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, uplands 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 the geographical location of the reservoir, which is influenced by the countries surrounding it with climatic conditions suggesting the predominance of high air temperatures. The lack of resources is eliminated by water coming from 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. The movement of water flows is provoked by 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 seabed occupied by Posidonia oceanic. 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 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 treasures are everywhere historical monuments left over from the time Ancient Greece. 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. Major resorts Cyprus are Limassol, Paphos and Ai-Napa.

Italy is a country with a wide choice of resort holidays. 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.

Majority Spanish resorts 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 the country for elite vacation. World-famous stars rest at luxury resorts, but even a budget tourist can relax here without much financial loss. Hotels have a gradation by class, as well as individual resort areas.

famous cities The Côte d'Azur of the 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 all year round thanks 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.

Rest 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 monuments architecture 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.

Türkiye is considered the most visited resort country Mediterranean Sea. Almost every 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. most popular tourist destinations Algeria, Tunisia and Morocco are considered. 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 to the coastline of other Mediterranean capitals of Africa, the city does not lose its popularity among tourists.

Fans of excursions 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 not a large number of passengers, staff fulfills 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 with an ancient and rich history, which allows you to broaden your horizons and visit the most significant places in 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:

(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 through the Red Sea connected with Indian Ocean. 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. On the shelf of the Adriatic and Aegean Seas oil is produced. Major ports: Barcelona (Spain), Marseilles (France), Genoa , Trieste (Italy), Piraeus And Thessaloniki (Greece), Beirut (Lebanon), Alexandria And Port Said (Egypt), Tripoli (Libya), Algeria (Algeria). Famous resorts on the shores: 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 is a row Asian countries– Türkiye, Syria, Lebanon and Israel. Finally, on south coast Egypt, Libya, Tunisia, Algeria and Morocco are located. 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; Cretan Sea between 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.
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 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 one: in the west average temperature surface layer 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 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 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, adriatic coast 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

Majorca Island in the Balearic Islands

The Mediterranean Sea is the only one in the World Ocean, the waters of which wash the shores of three parts of the world - Europe, Asia and Africa. The development of the Mediterranean by man has a 4000-year history.

The greatest civilizations of the world flourished on the shores of the sea: Egyptian, Persian, Phoenician, Assyrian, Greek, Roman. The ancient Romans even called it "Mare nostrum" - "Our Sea". It served as a source of myths about the gods, was and remains the center of art and science, history and philosophy. The Mediterranean region is the most important center for the migration of peoples, trade, the spread of cultures and religions. The sea directly and indirectly feeds the population of coastal states, provides them with work. Therefore, it is clear how important the state of the natural environment of this huge inland reservoir is. Meanwhile, the ecological situation here is increasingly causing concern. No wonder the famous oceanologist Zh.I. Cousteau called the Mediterranean a "garbage dump".

rock of gibraltar

Nature. The Mediterranean Sea goes deep into the land and is one of the most isolated sea basins. Only the Strait of Gibraltar, narrow (up to 15 km wide) and relatively shallow (the smallest depth above the threshold is about 300 m), connects it with the Atlantic Ocean, and through even smaller straits of the Dardanelles and Bosporus (depths above the thresholds 40-50 m), separated Sea of ​​Marmara, it is connected to the Black Sea. Through the Suez Canal, only transport connection between the Red and Mediterranean Seas, natural conditions the last channel is not affected.

The area of ​​the Mediterranean Sea is 2.5 million km2, the volume of water is 3.6 million km3, the average depth is 1440 m, the greatest is 5121 m. In terms of size and depth, this is one of the significant seas of the World Ocean.

The coastline of the sea is very dissected, there are many peninsulas and islands (the most significant are Sicily, Sardinia, Cyprus, Corsica, Crete). The Apennine peninsula and the island of Sicily divide the sea into two large basins: the western and eastern, (subdivided into central and eastern proper). The western part of the sea connects with the eastern shallow Tunisian and narrow Straits of Messina. Each of the basins includes several "sub-basins" called seas. These are Alboran, Ligurian, Tyrrhenian Sea in the western basin; Adriatic, Ionian, Aegean, Levant * - in the central and eastern.

