Coastline of the Mediterranean Sea. The most visited Mediterranean country: which Mediterranean countries do tourists love

The Mediterranean Sea is connected to the Atlantic Ocean in the west through the Strait of Gibraltar. This enclosed sea is surrounded on all sides by land. The ancient Greeks called the Mediterranean Sea the sea in the middle of the Earth. At that time, this name was fully justified, because all the ancient European and North African civilizations appeared in the basin of this sea. And it was the Mediterranean Sea that served as the main route for contacts between them.

Interesting fact: they say that the Mediterranean Sea is the remnants of its former greatness. Previously, in its place was the ancient Tethys Ocean. It extended far to the east and was much wider. Today from Tethys, except Mediterranean Sea, only the drying up Aral Sea and Caspian Sea, as well as the Black, Azov and Marmara seas. The last three seas are included in the Mediterranean basin.

In addition, within the Mediterranean Sea, the Alboran, Balearic, Ligurian, Tyrrhenian, Adriatic, Ionian, Aegean, Cretan, Libyan, Cyprus and Levantine seas are distinguished as separate seas.

Detailed physical map seas of the Mediterranean Sea in Russian. To enlarge, just click on the picture.

The currents of the Mediterranean Sea are not entirely normal. Under the influence of high temperatures, a lot of water evaporates and, therefore, the flow of fresh water prevails over its inflow. This naturally leads to a decrease in the water level and it has to be drawn from Atlantic Ocean and the Black Sea. Interestingly, at depth in more saline layers the reverse process occurs and salty water flows into the Atlantic Ocean.

In addition to the above factors, the currents of the Mediterranean Sea are mainly caused by wind processes. Their speed in open parts of the sea is 0.5-1.0 km/h; in the straits it can increase to 2-4 km/h. (for comparison, the Gulf Stream moves north at a speed of 6–10 km/h).

The magnitude of the tides is usually less than one meter, but there are places where, together with wind surges, it can reach up to four meters (for example, the northern coast of the island of Corsica or the Strait of Genoa). In narrow straits (the Strait of Messina), the tides can cause strong currents. In winter, waves reach their maximum and wave heights can reach 6-8 m.

The water of the Mediterranean Sea has an intense blue color and a relative transparency of 50-60 m. It is one of the most saline and warm seas in the world. In summer, the water temperature varies from 19 to 25 degrees, while in the east it can reach 27-3°C. In winter, the average water temperature decreases from north to south and varies between 8-17°C in the east and central part of the sea. At the same time, in the west the temperature regime is more stable and the temperature stays between 11-15°C.

There are many large and not very large islands in the Mediterranean Sea, and almost each of them is an attraction for many tourists. Let's name just a few of them:

The islands of Mallorca and Ibiza in Spain, Sardinia and Sicily in Italy, Corfu, Crete and Rhodes in Greece, Corsica in France, as well as Cyprus and Malta.

The Mediterranean Sea is located between Europe, Asia Minor and Africa. It is surrounded on all sides by land, with the exception of two narrow straits - the Strait of Gibraltar (connects the Mediterranean Sea with the North Atlantic) and the Bosphorus Strait (connects the Mediterranean Sea with the Black Sea) - and the Suez Canal (connects the Mediterranean Sea with the Red Sea).

Area of ​​the Mediterranean Sea 2965.5 thousand km2, Average depth 1500 m; the depression has the greatest depth (5092 m) Ionian Sea, located west of the Peloponnese Peninsula (part of the Hellenic Basin). The shallow threshold of the Strait of Sicily and the narrow Strait of Messina divide the Mediterranean Sea into two parts - eastern and western (and, accordingly, into two basins). The boundaries of the seas that make up the Mediterranean Sea are set arbitrarily.

In the western part of the Mediterranean Sea there are the Alboran, Balearic, Ligurian and Tyrrhenian seas, in the eastern part - the Adriatic, Ionian, Aegean and Marmara, located between the Dardanelles and Bosphorus straits. The Mediterranean Sea is characterized by numerous small islands, especially in the Aegean and Ionian Seas.

