Which countries are located on the shores of the Mediterranean. Voskresensky V.Yu. International tourism. Human settlement in a Mediterranean climate

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

It divides Europe, Africa and Asia, but it also closely linked South Europe, North Africa and Western Asia. The length of this sea from west to east is approx. 3700 km, and from north to south (at the widest point) - approx. 1600 km. On the north coast are Spain, France, Italy, Slovenia, Croatia, Yugoslavia, Albania and Greece. A number of Asian countries - Turkey, Syria, Lebanon and Israel - go out to the sea from the east. Finally, on the south coast are Egypt, Libya, Tunisia, Algeria and Morocco. The area of \u200b\u200bthe 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 Strait, narrowing in places to 1.3 km, connects it with the Sea of \u200b\u200bMarmara and through the Bosphorus Strait with the Black Sea. In the southeast, a man-made structure - the Suez Canal - connects the Mediterranean with the Red Sea. These three narrow waterways have always been very important for trade, navigation and strategic purposes. IN different time they were controlled - or sought to control - by the British, French, Turks and Russians. The Romans during the Roman Empire called the Mediterranean Sea mare nostrum ("our sea").

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

Modern is a relic of the ancient Tethys Ocean, which was much wider and extended far to the east. The relics of the Tethys Ocean are also the Aral, Caspian, Black and Marmara seas, confined to its deepest depressions. Probably, Tethys was once completely surrounded by land, and between North Africa and the Iberian Peninsula, in the 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 Bosporus, Dardanelles and Gibraltar straits were formed on the site of flooded river valleys, and many island chains, especially in the Aegean Sea, were connected to the mainland.

In the Mediterranean Sea, there are western and eastern depressions. The border between them is drawn through the Calabrian ledge of the Apennine Peninsula, Sicily and the underwater Adventure Bank (up to 400 m deep), stretched for almost 150 km from Sicily to Cape Bon in Tunisia. Within both depressions, even smaller ones are isolated, usually bearing the names of the corresponding seas, for example, the Aegean, Adriatic, etc. The water in the western depression is slightly colder and fresher than in the eastern: in the west, the average temperature of the near-surface layer is approx. 12 ° С in February and 24 ° С in August, and in the east - 17 ° С and 27 ° С, respectively. One of the coldest and stormiest areas Mediterranean Sea is the Gulf of Lyon. The salinity of the sea varies widely, as less saline water flows from the Atlantic Ocean through the Strait of Gibraltar.

Tides here they are not high, but quite substantial in very narrow straits and bays, especially during the full moon. However, there are rather strong currents in the straits, directed both into the Mediterranean Sea and from it. Evaporation is higher than in the Atlantic Ocean or in the Black Sea, therefore surface currents arise in the straits, carrying more fresh water into the Mediterranean Sea. At depths below these surface currents, countercurrents occur, but they do not compensate for water inflow at the surface.

Bottom The Mediterranean Sea in many places is composed of yellow carbonate mud, below which lies blue mud. Near the mouths of large rivers, blue silts are overlain by deltaic deposits occupying a large area. Depths Mediterranean Sea very different: the highest mark - 5121 m - is recorded in the Gellen deep-water trench at the southern tip of Greece. The average depth of the western basin is 1430 m, and its shallowest part, the Adriatic Sea, has an average depth of only 242 m.

Above the common bottom surface Mediterranean Sea in some places significant areas of rugged relief rise, the tops of which form islands. Many (though not all) of them are of volcanic origin. Among the islands, we note, for example, Alboran, located east of the Strait of Gibraltar, and the group of Balearic Islands (Menorca, Mallorca, Ibiza and Formentera) east of the Iberian Peninsula; mountainous Corsica and Sardinia - west of the Apennine Peninsula, as well as a number of small islands in the same area - Elba, Pontine, Ischia and Capri; and north of Sicily - Stromboli and Lipari. Island of Malta (south of Sicily) is located within the East Mediterranean Basin, and further to the east - Crete and Cyprus. There are numerous small islands in the Ionian, Cretan and Aegean seas; among them are the Ionian - to the west of mainland Greece, the Cyclades - to the east of the Peloponnese and Rhodes - off the southwestern coast of Turkey.

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

The Mediterranean Sea is famous for its tranquility and beauty, but like other seas, it can be stormy in certain seasons, and then big waves hit 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 humid winters. Many coastal areas Mediterranean Sea, especially the southern and eastern ones, are characterized by semiarid and arid features of the climate. In particular, semiarism with an abundance of clear sunny days is considered typical of the Mediterranean climate. However, there are many cold days in winter when a damp cold wind brings rain, drizzle and sometimes snow.

