Mediterranean Sea
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The Mediterranean Sea is a sea connected to the Atlantic Ocean, surrounded by Europe, Africa, and Asia. It is the largest enclosed sea in the world, with a surface area of 2.5 million square kilometers (965,000 square miles). The Mediterranean Sea has been a center of human civilization for thousands of years, and its history is full of rich and diverse cultures. Today, the Mediterranean Sea is a popular tourist destination, and its waters are home to a wide variety of marine life.
History of the Mediterranean Sea
The Mediterranean Sea was formed about 5.3 million years ago, when the African and Eurasian plates collided. This collision caused the Tethys Sea, which once covered the area, to be cut off from the Atlantic Ocean. Over time, the Mediterranean Sea evaporated, leaving behind a series of salt flats. About 5.6 million years ago, the Atlantic Ocean broke through the Strait of Gibraltar and refilled the Mediterranean Sea. The Mediterranean Sea has been a center of human civilization for thousands of years. It was the birthplace of the ancient Greek and Roman civilizations, and it has been a major trade route for centuries. The Mediterranean Sea has also been the site of many wars and conflicts, and its history is full of rich and diverse cultures.
Geography of the Mediterranean Sea
The Mediterranean Sea is surrounded by Europe, Africa, and Asia. It is connected to the Atlantic Ocean by the Strait of Gibraltar, and to the Black Sea by the Dardanelles and Bosporus Straits. The Mediterranean Sea is divided into two main basins, the Western and Eastern Mediterranean basins. The Western Mediterranean Basin is bounded by the Iberian Peninsula, France, Italy, and North Africa. The Eastern Mediterranean Basin is bounded by Italy, Greece, Turkey, and the Middle East. The Mediterranean Sea is a relatively deep sea, with an average depth of 1,500 meters (4,900 feet). The deepest point in the Mediterranean Sea is the Calypso Deep, which is located in the Ionian Sea and has a depth of 5,267 meters (17,280 feet).
