What seas is Greece washed by? What are the seas in Greece and what do they wash?

Greece can be called the most maritime power in Europe, and indeed in the world. Officially, its shores touch four seas, which are part of one – the Mediterranean. For Greece, the sea is everything. It feeds fish, provides tourists, and gives money from transport and passenger ships.

Greece is located on the Balkan Peninsula. It also includes hundreds of large and small islands, in total occupying about 20% of its area. This spread determines the number of seas washing Greece.

Seas washing Greece

Mediterranean

Most people will tell you that there is only one sea in Greece – the Mediterranean. And they will be right. Smaller sections of this sea wash Greece on all sides. The Aegean is on the right, the Ionian is on the left, and the Cretan is on the south. The islands located near the shores of Turkey can be attributed directly to the Mediterranean Sea. For example: Rhodes, Karpathos and Kasos.

The largest and most popular among tourists is Rhodes. Its northwestern shores belong to the Aegean Sea, and its southern shores to the Mediterranean. The beaches here are mostly pebble and clean. Many historical and architectural attractions. People from all over Europe come here to enjoy the beautiful scenery.

Aegean

The largest in area and covering most of eastern Greece. Once upon a time, this part of the land sank and was flooded by the sea. That's why there are so many island archipelagos. Almost every island has its own legendary history. And the ancient Greeks are famous for their legends.

The Aegean Sea is the northernmost and coldest of the Greek seas. The temperature here does not rise above 23 degrees Celsius. Most shores and beaches are pebbly. Due to this, the sea is very clean and transparent. Its color is bright turquoise, turning into deep blue. It is to him that all the glory of the beauty of the sea in Greece belongs.

The capital of Greece, Athens, is located in the Saronic Gulf. Its suburbs can compete with the resort glory of the islands. Those who don’t want to travel far from entertainment and “civilization” come here. The beaches here are clean, but mostly large-pebble.

The peninsula of Halkidiki is one of the most popular places for tourists and belongs to the Aegean Sea. Its three prongs - Kassandra, Sithonia and Athos - seem to embody the legend of Neptune. And if the last prong is accessible only to a select few, then everyone can visit the other two. Kassandra is ideal for young people, and Sithonia is ideal for families.

The islands of the Aegean Sea are divided into groups. Each has its own name.

• North Aegean Islands - Thassos, Lemnos, Samothrace. Here you can soak in the real atmosphere of Greek provincial life. The islands are quite cool, even in summer, and will appeal to those who do not like noisy beaches.
• The Cyclades are small but very interesting islands. Mainly of limestone origin. Only the islands of Thira (Santorini) and Milos have a volcanic past. We can talk about Santorini for a long time. Here, the best sunsets in Greece, dark sand beaches, snow-white houses and blue-painted shutters have become the unspoken photographic symbol of the country. They are combined with the bright blue color of the sky and sea. If you remember, the flag of Greece is white and blue.
• The Sporades are a huge number of islands stretching in a ridge from north to south. Most of them are uninhabited. The largest island is Euboea. The hotel infrastructure is not very well developed here. Southern Sporades, also known as the Dodecanese archipelago. They are located near the Turkish coast. The largest island is Rhodes. The second most important is Kos. There are sandy beaches with colorful sand, a pleasant climate, beautiful nature;

Ionian

It washes the west of Greece from the island of Corfu to the island of Zakynthos. These same islands are the most popular. The Ionian Sea is the deepest of the entire Mediterranean Sea, but the entrance to the water is gentle, which is suitable for children. This sea is also the saltiest. Due to the increased density, it is good to learn to swim here. On the coast, one beach replaces another.

You can also find wide sandy and pebble coves and stone platforms slowly plunging into the sea. The best time for vacation is July-September.

Cretan

As the name implies, it is located north of the island of Crete. On the coast you can find popular resort towns: Heraklion, Chania, Agios Nikolaos, Rethymnon. Much of the northern shore is of interest to swimmers. Here you can find wild, cozy bays lost among the rocks, beaches in the style "bounty" and wide shallows with snow-white sand.

The water temperature in some places does not drop below 19-20 degrees all year round.

Libyan

It is located between the southern coast of Crete and North Africa. The coast of this sea is less popular than the northern coast.

Even though it is further south, it is colder. The entrance to the water here is lined with pebbles.

Have a nice holiday!

Formally, the south of the Balkan Peninsula and the numerous islands surrounding it are located in the Mediterranean Sea. However, experts divide the Mediterranean Sea into several areas, each of which individually is an entire sea. Of these small seas, only four wash the shores of Greece:

• Aegean;
• Ionic;
• Cretan;
• Libyan.

