arose. The formation of the basins of the Mediterranean Sea is associated either with the stretching (spreading) of the continental crust, or with the processes of compaction of the earth's crust and its subsidence. In dep. the processes of geosynclinal development continue in the parts of the basins. The bottom of the Mediterranean Sea in many parts is promising for prospecting for oil and gas, especially in the area of salt domes. In the shelf zones, oil and gas deposits are confined to the Mesozoic and Paleogene deposits.

The hydrological regime of the Mediterranean Sea is formed under the influence of high evaporation and general climatic conditions. conditions. The predominance of fresh water consumption over the inflow leads to a decrease in the level, which is the reason for the constant inflow of surface less saline waters from the Atlantic. OK. and Cherny m. In the deep layers of the straits, there is an outflow of highly saline waters caused by the difference in water density at the level of the straits' sills. Main water exchange takes place through the Strait of Gibraltar. (the upper current brings 42.32 thousand km³ per year of Atlantic water, and the lower one carries 40, 80 thousand km³ of Mediterranean water); through the Dardanelles, 350 and 180 km³ of water flows in and out, respectively, per year.

The circulation of waters in S. of m has hl. arr. wind nature; it is represented by the main, almost zonal Canary current carrying waters preim. atlantic. origin along Africa, from the Strait of Gibraltar. to the coast of Lebanon, n cyclonic system. gyres in isolated seas and basins to the left of this current. The water column to the depth. 750-1000 m is covered by unidirectional water transfer in depth, with the exception of the Levantinsky intermediate countercurrent, which carries the Levantinsky waters from about. Malta to the Strait of Gibraltar along Africa.

The velocities of steady currents in the open sea are 0.5-1.0 km / h, in some straits - 2-4 km / h. The average surface water temperature in February decreases from north to south from 8-12 to 17 ° C in the east. and center. parts and from 11 to 15 ° C by 3. In August, the average water temperature varies from 19 to 25 ° C. - in the extreme east, it rises to 27-30 ° C. Large evaporation leads to a strong increase in salinity. Its values increase from 3. to V. from 36 to -39.5. The density of water on the surface varies from 1.023-1.027 g / cm³ in summer - up to 1.027-1.029 g / cm³ in winter. During the period of winter cooling, intense convective mixing develops in areas with increased density, which leads to the formation of highly saline and warm intermediate waters in Vost. basin and deep waters in the north of the western basin, in the Adriatic and Aegean Seas. In terms of bottom temperature and salinity, the Mediterranean Sea is one of the warmest and saltiest seas in the World approx. (12.6-13.4 ° C and 38.4-38.7, respectively). Relates. water transparency up to 50-60 m, color - intense blue.

The tides are mostly semidiurnal, their value is less than 1 m, but in sept. points in combination with wind surges, level fluctuations can reach 4 m (Genoese Bay, off the north coast of Corsica Island, etc.). Strong tidal currents are observed in narrow straits (Messina Strait). Max. excitement is noted in winter (wave height reaches 6-8 m).

The climate of the Mediterranean Sea is determined by its position in the subtropical zone and has great specificity, which makes it an independent Mediterranean type of climate, characterized by mild, humid winters and hot dry summers. In winter, a depression of low atmospheric pressure is established over the sea, which determines unstable weather with frequent storms and heavy rainfall; cold northerly winds lower the air temperature. Local winds develop: the mistral in the Gulf of Lyon and the pine forest in the east of the Adriatic Sea. In summer, most of the Mediterranean Sea is covered by the ridge of the Azores anticyclone, which determines the predominance of clear weather with little cloudiness and little precipitation. The summer months are dry fogs and dusty haze blown out of Africa by the sirocco southerly wind. In the Eastern basin, stable northern winds - etesias - develop.

The average air temperature in January varies from 14-16 ° С near the southern shores to 7-10 ° С in the north, in August - from 22-24 ° С in the north to 25-30 ° С in the southern regions of the sea. Evaporation from the surface of the Mediterranean Sea reaches 1250 mm per year (3130 km3). Relative air humidity varies from 50-65% in summer to 65-80% in winter. Cloudiness in summer 0-3 points, in winter about 6 points. The average annual precipitation is 400 mm (about 1000 km3), it varies from 1100-1300 mm in the northwest to 50-100 mm in the southeast, minimum - in July - August, maximum - in December.

Characteristic are mirages, which are often observed in the Strait of Messina. (the so-called Fata Morgana).

The flora and fauna of the Mediterranean Sea is characterized by a relatively weak quantitative development of phyto- and zooplankton, which entails attributable. the small number of larger animals that feed on them, including fish. The amount of phytoplankton in the surface horizons is only 8-10 mg / m³, at a depth of 1000-2000 m it is 10-20 times less. Algae are very diverse (peridineas and diatoms predominate).