The relief of the seabed is quite dissected. The shelf is narrow, mostly no wider than 40 km. The continental slope is predominantly very steep and incised underwater canyons. The bed of the sea in the western basin is a plain on which seamounts stand out, especially in the Tyrrhenian Sea. Here, Italian geologists recently discovered an active underwater volcano unknown to science. It is located halfway from Naples to Sicily, its summit is 500 m below sea level. In the eastern basin of the sea, a complexly dissected median ridge and a series of deep-water depressions (near ionian islands, south of Crete and Rhodes). One of these depressions has the greatest depth.

The Mediterranean Sea is located in the subtropical zone, it has a special Mediterranean climate: mild winters and hot, dry summers. The air temperature in January varies from 8-10°С in the northern parts of the sea to 14-16°С on the southern coast. In the hottest month - August - the most heat 28-30°C is observed off the east coast.

During the year, north-western and western winds prevail over the sea, only in the south-west in summer - eastern ones. In winter, Atlantic cyclone intrusions are frequent, causing storms. Some coastal areas of the sea are characterized by local winds. Bora is observed on the east "- a cold northeast wind, sometimes reaching hurricane force; in the Gulf of Lion, the mistral blows - a cold, dry north or northeast wind of great strength, which has the same nature. In the Aegean Sea, stable northern winds- etesia. The hot sirocco wind often blows from the African deserts. It carries a large amount of dust, and the air temperature rises to 40 ° C or more. The orography of coastal regions plays an important role in the formation of local winds. Strong local winds affect the hydrological conditions in the sea. They cause water surges in coastal areas and contribute to the development of density (convective) mixing processes.

Stromboli Volcano Island in the Tyrrhenian Sea

What makes up the water balance of the sea? River runoff, correlated with the size of the sea, is small - on average, about 420 km3/year, atmospheric precipitation - 1000 km3/year. The main expenditure part of the balance is evaporation from the sea surface - about 3100 km3/year. This leads to a decrease in sea level and causes a compensatory flow of water from the Atlantic Ocean and the Black Sea. With such a water balance, the renewal time of the waters of the Mediterranean Sea is approximately 80-100 years.

The main water exchange of the sea with the adjacent part of the Atlantic Ocean occurs through the Strait of Gibraltar. The high threshold in the strait isolates the sea from the intrusion of deep Atlantic waters. Water from the ocean enters the sea only in the upper layer 150-180 m thick, and deeper, more salty Mediterranean waters flow into the Atlantic. Desalinated Black Sea waters penetrate into the Mediterranean Sea through the Bosporus and Dardanelles Straits in the surface layer, and in the deep layers, salty and dense water spreads from the Mediterranean Sea to the Black Sea. At the same time, the volume of water exchange through the Strait of Gibraltar is many times higher than in the Black Sea straits.

In the formation of the general circulation of waters in the surface layer of the Mediterranean Sea, such main factors as the nature of the winds, coastal runoff and the slope of the sea level are involved. In addition, the indentation of the coastline and the bottom topography have a noticeable effect. These surface Atlantic waters, entering the sea through the Strait of Gibraltar, move eastward along southern shores in the form of a meandering current. Through the Strait of Tunis, the main current passes into the eastern part of the sea and continues to move along the African coast. Having reached the Levant Sea, the surface current turns north and then west and moves along the coast of Asia Minor. In the Ionian, Adriatic and Aegean seas, closed circulations are formed counterclockwise.

The surface water temperature of the Mediterranean Sea generally rises from the northwest to the southeast. The lowest surface temperature is observed in February - from 9-10°C in the north of the Aegean Sea to 16-17°C in the Levant Sea. In August, it changes from 20-21°C in the Gulf of Lion to 27-28°C (and even higher) in the Levant Sea. With depth, spatial differences in temperature rapidly decrease, at a horizon of 200 m they no longer exceed 4°C. The deep water column is characterized by a very uniform temperature. At the horizon of 1000 m, its values ​​are in the range of 12.9-13.9°C, and in the bottom layer - 12.6-13.4°C. In general, due to the isolation of the sea, the temperature of its deep waters is characterized by high values: at the horizon of 2000 m it is higher than in the ocean by 8-10°C.

Due to the lack of fresh water and strong evaporation from the surface, the Mediterranean Sea is one of the most saline in the oceans. Its salinity exceeds 38‰ almost everywhere, reaching up to 39-39.5‰ near the eastern shores. The average salinity of the sea is about 38‰, while that of the ocean is 35‰.

