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what is the difference between the adriatic and mediterranean seas

by Delpha Ward Published 3 years ago Updated 2 years ago
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The southern basin is the deepest and the northern one is the shallowest. The maximum depth is 4,045 feet. The Adriatic Sea has a salinity level that is lower than that of the Mediterranean Sea since it receives one-third of the freshwater flowing into the latter. It thus acts as a dilution basin.

The Adriatic Sea (/ˌeɪdriˈætɪk/) is a body of water separating the Italian Peninsula from the Balkan Peninsula. The Adriatic is the northernmost arm of the Mediterranean Sea, extending from the Strait of Otranto (where it connects to the Ionian Sea) to the northwest and the Po Valley.

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Why is the Adriatic Sea not part of the Mediterranean?

The Adriatic Sea is part of the Mediterranean Sea. It separates the Italian Peninsula from the Balkan peninsula and the Apennine Mountains from the Dinaric Alps and adjacent ranges. It extends southward from the Gulf of Venice to the Strait of Otranto, where it connects with the Ionian Sea.

What makes the Adriatic Sea unique?

Also known as Jadransko in Croatian, the Adriatic Sea was named after an ancient port, Adria, in what is now Northern Italy. It extends from the clear waters of the Mediterranean Sea and is noted for its warm temperatures and calm currents.

Which country is between the Adriatic Sea and the Mediterranean sea?

Croatia borders the Adriatic Sea. But other countries with the Adriatic coast include Italy, Slovenia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro and Albania. The Adriatic is the northernmost arm of the Mediterranean Sea.

Which sea is warmer Adriatic or Mediterranean?

Adriatic sea: around 23-24 °C, except alomng most of the Croatian coast where temperatures are down to 21-23 °C (locally in the Kvarner bay even down to 19 °C). Ionian and central Mediterranean sea: is around 23-25 °C.

Why is Adriatic Sea so blue?

One factor as to why the Croatian water is so blue is that the Mediterranean Sea is oligotrophic, meaning there is a lack of nutrients required by algae to grow, which results in the water's top layer being better able to absorb and scatter sunlight and keep a vibrant blue appearance.

What is the calmest sea in the world?

"Sargasso Sea" .

What countries are in the Mediterranean Sea?

Today 21 countries, with surface areas from 2 km2 to 2.4 million km2, have coastlines on the Mediterranean Sea. They are Albania, Algeria, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Cyprus, Egypt, France, Greece, Israel, Italy, Lebanon, Libya, Malta, Monaco, Montenegro, Morocco, Slovenia, Spain, Syria, Tunisia, and Turkey.

How many seas are in the Mediterranean?

The Mediterranean is a sea with names that correspond to all the seas that it comprises: Alboran Sea, Balearic Sea, Liguria Sea, Sea of Algeria, Tyrrhenian Sea, Ionian Sea, Adriatic Sea, Aegean Sea, Levantine Sea, Sea of Marmara, Black Sea.

What is considered Mediterranean?

This biogeographical region includes the Mediterranean Sea and seven Member States, either partially (France, Portugal, Italy, Spain) or completely (Greece, Malta, Cyprus). It has specific regional features: a climate of hot dry summers and humid, cool winters and a generally hilly landscape.

Is the Adriatic Sea more salty?

The Adriatic's salinity is lower than the Mediterranean's because the Adriatic collects a third of the fresh water flowing into the Mediterranean, acting as a dilution basin....Adriatic SeaMax. depth1,233 m (4,045 ft)Water volume35,000 km3 (2.8×1010 acre⋅ft)Residence time3.4±0.4 yearsSalinity38–39 PSU21 more rows

What is the warmest sea in Europe?

CYPRUS. With over 300 days of sunshine, sea temperatures of around 27.7°C/81.8°F and the beach only minutes away wherever you are, a trip to Cyprus is perfect for ocean lovers in September.

Are there great white sharks in the Adriatic Sea?

The short answer: yes. There are up to 47 different species of shark found in the Adriatic, including blue sharks, bull sharks, tiger sharks, and, yes, even the fearsome great white shark! But despite the occasional sensationalist story, there is little chance of you having any close encounters with sharks.

Why is it called the Adriatic Sea?

