The most visited Mediterranean country: which Mediterranean countries are loved by tourists. Mediterranean Sea: map, coastal countries, islands

The Mediterranean Sea is a semi-enclosed sea, located at the junction of three continents: Europe, Asia and Africa. There are 22 UN member states on its shores, of which the longest coasts in the Mediterranean Sea are Spain, France, Italy and Greece in Europe, Turkey in Asia, Egypt, Libya and Algeria in Africa. In the waters of the Mediterranean Sea, up to eleven separate seas are distinguished, the largest of which is the Levantine Sea with an area of ​​320 thousand km², in whose waters the island of Cyprus is located, and the smallest is the Ligurian Sea, with an area of ​​15 thousand km², but on the shores of the Ligurian Sea there are such large port cities as Genoa and Nice.

You can get to the Mediterranean Sea from Russia in different ways: by land, by air and by water. When traveling by car or bus, you will have the opportunity to visit Belarus, Poland, further to Germany, from there to France, along the way you can visit the Czech Republic, Austria, Switzerland, Italy and Spain. The duration of such a trip depends only on the route and time spent walking around European cities. When flying with leading airlines, it all depends on the country on whose coast you want to enjoy the waters of the Mediterranean Sea: a flight from Moscow to Monaco, Barcelona, ​​or Athens will take about 4 hours, but to Naples, Rome or Tunisia there are direct flights from Moscow no, you will have to fly with at least one transfer and the flight will take from seven hours to a day. And for those who prefer yacht trips, a trip to the Mediterranean Sea is an excellent opportunity to spend a couple of months sailing. Having sailed from the Crimea, from Novorossiysk or Sochi to the Black Sea, all that remains is to get to the Bosphorus Strait, walk around Istanbul, then to the Sea of ​​Marmara and from there, through the Dardanelles Strait, enter the waters of the Aegean Sea and you can sail to any port of the Mediterranean Sea.

The Mediterranean Sea has a developed fishing industry and is a real paradise for tourists. In addition, a new opportunity has recently emerged for wealthy citizens to secure an excellent vacation on the islands of the Mediterranean Sea. Due to internal economic problems, Greece began selling off its islands in the Ionian and Aegean Seas. Hollywood star Brad Pitt and his wife Angelina Jolie have already bought one for themselves. However, Greece knows the price of its islands: the “cheapest” of them costs more than three million dollars. But, if for some reason you don’t have three million bucks, or just don’t need an island, you can rent a house in Malta for just $350 a month.

Mediterranean resorts

Storm on the coast of Crete

The resort town of Budva in Montenegro on the shores of the Mediterranean Sea

Shark on Cretan beach

Monaco Beach, Monte Carlo

A fish on the Mediterranean beach of Monaco loves a bun

Malta is the pearl of the Mediterranean!

The best resorts, the best vacation spots

In our latitudes, the beach holiday season in September is coming to an end. However, the map of the Mediterranean Sea is full of a wide variety of sunbathing spots until late autumn.

Let's talk about what the Mediterranean Sea and its map have in store for us for our vacation?

Firstly, these are gentle sea waves. Here you can relax in a variety of ways: lie on the beach, go on interesting excursions, find out about local and world-famous attractions, buy all kinds of gifts, learn more than a dozen foreign languages, try a lot of all sorts of delicious Mediterranean and Oriental cuisine.

Mediterranean Sea: Holiday Map

Benefits of a holiday on the Mediterranean Sea :

Where are the best quiet beaches in the Mediterranean?

You know, the Mediterranean Sea and its best beaches are not always noisy. The northeast coast (Albania and Croatia) will give you many quiet and cozy spots for a beach holiday.

The diversity of these places will delight you: the most beautiful coastlines, sandy and pebble beaches on the Mediterranean shores are carefully surrounded by rocks that do not allow the sea winds to rage and frighten vacationers; respectful attitude from the local population, special courtesy, excellent Mediterranean, Slavic and Turkish cuisine (with a large selection and a large volume of delicious dishes).

The ancient island of Malta is a separate matter. Here you will find not only excellent beaches, but also the opportunity to learn English and ride state-of-the-art agricultural machinery across the island’s well-groomed fields.