Most large islands : Sicily, Sardinia, Cyprus, Corsica and Crete. The main rivers flowing into the Mediterranean Sea: Rhone, Nile and Po. The waters of the rivers that flow into the Black Sea enter the Mediterranean Sea through the Bosporus and Dardanelles straits.

Bottom relief

The Mediterranean Sea has many morphological features characteristic of an oceanic basin. The continental shoals are quite narrow (less than 25 miles) and moderately developed. Continental slopes are usually very steep and cut by submarine canyons. Canyons Cote d'Azur France and west bank Corsica is one of the most studied.

At the continental foot of the large deltas of the Rhone and Po rivers there are alluvial fans. The alluvial fan of the Rhone River extends and the sea towards the Balearic Abyssal Plain. This abyssal plain with an area of ​​over 78 thousand km2 occupies most western basin.
The steepness of the slopes of this plain suggests that the deposition of sediments brought by turbidity currents from the Rhone largely occurs through channels cutting through the fan. However, the Balearic Abyssal Plain receives some sediment from the canyons of the Côte d'Azur and the canyons of the coast North Africa(region of Algeria).

In the Tyrrhenian Sea there is a central abyssal plain with several small plateaus, on which the highest seamount rises 2850 m above the sea floor (depth above the mountain 743 m). There are many other seamounts in this sea; on the continental slope of Sicily and Calabria, the tops of some of them rise above the surface of the sea and form islands. In soil cores taken from the central abyssal plain, layers of ash are clearly visible that correspond to historical volcanic eruptions on the Apennine Peninsula.

Bottom morphology The eastern basin of the Mediterranean Sea is noticeably different from the morphology of the bottom of the western basin. In the western basin, in addition to the small abyssal plain in the center of the Ionian Sea, other large areas with horizontally lying and undeformed terrigenous sediments were not found. Vast areas of the bottom represent either a complexly dissected median ridge, or a series of collapsed depressions located in an arc parallel to the Hellenic archipelago.

Deep Sea Depressions stretch from the Ionian Islands and pass south of the islands Crete and Rhodes in the Gulf of Antalya (Hellenic Deep). The greatest depth of the Mediterranean Sea - 5092 m - has one of these depressions with a flat bottom (filled with sediments). Sediments began to fill another depression south of the island of Rhodes (depth 4450 m).

On the Nile fan there are well-developed channels that form a large branched system. The channels lead to a very narrow abyssal plain at the base of the fan, in contrast to the western Mediterranean basin where the Rhône fan feeds the greater Balearic abyssal plain. Currently, the narrow abyssal plain at the base of the Nile fan is actively deforming; Some of its sections are a median ridge, or a series of collapsed depressions located in an arc parallel to the Hellenic archipelago. Apparently, in the recent past, the process of sedimentation occurred more slowly than tectonic deformation large parts Eastern Mediterranean.

Hydrological regime. The Mediterranean Sea is surrounded by countries with a dry climate, as a result of which the amount of evaporation significantly exceeds the amount of precipitation and river flow. The resulting water deficit is replenished through the Strait of Gibraltar by the influx of North Atlantic surface water. An increase in water salinity due to evaporation causes an increase in its density. Denser water sinks to depth; thus, the western and eastern basins are filled with a homogeneous and relatively warm water mass.

Temperature and salinity deep and intermediate waters fluctuate within very small limits: from 12.7 to 14.5 ° C and from 38.4 to 39 prom.

Water circulation

North Atlantic surface waters entering the Mediterranean Sea through the Strait of Gibraltar move along the coast of North Africa and gradually spread over the surface of the Mediterranean Sea; part of the waters extends into the Lugirian Sea, part into the Tyrrhenian Sea. There, cooling due to evaporation and the influence of dry polar air masses, coming from Europe, the waters submerge, forming a certain type of water mass in the western Mediterranean Sea. North Atlantic waters also enter the eastern sector of the Mediterranean Sea through the Strait of Sicily. where some of them deviate north into the Adriatic Sea. As a result of evaporation, they also cool here and sink to depth. North Atlantic waters sporadically flow over the threshold of the Strait of Otranto, forming a deep water mass in the eastern part of the Mediterranean Sea. The distribution of dissolved oxygen in the deep waters of the Ionian Sea indicates their circulation in a counterclockwise direction.