The origins of the name Adriatic are linked to the Etruscan settlement of Adria, which probably derives its name from Illyrian adur 'water, sea'. In classical antiquity, the sea was known as Mare Adriaticum (Mare Hadriaticum, also sometimes simplified to Adria) or, less frequently, as Mare Superum '[the] upper sea'.

Does the Adriatic Sea have sharks?

The short answer: yes. There are up to 47 different species of shark found in the Adriatic, including blue sharks, bull sharks, tiger sharks, and, yes, even the fearsome great white shark! But despite the occasional sensationalist story, there is little chance of you having any close encounters with sharks.

Is the Adriatic Sea clean?

The Adriatic is famed for its clean, clear, azure blue waters, a paradise for snorkelling and diving.

What lives in the Adriatic Sea?

Several cetacean species can be found in the Northern Adriatic, but only the bottlenose dolphin is a regular inhabitant. Nevertheless, striped dolphin, common dolphin and even fin whale ocasionally appear in the area. Several other endangered and charismatic marine vertebrate species occur in the area. 15.10.

Where to go with kids on the Adriatic Sea?

On Adriatic sea I suggest you with kids to go to Cattolica, Cervia or Lido di Savio so you can also have a look at a nice town Ravenna (mosaic Roman time) or visit an amusement park like Oltremare .

What sea is Italy on?

Actually the west coast of Italy is on the Tyrrhenian sea, and the east coast is on the Adriatic. Both are arms of the Mediterranean.

Is Cattolica a beach resort?

Cattolica is a big summer resort, with umbrellas in rows, pizzerias, and all the other summer attractions found at beach resorts . They are very different places; it depends on what you want. Your son might find more to amuse him in Cattolica, but I wouldn't call any of those beach resorts in Emilia Romagna beautiful.

Is the Adriatic coast trend setter?

It has been the trend setter on the Adriatic coast as far as beaches are concerned.

Which two seas are part of the Mediterranean Sea?

The Cilician Sea and the Levantine Sea are the other minor subdivisions of the Mediterranean Sea.

How deep is the Adriatic Sea?

The sea is divided into three basins. The southern basin is the deepest and the northern one is the shallowest. The maximum depth is 4,045 feet. The Adriatic Sea has a salinity level that is lower than that of the Mediterranean Sea since it receives one-third of the freshwater flowing into the latter.

What is the name of the strait that separates Morocco and Spain?

Strait of Gibraltar. The Straight of Gilbraltar from Morocco. The Strait of Gibraltar is a narrow strait linking the Mediterranean Sea to the Atlantic Ocean. It separates the African nations of Morocco and Spanish Ceuta from the European nations of Peninsular Spain and Gibraltar.

How deep is the Ligurian Sea?

The maximum depth of the Ligurian Sea is 9,300 feet and it hosts a rich collection of several cetacean species. 4. Balearic Sea. The Balearic Sea in Spain. The Iberian Sea, also known as the Balearic Sea is part of the Mediterranean Sea between the coast of Spain and the Balearic Islands.

What is the name of the sea that borders Italy?

The Tyrrhenian Sea is located off Italy’s western coast and is a part of the Mediterranean Sea. The Tyrrhenian Sea borders the Italian Peninsula to the east, and the islands of Corsica and Sardinia lie to the west of the sea. To the south, the Tyrrhenian Sea is bounded by the island of Sicily.

What is the name of the sea that is connected to the Black Sea and the Marmara Sea?

The Mediterranean Sea. 9. Aegean Sea. The Aegean Sea with the Greek coast in the background. An elongated embayment of the Mediterranean Sea, the Aegean Sea is located between the Anatolian and the Greek peninsulas. The Aegean Sea is connected to the Black Sea and the Marmara Sea in the north. The sea hosts a set of islands called ...

What is the deepest point in the Mediterranean Sea?

The Ionian Sea also hosts the deepest point in the Mediterranean Sea, the Calypso Deep that is 17,280 feet deep.

What is the Mediterranean Sea?

Adriatic Sea. The Adriatic Sea is a shallow, semi-enclosed basin and the most isolated part of the Mediterranean Sea, positioned between the eastern coastline of the Italian Peninsula and the countries of the Balkan Peninsula (extending from a small part of Slovenia, through south Croatia, Bosnia, and Herzegovina, Montenegro and to Albania).