Mediterranean Sea: a fun and noisy holiday

Suitable for such a pastime:

You can go to these countries for two or three days, or for an eternity...

Advantages of a beach holiday in the fun and noisy countries of the Mediterranean:

• hotels with a wide variety of service levels and prices
• magnificent huge beaches
• there is something to see (well-established excursion programs)

Flaws:

• some intrusiveness of representatives of the local population.

Mediterranean Sea: Exotic Holiday Map

If we are already talking about exotic holidays, then let's move along the map of the Mediterranean Sea closer to North Africa. This is where exoticism and colorfulness await you, complemented by the high level of European service of local hotels.

Vacation tourists immediately feel in these unusual places the intricacies of cultures, customs and traditions of the mysterious East and the advanced West.

Your travel and vacation program should definitely include:

• relaxing on the beach
• shopping for exotic souvenirs
• try everything you can from oriental sweets

Which countries on the map of the Mediterranean Sea (in its southeastern part) deserve your attention?

Of course, these are Tunisia and Morocco. Among all the Arab countries that used to be part of the Arab Caliphate and are now members of the Maghreb Union (united by Islam), Morocco and Tunisia have excellent infrastructure for a beach holiday: cozy hotels, a well-equipped coastline, in general an exotic and comfortable holiday in the East...

Mediterranean Sea and original beach holidays

If you are fundamentally different from the average vacationer and want to sunbathe only on to you famous beaches, open a map of the Mediterranean Sea and take a look at the coast of Algeria.

At first glance, this is not a beach country at all, much less a tourist country. But we are not looking for easy ways?!

Originals - travelers will receive fantastic pictures of natural landscapes and human architecture as a reward for their courage.

And in addition to a personal beach, the Sahara Desert is a huge living organism that occupies more than 80% of the territory of Algeria.

Holidays on the Mediterranean Sea in Israel: the best beaches

Next we will talk about the Mediterranean Sea and its map of the coast of Israel. Probably, when you get here, you will immediately notice a lot of the most contradictory phenomena: modern chic and the conservatism of Orthodox Israel. This country will gladly offer you the best beaches of the Mediterranean Sea and the best nightlife on its coast. And excursion tours and attractions are beyond praise: just look at the biblical holy places ...

Also add exceptional ease of communication: Russian-speaking population and service staff!

And finally, you can diversify your beach and family vacation in Israel by visiting another sea - the Dead Sea, whose waters have miraculous powers for healing, and go diving in the warm sea depths of the Red Sea.

Oh yes, we forgot about one Israeli sunny highlight... From which they make a divine drink - wine! Be sure to try...

It is not easy to find any other place on our planet other than the Mediterranean, where crowds of multinational tourists strive to get to throughout the calendar year. Thanks to the incredible variety of Mediterranean resort areas, travelers - even the most demanding ones - will not have much difficulty finding wonderful beaches here for a pleasant and at the same time useful pastime.

It is not easy for tourists to determine which of the picturesque cities of this wonderful region are more worthy of visiting than others, because in each of them vacationers will find a variety of entertainment and the delights of relaxing on long sandy and pebble coasts. And yet the most active and knowledgeable travelers manage to highlight several Mediterranean resort towns that are considered real pearls this amazing region.

Travelers who choose a holiday in hospitable Cyprus are attracted to these regions, first of all, by the opportunities for a quiet pastime, necessary for many contemporaries, away from noisy and overpopulated large and medium-sized cities. However, for the majority of young tourists who come to picturesque Ayia Napa - a cozy resort town famous for its fine sandy coast - these places are primarily associated with vibrant and varied entertainment.

Most often, young people prefer to relax noisily and cheerfully on Nissi, a fairly crowded two-kilometer beach. Thanks to fashionable British DJs, in the evenings almost the entire coast turns into a stylish disco, where well-known melodies of various styles and trends of advanced Western European music are played.

The beach also offers plenty of exciting activities for passionate fans of secluded fishing and windsurfing, a favorite among young travelers. The same entertainment awaits vacationers on the glamorous Makronissos - a fairly long sandy beach, known for its sparse crowds and excellent conditions for diving, which has become fashionable.