The Mediterranean is also famous for the attractiveness of its landscapes. Especially picturesque are the French and Italian Riviera, the vicinity of Naples, the Adriatic coast of Croatia with numerous islands, the shores of Greece and Lebanon, where the steep slopes of the mountains rise to the sea itself. Important trade routes and culture spread through the main islands of the eastern Mediterranean - from the Middle East, Egypt and Crete to Greece, Rome, Spain and France; the other route ran along the southern coast of the sea - from Egypt to Morocco.

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

Fauna Mediterranean Sea characterized by great species diversity, however, the number of representatives of dep. species is small. There are kaki, one type of seal (white-bellied seal); sea \u200b\u200bturtle. There are 550 fish species (sharks, mackerel, herring, anchovy, mullet, coriphenoid, tuna, bonito, horse mackerel, etc.). About 70 species of endemic fish, including stingrays, anchovy, gobies, pestilence. dogs, wrasse and needlefish. Of the edible molluscs, the most important are oysters, Mediterranean-Black Sea mussels, and sea dates. Invertebrates include octopuses, squids, sepia, crabs, lobster; numerous types of jellyfish, siphonophores; some areas, especially the Aegean Sea, are home to sponges and red coral.

Coastal countries of the Mediterranean:

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

Mediterranean

Middle-earth, a natural country that includes the Mediterranean basin with its islands and the adjacent territories of Europe, Asia and Africa; in a broad sense, it also includes the belt of the Near East uplands. S. area is about 4 mln. km 2 (with the Peredneaznat highlands - over 5 mln. km 2). Under the name "S." they also understand the historical area along the shores of the Mediterranean Sea.

Nature. S. is characterized by a significant commonality of natural conditions, which is associated primarily with the spread of the subtropical Mediterranean climate (see Mediterranean climate). The Mediterranean Sea has a huge impact on all components of the natural environment. A characteristic feature of S.'s nature is the variety of landscapes. Next to the high mountains, covered with snow in winter, lie lowlands with a hot climate, where in some places there are even palm trees. S. is located mainly within the Alpine geosynclinal (folded) region (see Alpine geosynclinal region). Many areas are distinguished by significant neotectonic movements, active seismicity, and volcanism (the volcanoes Etna, Vesuvius, Stromboli). The relief is predominantly mountainous, with a predominance of linear-elongated folded and folded-block mountains (prevailing heights of about 1500 m, maximum over 3000 m), alternating with plateaus and hilly plains; limestones (with karst landforms) are widespread; crystalline rocks, shales, flysch, etc. are developed in many areas; only some of the marginal regions of southern S. (the northern part of the African-Arabian Platform) are characterized by a platform regime and a predominance of plains.

The formation of the climate and landscapes of North America is largely due to the barrier role of powerful ridges (the Pyrenees, the Alps, and the Stara Planina Mountains) that border north north. The climate is characterized by hot, dry, and sunny summers and cool and rainy winters (in eastern S., the maximum precipitation shifts to spring). The average January temperature is from 0-2 ° C in the north-east. up to 10-12 ° С in the south, in July - from 19-20 ° С in the north to 28-30 ° С. in the south, the radiation balance in all seasons of the year is positive, which provides a long-term (over 200 days) the growing season with the sums of active temperatures over 3000 °. The annual rainfall in the plains is usually 300-400 mm, in the mountains - up to 3000 mm, on the inner plateaus - 300-1000 mm... On the whole, precipitation decreases from north to south and from west to east; moisture deficit is felt in the warm half of the year for 1-6 month (in some parts of Africa and the Levant - most of the year), which almost everywhere necessitates artificial irrigation. In winter, a stable snow cover forms only high in the mountains. Local winds are typical for many areas (bora, mistral, sirocco, etc.).

The rivers (the main ones are the Ebro, Tiber, Po, the lower reaches of the Rhone and the Nile) are fed mainly by rainfall with floods in the cold season and summer low water, and are widely used for irrigation. Sudden high flash floods often cause flooding. In summer, most of the rivers dry up.

In many places, brown soils are found, which are characterized by a high carbonate content and a significant humus content. In the northern mountains, brown soils are often replaced with mountainous brown forest soils. S. is a classic area of \u200b\u200bmanifestation of soil erosion.

