The Mediterranean Sea is a sea connected to the Atlantic Ocean, surrounded by the Mediterranean basin and almost completely enclosed by land. It is bordered by the Levant, Anatolia, North Africa, and the Morocco–Spain border. Covering about 2.5 million km², it represents 0.7% of the global ocean surface. The sea’s connection to the Atlantic via the Strait of Gibraltar is only 14 km wide.
Geological evidence shows that about 5.9 million years ago, the Mediterranean was cut off from the Atlantic and underwent desiccation during the Messinian salinity crisis before being refilled by the Zanclean flood. Historically, it was vital for trade and cultural exchange, with the Roman Empire controlling all its coasts.
With an average depth of 1,500 m, the deepest point is 5,109 m in the Calypso Deep. It extends 4,000 km from the Strait of Gibraltar to the Gulf of Alexandretta. The sea experiences mild winters and warm summers, contributing to the Mediterranean climate. The surrounding countries include Spain, France, Italy, Greece, Turkey, Egypt, and Morocco, among others, with Cyprus and Malta as island nations. Notably, Sicily and Sardinia are the largest islands in the sea.
Image Credit | By NASA – NASA (deep-link ?), Public Domain [Accessed 06/09/2025]