The fauna of the Mediterranean Sea is characterized by a large species diversity, however, the number of representatives of the dep. species is small. There are crayfish, one type of seal (white-bellied seal); sea turtle. There are 550 fish species (mackerel, herring, anchovy, mullet, corifenaceae, tuna, bonito, horse mackerel, etc.). About 70 species of endemic fish, including stingrays, anchovy, gobies, pestilence. dogs, wrasse and needlefish. Of the edible molluscs, the most important are oysters, Mediterranean-Black Sea mussels, and sea dates. Invertebrates include octopuses, squids, sepia, crabs, lobster; numerous types of jellyfish, siphonophores; some areas, especially the Aegean Sea, are home to sponges and red coral.

The coast of S. m. Has long been densely populated, and is distinguished by a high level of economic development (especially the countries located along its northern coast).

Agriculture of the Mediterranean countries: stands out for the production of citrus fruits (about 1/3 of the world harvest), cotton, oilseeds. In the system of international trade and economic relations, S. m. Occupies a special position. Located at the junction of three parts of the world (Europe, Asia, and Africa), the sea is an important transport route along which maritime connections between Europe and Asia, North Africa, and also Australia and Oceania pass. Important trade routes linking Russia and Ukraine with Western countries and large cabotage lines between the Black Sea ports and a number of other ports of Russia and Ukraine pass along the Northern Sea.

The transport importance of the seawater area of the sea for Western Europe is continuously growing in connection with the growing dependence of these countries on imports of raw materials. The role of oil and gas is especially great in the transportation of oil. The oil field is an important oil route between Western Europe and the Middle East. The share of southern ports (the main of which are Marseille, Trieste, Genoa) in the supply of oil to Western Europe is constantly growing (about 40% in 1972). The ports of the North Sea are connected by pipelines both with the countries of Western Europe, including Austria, Germany, France, and Switzerland, and with the oil fields of the Middle East and North Africa. Transportation of various types of raw materials, metal ores and bauxite, agricultural products is also great. products on the Suez Canal, through which the links of Western Europe with Asia and Australia pass. The largest ports are Marseille with outports in France, Genoa, Augusta, Trieste in Italy, Sidra, Marsa Brega in Libya.

Numerous industrial enterprises have been set up on the coast of S. m. And on the islands. The chemical and metallurgical industries developed on raw materials delivered by sea. In 1960–75, the islands of Sardinia and Sicily in Italy, the mouth of the Rhone in France, and others became major centers of the chemical industry. Oil and gas production began on the North Sea shelf (the northern part of the Adriatic Sea, the coast of Greece, etc.).

Fishing in the North Sea is of secondary importance in comparison with other basins of the Atlantic around. The industrialization of the coast, the growth of cities, the development of recreational areas lead to intense pollution of the coastal strip. The resorts of the Cote d'Azur (Riviera) in France and Italy, the resorts of the Levantine coast and the Balearic Islands in Spain, etc. are widely known.

The Mediterranean Sea is considered intercontinental. It washes Europe, Africa, Asia and is connected with the Atlantic Ocean through the Strait of Gibraltar (length 65 km, minimum width 14 km). The area of the water surface 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 town of Pylos in southern Greece. The volume of water is 3.84 million cubic meters. km.

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

Taking into account its shape, the inter-continental reservoir is divided into 2 pools. West from Gibraltar to Sicily, and east from Silicia to the coast of Syria. The minimum width of sea waters is 130 km and lies 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 Sea basin includes such seas as Marmara, Black and Azov. Communication with them is carried out through the straits of the Dardanelles and the Bosphorus. Through the Suez Canal, a huge reservoir is connected with the Red Sea and the Indian Ocean.

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

Mediterranean coast

Geography

Country

The waters of a huge reservoir are washed by countries in which peoples with completely different cultures and mentality live.

On the European coast there are countries such as Spain (population 47.3 million), France (66 million), Italy (61.5 million), Monaco (36 thousand), Malta (453 thousand) ), 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), Turkish East Thrace (7.8 million).

The following states are located on the African coast: Egypt (82.3 million), Libya (5.6 million), Tunisia (10.8 million), Algeria (38 million), 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), the Sinai Peninsula of Egypt (520 thousand people).

Seas

The huge reservoir has its own seas. Their names and boundaries were formed historically many centuries ago. Consider them from west to east.

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

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

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

Tyrrhenian sea splashing off the west coast of Italy. Limited to islands such as Corsica, Sardinia and Sicily. It is a deep tectonic basin with a depth of 3 thousand meters.

Adriatic Sea lies between the Balkan and Apennine peninsulas. Washes Albania, Montenegro, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Slovenia, 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 south of the Adriatic Sea between the Apennine and Balkan Peninsulas. It washes the shores of Crete, Peloponnese, Sicily. The average depth corresponds to 2 km.

Aegean Sea is located between Asia Minor and the Balkan Peninsula, from the south it is bounded by the island of Crete. It 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 is located between Crete and North Africa. The depth of these waters reaches 2 thousand meters.