The remaining North Atlantic waters on the surface, now very much changed by evaporation, continue to move eastward to the island of Cyprus, where they sink during the winter months.

North Atlantic surface waters, carrying large amounts of dissolved salts, must eventually return to the North Atlantic, since the salinity of the Mediterranean Sea does not increase over time.

Outflow of waters from the Mediterranean Sea occurs through the threshold of the Strait of Gibraltar at a depth below the incoming flow (300 m). The Mediterranean water leaving the Mediterranean Sea through the Strait of Gibraltar, despite its higher temperature, is significantly more saline and denser than the Atlantic water, which is at the same level. As a result, Mediterranean water, having entered the Atlantic Ocean, flows down the continental slope until, finally, at a depth of 1000 m it meets Atlantic deep water of the same density. The Mediterranean water then rises and spreads north, south and west, forming a layer that extends south into the Atlantic for several thousand miles.

Nutrients. The waters of the Mediterranean Sea are poor in nutrients. There are significantly less phosphates in them than in waters North Atlantic. This is explained by this. that waters from the North Atlantic enter the Mediterranean Sea through a shallow threshold, therefore only North Atlantic surface waters, which themselves are already greatly depleted, pass through the Mediterranean Sea. The accumulation of nutrients in deep waters is also prevented by the continuous outflow of water returning through the Strait of Gibraltar. To completely ventilate the entire Mediterranean basin by removing water, about 75 children are required.

Tides in the Mediterranean Sea mostly semi-daily. The eastern and western basins have separate systems of standing waves. In the Adriatic Sea, a progressive (forward) tide of about 1 m is observed, moving around the aifidromic point located near the center of the Mediterranean Sea. In other points of the Mediterranean Sea the tide is about 30 cm.

Bottom sediments near the coast include the following components: 1) carbonates, consisting mainly of coccolithophores, as well as foraminifera and pteropods; 2) detritus carried by wind and currents; 3) volcanogenic substances and 4) end products of weathering of land rocks, mainly clay minerals. The average carbon content in the soil cores of the eastern basin of the Mediterranean Sea is about 40% and in the soil cores of the western basin is about 30%. Detritus content varies from zero to maximum; in general, it is higher in the soil cores of the western basin of the Mediterranean Sea. Sometimes it is possible to recognize sandy horizons in soil cores and compare them from core to core. Volcanic ash forms more or less distinct layers and is also found in non-volcanic material. The amount of volcanic products is small, excluding areas close to the volcanoes (Vesuvius and Etna).

The rate of sedimentation near the Levanto and in the Ionian Sea is low, the same as in the central part of the North Atlantic; in the western part of the Mediterranean Sea it is several times greater.

Structure of the earth's crust. Analysis of data from seismic measurements using the refracted wave method, carried out in the western part of the Mediterranean Sea, showed that the earth's crust here is of “oceanic nature”. Throughout the Balearic Abyssal Plain, the depth of the Mohorovicic surface is less than 12 km from sea level. This value increases towards the mainland and reaches more than 50 km under the Alpes-Maritimes, which end abruptly at the Côte d'Azur.

In the Mediterranean Sea, a layer of sediments (thickness 1-1.5 km) with a low velocity of longitudinal waves (1.7-2.5 km/s) is underlain by a thick layer of rocks with an average velocity of longitudinal waves (3.0-6.0 km/s) With). Precipitation with low wave speed is much more powerful in the western basin of the Mediterranean Sea than in the eastern basin. If a layer with an intermediate value of wave speed marks the base of the sediment column, then its thickness is extremely small, taking into account large area, which is affected by the flow of the Rhone River. (In the deep-water part of the Gulf of Mexico, the sediment thickness is more than 6 km.)

However, if the reflector is composed of consolidated sediments or volcanic rocks within a sedimentary sequence, then it indicates a significant change in the geological history of that basin. The magnetic field in the Mediterranean Sea is remarkably uniform, especially in the tectonically active eastern basin. However, strong anomalies occur over seamounts in the Tyrrhenian Sea.