Not all of these seas are highlighted on geographical maps. Therefore, it is generally accepted that Greece is surrounded by only three seas: from the east – Aegean, from South - Mediterranean e, from the west - Ionian.

Mediterranean Sea

The name “Mediterranean” is associated with the geographical ideas of the ancient inhabitants of North Africa and Southern Europe. The Mediterranean Sea was the cradle of several major civilizations. For the ancient Carthaginians, Greeks, Romans and Turks, this sea was the main landmark and a route of communication between different peoples.

The Mediterranean Sea is the largest sea in the world. Almost all the Greek resort islands are located here: Crete, Rhodes, Samos, etc. In summer, the weather on the shores of the Mediterranean Sea is ideal for a beach holiday: minimal cloudiness, rare precipitation and tropical heat.

Mediterranean waters are home to many rare species of animals and fish: lobsters, white-bellied seals, squid, stingrays, turtles and sharks. The region has long been famous for its fishing industry, but today many of its inhabitants are protected by international environmental law.

Ionian Sea

The Ionian Sea separates the Apennine and Balkan peninsulas. There are two versions explaining the appearance of this name. According to the first of them, it was associated with the tribe of Ionians who lived on the local islands. And according to the second version, the sea bears the name of Princess Io, the beloved of Zeus, who was turned into a cow and swam across the sea in this guise.

The Ionian Sea is notable for being the saltiest and deepest part of the Mediterranean basin. The maximum depth here exceeds 5000 m.

The best resorts of the Ionian Sea - Loutraki, Xylokastron, Sykea and others - are concentrated mainly on the shores of the Gulf of Corinth. Many tourists prefer to relax not in mainland Greece, but on the local islands - Levkada, Kythira, Zakynthos.

Aegean Sea

The Aegean Sea received the name of the legendary king of Athens, Aegeus, who threw himself into the sea waters after receiving the tragic news.

The Aegean Sea is not as warm as other seas washing Greece, so already in October tourists practically do not come here. There are many Greek and Turkish resorts here: Glyfada, Paleo Faliro, Marmaris, Kusadasi. On the coast are the two main cities of Greece - Athens and Thessaloniki, which attract thousands of tourists every year.

The Aegean Sea is famous for its particular purity and azure hue of water. In some areas, visibility underwater can be 30 meters. This feature attracts many divers to the Aegean coast. The sea is home to several species of dolphins, harmless sharks, and many varieties of fish and shellfish.

Allows it to be considered the most maritime power of the Old World. Its shores on the Balkan Peninsula and two thousand islands are washed by the Mediterranean Sea. It is divided into several parts and to understand which sea washes Greece, you should look at the map.

Impressive list

The Mediterranean Sea has in its waters a whole list of small seas, some of which are named according to their geographical location:

• The Aegean washes, among others, a group of islands of the same name.
• Cretan is a sea off the island.
• Libyan approaches the shores.
• The Ionian Archipelago drifts in the Ionian.

Which seas in Greece are no longer shown on maps? The list is also impressive: Ligurian and Cretan, Balearic and Cretan, Alboran and Tyrrhenian. Today they are considered to be only parts of the Mediterranean, and therefore these names remained in the distant historical past of Greece.

First violins

For the tourism business, the most important role is played by the seas of Greece, washing the resort areas. For example, the Ionian Sea is the cradle of the islands of Corfu and Ithaca, where the first swimmers open the season at the end of May. The water temperature here in summer stays at +25 degrees, making water treatments pleasant and refreshing.
The shores of the resort are washed by the Aegean Sea, whose magical beaches are the dream of many fans of a bronze tan. These places have the largest number of awards for cleanliness and environmental friendliness, and developed infrastructure and unlimited opportunities for yachting and diving attract a huge number of active travelers to the Aegean Sea in Greece. The sea water temperature here remains at +24 degrees throughout the high season.
The Mediterranean Sea is the resorts of the islands of Crete and , where pleasant soft sand beaches alternate with small pebbles, allowing you to choose any genre and degree of comfort for your vacation. The water temperature in these places ranges from +22 degrees at the beginning of the season to +26 on peak days. The ebb and flow of the tides in the Mediterranean Sea are not clearly expressed, and therefore you can spend the whole day on the beach without changing your location.

• Diving in the Aegean Sea allows you to admire not only the natural beauty of the underwater world, but also ships that sank at different times.
• The Mediterranean Sea is one of the warmest and saltiest in the world.
• It is the Ionian Sea that has the greatest depth in the Mediterranean waters.

Tourists who love the sea and sun prefer to travel to Greece. After all, this subtropical region seemed to be intended by nature specifically for a beach holiday. A striking but well-known fact is that mainland and island Greece, located in the southern part of the Balkan Peninsula, is washed by seven small and large seas.