Cyprus sea located between Asia Minor and the North African coast. This is the warmest and sunniest part of the Mediterranean. Here the depth reaches 4300 meters. This reservoir is conditionally divided into the Levantine and Cilician Seas.

Mediterranean Sea on the map

The rivers

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

Islands

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

Climate

The climate is strictly specific, Mediterranean. It is characterized by hot and dry summers and mild winters. In winter, there are frequent storms and rains at sea. Local bora and mistral winds prevail. Summer is characterized by clear weather, minimal cloud cover and light precipitation. There are fogs. Sometimes there is a dusty haze, which is carried out from 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, the average temperature in the north is 22-24 degrees Celsius, and in the south, respectively, 26-30 degrees Celsius. The minimum precipitation occurs in August, and the maximum is observed 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, most of the island of Malta will disappear. 200 sq. km in the Nile delta, which will force 500 thousand Egyptians to leave their ancestral lands. Salt levels in the groundwater will rise, which will reduce the amount of drinking water throughout the Mediterranean coastline. In the XXII century, the sea water level may rise by another 30-100 cm. This will cause significant economic, political and natural changes in the Mediterranean.

Ecology

In recent years, there has been an extremely high level of pollution of seawater. According to the UN, 650 million tons of sewage, 129 tons of mineral oils, 6 tons of mercury, 3.8 tons of lead, 36 thousand tons of phosphates were discharged into the Mediterranean Sea annually. Many marine species are on the verge of extinction. This is especially true for white-bellied seals and sea turtles. There is a huge amount of debris at the bottom. Most of the seabed is dotted with it.

Environmental problems hit fisheries. Such fish as bluefin tuna, hake, swordfish, red mullet, 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 the stocks are now extremely low. Over the past 20 years, they have decreased by 80%.

Tourism

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

But large financial flows cannot serve as an excuse for the degradation of the marine and coastal environment. Huge crowds of tourists pollute the Mediterranean coast. The situation is aggravated by the fact that guests from all over the world are concentrated in areas with the highest level of natural resources. All this causes irreparable damage to flora and fauna. Their destruction and destruction will reduce the flow of tourists. Those will begin to look for new places on the planet, where it will again be possible to destroy the unique gifts of nature with impunity.

Mediterranean Sea- the Mediterranean, inter-continental sea of the Atlantic Ocean, connected to it in the west by the Strait of Gibraltar.

The seas of the Mediterranean basin wash the coasts of the states: Montenegro, Croatia, Bosnia, Albania, Bulgaria, Ukraine, Russia, Syria, Lebanon, Libya, Algeria, Morocco.

In the northeast, by the Dardanelles Strait, it connects with the Sea of Marmara and further by the Bosphorus Strait - with the Black Sea, in the southeast by the Suez Canal - with the Red Sea.

The area is 2500 thousand sq. Km.

The average depth is 1541 m, the maximum depth is 5121 m.

The most significant bays: Valencian, Lyons, Genoese, Taranto, Sidra (B. Sirte), Gabes (M. Sirte).

The largest islands are the Balearic Islands, Corsica, Sardinia, Sicily, Crete and Cyprus.

The large rivers Ebro, Rhone, Tiber, Po, Nile and others flow into the Mediterranean Sea; their total annual flow is approx. 430 cubic km

The flora and fauna of the Mediterranean Sea is characterized by a relatively weak quantitative development of phyto- and zooplankton, which entails attributable. the small number of larger animals that feed on them, including fish. The amount of phytoplankton in the surface horizons is only 8-10 mg / m3, at a depth of 1000-2000 m it is 10-20 times less. Algae are very diverse (peridineas and diatoms predominate).

The fauna of the Mediterranean Sea is characterized by a large species diversity, however, the number of representatives of the dep. species is small. There are dolphins, one type of seal (white-bellied seal); sea turtle. There are 550 species of fish (sharks, mackerel, herring, anchovy, mullet, coriphenoid, tuna, bonito, horse mackerel, etc.). About 70 species of endemic fish, including stingrays, anchovy, gobies, pestilence. dogs, wrasse and needlefish. Of the edible molluscs, the most important are oysters, Mediterranean-Black Sea mussels, and sea dates. Invertebrates include octopuses, squids, sepia, crabs, lobster; numerous types of jellyfish, siphonophores; some areas, especially the Aegean Sea, are home to sponges and red coral.

Fishing in the Mediterranean Sea is of secondary importance in comparison with other Atlantic basins. The industrialization of the coast, the growth of cities, the development of recreational areas lead to intense pollution of the coastal strip.

The resorts of the Cote d'Azur (Riviera) in France and Italy, the resorts of the Levantine coast and the Balearic Islands in Spain, etc. are widely known.

Photos of the Mediterranean Sea:

Menton, France