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

It divides 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. From the east to the sea there are a number of Asian countries - Turkey, Syria, Lebanon and Israel. Finally, Egypt, Libya, Tunisia, Algeria and Morocco are located on the south coast. Square mediterranean sea 2.5 million sq. km, and, since only narrow straits connect it with other bodies of water, 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 access to the Atlantic Ocean. In the northeast, the Dardanelles, narrowing in places to 1.3 km, connects it with the Sea of ​​Marmara and through the Bosporus with the Black Sea. In the southeast, an artificial structure - the Suez Canal - connects the Mediterranean Sea with the Red. 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, the French, the Turks and the Russians. The Romans of Roman times referred to the Mediterranean as mare nostrum ("our sea").

Coastline mediterranean sea it is strongly indented, and numerous protrusions of the land divide 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; the Cretan Sea between the island of Crete and peninsular Greece; Aegean Sea between Turkey and Greece. A number of large bays also stand out, for example, Alicante - at east coast Spain; Lyon - off the southern coast of France; Taranto - between the two southern ledges 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 - off the southeastern and northeastern coasts of Tunisia, respectively.

Contemporary is a relic of the ancient Tethys ocean, which was much wider and stretched far to the east. 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 region of the Strait of Gibraltar, there was an isthmus. 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, the western and eastern depressions are distinguished. The border between them is drawn through the Calabrian ledge of the Apennine Peninsula, Sicily and the underwater bank Adventure (up to 400 m deep), stretched almost 150 km from Sicily to Cape Bon in Tunisia. Within both basins, even smaller ones are isolated, usually bearing the names of the corresponding seas, for example, the Aegean, Adriatic, etc. The water in the western basin is slightly colder and fresher than in the eastern one: 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 most stormy areas mediterranean sea is the Gulf of Lyon. The salinity of the sea varies widely, since less salty water comes from the Atlantic Ocean through the Strait of Gibraltar.

tides here they are low, but quite significant in very narrow straits and bays, especially during the full moon. However, rather strong currents are observed in the straits, directed both into the Mediterranean Sea and out of it. Evaporation is higher than in the Atlantic Ocean or the Black Sea, so surface currents arise in the straits, carrying more fresh water to the Mediterranean. At a depth below these surface currents, countercurrents occur, but they do not compensate for the influx of water near 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, which occupy a large area. Depths mediterranean sea very different: the highest mark - 5121 m - was recorded in the Hellenic 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 mediterranean sea in some places, significant sections of dissected relief rise, the peaks 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 a 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 north of Sicily, Stromboli and Lipari. Within the Eastern Mediterranean Basin is the island of Malta (south of Sicily), and further to the east - Crete and Cyprus. Small islands are numerous in the Ionian, Cretan and Aegean seas; among them stand out the Ionian - west of mainland Greece, the Cyclades - east of the Peloponnese and Rhodes - off the southwestern coast of Turkey.

Major rivers flow into the Mediterranean Sea: Ebro (in Spain); Rhone (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. The rivers Vardar (in Greece and Macedonia), Struma or Strymon, and Mesta or Nestos (in Bulgaria and Greece) belong to the Aegean Sea basin. The largest river in the Mediterranean basin, the Nile, is the only major river flowing into this sea from the south.

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

The Mediterranean is also famous for the attractiveness of its landscapes. Particularly picturesque are the French and Italian Riviera, the environs of Naples, the Adriatic coast of Croatia with numerous islands, the shores of Greece and Lebanon, where the steep slopes of the mountains approach the sea itself. Important trade routes passed through the main islands of the eastern Mediterranean and culture spread - 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.

Flora and fauna mediterranean sea is characterized by a relatively weak quantitative development of phyto- and zooplankton, which entails a correlation. the paucity of larger animals that feed on them, including fish. The amount of phytoplankton in the surface horizons is only 8-10 mg/m?, at a depth of 1000-2000 m it is 10-20 times less. Algae are very diverse (peridine and diatoms predominate).

Fauna mediterranean sea characterized by high species diversity, but the number of representatives of the sep. species are small. There are kaki, one species of seals (white-bellied seal); sea ​​turtle. 550 species of fish (sharks, mackerels, herrings, anchovies, mullets, dolphins, tunas, bonitos, horse mackerels, etc.). About 70 species of endemic fish, including stingrays, anchovy species, gobies, sea. blenny, wrasse and needlefish. Of the edible mollusks, the most important are the oyster, the Mediterranean-Black Sea mussel, and the sea date. Of the invertebrates, octopuses, squids, sepia, crabs, spiny lobsters are common; numerous species of jellyfish, siphonophore; sponges and red coral live in some areas, especially in the Aegean.