The central part of the Hellenic Basin is associated with a wide strip of negative gravity anomalies. They are associated with a large subsidence of the earth's crust blocks inside this depression. Seismic studies in the northern part of the western basin of the Mediterranean Sea revealed its lowering relative to the European continent by 3 km. The underlying cause of such large vertical movements is not well understood. Weak Faya gravity anomalies in the western Mediterranean indicate that the basin is in isostatic equilibrium. It is extremely difficult to imagine how the modern "oceanic" crust could have maintained its previous uplift without some redistribution of density within the deep crust or upper mantle.

Geotectonic development. The Mediterranean Sea is a relict sea, the remnant of a huge water basin that formerly stretched from Portugal to Pacific Ocean(via the Alps, Southeast Europe, Turkey, Iran, Himalayas, Southeast Asia). It is believed to have been associated with the Maori Geosyncline in New Zealand. Suess called this ancient sea basin the Tethys Sea.

Its history is well known since the Triassic, but even in the Paleozoic traces of such a connection are noticeable, and many authors speak of proto- or paleo-Tethys. Tethys separated the northern continents (Eurasia and, possibly, a continuation North America, i.e. Laurasia) from southern continents, originally united to form Gondwana.

Between the two mentioned giant continental blocks of the primary “Protogen” there was, apparently, constant interaction for at least the last half a billion years. Different authors imagine these relationships in different ways. Proponents of continental drift, for example Argand, Wegener, believe that there was a constant convergence of the two original earth masses, which led to the subsidence of deep-sea depressions and ultimately to the formation of the Alpine folding, which arose at the beginning of the Late Cretaceous period and resumed in several phases of the Tertiary period.

According to others (for example, Staub, Glanzho), so-called “ebbs and flows” took place, i.e. processes of compression and expansion.

MEDITERRANEAN SEA, one of the largest seas in size. The adjective “Mediterranean” is widely used to describe peoples, countries, climates, vegetation; For many, the concept of “Mediterranean” is associated with a particular way of life or with an entire period in human history.

The Mediterranean Sea separates Europe, Africa and Asia, but it also closely connected Southern Europe, North Africa and Western Asia. The length of this sea from west to east is approx. 3700 km, and from north to south (at its widest point) - approx. 1600 km. On the northern coast are Spain, France, Italy, Slovenia, Croatia, Yugoslavia, Albania and Greece. A number of Asian countries – Turkey, Syria, Lebanon and Israel – reach the sea from the east. Finally, on south coast located in Egypt, Libya, Tunisia, Algeria and Morocco. The area of ​​the Mediterranean Sea is 2.5 million square meters. km, and since it is connected with other bodies of water only by narrow straits, it can be considered inland sea. In the west, through the Strait of Gibraltar, which is 14 km wide and up to 400 m deep, it has access to the Atlantic Ocean. In the northeast, the Dardanelles Strait, narrowing in places to 1.3 km, connects it with Sea of ​​Marmara and across the Bosphorus Strait - with Cherny. In the southeast, an artificial structure - the Suez Canal - connects the Mediterranean Sea with the Red Sea. These three narrow water passages have always had very great importance for trade, navigation and strategic purposes. At various times they were controlled - or sought to be controlled - by the British, French, Turks and Russians. The Romans of the Roman Empire called the Mediterranean Sea mare nostrum ("our sea")

The coastline of the Mediterranean Sea is highly indented, and numerous protrusions of land divide it into many semi-isolated water areas that have their own names. These seas include: Ligurian, located south of the Riviera and north of Corsica; Tyrrhenian Sea, enclosed between peninsular Italy, Sicily and Sardinia; Adriatic Sea, washing the shores of Italy, Slovenia, Croatia, Yugoslavia and Albania; Ionian Sea between Greece and southern Italy; Cretan Sea between the island of Crete and peninsular Greece; Aegean Sea between Turkey and Greece. There are also a number of large bays, for example Alicante - at east coast Spain; Lyon - 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 Tunisian - respectively, off the southeastern and northeastern coasts of Tunisia.

