Do you know what is the smallest sea in the world?
Do you know which is the smallest sea in the world? Scientists find it very difficult to come to a consensus. They still continue to argue about what ponds are considered seas, which lakes, and which are bays. Only one thing is certain: from the vast number of water basins only 59 are recognized by the seas. Of these, the smallest sea is the Sea of Marmara.
A bit of geography
The Sea of Marmara is the connecting link between the Black Seasea and Aegean. The strait that connects the great Black Sea with the small Marble is called the Bosphorus. With the Aegean Sea, it is connected by the strait of Dardanelles. Another sea can be considered a peculiar feature that separates Asia and Europe. The area of the water basin is less than 11 thousand square meters. km.
Such a definition as the smallest in the worldsea, does not mean that it is at the same time the smallest. The fact is that the sea arose as a result of the crust of the earth's crust, which, in fact, divided the single continent into Asia, Europe and Africa. This explains why the depth in some places is very solid - up to 14 km. And because of the ongoing tectonic processes in the Sea of Marmara, there are often earthquakes and, as a result, tsunamis.
A bit of history
The name gave the sea a rich deposit of marble,discovered on the island of Marmara. It was from here that this stone was transported around the world. And since marble as a building and finishing material was very in demand, the name of the place from which it was delivered was on everyone's lips. When translating from Greek to English and Russian, the word was modified from the sea of marmara to the Marmara Sea.
The Sea of Marmara was a place of intersectionthe lively trade arteries between Europe and Asia. On its shores, the largest civilizations developed and disappeared. And the power over the connecting straits promised unlimited opportunities.
Temperature and other features
The world's smallest sea has enoughsalt water. The salt content here is much higher than in the waters of the Black Sea. However, a more dense mass of salt water is located at a depth and does not mix with surface, less saline waters.
The Marmara Sea on the map is very indentedshore. There are a lot of bays and bays here. The northern coast has a lot of underwater reefs, which makes navigation difficult, but attracts tourists.
In winter, the temperature of sea water does not exceed 10 ° C, andin summer can exceed 29ºC. These data refer to surface waters, the depth of which is about 20m. The deep waters have a much lower temperature.
Who lives here
The Marmara Sea fauna is not too diverse. Its composition is close to the Mediterranean. Here, commercial species of fish are caught, such as:
- horse mackerel;
- mackerel;
- Pelamida;
- forehead;
- sole;
- anchovy.
Many species of commercial fish migrate with the onset of cooling in the warmer waters of the Black Sea.
Resorts and Attractions of the Sea of Marmara
Despite the fact that it is about the smallestin the world of the sea, there is an inexhaustible flow of tourists every year. On its banks is one of the most beautiful cities in the world - Istanbul. This city was and always will be interesting to people. Here you can see a unique intertwining of living history and modern technologies. But besides Istanbul, tourists are attracted by many more picturesque resorts of the Sea of Marmara.
A real paradise is resortsthe city of Bursa. Here, guests immerse themselves in a pronounced national flavor and admire a variety of natural landscapes. In a short period of time you can visit the snow-capped peaks, lie on the seashore, visit the green plains and admire the picturesque waterfalls.
The most visited resort of the Sea of Marmara is Erdek. Here is one of the most beautiful sandy beaches with a total length of almost 12 km.
The resorts of the Sea of Marmara - a mixture of styles and eras. Here everyone finds an interesting occupation. Due to the unique nature and high level of service, interest in the coast is growing every year.
