Mediterranean Sea | Facts, History, Islands, & Countries | Britannica

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• Introduction
• Physiographic and geologic features
  • Natural divisions
  • Geology
  • Desiccation theory and bottom deposits
  • Physiography
• Hydrologic features and climate
  • Hydrology
  • Temperature and water chemistry
  • Climate
• Economic aspects
  • Biological resources
  • Mineral resources
  • Transportation and tourism
  • Impact of human activity
• Study and exploration

References & Edit History Related Topics Images & Videos For Students Mediterranean Sea summary Quizzes Water and its Varying Forms International Waters All About Oceans and Seas Quiz Related Questions

• What kind of climate does Malta have?
• What languages are spoken in Malta?

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External Websites

• Nature - The streaming of plastic in the Mediterranean Sea
• United Nations - The Mediterranean Sea: Cradle of Civilization

Britannica Websites Articles from Britannica Encyclopedias for elementary and high school students.

• Mediterranean Sea - Children's Encyclopedia (Ages 8-11)
• Mediterranean Sea - Student Encyclopedia (Ages 11 and up)

Mediterranean Sea Ask Anything Quick Summary Homework Help Written by Baruch Boxer Emeritus Professor of Geography and Environmental Sciences, Cook College, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, New Jersey. Author of "China's Environmental Prospects" in Asian Survey and other articles. Baruch BoxerAll Fact-checked by Britannica Editors Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree.... Britannica Editors Last updated Dec. 17, 2025 •History Britannica AI Ask Anything Quick Summary Homework Help Mediterranean Sea Geography and Physical Features Marine Life and Biodiversity Historical Significance Economic Importance Environmental Issues Key Ports and Cities Cultural Influence Table of Contents Table of Contents Quick Summary Ask Anything Top Questions

• What is the Mediterranean Sea?
• Where is the Mediterranean Sea located?
• Which continents border the Mediterranean Sea?
• Why has the Mediterranean Sea been important for trade and travel throughout history?
• What kinds of plants and animals live in the Mediterranean Sea?
• What environmental challenges does the Mediterranean Sea face today?

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Mediterranean Sea, an intercontinental sea that stretches from the Atlantic Ocean on the west to Asia on the east and separates Europe from Africa. It has often been called the incubator of Western civilization. This ancient “sea between the lands” occupies a deep, elongated, and almost landlocked irregular depression lying between latitudes 30° and 46° N and longitudes 5°50′ W and 36° E. Its west-east extent—from the Strait of Gibraltar between Spain and Morocco to the shores of the Gulf of Iskenderun on the southwestern coast of Turkey—is approximately 2,500 miles (4,000 km), and its average north-south extent, between Croatia’s southernmost shores and Libya, is about 500 miles (800 km). The Mediterranean Sea, including the Sea of Marmara, occupies an area of approximately 970,000 square miles (2,510,000 square km).

The western extremity of the Mediterranean Sea connects with the Atlantic Ocean by the narrow and shallow channel of the Strait of Gibraltar, which is roughly 8 miles (13 km) wide at its narrowest point; and the depth of the sill, or submarine ridge separating the Atlantic from the Alborán Sea, is about 1,050 feet (320 metres). To the northeast the Mediterranean is connected with the Black Sea through the Dardanelles (with a sill depth of 230 feet [70 metres]), the Sea of Marmara, and the strait of the Bosporus (sill depth of about 300 feet [90 metres]). To the southeast it is connected with the Red Sea by the Suez Canal.