Mediterranean sea...
Map of Mediterranean Sea: Mediterranean Sea, which is connected to the Atlantic Ocean, is almost enclosed by land – on the north side by Europe, on the south by Africa, and on the east by Asia. This sea covers an area of approximately 2.5 million km². In oceanography, it is known as the European Mediterranean Sea or the Eurafrican Mediterranean Sea, in order to differentiate it from the Mediterranean seas elsewhere.
In ancient times this sea was like a superhighway of transport, and allowed cultural exchange and trade between countries. The name Mediterranean is derived from the Latin word Mediterraneus ‘inland’ (medius means middle and terra means land). This sea was the center of the earth to the ancient Romans. This term can also be used for describing any salt water body, surrounded largely by land, and having a very limited exchange of water with the ocean. Thus the Arctic Ocean is also described as “a Mediterranean Sea” by people who argue against its status as an ocean.
This sea has been known by a lot of names throughout the history of human kind. For instance, the Romans commonly referred to it as Mare Nostrum (it is a Latin word that means ‘our sea’), and sometimes as Mare Internum. ‘The Med’ currently is a common contraction from British English for the Mediterranean Sea and the surrounding regions when it is used in informal speech.
The sea is connected to the Atlantic Ocean by the Strait of Gibraltar on the west and to the Black Sea and Sea of Marmara, by the Bosporus and the Dardanelles, on the east. There are several websites on the Internet where you can find the map of the Mediterranean Sea. Besides the map, these sites also provide useful information about it.
Pictures of the Mediterranean Sea: There are several large islands in the Mediterranean including Crete, Cyprus, Lesbos, Euboea and Rhodes. The climate of the Mediterranean is characterized by wet winters and hot summers. The Mediterranean Sea’s characteristics are affected by it being nearly landlocked, like there are limited tides due to the narrow connection with the Atlantic Ocean. This sea is immediately distinguishable by its imposing deep blue waters. Evaporation exceeds precipitation and the river-runoff in the Mediterranean, a fact that is central to the water circulation in the basin. In its eastern half the evaporation is high and this causes a decrease in the water level and an increase in the salinity eastwards. There are 21 modern states that have their coastline on the Mediterranean Sea. These states are in Asia, Africa and Europe. Various other territories also border the sea like:
- The Spanish exclaves of Ceuta and Melilla and nearby islands
- The Crown colony of Gibraltar
- The sovereign base area of Akrotiri and Dhekelia
- The autonomous monastic state of Mount Athos
- The Gaza Strip (governed by the Palestinian National Authority)
Mediterranean Sea Cruise: The season for the Mediterranean Sea cruise begins in late April and continues until October, but some ships have year round cruises. Most Mediterranean Sea cruises last for 7 to 14 days. It exposes you to a variety of interesting sights, from the antiquities of Athens, Rome and Ephesus, to the popular Riviera beaches. On a Mediterranean Sea cruise, you can stroll on the broad boulevards of Barcelona and Nice, or view works of the masters in the museums of Paris and Florence.
Gala contemplating the Mediterranean Sea: The complete title is "Gala Contemplating the Mediterranean Sea Which at Twenty Meters Becomes the Portrait of Abraham Lincoln". If you take a look at the picture at close quarters, and get up and look at it again from some distance, you will be able to see Lincoln. This picture has several versions, and is sometimes also known as "Lincoln in Dalivision".