The vegetation cover has been greatly modified by humans. Secondary formations of shrubs, shrubs, and hard grasses prevail - Makvis, Gariga, Frigana, and others, which have arisen mainly in the place of reduced hard-leaved forests. Remains of forests (from stone and cork oaks, pine and Aleppo pine, and in the mountains - from pine, fir and summer-green oaks) have survived only in some areas. Large areas are occupied by rocky wastelands. Altitudinal zonation is manifested in the S. mountains. Cultural landscapes predominate on the foothill and coastal plains; wheat, barley, and root crops ripen in the cool season, and corn, tobacco, and cotton in the warm season. Vineyards, citrus and olives plantations are widespread. In the lower parts of the slopes there are landscapes mainly with Mediterranean shrubby vegetation, forests are located higher, and even higher, sometimes areas of subalpine and alpine meadows.

The fauna of S. is diverse, mainly belongs to the zoogeographic Mediterranean subregion, and is greatly depleted in human activity. Large mammals are dominated by species common in the Holarctic (wolf, jackal, fox, ferret, otter, etc.), but there are also African elements (representatives of civerrids, porcupines). Many birds inhabiting the territory of the USSR and in Central and Northern Europe winter in S.

Fauna and natural landscapes are protected in nature reserves and national parks. Fishing is developed in the waters of the Mediterranean Sea (tuna, sardines, etc., the extraction of crustaceans and molluscs).

Along with the features of similarity in the nature of S., significant differences are noted due to its great length, the disunity of the northern and southern parts, peculiarities of exposure, and other reasons. Territories gravitating towards sowing. the coast of the Mediterranean Sea, are characterized by a relatively uniform distribution of atmospheric precipitation throughout the year and a relatively short dry period. Species characteristic of the temperate zone play a significant role in the flora and fauna; on the southern coast, where conditions are more arid, the role of subtropical and tropical species is increasing. An increase in aridity also occurs in the direction from west to east, which is associated with a weakening of the oceanic influence towards the east. Natural contrasts due to differences in exposure are great.

Monuments of ancient culture and natural beauty annually attract many millions of tourists to North Korea, and the resort resources of North America are also large.However, the irrational use of the natural environment (deforestation, overgrazing, etc.), the progressive pollution of the Mediterranean Sea with oil products, industrial wastewater, and so on. require effective measures for the protection of nature C.

L. N. Gratsiansky.

Historical sketch. The first human settlements in S. belong to the Lower Paleolithic. The Mediterranean basin became one of the centers of the first class societies ( Ancient Egypt, Palestine, Phenicia, mainland Greece, about. Crete, islands of the Aegean Sea - see Aegean culture).

Since ancient times, the Mediterranean Sea has been of great importance in the life of the peoples inhabiting its coast, being the main means of sea communications of the Mediterranean-Western Asian region of the other world. Economic and other ties especially increased from the 2nd millennium BC. e., covering the countries of the Aegean world, Egypt, Cyprus, Syria, Phenicia. Mediterranean trade was coastal and concentrated (especially after the invasion of the "Sea Peoples" (see Sea Peoples) in the east of North around 1200 BC) in the hands of Phoenician merchants, who from the 12th to 11th centuries founded BC e. their colonies in eastern and western S. (the largest is Carthage). The Mediterranean Sea played an exceptional role in the life of Ancient Greece (see Ancient Greece); in the 8-6 centuries. Greek colonization swept north and west of S. (see Antique Colonies). The widespread development of sea trade to a large extent contributed to the fact that the Greek city-states of Miletus, Ephesus, Corinth, Athens, and others. Became the largest economic and cultural centers C. The importance of the Mediterranean Sea increased during the Hellenistic period, when the economic and cultural ties between the countries of the East and West increased. For the predominance in the Mediterranean from the west. BC e. a struggle unfolded between Carthage, which by that time had become the strongest state in western Serbia, and Ancient Rome; as a result of the victory in the Punic Wars (see Punic Wars) (264-146 BC), Rome turned into a major Mediterranean power, which united under its rule in the course of subsequent conquests all of S. (the Roman state began to consider the Mediterranean as its internal sea \u200b\u200b- lat.mare nostrum). Later (with the fall of the Western Roman Empire, the end of the 5th century AD), the dominant position in the Mediterranean passed to the Eastern Roman Empire (Byzantium (see Byzantium)). Arab conquests of the 7th-1st half of the 9th centuries led to the establishment of domination of the Arabs here, but in the 2nd half of the 10th century. Byzantium regained its supremacy in eastern S. From the 10th to 11th centuries. Italian and other coastal Western European city-republics - Amalfi, Pisa, Genoa, Venice, Marseille, and the Slavic cities of the Dalmatian coast (Dubrovnik, Split, Kotor, and others) - began to play an increasing role in Mediterranean trade. Their positions, especially the position of Venice, which assumed dominance in the eastern part of S., were strengthened as a result of the Crusades (see Crusades), especially after the 4th Crusade (1202-04). The largest trade center in the western part of S. was in the 13th and 15th centuries. Barcelona. The importance of the Mediterranean Sea as a center of sea trade routes was undermined by the establishment of Ottoman rule in the east and south shores Mediterranean Sea (15-16 centuries), and as a result of the Great Geographical Discoveries (See Great Geographical Discoveries) of the late 15-16 centuries. major world trade routes moved from the Mediterranean to the Atlantic Ocean. However, for a number of countries, the Mediterranean Sea continued to be of great importance. The growth of France's trade with the countries of eastern Serbia and its trade agreement with the Ottoman Empire (1535 or 1536) led to a significant predominance of the French merchant fleet in the Mediterranean. It served as an arena for military operations in a number of wars of the 17th and 18th centuries. Since the capture of Gibraltar by Great Britain in the early 18th century. British influence in the Mediterranean increased. After the Russo-Turkish War of 1768-74, Russia gained freedom of merchant shipping in the Bosphorus and the Dardanelles and thereby gained access to the Mediterranean Sea.