The modern Mediterranean Sea is a relic of the ancient Tethys Ocean, which was much wider and extended far to the east. Relics of the Tethys Ocean are also the Aral, Caspian, Black and Marmara seas, confined to its most deep depressions. It is likely that Tethys was once completely surrounded by land, and there was an isthmus between North Africa and the Iberian Peninsula, in the area of ​​​​the Strait of Gibraltar. The same land bridge connected southeastern Europe with Asia Minor. It is possible that the Bosporus, Dardanelles and Gibraltar straits were formed on the site of flooded river valleys, and many island chains, especially in the Aegean Sea, were connected to the mainland.

In the Mediterranean Sea there are western and eastern depressions. The border between them is drawn through the Calabrian ledge of the Apennine Peninsula, Sicily and the underwater Adventure Bank (up to 400 m deep), stretching 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 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 areas of the Mediterranean Sea is the Gulf of Lyon. The salinity of the sea varies widely, as less salty water comes from the Atlantic Ocean through the Strait of Gibraltar.

The tides here are low, but quite significant in very narrow straits and bays, especially during the full moon. However, quite strong currents are observed in the straits, directed both into and out of the Mediterranean Sea. Evaporation is higher than in the Atlantic Ocean or the Black Sea, so surface currents arise in the straits, carrying more fresh water to the Mediterranean Sea. At depths below these surface currents, countercurrents occur, but they do not compensate for the influx of water at the surface.

The bottom of the Mediterranean Sea in many places is composed of yellow carbonate silt, below which lies blue silt. Near the mouths of large rivers, the blue silts are overlain by deltaic deposits, which occupy a large area. The depths of the Mediterranean Sea vary greatly: the highest level - 5121 m - was recorded in the Hellenic deep-sea trench off the southern tip of Greece. The average depth of the western basin is 1430 m, and its shallowest part, the Adriatic Sea, has an average depth of only 242 m.

Above common surface The bottom of the Mediterranean Sea in some places rises large areas of dissected relief, 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 small islands in the same area - Elba, Pontine, Ischia and Capri; and to the north of Sicily - Stromboli and Lipari. Within the Eastern Mediterranean Basin is the island of Malta (south of Sicily), and further to the east are Crete and Cyprus. There are numerous small islands in the Ionian, Cretan and Aegean seas; Among them are the Ionian - to the west of mainland Greece, the Cyclades - to the east of the Peloponnese Peninsula and Rhodes - off the southwestern coast of Turkey.

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

The Mediterranean Sea is famous for its calm and beauty, but like other seas, it can be rough during certain seasons, and then big waves hitting the coast. The Mediterranean has long attracted people due to its favorable climate. The term "Mediterranean" is used to describe a climate with long, hot, clear, and dry summers and short, cool, wet winters. Many coastal areas of the Mediterranean Sea, especially the southern and eastern ones, have semiarid and arid climate features. In particular, semi-aridity with an abundance of clear sunny days is considered typical for the Mediterranean climate. However, in winter there are many cold days when damp, cold winds bring rain, drizzle and sometimes snow.

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

The island of Mallorca in the Balearic Islands group

The Mediterranean Sea is the only one in the World Ocean whose waters wash the shores of three parts of the world - Europe, Asia and Africa. Human exploration of the Mediterranean has a 4,000-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 of migration of peoples, trade, and the spread of cultures and religions. The sea directly and indirectly feeds the population of coastal states and provides them with work. Therefore, it is clear how important the state of the natural environment of this huge inland reservoir is. Meanwhile, the environmental situation here is increasingly causing concern. It’s not for nothing that the famous oceanologist Zh.I. Cousteau called the Mediterranean Sea a “garbage dump.”

Rock of Gibraltar

Nature. The Mediterranean Sea juts 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 rapids is about 300 m), connects it with the Atlantic Ocean, and through the even smaller straits of the Dardanelles and Bosporus (depths above the rapids 40-50 m), separated The Sea of ​​Marmara is connected to the Black Sea. The Suez Canal carries only transport connection between the Red and Mediterranean seas, on natural conditions the latter channel has no effect.