The resort will delight all vacationers with the variety of local club life. It is unlikely that any young traveler would not want to attend fun parties in a medieval fortress or a cozy ice cave. It is in this exotic style that the halls and facades of the giant Castle and the small and cozy Ice, two famous clubs, are decorated. Both here and in other similar entertainment establishments of the hospitable resort, vacationers can meet famous European DJs and progressive musicians.

Russian tourists have long been accustomed to relaxing in the magnificent resorts of the picturesque Turkish Riviera. In each of them, vacationers will find a wide variety of entertainment both on the sand and pebble beaches and on the almost always warm azure sea. Most often, most tourists who know Turkish resorts well dream of a serene pastime in Kemer and its picturesque surroundings.

Both in the town itself and in the neighboring villages, multinational travelers will be surprised by the harmonious coexistence of ancient buildings and modern, well-maintained pebble beaches. On the sea, near the central embankment of the resort, you can always see many luxury yachts, for which groups of wealthy Europeans come here to ride. Thanks to the dense pine forests and orange orchards, the local beaches look like giant, well-kept parks.

Young people love the small-pebble beaches of cozy Tekirova and Olympos, famous for its ancient buildings, two hospitable villages included in the resort area of ​​the above-mentioned Kemer. Young travelers are attracted to the last of them not only by noisy evenings at local discos, but also by a unique opportunity to live for a while in one of the tree houses.

Here, vacationers can unexpectedly become grateful participants in a short but fascinating journey into the little-known past, visiting the remains of the Pirate Fortress and the ruins of a once gigantic temple complex. Adult travelers and their children will be delighted by the shallow sea and cleanliness of several sand and pebble beaches of the mentioned Tekirova.

There are real legends about “Moonlight” - a picturesque park complex located along the long sandy coast of Kemer. Little tourists are drawn here primarily by a sincere desire to attend a bright and memorable performance at their favorite Dolphinarium. Adult travelers also always lift their spirits during the incendiary performance of two talented dolphins and a good-natured sea lion.

In endless streams of travelers of all ages are heading to the territory of “Dino” - a giant park that looks like a fantastic city. Walking past the huge figures of dinosaurs moving and frightening with strange sounds, visitors feel like they find themselves on our planet during the period of dominance of these gigantic creatures.

For most Russian travelers, holidays on the North African coast of the Mediterranean Sea are associated primarily with well-developed Egyptian resorts. But none of them are associated with the Mediterranean coast. Throughout the African Mediterranean, tourists are attracted by the long coastal strip, on which several fairly famous resorts of ancient Tunisia are comfortably located.

Most often, lovers of distant travels choose a serene holiday on the ten-kilometer coast of ancient Sousse. Pure white sand and small waves of the turquoise sea can be enjoyed by holidaymakers on Bou Jafar, one of two crowded beaches in this Tunisian resort. There are also many regular and floating fish restaurants here, always crowded with overseas visitors. On Las Vegas, another fine sandy beach of hospitable Sousse, fans of fashionable windsurfing will be delighted by the rather strong waves here.

You can learn about the rich history of Tunisia, associated with the name of the famous and not fully explored Carthage, by visiting Medina, which is striking in its ancient age. This is what the Arabs call the ancient quarters of the city, where travelers have a unique opportunity to find themselves inside the fairly well-preserved Ribat, a fortress often visited by tourists. In the evenings, resort guests flock in droves to the romantic musical fountains located in nearby Port El Kantaoui.

The coast of this famous suburb has long been favored by numerous divers. To visit the local “Hannibal Park”, which has an amazing variety of attractions, is a sincere dream of little travelers. Becoming miniature car drivers or children's train drivers is a real big and exciting adventure for naughty children and their caring parents.

Vacationers create whole legends about the variety of holidays in the Spanish resort areas of the Mediterranean Sea. Travelers of all ages most often mention the beaches of picturesque Salou, a calm resort town comfortably located on the famous Costa Dorado.

Travelers usually flock to these wonderful lands not for the sake of a luxurious pastime on the local beaches, but with the goal of visiting the famous “Port Aventura” - a complex of attractions loved by both children and their compassionate parents. To find yourself in the Enchanted Garden, the intricate Labyrinth of the Wild West or other unusual areas of this giant theme park is the sincere desire of not only young travelers, but also representatives of other generations of different ages.