At the turn of the 18th and 19th centuries. intensified the struggle between France and Great Britain for hegemony in the Mediterranean. For more than 15 years since the first Italian (1796-97) and Egyptian (1798-1801) campaigns, Bonaparte S. was one of the main theaters of the Napoleonic wars. After the defeat of the Napoleonic army in Russia (1812) and the liquidation of the Napoleonic empire (1814), Great Britain was withdrawn by the decision of the Congress of Vienna in 1814-15 Fr. Malta and the Ionian Islands (ceded to Greece in 1864) are important strategic points in the Mediterranean. Strengthening its dominion in the Mediterranean, Great Britain in 1875 established control over the Suez Canal (built in 1869), in 1878 captured Fr. Cyprus and in 1882 occupied Egypt (following the occupation of Tunisia by France), after which the Suez Canal finally passed into her hands.

In order to preserve its hegemony in the Mediterranean, Great Britain in every possible way hindered the exercise of the rights of Russia as a Black Sea power in the Black Sea Straits (see Black Sea Straits) and, consequently, its outlet to the Mediterranean. At the same time, Great Britain actively opposed the development of the national liberation movement and the creation of independent states in the Balkans. At the Berlin Congress of 1878 (See Berlin Congress of 1878) Great Britain, together with Austria-Hungary and Germany, achieved a revision of the San Stefano Peace Treaty of 1878 (See the San Stefano Peace Treaty of 1878) in a spirit hostile to Russia and the peoples of the Balkan countries.

In the second half of the 19th century, especially after the digging of the Suez Canal, the importance of Mediterranean communications linking Europe with Asia and Africa increased enormously. At the end of the 19th century. new large capitalist powers - Italy (in 1912 seized the territory of Libya) and Germany - entered the struggle for influence in the Mediterranean. At the beginning of the 20th century, with the onset of the era of imperialism, the strengthening of Germany's influence in Turkey and in the Balkans (including the construction of the Baghdad Railway (see Baghdad Railway)), as well as German claims to North Africa (Moroccan crises that ended , contrary to the claims of Germany, the establishment of France in most of the territory of Morocco, etc.) led to an exacerbation of Anglo-German antagonism in the area of \u200b\u200bS. The defeat of Germany and its allies in World War I in 1914-18 strengthened the position of British imperialism in the Mediterranean Sea , which expanded its colonial possessions in the eastern part of S. and in the territory adjacent to it. In an effort to strengthen its position in the Mediterranean Sea to the detriment of the Black Sea countries, Great Britain achieved the adoption at the Lausanne Conference of 1922-23 (see Lausanne Conference 1922-23) of a convention on the regime of the Black Sea Straits, which violates the rights of these countries. Only at the Montreux Conference of 1936 (see Montreux Conference of 1936), thanks to the firm position of the USSR, decisions were made that represent a definite step forward on the path of recognizing the rights of the Black Sea countries in the question of the straits. In the 30s. 20th century imperialist contradictions in the northern region were aggravated again in connection with the creation of the Italo-German bloc and the beginning of armed aggression by the fascist states (the capture of Ethiopia by Italy, 1935-1936; the Italian-German intervention in Spain, 1936-39; the occupation of Albania by Italy, 1939). In order to counter the fascist aggression of the Sov. The Union and a number of other states signed the Nyon Agreement of 1937. During World War II (1939-45), the Mediterranean basin and some adjacent territories (North Africa, Greece, Yugoslavia) were important theaters of military operations. After the war, significant changes took place in the alignment of forces in the northern region. The positions of Italy and Germany were seriously weakened as a result of the defeat of the fascist bloc. Socialist revolutions took place in Yugoslavia and Albania. The positions of Great Britain weakened and the positions of the United States strengthened, which acted as the main support of the imperialist forces in the area. With the creation (1949) of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (see North Atlantic Treaty Organization) (NATO), the Mediterranean Sea became the southern flank of its armed forces in Europe (subordinate to the main command of the southern European theater of operations). The US 6th Fleet is permanently located here.