Coastal countries of the Mediterranean Sea:

• 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

(Mage Internum) . And only at the beginning of VII V. the name Mediterranean Sea appears (Mare Mediterraneum) which received universal recognition. Now it is transmitted to all languages ​​​​by semantic translation: English mediterranean Sea, ital. 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. 2001 .

MEDITERRANEAN SEA

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) connects to the ocean through the Dardanelles (length 120 km, width 1.3-27 km, depth 29-153 m). Sea of ​​Marmara (depth up to 1273 m) and the Bosphorus - with the Black Sea, through the Suez Canal - with the Red Sea. The greatest depth is 5121 m. In the sowing. parts distinguish isolated islands and peninsulas of the sea: Alboran, Balearic, Liguriai, 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, Ebro flow into. In winter, water is 12-17 ° C, in summer - from 19 to 27-30 "S. Salinity from 36 ppm. Fishing for tuna, mackerel, mackerel, oil production on the shelf, the most important sea routes, resorts.

Brief geographical dictionary. EdwART. 2008 .

Mediterranean Sea

(Mediterranean Sea), shares Europe, Asia And Africa. Pl. 2505 thousand km², avg. depth 1438 m, max. 5121 m. According to some geol. theories, the remnant of the ancient ocean Tethys. Connected to the Atlantic Ocean through Gibraltar Strait. , across the Dardanelles with the Marmara and Black Seas. With the opening Suez Canal connected to the Indian Ocean through the Red Sea. Ancient civilizations (Egyptian, Hellenic, Roman, etc.) arose on the banks of the S. m. In ancient times, S. m. was called Int., the Great Sea, and even the ocean. The following seas are distinguished within the northern sea: Adriatic, Balearic, Ionian, Ligurian, Tyrrhenian, Aegean. The Sea of ​​Sirte, or the Libyan Sea (bays Gabes And Sidra ), the Levantine Sea (to the east of the Crete-African Strait), and the Phoenician Sea (extreme east. h.). Sometimes bass. S. m. include Azov, Marble and Black Sea. The water temperature on the surface is from 8–17 °С (in winter) to 19–30 °С (in summer). Because of the high evaporation, the salinity is increased, from 36‰ in the west to 39.5‰ in the east. The tides are semi-diurnal, up to 0.5 m. The continental shallows are narrow, the slopes are steep, cut by canyons. Many islands, the largest: Balearic, Corsica , Sardinia , Sicily , Cyprus , Crete . high seismicity. Numerous rivers flow, the largest are: Rhone , Nile , By . The court is developed, the most important ways connect Europe, Africa and the countries of the South. and Vost. Asia. Fish (sardines, mackerel, tuna, mackerel, etc.), collection of sponges. Oil is produced on the shelf of the Adriatic and Aegean seas. Major ports: Barcelona (Spain), Marseilles (France), Genoa , Trieste (Italy), Piraeus And Thessaloniki (Greece), Beirut (Lebanon), Alexandria And 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. and household waste.