The coast here, decorated with flowers and palm groves, is always both crowded and interesting. In the morning and afternoon, travelers enjoy a pleasant pastime on the local fine sandy beaches. On the kilometer-long Eastern Beach, specially equipped and fenced-off areas await parents and their naughty children.

Western European travelers, primarily British, can always be found on Long Beach. Lovers of solitude and silence will enjoy a pleasant and relaxing holiday on the miniature Lengudents and Capellans, cut off from other places by rocks - two cozy sandy beaches.

Among the numerous French Mediterranean resorts, Russian travelers have truly reverent feelings for luxurious Nice, which is closely connected with compatriots who emigrated to these parts. Along the Promenade des Anglais, favored by multinational tourists, there are several wonderful large-pebble beaches. Each of them belongs to one of the magnificent hotels located on the coast.

On the Blue Beach, located in the central part of the resort, vacationers can enjoy not only the delights of sunbathing, but also the exquisite taste of drinks that are served among vacationers by the waiters of the local luxurious restaurant. Practically no different conditions await travelers on the long Galion, wide Neptune and other cozy beaches of Nice.

Divers who have chosen the resort are never disappointed with their holiday here. Of the three local diving centers, they most often gather at Club nautique - a popular club, relatively expensive, but suitable even for picky fans of this extreme entertainment. Nice will delight connoisseurs of high art with a wonderful opportunity to become grateful spectators of the repeatedly reconstructed Opera House or visitors to the Museum of Modern Art, which always surprises with its avant-garde exhibitions.

In the evening in summer, not only tourists, but almost the entire city can be seen on the Promenade des Anglais, brightly lit with colorful lights. Travelers are no less delighted by walks along the medieval Place Massena. It surprises with the harmonious combination of ancient buildings standing here and colorful statues located on special pillars, as if they came here from a science fiction film.

Which resort on the Mediterranean coast is better?

Thanks to the large number and variety of Mediterranean resorts, located on the territories of countries markedly different from each other, it is both easy and not entirely easy for travelers to choose a place for their long-awaited vacation. The difficulties lie, first of all, in almost identical conditions of relaxation and comfort.

Each resort tries to keep up with its neighbors, preparing for travelers many, often not entirely foreseen, opportunities for entertainment and a pleasant pastime. But it is precisely because of the truly fierce competition that exists here that travelers to any of the mentioned and many other Mediterranean resort towns always remain enchanted by a wonderful holiday on this famous coast.

Mediterranean Sea surrounded on all sides by earth. One glance at the map is enough to agree with this judgment. This was also known ancient Greek scientist.

Features of geographical location and climate

Mediterranean Sea it's not named in vain, from all sides it touches with continents.

This has not yet been found anywhere in the world. large indoor pool, which is connected to the ocean by only a tiny, for this scale, bridge - Strait of Gibraltar.

The sea in its own way geographical location is between: Asia, Europe, Africa.

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

It is connected by channels and straits with Black, Red And Seas of Marmara.

Concerning bottom relief, then everything is typical for the sea peculiarities:

1. continental slope cut by canyons;
2. shelf narrow.

Part Mediterranean Sea includes inland seas:

• Aegean;
• Alboran;
• Adriatic;
• Balearic;
• Ionian;
• Ligurian;
• Tyrrhenian.

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

In summer observed here dry fog and a small amount precipitation.

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

Countries and islands

To the Mediterranean include vast territories of countries and islands. We give examples of some of them below.

Countries

• Türkiye. There are resorts here that are very popular with Russian tourists. Most of the service staff are talking in Russian, which simplifies holidays in a foreign country for our tourists. There are a lot of excellent ones here beaches, inexpensive hotels and one of the best in the world kitchens. The reservoir washes the following major Turkish cities - Mersin, Istanbul, Antalya And Izmir.
• Italy. It is located in the western Mediterranean. People come here to eat delicious pizza And spaghetti and also enjoy warm sun. Resort towns are considered Rome, Sicily And Milan.
• Spain. Ibiza, Barcelona And Majorca- these are exactly the settlements where travelers come who want to have fun and have a good time. Especially it concerns youth, loving noisy parties.
• Croatia. A country attractive for tourists, first of all, quickly gaining momentum yachting. For this purpose the state allocates multi-million dollar investment.
• Montenegro. The beach is especially worth a look Ada Boyana. Here the purest sand, which can only be found throughout Adriatic. In addition, tourism is actively developing here among nudists.
• Albania. Chic kitchen, beautiful landscapes– this is how local resorts are characterized.

