Mediterranean Sea
Also known as: The Mediterranean · the Mediterranean Sea
- 1The sea is bordered by three continents: Europe, Asia, and Africa.
- 2The Strait of Gibraltar connects the sea to the Atlantic Ocean.
- 3The Suez Canal provides a link to the Red Sea.
- 4The Bosporus strait connects the sea to the Black Sea.
The Mediterranean Sea is an intercontinental sea situated between Europe, Asia, and Africa.
Connections1
geographical and strategic context
Crete's position as the fifth largest island in the Mediterranean has historically made it a vital maritime crossroads between Europe, Asia, and Africa.
The Mediterranean Sea is a vast intercontinental body of water situated between the continents of Europe, Asia, and Africa. It is almost entirely enclosed by land, bordered by the Levant to the east, Anatolia and Southern Europe to the north, and North Africa to the south.
Greek (red) and Phoenician (yellow) colonies in antiquity c. the 6th century BCWikimedia Commons: File:AntikeGriechen1.jpgEastern Mediterranean in Katip Çelebi's map ( ﺁق دكز )Wikimedia Commons: File:Eastern_Mediterranean_in_Katip_Çelebi_1656_Mediterranean_Sea_map_from_Asfar_il-bihar_(cropped).jpgWith its highly indented coastline and large number of islands, Greece has the longest Mediterranean coastline.Wikimedia Commons: File:Greece_Orbit_Photo_1989_by_Atlas_STS-34.jpg Connectivity to other major bodies of water is facilitated through narrow passages. To the west, the Strait of Gibraltar links the sea to the Atlantic Ocean, separating the Iberian Peninsula from Morocco by only 14 kilometers. Additionally, the sea connects to the Black Sea via the Bosporus strait and to the Red Sea through the Suez Canal.