Imperialism in the North is opposed by the forces of socialism and the national liberation movement, which won a number of major victories after World War II: the July Revolution in Egypt in 1952, the proclamation of the independence of Lebanon (1943), Syria (January 1, 1944), Libya (1951), Morocco and Tunisia (1956), Cyprus (1960), Algeria (1962), Malta (1964); the nationalization of the Suez Canal (1956); and others. In an effort to restore their domination in the northern region amid the developing anti-imperialist movement, the Western powers created an extensive network of naval bases here. NATO member Great Britain, forced to recognize the independence of Cyprus and Malta, however, retained its bases on the territory of these states. A dangerous source of tension in the northern region is the aggressive policy of Israel directed against the liberation movement of the Arab peoples, which received support from US imperialism and other imperialist forces. Middle East crisis, Anglo-French-Israeli aggression against Egypt (1956), Israeli aggression against Arab countries 1967]. Intervention of NATO countries in the internal affairs of the Republic of Cyprus and the invasion of Cyprus by foreign troops (1974), the pressure exerted by the United States on Greece after the collapse of the military-fascist dictatorship in this country in 1974 and its withdrawal from the NATO military organization (1974), attempts by the United States and NATO To compensate for the weakening of their influence in some countries of the Mediterranean basin by strengthening military-strategic positions in other countries of this region, the situation in the northern region was further complicated, especially in its eastern part.

The USSR, as a Black Sea and, therefore, a Mediterranean state, is vitally interested in preserving peace in the C region. As early as 1963, the Soviet government appealed to the governments of the United States, Great Britain, and France, as well as to the governments of all Mediterranean countries, with a proposal to declare the entire Mediterranean region a zone. free of nuclear missile weapons; it consistently advocates a relaxation of tension in the Mediterranean basin, for a just Middle East settlement as the most important condition for turning the Mediterranean into a sea of \u200b\u200bpeace and friendly cooperation. (Cm. map. )

Lit .: Dobrynin BF, physical geography of Western Europe, M., 1948; A. Philippson, Middle-earth, trans. from it., M., 1911; Biro P. and Dresh J., Mediterranean, trans. from French, t. 1-2, M., 1960-62; Gratsiansky A. N., Nature of the Mediterranean, M., 1971; Gabriel - Leroux J., Les premiéres civilizations de la Méditerranée, 8 éd., P., 1966; Accame S., La formazione della civilta mediterranea, Brescia,; Braudel F., La Méditerranée et le monde méditerranéen a l "époque de Philippe II, 2 éd., V. 1-2, P., 1966.

Great Soviet Encyclopedia. - M .: Soviet encyclopedia. 1969-1978 .

See what "Mediterranean" is in other dictionaries:

Mediterranean ... Spelling dictionary-reference

- (Mediterranean), (Capital), Mediterranean, pl. no, cf. Territories surrounding the Mediterranean Sea. Early Mediterranean culture. Ushakov's explanatory dictionary. D.N. Ushakov. 1935 1940 ... Ushakov's Explanatory Dictionary

Mediterranean Sea - the cradle of humanity! On the Mediterranean coasts, powerful and great civilizations were born, on the ruins of which the modern world developed and flourishes.

Its area is able to easily absorb Western Europe, color - to surprise with beauty and richness, the sound of waves - to calm down, and fishing - to give pleasure ...

