What are the islands in the Mediterranean Sea?

The western end of the Mediterranean Sea flows through the Strait of Gibraltar and is connected to the Atlantic Ocean, and the eastern end is connected to the Black Sea through the Turkish Strait. The narrowest point is only 13 kilometers. The Mediterranean Sea is about 4,000 kilometers long from east to west, and about 1,800 kilometers at its widest point from north to south, with an area of ??about 2.51 million square kilometers. Bounded by the Tunis Strait between the Apennine Peninsula, Sicily and Tunisia, it is divided into east and west parts. The average depth of the Mediterranean Sea is 1,450 meters, with the deepest reaching 5,092 meters. The salt content is relatively high, up to 39.5‰.

In ancient times, people only knew that this sea was located between three continents, so it was called the "Mediterranean Sea". The full name means "the sea in the middle of the land". The name was first found in ancient books in the 3rd century AD. In the 7th century AD, a Spanish scholar first used "Mediterranean" as a geographical name.

Climate environment

The Mediterranean climate is very different between summer and winter. Affected by the westerly winds in winter, the climate is warm and humid. The average temperature in the coldest month is between 4℃ and 10℃, and there is abundant precipitation. In summer, under the control of subtropical high pressure, the air flow sinks, the climate is hot and dry, the clouds are thin, and the sunshine is sufficient. The annual precipitation is 300-1000 mm, accounting for about 60%-70% in winter and only 30%-40% in summer. The climate characteristics of winter rain and summer dryness are very rare among various climate types in the world and can be described as unique.

The Mediterranean climate is mainly distributed on the west coast of the continent between 30° and 40° north and south latitudes. Except for Antarctica, the Mediterranean climate is the only climate type that is found on every continent in the world. Among all areas with Mediterranean climate, the most obvious one is along the Mediterranean coast. Other areas include the California coast in North America, central Chile in South America, the Cape of Good Hope region at the southern tip of Africa, and the southwestern and southeastern coasts of Australia. Most of its distribution areas are economically developed areas.

Strategic Position

The Mediterranean plays a vital role in both transportation and strategy. It is not only an important waterway between Europe, Asia and Africa, but also an important channel between the Atlantic and Indian Oceans. Important seaports along the coast include Gibraltar, Marseille, Genoa, Naples, Split, Rijeka, Durr?s, Algiers, Port Said, etc.

Military significance

The Mediterranean has always been of great economic, political and military significance. Since ancient times, the Mediterranean has been a place of contention among great powers. At the beginning of the 18th century, Britain designated the Mediterranean Sea as its "inner lake". In the early 19th century, Napoleon wanted to regain control of the Mediterranean when he sailed to Europe. During World War I, the Mediterranean became a location where the navies of both warring parties were more active. During World War II, the German and Italian navies and the British navy staged a battle for control in the Mediterranean. Today, the competition between Western powers for the Mediterranean Sea is becoming increasingly fierce. Since World War II, the U.S. Sixth Fleet has always used the Mediterranean as its base. However, naval ships from other Western powers often cruise here, making the situation increasingly tense. In order to protect the country's sovereignty and security, coastal countries have proposed that "the Mediterranean belongs to the Mediterranean countries" and requested that all fleets and military bases of military powers withdraw from the Mediterranean to maintain peace in the Mediterranean.

Economy and Trade

After the Suez Canal was completed and opened to navigation, the southeastern Mediterranean Sea was connected to the Red Sea through the Suez Canal, and then out of the Indian Ocean through the Red Sea. From then on, from Western Europe to the Indian Ocean, through the Strait of Gibraltar - the Mediterranean Sea ——The Suez Canal-Red Sea shortcut is about 8,000 kilometers shorter than the journey around the Cape of Good Hope in southern Africa, making the Mediterranean Sea the busiest sea route in the world. So far, ships from more than 100 countries and regions around the world carry out ocean transportation through the Suez Canal, and the goods transported through the canal account for 14% of the world's maritime trade volume every year. Two-thirds of the oil imported into Western Europe is transported through the Mediterranean Sea. The Mediterranean Sea plays a pivotal role in world ocean transportation.