Important hydrological feature Mediterranean Sea - good ventilation of the bottom layers of water, despite the great depths. This is due to the active propagation of density (convective) mixing, which develops in the winter season when the sea surface cools. The depth of penetration of convection in different areas of the sea is not the same. Its main centers are the northern part of the Algiers-Provencal basin, the Cretan basin of the Aegean Sea (convection depth of 2000 m or more), the Adriatic Sea (more than 1000 m). It is in these areas that the formation of deep Mediterranean waters occurs. In the Tyrrhenian, Ionian and Levantine seas, winter vertical circulation covers a layer up to 200 m, and in other parts of the Mediterranean Sea it is limited to the upper layer, mainly up to 100 m. water column. The concentration of dissolved oxygen in the water column in different water areas varies from 6.6 to 3.3% by volume.

The waters of the Mediterranean Sea are poor in nutrients, since their input from the outside (with river runoff and ocean waters) is small. Therefore, the sea is generally characterized by low biological productivity. The total production of phyto- and zooplankton here is several times lower than in the Black Sea. However, in areas where deep water rises to the surface (for example, in the southern Adriatic), the concentration of biomass is higher and is comparable to the productive regions of the World Ocean.

vegetable and animal world The sea is mainly of Atlantic origin. The fauna is characterized by great species diversity. Fish are represented by 550 species, and about 70 of them are endemic. The catches are dominated by sardine, mackerel, mullet, anchovy, bonito, flounder, tuna and various types of sharks. Of the shellfish, oysters, mussels are common (on the coast of Spain, France, Italy they are specially grown), as well as octopuses and squids. Crustaceans are represented by shrimp, crabs, lobsters. Of the marine mammals, dolphins live in the sea, sea ​​turtles and the monk seal, which is now critically endangered. Life in the sea is unevenly distributed. It is most developed near the coast, especially in the zones of influence of river runoff. With a favorable combination of various factors in the sea, local areas of active fishing are formed.

Economy. The territories of 17 states go to the Mediterranean Sea, including such industrialized countries as France, Italy, Spain, Turkey, Israel, Egypt and others. More than 130 million people permanently live on the coast with a length of about 45 thousand km. Up to 100 million tourists are added to them annually. All this determines the important role of the Mediterranean region in the world economy. The sea serves as the most important transport artery that connects the Mediterranean and Black Sea states with the countries of all continents. The main cargo and Passenger Transportation both coastal and long-distance navigation. A special place in transport links is occupied by the Suez Canal - the shortest route connecting the Mediterranean Sea with the Indian Ocean. The structure of shipping is dominated by oil and oil products, gas, and general cargo.

Oil and gas deposits have been discovered on the shelf of some areas of the sea. Oil and gas potential was revealed off the coast of Spain, France, Italy, Greece and African states. Exploratory drilling is carried out on the shelves of the Adriatic and Aegean Seas, the African coast.

Fishing and harvesting of seafood (mollusks, crustaceans) in the sea is mainly carried out on small vessels in relatively small water areas and is of a local nature. Fishing is carried out mainly in the coastal zone, near the islands, on the banks and in areas of rise to the surface of nutrient-rich deep waters.

The most important economic sector of the Mediterranean is recreation. The coast of the sea is one of the main world regions mass recreation and tourism. The main resort areas are located in the coastal regions of France, Spain, Italy, Greece, Croatia, Turkey, Tunisia.

Seafood at the fish market in Naples

Ecology. The natural features and socio-economic features of the inland Mediterranean Sea, the high degree of its economic development, the high population density on the coasts could not but affect the ecological state of the basin, which causes great concern. Chemical pollution has the most tangible impact on the ecology of the sea.

The largest amount of pollutants enters the Mediterranean Sea from the coast, especially in areas with a high development of production (industry, transport, agriculture), recreation and tourism. It is here that waste from economic activity accumulates most quickly, a significant part of which ends up in the sea in different ways. A serious source of pollution of the marine environment is the runoff of more than 70 large and small rivers that carry industrial and domestic waste from vast areas of watersheds. A significant contribution to the pollution of some coastal areas is made by offshore oil production. During exploratory and production drilling, drilling fluids harmful to organisms enter the water. During the operation of wells, accidents at drilling rigs and, as a result, oil spills on the sea surface are not uncommon. Tanker transportation of oil and oil products also significantly pollute the marine environment. According to available data, from 500 thousand to 1 million tons of oil and oil products enter the sea annually.