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

1. Where is the Mediterranean Sea

The Mediterranean Sea is located between Asia, Africa and Europe, surrounded by continents, and only with the help of the Strait of Gibraltar, it connects with the North Atlantic, the Bosphorus Strait - with the Black Sea, and with the help of the Suez Canal it borders on the Red Sea.

2. Which countries are washed

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

The coastal area of \u200b\u200bthe sea is represented by many islands, different in area and population, the largest of which are:

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

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

3. History and secrets of the Mediterranean Sea

The modern Mediterranean Sea is the remnant of the ancient Tesis basin, which once occupied the territory of Europe, North Africa, South and West Asia. For many millions of years, the strait connecting to the ocean has been repeatedly closed and reopened. Subsequently, the sea dried up and could no longer be filled to its former size. The modern relief was formed due to the change in the Earth's climate.

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

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

Educational film in English about the Mediterranean Sea

4. Natural characteristics of the Mediterranean Sea

The Mediterranean Sea has an area of \u200b\u200b2965.5 thousand square meters. km. The average depth of the sea is 1500 m. The largest is 5 092 m and is located in the depression of the Ionian Sea (western part of the Peloponnese peninsula). The total length of the sea is 3 800 m.

Salinity of some seas:

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

4.1 Climate

The word "climate" from the ancient Greek language is translated as "tilt" and means the inclination of the sun's rays in relation to the earth's surface. Climate is a long-term, well-established weather regime, in contrast to weather conditions, which are variable.

Climatic conditions are determined by the location of the sea - the subtropical zone defines such a climate in an independent type "Mediterranean".

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

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

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

Hot cities: Larnaca, Limassol, Tel Aviv and Antalya. In these regions, the water temperature in the summer months reaches 27 degrees. Then there are cities with a water temperature of no more than 25 degrees: Valencia, Malta and Heraklion. The coasts of Barcelona, \u200b\u200bAthens and Malaga are considered even less hot (up to 22 degrees of water).

4.2 Bottom relief

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

Here, under the water column, there are cones of active and extinct volcanoes and tectonic depressions. So, the deepest place in the sea is the Hellenic depression, 5121 m deep. The bottom of the sea is rich in deposits of rock salt, potassium and sulfur. It produces natural gas and oil.

The largest bays in the Mediterranean:

Valencian;
Lyons;
Genoese;
Taranto;
Cider or Big Sirte;
Gabes or Small Sirte.

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

4.3 Water

The amount of evaporation of the Mediterranean Sea water exceeds the amount of atmospheric precipitation, since the sea is surrounded by countries with arid climates. The water deficit is made up for by the North Atlantic waters flowing through the Strait of Gibraltar. In the process of evaporation, the salinity and density of the water increases, which settles at a depth, which makes this water area warmer. Depending on the seasonality, the density of water changes. Interestingly, the Mediterranean Sea is one of the warmest and salty seas.

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

4.4 Ebb and flow

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

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

Also, the ebb and flow are influenced by the depth, salinity of water, atmospheric pressure, coastal relief. The largest tides are observed in the gulf called "Gabes", which is located in the northern part of Africa, and this is due to its huge shape (100 km long and wide).

High tide - when the sun and moon are located either on the same side of the Earth (new moon) or on different sides (full moon) and the forces of attraction of these objects are combined, which affects the appearance of tides.

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

5. Mediterranean life

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

5.1 Plant kingdom

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

5.2 Animal world

The fauna of the Mediterranean Sea is diverse, but the number of species of inhabitants is not large, which is associated with the poor development of plankton in Mediterranean waters.

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

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

5.3 Fish of the Mediterranean Sea

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

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

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

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

There are 4 types of flying fish on the Israeli coast:

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

5.4 Dangerous inhabitants of the Mediterranean

Shark - not only frightening inhabitants of the sea, but also irreplaceable cleaners of the sea expanses from different types of sick, weak inhabitants. Their population is declining. So, for example, the hammerhead shark was last observed only in 1955.

Stingray - possesses poisonous spines located in the tail of the body.

Electric Stingray - is able to give any attacker an electric current.

6. Features of the coast

North coast has a difficult topography: the banks are high, rocky and steep with not small bays.

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

Total length mediterranean coast - 46 thousand km. Interestingly, this water area would be enough to swallow Western Europe with ease!

6.1 Sea coast of Israel

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

The Mediterranean coast is made up of not only plains and beaches, but rocky shores and reefs.

6.2 Port cities of Israel

adaptation to the Mediterranean climate - leisurely summer walks along the sunny coast;
apply protective creams from the sun's rays;
beware of marine life;
do not forget about high waves, rocky bottom and very dangerous rip currents.