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

Mediterranean Sea

one of the largest seas. The adjective "Mediterranean" is widely used in describing peoples, countries, climate, vegetation; for many, the concept of "Mediterranean" is associated with a particular way of life or with a whole period in the history of mankind.
The Mediterranean Sea separates Europe, Africa and Asia, but it also closely linked 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. From the east to the sea there are a number of Asian countries - Turkey, Syria, Lebanon and Israel. Finally, Egypt, Libya, Tunisia, Algeria and Morocco are located on the south coast. The area of ​​the Mediterranean Sea is 2.5 million square meters. km, and, since only narrow straits connect it with other bodies of water, 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 access to the Atlantic Ocean. In the northeast, the Dardanelles, narrowing in places to 1.3 km, connects it with the Sea of ​​Marmara and through the Bosporus with the Black Sea. In the southeast, an artificial structure - the Suez Canal - connects the Mediterranean Sea with the Red. 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, the French, the Turks and the Russians. Romans during the Roman Empire called the Mediterranean Sea mare nostrum ("our sea").
The coastline of the Mediterranean Sea is heavily indented, and numerous ledges of land divide 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; the Cretan Sea between the island of Crete and peninsular Greece; Aegean Sea between Turkey and Greece. There are also a number of large bays, such as Alicante - off the east coast of Spain; Lyon - off the southern coast of France; Taranto - between the two southern ledges 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 - off the southeastern and northeastern coasts of Tunisia, respectively.
The modern Mediterranean Sea is a relic of the ancient Tethys Ocean, which was much wider and stretched far to the east. 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 region of the Strait of Gibraltar, there was an isthmus. 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, the western and eastern depressions are distinguished. The border between them is drawn through the Calabrian ledge of the Apennine Peninsula, Sicily and the underwater bank Adventure (up to 400 m deep), stretched almost 150 km from Sicily to Cape Bon in Tunisia. Within both basins, even smaller ones are isolated, usually bearing the names of the corresponding seas, for example, the Aegean, Adriatic, etc. The water in the western basin is slightly colder and fresher than in the eastern one: 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 parts of the Mediterranean Sea is the Gulf of Lion. The salinity of the sea varies widely, since less salty water comes from the Atlantic Ocean through the Strait of Gibraltar.
The tides here are not high, but quite significant in very narrow straits and bays, especially during the full moon. However, rather strong currents are observed in the straits, directed both into the Mediterranean Sea and out of it. 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 a depth below these surface currents, countercurrents occur, but they do not compensate for the influx of water near 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 deposits, which occupy a large area. The depths of the Mediterranean Sea are very different: the highest mark - 5121 m - was recorded in the Hellenic deep 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 surface of the bottom of the Mediterranean Sea, in places, significant areas of dissected relief rise, the peaks 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 a 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 north of Sicily, Stromboli and Lipari. Within the Eastern Mediterranean Basin is the island of Malta (south of Sicily), and further to the east - Crete and Cyprus. Small islands are numerous in the Ionian, Cretan and Aegean seas; among them stand out the Ionian - west of mainland Greece, the Cyclades - east of the Peloponnese and Rhodes - off the southwestern coast of Turkey.
Major rivers flow into the Mediterranean Sea: the Ebro (in Spain); Rhone (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. The rivers Vardar (in Greece and Macedonia), Struma or Strymon, and Mesta or Nestos (in Bulgaria and Greece) belong to the Aegean Sea basin. 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 calmness and beauty, but, like other seas, it can be rough in certain seasons, and then big waves crash on the coast. The Mediterranean has long attracted people with its favorable climate. The term "Mediterranean" itself is used to refer to a climate with long hot, clear and dry summers and short cool and wet winters. Many coastal regions of the Mediterranean Sea, especially the southern and eastern ones, are characterized by semi-arid and arid climate features. In particular, semiaridity with an abundance of clear sunny days is considered typical of the Mediterranean climate. However, there are many cold days in winter when damp cold winds bring rain, drizzle and sometimes snow.
The Mediterranean is also famous for the attractiveness of its landscapes. Particularly picturesque are the French and Italian Riviera, the environs of Naples, the Adriatic coast of Croatia with numerous islands, the shores of Greece and Lebanon, where the steep slopes of the mountains approach the sea itself. Important trade routes passed through the main islands of the eastern Mediterranean and culture spread - 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… Geography Dictionary

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

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

Atlantic ca. between Eurasia and Africa. Connected by the Gibraltar Strait. with the Atlantic Ocean, across the Strait. Dardanelles, Marble m. and Prol. Bosphorus with Black m., Suez Canal with Red m. 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 Handbook

Mediterranean Sea surrounded on all sides by land. One glance at the map is enough to agree with such a judgment. This was also known ancient Greek scientists.

• Countries and islands
• Countries
• Islands
• Eastern Mediterranean

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Features of geographical location and climate

mediterranean sea named for a reason, from all sides it touches with continents.

Nowhere else in the world has one been found large indoor pool, which is connected to the ocean only by a tiny, for such a scale, jumper - Strait of Gibraltar.

Sea in your own way geographic location located between: Asia, Europe, Africa.

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

It is connected by canals and straits with black, red And Seas of Marmara.

Concerning bottom topography, then he has all typical for the sea peculiarities:

continental slope carved by canyons;

shelf narrow.

Part Mediterranean Sea includes inland seas:

• Aegean;
• Alboran;
• Adriatic;

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

• Balearic;
• Ionian;
• Ligurian;
• Tyrrhenian.

in winter the weather is very changeable, regularly storms happen, and pass heavy rainfall. The temperature drops significantly due to the influence northern winds.