Natural resources

The Mediterranean Sea has abundant light and heat. It is the main region in Europe for the production of subtropical fruits. It is rich in citrus, figs, grapes, etc., as well as the woody oil crop olives. Due to the lack of phosphates and nitrates necessary for marine life in seawater, Mediterranean fish resources are relatively poor and there are small-scale fisheries. The most important fish species are: hake, sole, sole, turbot, sardines, anchovies, bluefin tuna, bonito and king mackerel. Shellfish, corals, sponges and seaweed also grow in the Mediterranean Sea, with a certain amount produced every year. In addition, oil and natural gas have been discovered along the Mediterranean coast. Tourism is the economic backbone of many countries along the Mediterranean Sea.

Important Islands

There are many coastal islands in the Mediterranean. The large islands include Majorca, Corsica, Sardinia, Sicily, Crete, and Cyprus. Island and Rhodes.

1． Sicily

As you can see from the world map, Sicily seems to be the football on Italy's leather boots stretching towards the Mediterranean. It is located in the center of the Mediterranean Sea, with an area of ??25,000 square kilometers and a population of 5 million. It is the largest and most densely populated island in the Mediterranean. Because this area has a good natural environment for the development of agriculture and forestry, people call it the "Golden Basin".

Sicily is a vast island, but there are three places that are most worth visiting. One is Palermo, the capital, the largest city and the largest port. Goethe once praised it as the most beautiful headland in the world; The second is Catania, known as Milan in southern Italy, the hometown of Italian composer Bellini, with the small mountain town of Taormi in the north and Saracus in the south; the third is Agrigento, the Valley of the Temples Definitely worth a visit, it is recognized as the abode of the gods.

2． Sardinia

Sardinia, formerly known as Sardinia, is located in the middle of the Mediterranean Sea and is the second largest island among the islands after Sicily. It is 12 kilometers from the French island of Sardinia to the north and 200 kilometers from the African coast to the south. In 1861, Victor Emmanuel was proclaimed King of Italy, and the island became part of the unified Italian state, with Cagliari as its capital.

Sardinia has a coastline of 1,600 kilometers, with soft beaches and turquoise waters on the northeast coast; in its vast inland area, there are many beautiful and charming scenery, this beautiful island It has become a world-famous tourist paradise. In Europe, it is a popular resort for royal dignitaries and celebrities.

The calm and peaceful lifestyle of the residents of Sardinia is an important reason for their longevity. The family structure of the island residents is relatively large, and family members can share the joy of life and solve various problems encountered together, so the elders in the family will not feel lonely due to aging. It is this positive mentality that allows many local elderly people to have strong bodies and spend more than a hundred years calmly.

3． Cyprus

Cyprus is located in the eastern Mediterranean, south of Türkiye. Cyprus is 241 kilometers long from east to west, 97 kilometers wide from north to south, and covers an area of ??9,251 square kilometers. It is the third largest island in the Mediterranean, and the goddess Venus was born here.

Cyprus has warm sunshine, blue sea, well-equipped hotels and tourist facilities, and is a favorite tourist resort for people from all over the world. As soon as March arrived, tourists began to visit Cyprus. In summer and even winter, many Russians come here to enjoy the sun. In winter this place becomes a paradise for ski enthusiasts.

4. Corsica

Corsica is 193 kilometers away from the coast. It is on the southeast coast of France. The island is 185 kilometers long and about 85 kilometers at its widest point. It covers an area of ??8,680 square kilometers and has a population of 550,000. Relying on the lush mountains and azure sea, Corsica has become the best holiday destination. The island of Corsica was full of turmoil. It was first a Phoenician colony, once occupied by the Romans, and then occupied by the French Republic of Pisa and Genoa. In 1769, it became a French territory and continues to this day. This island is not only the hometown of celebrities such as Napoleon and Columbus, but also produced many navigators and map makers, many of whom were Arabs. Visitors who stop here will be surprised to find that there is also a world-famous cultural heritage here.

4. Malta Island

Malta is also a small island in the Mediterranean Sea that cannot be ignored. The entire territory is composed of five islands, of which Malta is the largest island with an area of ??316 square kilometers. It is located at the junction of the east and west of the Mediterranean Sea and is known as the "Heart of the Mediterranean". Its coastline is 180 kilometers long and it has a subtropical Mediterranean climate. The annual average temperature is 21.3℃, the maximum temperature is 40℃, and the minimum temperature is 5℃. The average annual precipitation is 560 mm. The island's population is mainly composed of Arabs, Sicilians, (French) Normans, Spanish, Italians and British. The waters around Malta are recognized as the clearest and purest part of the entire Mediterranean sea. It is a world-famous tourist attraction and is known as the "European Village".