As evidenced by World Organization health (WHO), in the early 90s, the following amounts of the main types of pollutants (in tons) annually entered the Mediterranean Sea from various sources on the coast: organic substances - 12 million, phosphorus compounds - 320 thousand, nitrogen - 800 thousand, mercury - 100, lead - 3800, chromium - 2400, zinc - 21, phenols - 12, synthetic detergents - 60, organochlorine pesticides - 90 thousand.

The overall level of pollution in the Mediterranean Sea is high, although it varies in different areas. In open waters, the water is still quite clean, and coastal areas are most polluted, in particular in the vicinity of river mouths. A typical example is the coastal area near the mouth of the Tiber, where the river takes out the waste of three million Rome and where the number of pathogenic bacteria exceeds the permissible norm by an average of 200 times. With the waters of the Po River, thousands of tons of various pollutants enter the Adriatic every year.

Near major cities local pollution zones are formed associated with the discharge of untreated municipal wastewater and industrial waste into the sea. A chronically high level of pollution is noted in the bays of Eleusis (Greece), Izmir, Tunis and in the Alexandria region. The amount of harmful impurities entering the sea in these areas is such that self-purification does not occur in sea water, impurities remain and accumulate in it. Vast water areas are polluted with oil. It occurs in the sea in the form of thin surface films, oil lumps and clots. Thus, significant concentrations of oil clots were found in the Ionian Sea and between Libya and Sicily.

Sea pollution and other types of anthropogenic impact are unfavorable, and sometimes have a detrimental effect on living organisms. For example, severe pollution of the Adriatic has led to the death of many of its inhabitants. Significant environmental damage is caused by fishing in excess of permissible norms; as a result, catches of valuable fish species are declining.

It cannot be said that society is indifferently watching the negative phenomena taking place in the Mediterranean ecosystem. The Mediterranean Sea is one of the regions of the World Ocean, in which international cooperation is actively developing to study and protect the natural environment, restore and preserve natural ecological state. Since the 1970s, several international programs have been implemented with the participation of the UN and UNEP, covering all the main environmental problems of the Mediterranean region. Among them, the "Blue Plan" of action in the region, adopted more than 100 years ago, includes a program of long-term scientific research and monitoring, taking into account socio-economic aspects, and the development of a set of measures to protect the environment. Almost all Mediterranean countries cooperate in these international initiatives and intergovernmental agreements. Currently, at least 14 states are implementing national marine monitoring programs within UNEP. The results of the work and further plans are regularly discussed at representative meetings and forums. The last international conference devoted to the oceanographic problems of the eastern Mediterranean and the Black Sea was held in Athens in February 1999. Scientists from Russia, including Moscow State University, took part in it.

Piazza San Marco flooded during a severe storm surge

Venice needs protection. This fabulous city, as if soaring ghostly over the greenish waters of the lagoon, with unique palaces, squares, canals, is endangered. There is a real threat of loss of the priceless historical heritage of mankind.

The main trouble of Venice is acque alt - "high waters"; abnormally high storm surges, in which sea water floods parts of the city, including the famous Piazza San Marco. Storm surges in Venice are created under a certain combination of hydrometeorological conditions, which in itself is an interesting natural phenomenon. Its main components are surging southerly winds (sirocco), local decreases in atmospheric pressure (baric depressions), as well as astronomical tides and seiche level fluctuations. With the simultaneous maximum development of these factors, the water in the Venetian Lagoon can theoretically rise by 2.5 m, which is 1.8 m higher than the level of Piazza San Marco. Fortunately, this has not yet been observed, but on November 4, 1966, the water level rose to a mark of 1.94 m. On this day, Piazza San Marco was under a layer of water about 1 m thick. up to 15% of the area of ​​the city, and when it rises by 1.3 m, the water covers up to 60% of the area of ​​Venice.

Storm surges have always been observed in Venice. The usual cases of "high waters" occur up to 50 times during the winter, very high surges exceeding 1.3 m occurred about 20 times in the 20th century. However, since the 1960s, the frequency and height of surges have increased, prompting scientists to intensify research into this dangerous phenomenon.

Scientific work has shown that the progressive rise in the water level in Venice can be due to two main reasons: the general rise in the level of the ocean and the lowering of the earth's surface within the city. As a result of slow fluctuations, the level of the ocean has risen by 9 cm since the beginning of the century, that is, a little. According to estimates, the main reason for the acceleration of the sinking of the earth's surface in the Venice area is the pumping of groundwater for technical needs, which began in the 1950s. Since the 70s, the pumping of water has been stopped, but nevertheless, since the beginning of the 20th century, Venice has irreversibly dropped by 30 cm! The combined effects of anomalous ground subsidence and eustatic sea level rise fully explain the increase in surges and the increased impact of "high waters" on the city.