In summer observed here dry fog and not a large number of precipitation.

Tourists come en masse to these places closer to the middle of summer. By July the reservoir warms up +27 degrees.

Countries and islands

to the mediterranean includes vast territories of countries and islands. We give examples of some of them below.

Countries

• Turkey. There are resorts that are very fond of Russian tourists. Most of the attendants are talking in Russian, which simplifies the rest in a foreign country for our tourists. There are many excellent beaches, inexpensive hotels and one of the best in the world kitchens. The reservoir washes the following major Turkish cities - Mersin, Istanbul, Antalya And Izmir.
• Italy. It is located in the western Mediterranean. People come here to eat delicious pizza And spaghetti and also enjoy warm sun. Resort towns are Rome, Sicily And Milan.

Italy is a great place to relax not only in summer but also in winter. Read about the winter resorts of this country here

• Spain. Ibiza, Barcelona And Majorca- these are exactly the settlements that travelers come to who want to have fun and have a good time. Especially it concerns youth loving noisy parties.
• Croatia. A country attractive for tourists, first of all, rapidly gaining momentum yachting. To do this, the state allocates multi-million investment.
• Montenegro. Especially worth a look at the beach Ada Bojana. Here the purest sand, which can only be found throughout Adriatic. In addition, tourism is actively developing here among nudists.
• Albania. chic kitchen, beautiful landscapes- this is how local resorts are characterized.

In ancient times, it was believed that the Mediterranean Sea is located in the center of the world. Roman natives called him by inland sea, since all its shores were conquered by them.

• Morocco. Here intersect European And Islamic traditions and cultures. This fact attracts tourists. According to statistics, people also come here to see cultural attractions. Particularly popular Casablanca.
• Tunisia. ancient museums, mysterious artifacts, monuments architectures that are memorable markets- at local resorts which are not found miracles.

Islands

Also in the Mediterranean a bunch of big and small islands interesting for travelers. Among them stand out:

• Djerba. Located in the north Africa. Translated from ancient Arabic as "wheat town". The island is mentioned in the famous "Odyssey" Homer. pink flamingos, ancient synagogue, fireballs, local delicious rice- this is simply not to be missed if you find yourself on Djerba.
• Sardinia. Located next to Dagger And Sicily. Archaeologists constantly find various tombs And ziggurats. These are the main attractions of the island.
• Vulcano. Tourists come here to see the numerous volcanic craters.

Scientists have found that because of the catastrophic floods, which occurred 5.3 million years ago, just filling has occurred Mediterranean Sea. For two years such a large water basin was formed!

Eastern Mediterranean

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

Syria;

Palestine;

Cyprus;

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

Lebanon;

Jordan.

Israel;

Pros and cons of holidays in the Mediterranean

On the Mediterranean ideal holiday in september. At this time already the heat subsides while the water stays warm. An additional plus is that the reservoir contains a large amount useful salts And No dangerous poisonous plants And animals.

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

In the resorts of the Mediterranean is very developed resort medical infrastructure. Therefore, people suffering diseases of various origins can easily find a place for recreation and recreation.

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

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

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

The area of ​​the Mediterranean basin is about 3 million km2. The length of the reservoir from west to east is about 3800 km, and from north to south - about 1700 km. The total amount of water resources of the sea is more than 3800 km3.

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

The first travelers who mastered the movement by sea are considered to be the inhabitants of ancient egypt. Already in 3000 BC. the Mediterranean basin was used to transport trade goods, people and livestock. In addition to the Egyptians, the Phoenicians, Greeks and Romans used sea communication.

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

countries bordering the mediterranean sea

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

Seas

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

The seas of the Mediterranean region are:

Rivers

Many rivers flow into the Mediterranean Sea.

The most voluminous of them:

Islands

As in any other, in the Mediterranean Sea there is a huge number of islands, different in size and location. Some of them are separate states. The archipelagos, which include several islands, are among the countries that are washed by the waters of the Mediterranean Sea.

Most populous islands:

Depth of the Mediterranean

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

Geological structure and bottom topography

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

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

Among the largest bays in the Mediterranean are:

1. Genoese.
2. Gabes.
3. Sidra.
4. Lyons.
5. Taranto.
6. Valensky.

Hydrological regime

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

The reason for this is geographical location body of water, which is influenced by the countries surrounding it with climatic conditions, suggesting the predominance of high air temperatures. The shortage of resources is eliminated by water coming from the Atlantic Ocean.