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, it 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: western and eastern (divided into central and eastern). The western part of the sea is connected to the eastern shallow Tunisian and narrow Messina Straits. Each of the basins includes several “sub-basins” called seas. This is 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, generally no wider than 40 km. The continental slope is predominantly very steep and cut by submarine 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 peak is 500 m below sea level. In the eastern basin of the sea there is a complexly dissected median ridge and a series of deep-sea depressions (near the Ionian Islands, south of Crete and Rhodes). One of these depressions has the greatest depth.

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

During the year, northwestern and western winds prevail over the sea, only in the southwest in summer - eastern ones. In winter, Atlantic cyclones often invade and cause storms. Some coastal areas of the sea are characterized by local winds. In the east there is a bora" - a cold north-east wind, sometimes reaching hurricane force; in the Gulf of Lions the mistral blows - a cold, dry north or north-east wind of great strength, having the same nature. In the Aegean Sea, stable winds are typical in the summer north winds- etesii. A hot sirocco wind often blows from African deserts. It carries a large amount of dust, and the air temperature rises to 40°C or more. The orography of coastal areas plays an important role in the formation of local winds. Strong local winds influence hydrological conditions in the sea. They cause surges of water in coastal areas and contribute to the development of density (convective) mixing processes.

The volcano island of Stromboli in the Tyrrhenian Sea

What does the water balance of the sea consist of? River flow, correlated with the size of the sea, is small - on average about 420 km3/year, 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 between the sea and the adjacent part of the Atlantic Ocean occurs through the Strait of Gibraltar. The high threshold in the strait isolates the sea from the invasion of deep Atlantic waters. Water from the ocean enters the sea only in the upper layer 150-180 m thick, and deeper, saltier Mediterranean waters flow into the Atlantic. Through the Bosphorus and Dardanelles straits, desalinated Black Sea waters penetrate into the Mediterranean Sea in the surface layer, and in the deep layers, salty and dense water spreads from the Mediterranean Sea to the Black Sea. Moreover, the volume of water exchange through the Strait of Gibraltar is many times higher than in the Black Sea straits.

The formation of the general circulation of water in the surface layer of the Mediterranean Sea involves such main factors as the nature of the winds, coastal runoff and the slope of the sea level. In addition, the ruggedness of the coastline and bottom topography have a noticeable impact. These surface Atlantic waters, entering the sea through the Strait of Gibraltar, move east along southern shores in the form of a meandering current. Through the Strait of Tunis the main current passes in eastern part 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 counterclockwise gyres are formed.

The surface water temperature of the Mediterranean Sea generally increases from northwest to 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 Lyon to 27-28°C (and even higher) in the Levant Sea. With depth, spatial differences in temperature quickly 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 a 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 a horizon of 2000 m it is 8-10°C higher than in the ocean.

Due to freshwater deficit and strong evaporation from the surface, the Mediterranean Sea is one of the saltiest in the World Ocean. Its salinity almost everywhere exceeds 38‰, reaching eastern shores up to 39-39.5‰. The average salinity of the sea is about 38‰, while the ocean is 35‰.

An important hydrological feature of the Mediterranean Sea is good ventilation of the bottom layers of water, despite the great depths. This is due to the active spread of density (convective) mixing, which develops in the winter season when the sea surface cools. Convection penetration depth into different areas the sea is not the same. Its main foci are Northern part Algerian-Provencal basin, Cretan basin of the Aegean Sea (convection depth of 2000 m or more), Adriatic Sea (more than 1000 m). It is in these areas that deep Mediterranean waters are formed. In the Tyrrhenian, Ionian and Levantine seas, winter vertical circulation covers a layer of up to 200 m, and in other parts of the Mediterranean Sea it is limited to the upper layer, mainly up to 100 m. The intensive development of convective mixing in the sea (especially in these “foci”) ensures good aeration of the entire 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 nutrient nutrients, since their supply 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 comparable to productive areas 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. Common shellfish include oysters, mussels (they are specially grown on the coasts of Spain, France, and Italy), as well as octopus and squid. Crustaceans are represented by shrimp, crabs, and lobsters. Among the marine mammals in the sea, there are dolphins, sea turtles and the monk seal, the population of which is currently on the verge of extinction. Life in the sea is unevenly distributed. It is most developed near the coast, especially in areas influenced by river flow. With a favorable combination of various factors, local areas of active fishing are formed in the sea.