Bay of Naples

To prevent floods in Venice, various options are being considered: the construction of barriers against surges, the weakening of their magnitude or the rise of the city. Raising flooded areas of the city (at least the area of ​​St. Mark's Square) by at least 40 cm in order to protect against the most frequent surges is technically very difficult, risky and expensive. This was shown by an experiment on pumping silt and cement into the soil.

Surge attenuation is possible by narrowing the passages to the Venetian lagoon, which was confirmed by the modeling. However, in this case, the water exchange will be completely insufficient to ensure a favorable ecological state of the lagoon, and it is already heavily polluted. Here it is appropriate to recall the not entirely successful partial blocking of the Neva Bay, undertaken to ensure the protection of St. Petersburg from floods.

A project has also been developed to temporarily block passages to the lagoon during the development of dangerous storm surges. It provides for the construction of movable transverse gates at the bottom of each passage, allowing the lagoon to be closed in case of abnormal "high waters". At the same time, a storm warning must be received at least 12 hours before the surge.

Discussion of various projects did not lead to a final decision. During its development, the main goal is to provide a favorable ecological situation in the Venetian lagoon, which has not yet been studied enough. As can be seen from the publications, the idea of ​​building a dam in the lagoon has not yet been supported. Preference is given to other measures: raising, where possible, the land level, as well as more effective cleaning of the channels.

The total area of ​​the sea is about 2500 thousand square meters. km, the greatest depth is 5121 m, and the average depth is about one and a half thousand m. The total volume of the waters of the Mediterranean Sea is about 3839 thousand cubic meters. Since the Mediterranean Sea has a large area, the temperature of the water on its surface varies in different areas. So, on the southern coast in January it is 14-16 degrees Celsius, and on the northern 7-10, and in August 25-30 in the south and 22-24 in the north. The climate in the Mediterranean Sea is influenced by its position: the subtropical zone, but there are also a number of features due to which the climate is distinguished into a separate category: the Mediterranean. His characteristic features is that summers are dry and hot, and winters are very mild.

The flora and fauna of the Mediterranean Sea is largely due to the fact that the waters contain a relatively small amount of plankton, which is vital for populations of marine life. Therefore, the total number of fish and larger representatives of the Mediterranean fauna is relatively small. In general, the fauna of the Mediterranean Sea is distinguished by the fact that a large number of different animal species live here, but there are very few representatives of each species. The fauna is also very diverse, a variety of algae grow.

Mediterranean Sea - the cradle of mankind

In ancient times, many human civilizations developed on the various shores of the Mediterranean Sea, and the sea itself was a convenient way of communication between them. Therefore, the ancient writer Guy Julius Solin called it the Mediterranean, it is believed that this is the first mention of the current name of the sea. Even today, the Mediterranean Sea has shores whose territories belong to 22 states located on the continents of Europe, Asia and Africa.

People have settled on the shores of the Mediterranean since ancient times. Coastal territories have become the cradle for a number of civilizations, unique cultures originated on the shores of the Mediterranean Sea. Today, the coast also has a significant level of population, as well as a developed coastal economy. The economic use of the sea by countries on its northern side has the greatest economic development. Extensive agriculture: cultivation of cotton, citrus, oilseeds. Fishing in the Mediterranean is not as developed as in other seas, which are also basins of the Atlantic Ocean. The low level of fishing is associated with a large number of industrial enterprises on the coasts of the sea, due to which the ecological situation is deteriorating. On the Mediterranean coast are the most famous and very popular resorts, in the territories of all countries that have access to this sea.

An interesting feature of the Mediterranean Sea is the constant observation by various people of mirages (also called fata morgana) in the Strait of Messina.

Among other things, the Mediterranean Sea is a kind of transport artery of the region. It is through its waters that the most important trade routes between Europe and Asia, Africa, Australia and Oceania pass. Since the Western European states are economically more and more dependent on imported raw materials, the delivery of which is carried out mainly by sea, the importance of the Mediterranean waters as a transport route is increasing. The Mediterranean Sea plays a particularly significant role in the transportation of oil cargo.