Salinity of the Mediterranean Sea

The Mediterranean Sea is considered quite warm. The temperature of sea water is regulated by salinity and density parameters. that increase during evaporation. Movement water streams provoke winds. In the straits, water flows faster - up to 2-4 km / h, while the speed of the flow of free sections is about 1 km / h.

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

Vegetable world

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

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

Animal world

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

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

In the reservoir live:

Mediterranean fish

Spring and summer are considered the spawning period for fish. At this time, they stay dispersed, not gathering in large shoals. However, already in winter you can find large concentrations of underwater inhabitants of various varieties.

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

Among them:

• mullet;
• laurel;
• sea ​​bream;
• garfish;
• zuban;
• silago;
• palamida;
• marmir;
• spitz;
• grouper;
• aras;
• saragus;
• bluefish.

Dangerous inhabitants of the Mediterranean

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

Tourism in the Mediterranean

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

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

The following types of recreation are available to travelers:

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

Major European resorts

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

However, the largest holiday regions are:

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

The tourist infrastructure in the country is very developed, so each resort provides top-level service. In addition to relaxing on the beach and excursion tours, travelers are offered diving, visiting wineries and cheese dairies.

Cities worth visiting in Greece:

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

Italy is a country with a wide choice resort holiday. The north of the state is known for its sights and a huge excursion program. A warm welcome awaits tourists in the south local residents, the opportunity to relax on the beach and enjoy the world famous national cuisine. An unforgettable vacation will be presented by the Italian islands of Sicily, Capri and Sardinia.

In Italy, it is worth visiting such cities as:

Spain is considered by many travelers exotic country because it is different from most European states.

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

• Ibiza;
• Tenerife;
• Majorca;
• Minorca.

However, there are plenty of places to stay on the mainland. Barcelona will surprise with Catalan flavor and open the world of Gaudí architecture, and Valencia will show the tourist the homeland of Don Quixote. Travelers will love the Costa Brava, Costa del Sol and the resort of San Sebastian.

France is called a country for elite holidays. World-famous stars rest at luxury resorts, but even a budget tourist can relax here without much financial damage. Hotels have a gradation by class, as well as individual resort areas.

famous cities Cote d'Azur Mediterranean Sea are:

Despite the higher cost of a European vacation, the price pays off thanks to the high quality of service, excellent cuisine and a varied leisure program.

During the holidays, it is worth remembering that in many resort countries of the Mediterranean during lunch, all establishments are closed for a siesta. This happens from about 13:00 to 17:00.

Attractive Asian coast

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

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

Holidays in Israel will provide resort towns:

• Haifa;
• Sironite;
• Herzliya;
• Dado;
• Bat Yam.

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

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

Turkey is considered the most visited resort country in the Mediterranean. Almost everyone coastal city has the status of a resort. Service, level of hotels and quality of rest amaze even the most severe critics. The Turkish coast is predominantly sandy, pebble beaches are less common.

As an excursion program, tourists are offered:

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

The best Turkish resorts:

1. Side.
2. Alanya.
3. Kemer.
4. Belek.
5. Antalya.

Popular African cities

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

Despite the fact that the beaches of Algiers are somewhat inferior coastline other Mediterranean capitals of Africa, the city does not lose its popularity among tourists.

Tourists will appreciate visits to the ruins of Byzantine, Phoenician and Roman structures. Travelers who prefer leisure, Sahara tours on jeeps or camels are suitable. Holidays by the sea can be spent on Cape Sidi Frej and the Turquoise Coast.

Tangier is considered one of the main resort points of Morocco. The city is attractive because it is washed by the Mediterranean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean at the same time.

In Tangier, you can not only relax by the water, but also see the famous oriental bazaars, colonial architecture and picturesque gardens with half a century old trees. In El Hoceim and Saidia, tourists will enjoy the originality of Moroccan culture and will be able to spend a measured vacation.

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

Mediterranean cruises

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

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

1. Standard- low prices, a huge selection of services and entertainment, cabins without windows.
2. Premium- luxurious interiors, high level of service, gourmet cuisine, rooms with a porthole.
3. Suite- liners are designed for a small number of passengers, the staff meets any requirements of customers, cabins with a balcony.

