The Mediterranean Sea or the Mediterranean Sea is an inland sea in the middle of the Mediterranean region, which is partially connected to the Atlantic Ocean.
This sea is landlocked by three continents - Europe, Africa and Asia.
Marked in blue, the Mediterranean Sea has been the subject of human attraction for centuries, although many remain unfamiliar with it.
For example, how many people know the Mediterranean Sea is home to many species of whales, including fin whales, which are the second largest and fastest whale in the world.
Interesting Facts about the Mediterranean Sea
The Mediterranean Sea is formed together with the Mediterranean region, which arises as a result of tectonic activity when the African and Eurasian plates collide with each other.
This sea witnesses the emergence of some of the oldest civilizations in the world, with the Aegean civilization being one example.
Throughout history, the Mediterranean Sea has been an important travel route to the Atlantic.
1. Etymology
The name of the sea comes from the Latin word 'Mediterraneus', which means 'inland' or 'in the middle of the earth'.
The word Mediterraneus can be broken down into two words 'medius', which means 'middle' and 'terra', which means 'earth'.
The sea was so named by the Romans who thought it was in the middle of the earth.
2. Size
The Mediterranean Sea has an area of 2.5 million square km and has an average depth of 1,500 meters.
The deepest point of the Mediterranean Sea is Calypso Deep in the Ionian Sea, with a depth of 5,267 meters.
3. Geographical Characteristics
Most of the Mediterranean Sea is surrounded by land, except for a gap of about 15 km wide called the Strait of Gibraltar, which connects it to the Atlantic Ocean.
In the east, the Mediterranean Sea is connected to the Marmara Sea and the Black Sea, and is connected to the Red Sea by the Suez Canal to the southeast.
4. Islands
The Mediterranean Sea has several large islands, such as Cyprus and Rhodes in the eastern Mediterranean, Sicily and Malta in the central Mediterranean, and Ibiza and Majorca in the western Mediterranean.
5. Coastline
The Mediterranean Sea has a coastline that spans 46,000 km, through several countries in Europe, Africa and Asia.
Some major countries along the coast of the Mediterranean Sea include France, Spain, Croatia, Italy, Egypt, Greece, Turkey, Israel, Algeria, Morocco and Cyprus.
The Mediterranean Sea also has some of the most beautiful beaches in Europe, such as Capriccioli Beach (Costa Smeralda), Cala d'Hort (Ibiza), and Navagio beach (Zakynthos).
6. Regional Divisions
The body of water is divided into two subregions by the Strait of Sicily, a shallow lower back that lies between Sicily and Tunisia.
This subregional covers the Western Mediterranean, covers an area of 800 thousand square km, and the Eastern Mediterranean, which covers an area of 1.6 million square km.
Each subregional is subdivided into several smaller regions.
7. Other Features
Being a landlocked sea, the Mediterranean Sea has unique features.
You will rarely see normal sea characteristics in this sea. Tides in the Mediterranean Sea, for example, are not as strong as in the open sea.
The climate in the Mediterranean region is also influenced by the land climate that surrounds it.
The climate in the Mediterranean region is known as the Mediterranean climate, which is a subtype of a subtropical climate; mostly wet with winter and summer.
8. Biodiversity
The Mediterranean Sea is known for its unique ecosystem and high level of endemism.
This sea has more endemic species than its neighbor, the Atlantic Ocean.
According to estimates, about 20-30 percent of species found in the Mediterranean Sea are endemic or not found elsewhere.
Monk seal, an endangered species known to be endemic in the Mediterranean Sea.
The Mediterranean Sea is also home to fin whales, sperm whales, dolphins, short-beaked dolphins, tuna, seahorses, etc.
In addition, the basin of the Mediterranean Sea also acts as a breeding site for various species such as loggerhead and green turtles, and a stopover location for migratory birds that pass through this area.
9. Pollution and Pollution
The sea surrounded by land brings its own uniqueness and misery.
With a narrow escape route, anything that is discharged into water bodies (eg pollutants) will remain for a long time.
According to the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP), 80 percent of the Mediterranean Sea pollution sources come from the surrounding land.
In addition to land activities, the sea is also threatened by overfishing and sea transportation.
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