Countless civilizations were born, flourished and died around the Mediterranean Sea, so it is rightfully called the cradle of a thousand peoples. Due to its geographical location, it still plays a huge role in the economy of a number of countries today, being one of the most navigable seas on our planet.
Facts about the Mediterranean Sea
- The Mediterranean Sea only seems clean when you swim somewhere on the Spanish or Greek coast. In fact, of all the seas, it is the most polluted.
- Surrounded on all sides by land, the Mediterranean Sea washes the shores of as many as 22 countries — more than any other.
- In some places, the depth of the Mediterranean Sea exceeds five kilometers.
- More ships rest on the bottom of the Mediterranean Sea than on the bottom of any other (interesting facts about the seas).
- The length of the Mediterranean coastline is about 46 thousand kilometers, which is almost twice as long as the length of the entire coastline of the African continent.
- The Mediterranean Sea was formed when a rock mass in the Strait of Gibraltar sank, and ocean waters filled a huge depression in a few years.
- In ancient Rome, people called this sea not «Mediterranean», but «Our». However, then few people could challenge their rights to this maritime space.
- In Turkey, this sea is also called non-Mediterranean — the Turks call it White.
- During hurricane winds, waves in the Mediterranean Sea reach seven to eight meters in height (interesting facts about hurricanes).
- Due to the climate in the Mediterranean, often you can see mirages.
- After the Suez Canal was dug, connecting the Red Sea with the Mediterranean, an exchange of flora and fauna took place between these seas (interesting facts about the Red Sea).
- In More than five and a half hundred different species of fish live in the waters of the Mediterranean Sea.
- The area of the Mediterranean Sea is larger than the area of many European countries. However, not only European.