In ancient times it was believed that the Mediterranean Sea was located in the center of the world. The Roman aborigines called it Inland Sea, since all its shores were conquered by them.

• Morocco. Intersect here European And Islamic traditions and cultures. This fact attracts tourists. According to statistics, people also come here to see cultural attractions. Particularly popular Casablanca.
• Tunisia. Ancients museums, mysterious artifacts, monuments architecture, memorable markets– at local resorts you can’t find any miracles.

Islands

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

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

Scientists have found out that due to the catastrophic floods, which occurred 5.3 million years ago, is precisely filling occurred Mediterranean Sea. In two years such a large water basin was formed!

Eastern Mediterranean

Most often to Eastern Mediterranean include the shores of Greece, Italy and Turkey, this the opinion is wrong. If we approach this issue from a geographical point of view and look at the map, it turns out that the Eastern Mediterranean includes:

1. Syria;
2. Palestine;
3. Cyprus;
4. Lebanon;
5. Jordan.
6. Israel;

Pros and cons of holidays on the Mediterranean Sea

On the Mediterranean Sea ideal to relax in September. At this time already the heat is subsiding, and the water remains warm. An additional advantage is that the reservoir contains a large amount healthy salts And No dangerous poisonous plants And animals.

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

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

There are no cons. Unless, of course, you consider the scorching summer sun a disadvantage.

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.

It divides Europe, Africa and Asia, but it also closely connected Southern Europe, Northern 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 the southern coast are 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 an 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 the Sea of ​​Marmara and, through the Bosporus Strait, with the Black Sea. In the southeast, an artificial structure - the Suez Canal - connects the Mediterranean Sea with the Red Sea. These three narrow water passages have always been very important 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").

Coastline Mediterranean Sea strongly 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; the 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 - off the eastern coast of 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.

Modern 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 deepest 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 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 surface layer is approx. 12° C in February and 24° C in August, and in the east – 17° C and 27° C, respectively. One of the coldest and stormiest areas 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.

Tides are low here, 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 fresher 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.

Bottom 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. Depths Mediterranean Sea very different: the highest elevation - 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 the general bottom surface Mediterranean Sea In some places, significant areas of dissected 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 - to the west of the Apennine Peninsula, as well as a number of small islands in the same area - Elba, Pontine, Ischia and Capri; and 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 major river flowing into this sea from the south.

The Mediterranean Sea is renowned for its calm and beauty, but like other seas, it can be rough during certain seasons, causing large waves to hit 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 Mediterranean Sea, especially the southern and eastern ones, are characterized by 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, the Adriatic coast of Croatia with numerous islands, the shores of Greece and Lebanon, where steep mountain slopes approach the sea itself, are especially picturesque. Important trade routes and cultural spread passed through the main islands of the eastern Mediterranean - 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.

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

Fauna Mediterranean Sea characterized by great species diversity, but the number of representatives of the department. there are few species. There are kaki, one type of seal (the white-bellied seal); sea ​​turtle. There are 550 species of fish (sharks, mackerel, herring, anchovies, mullet, coryphenidae, tuna, bonito, horse mackerel, etc.). About 70 species of endemic fish, including stingrays, anchovy species, gobies, and mora. blennies, wrasse and needlefish. Of the edible shellfish, the most important are the oyster, the Mediterranean-Black Sea mussel, and the sea date. Of the invertebrates, octopuses, squids, sepia, crabs, lobsters are common; numerous species of jellyfish and siphonophores; In some areas, especially in the Aegean Sea, sponges and red coral are found.

Mediterranean coastal countries:

• Spain
• France
• Monaco
• Italy
• Malta
• Montenegro
• Croatia
• Slovenia
• Bosnia
• Albania
• Greece
• Bulgaria
• Romania
• Ukraine
• Russia
• Georgia
• Türkiye
• Syria
• Lebanon
• Israel
• Egypt
• Libya
• Tunisia
• Algeria
• Morocco

Largest islands of the Mediterranean Sea:

• Balearic
• Corsica
• Sardinia
• Sicily