What is the length of the Adriatic Sea?

The Adriatic Sea extends from 39°46’57” - 45°48’18” N and 12°17’14.81″ - 19°34’33.86″ E, in the northernmost part of the Mediterranean Sea; measuring about 805km in length, 160km in width, and an estimated area of 135,250 sq. km.

Where are the protected areas of the Adriatic Sea?

A large number of Marine Protected Areas have been established by countries situated along the Adriatic Sea coast. In the northern part is the Miramare protected area (in the Gulf of Trieste), while the Torre del Cerrano and Isole Tremiti are in the middle portion of the Adriatic and Torre Guaceto is in the southern part.

What is the endemic species of the Adriatic Sea?

The Central Adriatic Sea is the hub of endemic flora and faunal species with about 535 endemic species of brown, green, and red algae out of the total 2597 algal species, which have been identified so far. In the northern part of the Adriatic Sea, several endemic fishes are found.

What is the southern boundary of the Adriatic Sea?

The southern boundary of the Adriatic Sea is situated between Albania and Italy’s Salento Peninsula; where through the Strait of Otranto, it is linked with the Ionian Sea.The major rivers that flow into the Adriatic Sea include Reno, Po, Adige, Brenta, Piave, Soca/Isonzo, Zrmanja, Krka, Cetina, Neretva, and Drini.

How many species of fish are there in the Adriatic Sea?

In the northern part of the Adriatic Sea, several endemic fishes are found. Of the total 440 species of fishes that are found in the Adriatic Sea about 123 species are endangered while 5 species are critically endangered. About 1500 crab species are also found here. Dolphins swimming in the Adriatic Sea.

Where can I find seagrass in the Mediterranean?

Cymodocea nodosa and Zostera noltii are the most commonly found Mediterranean seagrass species in the Adriatic Sea. Zostera marina and Posidonia oceanica species are also found here but are quite rare. Being, much clear and less polluted than the other parts, the eastern coast of the Adriatic Sea hosts several rare and threatened species.

What is the Adriatic Sea?

The Adriatic Sea is a semi-enclosed sea, bordered in the southwest by the Apennine or Italian Peninsula, in the northwest by the Italian regions of Veneto and Friuli-Venezia Giulia, and in the northeast by Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, and Albania —the Balkan peninsula. In the southeast, the Adriatic Sea connects to the Ionian Sea at the 72-kilometre (45 mi) wide Strait of Otranto. The International Hydrographic Organization (IHO) defines the boundary between the Adriatic and the Ionian seas as a line running from the Butrinto River 's mouth ( latitude 39°44'N) in Albania to the Karagol Cape in Corfu, through this island to the Kephali Cape (these two capes are in latitude 39°45'N), and on to the Santa Maria di Leuca Cape (latitude 39°48'N). It extends 800 kilometres (500 mi) from the northwest to the southeast and is 200 kilometres (120 mi) wide. It covers 138,600 square kilometres (53,500 sq mi) and has a volume of 35,000 cubic kilometres (8,400 cu mi). The Adriatic extends northwest from 40° to 45° 47' north, representing the Mediterranean 's northernmost portion. The sea is geographically divided into the Northern Adriatic, Central (or Middle) Adriatic, and Southern Adriatic.

Which country is on the Adriatic Sea?

The countries with coasts on the Adriatic are Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Italy, Montenegro and Slovenia.

What is the name of the plate that separated the Adriatic Sea and Po Valley?

Geophysical and geological information indicate that the Adriatic Sea and the Po Valley are associated with a tectonic microplate —identified as the Apulian or Adriatic Plate —that separated from the African Plate during the Mesozoic era. This separation began in the Middle and Late Triassic, when limestone began to be deposited in the area. Between the Norian and Late Cretaceous, the Adriatic and Apulia Carbonate Platforms formed as a thick series of carbonate sediments ( dolomites and limestones), up to 8,000 metres (26,000 ft) deep. Remnants of the former are found in the Adriatic Sea, as well as in the southern Alps and the Dinaric Alps, and remnants of the latter are seen as the Gargano Promontory and the Maiella mountain. In the Eocene and early Oligocene, the plate moved north and north-east, contributing to the Alpine orogeny (along with the African and Eurasian Plates ' movements) via the tectonic uplift of the Dinarides and Alps. In the Late Oligocene, the motion was reversed and the Apennine Mountains' orogeny took place. An unbroken zone of increased seismic activity borders the Adriatic Sea, with a belt of thrust faults generally oriented in the northeast–southwest direction on the east coast and the northeast–southwest normal faults in the Apennines, indicating an Adriatic counterclockwise rotation.