Economy. The territories of 17 states overlook the Mediterranean Sea, including such industrially developed countries, like France, Italy, Spain, Turkey, Israel, Egypt and others. More than 130 million people permanently live on the coast, which is about 45 thousand km long. Up to 100 million tourists are added to them every year. All this determines the important role Mediterranean region in the global economy. The sea serves as the most important transport route that connects the Mediterranean and Black Sea states with countries of all continents. Through major Mediterranean ports (Barcelona, ​​Genoa, Piraeus, Beirut, Haifa, Alexandria and others) the main cargo and passenger traffic, both cabotage and long voyage. A special place in transport links occupies the Suez Canal - shortest way, connecting the Mediterranean Sea with 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 has been identified off the coast of Spain, France, Italy, Greece and African states. Exploration drilling is carried out on the shelves of the Adriatic and Aegean seas, African coast.

Fishing and the extraction of seafood (molluscs, crustaceans) at 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 islands, on banks and in areas where deep waters enriched with nutrients rise to the surface.

The most important economic sector in the Mediterranean is recreation. The sea coast is one of the world's main regions of mass recreation and tourism. Basic resort areas 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 characteristics of the internal Mediterranean Sea, the high degree of its economic development, and the high population density on the coasts could not but affect the ecological state of the basin, which is of great concern. Chemical pollution has the most significant impact on the ecology of the sea.

The largest amount of pollutants enters the Mediterranean Sea from the shores, especially in areas with high development of production (industry, transport, agriculture), recreation and tourism. It is here that waste from economic activities accumulates most quickly, a significant part of which ends up in the sea in various ways. A serious source of marine pollution is the runoff of more than 70 large and small rivers, carrying industrial and domestic waste from vast areas of drainage basins. Offshore oil production makes a significant contribution to the pollution of some coastal areas. During exploration and production drilling, drilling fluids that are harmful to organisms enter the water. When operating wells, accidents at drilling rigs and, as a consequence, oil spills on the sea surface are not uncommon. Tanker transportation of oil and petroleum products also significantly pollutes the marine environment. According to available data, from 500 thousand to 1 million tons of oil and petroleum products enter the sea annually.

As evidenced World organization Health (WHO), in the early 90s, the following amounts of the main types of pollutants (in tons) entered the Mediterranean Sea annually from various sources on the shore: 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 from area to area. In open waters, the water is still quite clean, but the coastal areas are most polluted, in particular in the vicinity of river mouths. A typical example is a coastal area near the mouth of the Tiber, where the river carries the waste of the three-million-year-old Rome and where the number of pathogenic bacteria exceeds the permissible norm by an average of 200 times. Thousands of tons of various pollutants enter the Adriatic every year with the waters of the Po River.

Near major cities Local pollution zones are formed associated with the discharge of untreated municipal wastewater and industrial waste into the sea. Chronically high level pollution is observed in the gulfs 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 areas of water are polluted with oil. It is found in the sea in the form of thin surface films, oil lumps and clots. Thus, significant concentrations of oil clots were discovered 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 led to the death of many of its inhabitants. Significant environmental damage is caused by fishing in excess of permissible standards; As a result, catches of valuable fish species are declining.

It cannot be said that society is indifferently observing the negative phenomena occurring 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 the natural ecological state. With the participation of the UN and UNEP, since the 70s, several international programs have been implemented, covering all major ecological problems Mediterranean region. These include the Blue Plan for action in the region, adopted more than 100 years ago, which includes a program of long-term scientific research and monitoring, taking into account socio-economic aspects, the development of a set of measures to protect 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 the framework of UNEP. The results of the work and further plans are regularly discussed at representative meetings and forums. The last international conference dedicated 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 strong storm surge

Venice needs protection. This fairytale city, as if ghostly floating above the greenish waters of the lagoon, with unique palaces, squares, and canals, is in danger. There is a real threat of losing the priceless historical heritage of humanity.