You can read more about such a phenomenon as rebound flow on Wikipedia

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

The ancient Mediterranean Sea had many names:

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

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

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

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

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

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

9. Useful links

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

- an interesting article describing the Mediterranean Sea.

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

The volcanic island must have been a resting place for the ancient Greek gods. After all, he is truly divine. Snow-white houses, towering on the rocks, perfectly highlight the beauty of the island. Various luxury resorts make it a great place to relax and enjoy the perfect weather.

Why go there?

The best place to stay.

When to go?

The weather is mild all year round. The months June to October are the warmest.

Perhaps the most amazing and unusual sea on the planet is the Mediterranean. It separates the three different but at the same time serves as a meeting point for the most diverse cultures, nations and religions. Which countries are washed by the waters of the Mediterranean Sea and which of them are most popular among tourists? You will learn about this from our most interesting article.

Mediterranean: history and geography of the region

Which countries is washed by the Mediterranean Sea? What famous cities are located on its banks? Before answering these questions, you need to study in detail the geography and history of the region.

Mediterranea is the name of the Mediterranean in English. This historical region occupies the entire basin of the sea of \u200b\u200bthe same name - the cradle of European and Arab navigation. The oldest civilizations and powers arose on its banks - Phenicia, Ancient Hellas, the Roman Empire. The latter at one time controlled the entire region. Which countries is washed by the Mediterranean Sea today?

The total area of \u200b\u200bthe region, according to estimates of various scientists, ranges from 4 to 5 million square kilometers. On its territory there are states of two continents and three parts of the world at once.

Which countries is washed by the Mediterranean Sea? Largest cities

Geographically, culturally and mentally, the Mediterranean is divided into three zones (parts): European, Asian and African.

So, which countries does the Mediterranean Sea wash with its waters? These include 21 independent states. These are Spain, France, Italy, Monaco, Malta (an island republic, located directly in the water area), Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Albania, Greece, Cyprus, Turkey, Syria, Lebanon, Israel, Egypt, Libya, Tunisia, Algeria and Morocco.

The unrecognized countries of Palestine and Northern Cyprus, as well as two overseas territories of Great Britain (Gibraltar, Akrotiri and Dhekelia) also have access to the Mediterranean Sea.

What cities are washed by the Mediterranean Sea? On the shores of its water area there are thousands settlements... Among the largest and most famous cities in the Mediterranean are the following: Barcelona, \u200b\u200bMarseille, Cannes, Genoa, Napoli, Dubrovnik, Athens, Istanbul, Antalya, Alexandria, Tripoli.

Mediterranean structure: islands, archipelagos, seas

Scientists argue that the Mediterranean Sea is nothing more than a relic of an ancient planetary reservoir - the Tethys Ocean. The Black, Caspian and Aral Seas are also its remnants.

The modern Mediterranean Sea is connected to the Atlantic Ocean by a narrow one. It passes between two high cliffs, named in ancient times. An interesting fact: in the waters of the Mediterranean, hydrographers distinguish a number of smaller seas. For example, on the maps of this part of the planet you can find the Adriatic, Aegean, Ionian, Cyprus and others.

What washes the Mediterranean Sea? Several large Apennine, Iberian, deeply protrude into its water area. In the waters of the Mediterranean there are also a large number of islands of various sizes. And almost every one of them is very attractive to tourists. Some of the most famous islands Mediterranean: Crete, Malta, Sicily, Rhodes, Ibiza and Mallorca.

Synthesis of cultures and peoples

"The sea in the middle of the Earth" - so it was called in ancient times. This geographical toponym, slightly transformed, has survived to this day. Indeed, it is here that various peoples, cultures, religions and civilizations have met over the centuries. As a result, a unique ethnocultural situation has formed in the Mediterranean.

Already in the third millennium BC, the so-called Aegean civilization arose here, which consisted of several cultures and was complicated by Sumerian influences. Mixed ethnic groups could be observed within the state of Carthage. Still later, the synthesis of European and Eastern traditions formed a powerful state here - Byzantium.

Thus, cultural syncretism is more than characteristic of the Mediterranean region. It is this fact that makes it overly popular among tourists from all over the world.

Tourism in the Mediterranean

The countries of the Mediterranean are visited annually by tens of thousands of tourists from different corners our planet. The attractiveness of this region is further enhanced by the fact that it is completely located within the mild subtropical climate.