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

The liner makes sea traffic in the evening or at night, so tourists are offered a wide range of entertainment:

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

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

Cruise ships usually depart from European ports:

• Civitavecchia;
• Trieste;
• Savona.

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

Travel by sea is carried out on ships:

• Royal Princess;
• Pacific Princess;
• Queen Vicroria;
• Costa.

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

to the stop program cruise liners includes the ports of the following cities:

1. Italy:

2. Spain:

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

3. France:

• Ajaccio;
• Marseilles;
• Toulon.

4. Greece:

• Santorini;
• Corfu;
• Katakolon;
• Piraeus.

5. Croatia:

• Split;
• Dubrovnik.

6. Malta - Valletta.

7. Montenegro - Kotor.

8. Portugal - Lisbon.

9. Cyprus - Limassol.

10. Morocco - Casablanca.

11. Monaco - Monte Carlo.

The countries washed by the Mediterranean Sea allow you to know their culture and history, in addition, providing comfortable rest under the sun. A variety of Mediterranean resorts will help you choose a vacation spot for every taste and income.

Article formatting: Mila Fridan

Video about the Mediterranean Sea

TOP 10 most dangerous inhabitants of the Mediterranean Sea:

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, the greatest depth is 5121 m.

The complex outlines of the 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 subdivision 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. Through the shallow Strait of Tunis (Sicilian) and the narrow Strait of Messina, the western basin of the sea is connected to the eastern one, which in turn is subdivided into the central and the eastern ones proper. In the northern part of the central basin is the Adriatic Sea, which communicates through the Strait of Otranto with the Ionian Sea, which occupies the central part of the basin. In its southern part there are the bays of Greater and Lesser Sirte. The Strait of Crete and Africa connects the central basin of the sea with the eastern one, often called the Levant Sea. In the northern part of the eastern basin lies the island-rich Aegean Sea.

Turkish port of Alanya in the Mediterranean

Relief north coast the seas are complex and varied. The shores of the Iberian Peninsula are high, abrasive, and the massifs of the Andalusian and Iberian mountains approach the sea. Along the Gulf of Lion, west of the Rhone delta, there are swampy lowlands with numerous lagoons. To the east of the Rhone, the spurs of the Alps approach the sea, forming coasts with rocky capes and small bays. 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 give way to low-lying sandy shores, the landscape of which is typical of 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 high pressure are located. In the west there is a spur of the Azores anticyclone, in the north - spurs of the European maximum. Over North Africa, the pressure is also increased. Along the frontal zone, intensive formation of cyclones occurs.

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

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

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

Some areas of the sea are characterized by different local winds. In the eastern regions, steady northern winds (etesias) are observed in the summer season. In the area of ​​the Gulf of Lion, the mistral is often repeated - a cold, dry north or northwest wind of great strength. The eastern coast of the Adriatic Sea is characterized by bora - a cold, dry northeast wind, sometimes reaching the strength of a hurricane. The warm southerly wind from the deserts of Africa is known as 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°) near the eastern shores of the Levant Sea. In most of the Mediterranean Sea, the average annual change in air temperature is relatively small (less than 15 °), which is a sign of a maritime climate.

The amount of precipitation over the sea decreases in the direction from 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 parts of the northeastern coast of the Adriatic Sea are diurnal tides observed. 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-water depressions. These depressions stretch from the Ionian Islands, south of the islands Crete and Rhodes. In one of these depressions is the greatest depth of the Mediterranean Sea.

currents

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

Through the Strait of Tunis, Atlantic waters enter the central and eastern basins of the sea. Their main 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 from 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, the difference in the levels of neighboring seas, and 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 Bosphorus Strait. Desalinated, much less dense Black Sea waters flow into the Aegean Sea with a surface current. Throughout the straits there is a sharp vertical density stratification of water layers.

The boundary of multidirectional flows rises from north to south from 40 m at the entrance to the 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.

The inflow of Black Sea waters into the Mediterranean Sea is approximately two orders of magnitude smaller 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 off the northern coast of the Adriatic, it even drops 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 northern and southern regions sea ​​reaches l‰ in the west and decreases to 0.2‰ in the Levant Sea. However, some coastal areas in the north 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. The magnitude of seasonal changes in 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 intense cooling and the development of convection, the surface water mixes with the transformed Levantine water entering the sea and the deep Adriatic water mass is formed. Deep water fills the basins of the Adriatic Sea and is characterized by uniform characteristics: 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 Sea was its southeastern part, which was influenced by the flow 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.