The main problem 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 surge southern 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 above the level of St. Mark's Square. Fortunately, this has not yet been observed, but on November 4, 1966, the water level rose to 1.94 m. On this day, St. Mark's Square found itself under a layer of water about 1 m thick. Already when the level rose by 1.1 m, it was flooded up to 15% of the city's area, and when it rises by 1.3 m, water covers up to 60% of the area of ​​Venice.

Storm surges have always been observed in Venice. Normal cases of “high waters” occur up to 50 times per winter; very high surges exceeding 1.3 m occurred about 20 times in the 20th century. However, since the 60s, the frequency and height of surges have increased, which prompted scientists to intensify research into this dangerous phenomenon.

Scientific work has shown that the progressive increase in water levels in Venice can be due to two main reasons: a general rise in sea levels and a lowering of the earth's surface within the city. As a result of slow fluctuations, sea levels have 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 subsidence of the earth's surface in the Venice region is the pumping of groundwater for technical needs, which began in the 50s. Since the 70s, water pumping has stopped, but nevertheless, since the beginning of the twentieth century, Venice has irreversibly dropped by 30 cm! The combined effects of abnormal 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 flooding in Venice, different variants actions: erection of barriers against surges, weakening their magnitude or raising the city. Raising flooded areas of the city (at least the area of ​​​​Piazza San Marco) by at least 40 cm in order to protect against the most frequent surges is very technically difficult, risky and expensive. This was shown by an experiment involving pumping sludge and cement into the soil.

Reducing surges is possible by narrowing the passages into the Venice Lagoon, which was confirmed by modeling. However, in this case, 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 closure of the Neva Bay, undertaken to protect 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”. In this case, a storm warning must be received at least 12 hours before the surge.

Discussion various projects did not lead to a final decision. In its development, the main goal is to provide a favorable ecological situation in the Venetian Lagoon, which has not yet been sufficiently studied. 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 land levels where possible, as well as more effective cleaning of canals.

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

Its area can easily absorb Western Europe, color – to surprise with its beauty and richness, the sound of waves – to calm, and fishing – to bring pleasure...

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

1. Where is the Mediterranean Sea located?

The Mediterranean Sea is located between Asia, Africa and Europe, surrounded by continents, and only through the Strait of Gibraltar is it connected to the North Atlantic, the Bosporus Strait to the Black Sea, and through the Suez Canal is it bordered by the Red Sea.

2. Which countries does it wash?

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

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

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

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

3. History and secrets of the Mediterranean Sea

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

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

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

Educational film on English language about the Mediterranean Sea

4. Natural characteristics of the Mediterranean Sea

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

Salinity level of some seas:

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

4.1 Climate

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

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

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

The temperature in the southern part of the sea in January ranges from 14 to 16 degrees, in the northern part - from 7 to 10 degrees. In summer (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 is from 0 to 3 points, in winter – 6 points.

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

4.2 Bottom topography

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

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

The largest bays of the Mediterranean Sea:

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

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

4.3 Water

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

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

4.4 Ebbs and flows

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

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

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

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

With forecast for Mediterranean wave heights, tides at Mediterranean coast 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 living conditions.

5.1 Plant life

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

5.2 Fauna

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

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

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

5.3 Fishes of the Mediterranean Sea

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

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

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

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

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

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

5.4 Dangerous inhabitants of the Mediterranean Sea

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

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

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

6. Coastal features

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

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

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

6.1 Israel's sea coast

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

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

6.2 Port cities of Israel

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

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

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

The ancient Mediterranean Sea had many names:

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

This sea includes in its vastness a lot shallow 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 sponge”, since the dried skeletons of this inhabitant were used as washcloths.

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

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

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

9. Useful links

- a lot has been written in the book of universal misconceptions interesting facts about the Mediterranean Sea.

- an interesting article characterizing the Mediterranean Sea.

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