Of course, the most the best way to get to know the Mediterranean is a cruise vacation. It allows you to visit several countries and dozens of interesting cities... During such a cruise, the tourist can personally see how the monuments are combined with the creations of our time.

In the Mediterranean, tourists most often visit Italy, Spain, Turkey, Greece, Tunisia and Croatia.

Holidays in Turkey

Each of the Mediterranean countries can boast of their first-class resorts. And the most famous resort country in this region is, of course, Turkey!

This state today is very successful in developing its tourist infrastructure... Relaxing here is both interesting and very comfortable. Moreover, Turkey is ready to offer vacations for every taste and wallet size.

Excellent hotels, wonderful beaches, delicious cuisine and familiarity with the vibrant local culture - this is what awaits every tourist who decides to visit Turkey. In addition, in a very short time you can see many interesting sights here.

Which cities in Turkey are washed by the Mediterranean Sea? It is the largest metropolis of Istanbul, Izmir, Antalya and Mersin.

Spain and Italy

The state of Spain is located in the western part of the region. Tourists appreciate this Mediterranean country for the most picturesque landscapes, beautiful nature, sunny first class resorts and ancient monuments of architecture. No cruise usually goes by Mallorca and Ibiza. But true connoisseurs of architecture should definitely visit the city of Barcelona.

Another European Mediterranean state is Italy. The land of the sun, pizza and spaghetti attracts a huge number of foreign tourists. Lovers of unity with virgin nature go to Sicily, but lovers of cultural and historical monuments - to Rome. The world-renowned center of haute couture - the city of Milan is also located here.

Balkan countries of the Mediterranean

Five have access to the Mediterranean Sea at once, and they all have enormous tourism potential.

The most attractive of the Balkan countries for tourists is Croatia. Even 20 years ago, it fought for its independence, and today it receives thousands of tourists every year. Vacationers are amazed by the unique purity of the sea water in Croatia and the huge number of coastal islets.

Montenegro is also famous for its excellent resorts. In particular, the 3.8 km long Ada Bojana beach boasts the cleanest sand in the entire Adriatic.

Albania is also gradually gaining popularity among tourists. This country benefits from its beautiful landscapes and extraordinary colors. Only in Albania you can taste gorgeous dishes local cuisine in an abandoned concrete bunker from the last century!

African Mediterranean countries

Of course, tourists do not pass by and african states of this region. Egypt has long gained fame as a resort and tourist country... But even countries such as Libya and Algeria are actively equipping their resorts and cities for potential recreationalists.

More and more swim cruise liners and to the ports of Morocco. This state, located right at the junction of East and West, Islamic and European cultures, a priori is of interest to tourists.

Tunisia is another Mediterranean state with a large number of historical and architectural monuments, museums with ancient artifacts preserved on its territory. And after a rich cultural program, a tourist here will also be able to fully relax on one of the beautiful beaches. Another feature of Tunisia is its colorful and colorful markets.

Finally...

Now you know how many countries are washed by the Mediterranean Sea. There are 21 of them. The Mediterranean is a unique and very attractive region for tourists. First of all, they strive to get to Turkey, Italy, Spain, Tunisia and Croatia. Indeed, in these countries there are a lot of attractions, and the infrastructure is in perfect order.

Which countries are located on the shores of the Mediterranean. Voskresensky V.Yu. International tourism. Human settlement in a Mediterranean climate

Coastal countries of the Mediterranean:

The largest islands in the Mediterranean:

See what "Mediterranean" is in other dictionaries:

1. Where is the Mediterranean Sea

2. Which countries are washed

3. History and secrets of the Mediterranean Sea

4. Natural characteristics of the Mediterranean Sea

4.1 Climate

4.2 Bottom relief

4.3 Water

4.4 Ebb and flow

5. Mediterranean life

5.1 Plant kingdom

5.2 Animal world

5.3 Fish of the Mediterranean Sea

5.4 Dangerous inhabitants of the Mediterranean

6. Features of the coast

6.1 Sea coast of Israel

6.2 Port cities of Israel

9. Useful links

Majorca hotels

Navagio Beach (Navayo), Greece

Navayo Hotels

Manarola, Liguria, Italy

Manarola Accommodation

Melissani Cave, Kefalonia, Greece

Melissani Hotels

Menorca, Spain

Menorca Accommodation

Dubrovnik, Croatia

Dubrovnik Accommodation

French Riviera, France

Riviera Accommodation

Sardinia, Italy

Sardinia Accommodation

Corsica, France

Corsica Accommodation

Thira Island, Greece