How deep is the Adriatic Sea?

The Adriatic Sea's average depth is 259.5 metres (851 ft ), and its maximum depth is 1,233 metres (4,045 ft); however, the North Adriatic basin rarely exceeds a depth of 100 metres (330 ft). The North Adriatic basin, extending between Venice and Trieste towards a line connecting Ancona and Zadar, is only 15 metres (49 ft) deep at its northwestern end; it gradually deepens towards the southeast. It is the largest Mediterranean shelf and is simultaneously a dilution basin and a site of bottom water formation. The Middle Adriatic basin is south of the Ancona–Zadar line, with the 270-metre (890 ft) deep Middle Adriatic Pit (also called the Pomo Depression or the Jabuka Pit). The 170-metre (560 ft) deep Palagruža Sill is south of the Middle Adriatic Pit, separating it from the 1,200-metre (3,900 ft) deep South Adriatic Pit and the Middle Adriatic basin from the South Adriatic Basin. Further on to the south, the sea floor rises to 780 metres (2,560 ft) to form the Otranto Sill at the boundary to the Ionian Sea. The South Adriatic Basin is similar in many respects to the Northern Ionian Sea, to which it is connected. Transversely, the Adriatic Sea is also asymmetric: the Apennine peninsular coast is relatively smooth with very few islands and the Monte Conero and Gargano promontories as the only significant protrusions into the sea; in contrast, the Balkan peninsular coast is rugged with numerous islands, especially in Croatia. The coast's ruggedness is exacerbated by the Dinaric Alps ' proximity to the coast, in contrast to the opposite (Italian) coast where the Apennine Mountains are further away from the shoreline.

What is the temperature of the Adriatic Sea?

The Adriatic's surface temperature usually ranges from 22 to 30 °C (72 to 86 °F) in the summer, or 12 to 14 °C (54 to 57 °F) in the winter , except along the western Adriatic coast's northern part, where it drops to 9 °C (48 °F) in the winter. The distinct seasonal temperature variations, with a longitudinal gradient in the Northern and transversal gradient in the Middle and Southern Adriatic, are attributed to the continental characteristics of the Adriatic Sea: it is shallower and closer to land than are oceans. During particularly cold winters, sea ice may appear in the Adriatic's shallow coastal areas, especially in the Venetian Lagoon but also in isolated shallows as far south as Tisno (south of Zadar). The Southern Adriatic is about 8 to 10 °C (14 to 18 °F) warmer during the winter than the more northerly regions. The Adriatic's salinity variation over the year is likewise distinct: it ranges between 38 and 39 PSUs. The southern Adriatic is subjected to saltier water from the Levantine Basin.

How high is the Adriatic basin?

The drainage basin's mean elevation is 782 metres (2,566 ft) above sea level , with a mean slope of 12.1°. Major rivers discharging into the Adriatic include the Po, Soča, Krka, Neretva, Drin, Bojana, and Vjosë.

How many species are there in the Adriatic Sea?

The sea is abundant in flora and fauna—more than 7,000 species are identified as native to the Adriatic, many of them endemic, rare and threatened ones.

What seas did the Europeans discover?

In Medieval European literature, the phrase referred to the North Sea, Baltic, Atlantic, Mediterranean, Black, Red, and Arabian seas. After Europeans 'discovered' North America, the concept of the Seven Seas changed again.

What are the oceans?

However, our oceans are more commonly geographically divided into the Atlantic, Pacific, Indian, Arctic, and Southern (Antarctic) Oceans.

What are the seven seas?

The Seven Seas include the Arctic, North Atlantic, South Atlantic, North Pacific, South Pacific, Indian, and Southern Oceans. The exact origin of the phrase 'Seven Seas' is uncertain, although there are references in ancient literature that date back thousands of years.

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