What seas wash Greece? The map depicting this ancient state is replete with blue. After all, it necessarily represents three large water areas: the Mediterranean Sea, located in the south of the country, the Ionian Sea, washing the western coast, and the Aegean Sea, stretching in the east. Smaller seas: Thracian, Libyan, Tyrrhenian, Cretan, Carpathian are part of the above water areas.

If you find out the total number of seas washing Greece, it will take a leading place in Europe. The geographical feature of this country directly affected the economy of the state. Exploitation of the marine area and tourism are the two largest budget items.

In the first case, finances come to the treasury from foreign countries whose ships pass through the country’s numerous waters. In the second option, historical unique monuments, pilgrimage centers, beautiful beaches and comfortable hotels with high-quality service are the basis of the tourism business, bringing year-round stable profits to the state budget.

More than a thousand islands with numerous resorts, a comfortable climate and various seas attract tourists from all over the world. After all, each of them can choose a sea coast for relaxation based on their personal preferences - swimming, sunbathing, fishing or water sports.

When choosing the sea where you plan to spend your holiday, in order to avoid annoying misunderstandings that can spoil the impression of the trip, you need to take into account the characteristic features of the water areas. For example, when choosing the island of Crete for a trip, which sea washes the island territory, this type of vacation will be most popular on the coast. The Aegean transparent, rather cold and stormy sea, located in the north of Crete, is more suitable for diving. The warm, shallow Ionian Sea is an excellent solution for a beach holiday with small children, which cannot be said about the Libyan Sea. Its coastline has a high coastline covered with steep cliffs, where there is no extensive beach network.

Aegean Sea

The Aegean Sea will be the answer to the question: “Which sea surrounding Greece and the islands is the coldest?” The water in its waters is always a couple of degrees colder than in the Mediterranean Sea. In summer up to + 25 °C, and in October no higher than +23 °C.

The swimming season, starting in May, lasts until October inclusive. The water of the Aegean Sea has a lower salt concentration than the waters of all the seas washing the Greek coast. The rugged nature of the bright blue Aegean Sea, due to frequent storms and rough waters, is more suitable for active tourists, windsurfers, advanced and beginner surfers and kitesurfers. Lovers of foamy obstinate waves are not embarrassed by the pebble beaches and windy climate of the coast. Ialyssos and Ixia are the main water sports centers in Greece.

The presence of many sunken ships off the coast of the transparent Aegean Sea makes diving not only an educational activity, but also allows you to independently raise a unique ancient artifact from the bottom of the sea.

Mediterranean Sea

The Mediterranean Sea will be preferred by lovers of a classic beach holiday. Indeed, for the comfortable enjoyment of swimming and sunbathing, all conditions are provided here for a different contingent of vacationers, ranging from couples with children, people of respectable age, active youth looking for entertainment and ending with people who prefer unconventional, nudist beach leisure.

The temperament of the Mediterranean is flexible and balanced. Winds on the coast are less frequent, blow for a short time, and their gusts are not very strong. Warm water (+25 °C in summer) with a high concentration of salt makes you feel comfortable in the sea and easily stay afloat. The landscape is dominated by golden sand. The coast has a developed infrastructure, many cafes, restaurants, and entertainment areas for leisure (attractions, water parks).

Ionian Sea

The Ionian Sea is the deepest part of the Mediterranean waters, located between the Balkan and Apennine peninsulas, perfect for families with children and people suffering from chronic diseases of the respiratory and digestive systems. The coast is rich in springs with healing mineral water. By the end of summer, the water temperature warms up to +26 °C. The salt concentration in water is not higher than 38%. Sandy beaches and lush vegetation of citrus orchards and olive groves, against the backdrop of rocky bays and coves, will make your holiday experience unforgettable.

Many people remember from school geography that Greece is located in the southern part of the Balkan Peninsula and covers several islands of the Mediterranean Sea. Therefore, to the question “What seas is it washed by?” some boldly answer: “Mediterranean.” But this answer is not accurate. Take a closer look at the map of Greece with seas. The Mediterranean Sea is an intercontinental sea and includes several seas. Did not know? As you can see, Greece is washed by the largest number of seas. Perhaps this is why fishing here is a source of decent income. Let's take a closer look at these seas.

Aegean Sea

The name comes from the Bulgarian language and means “white sea”. The Aegean Sea is washed by a myriad of islands (about a couple of thousand). The sea was also often mentioned in the history of antiquity and Greek mythology. Features of the Aegean Sea:

Its salinity is higher than in the Black Sea. Therefore, after swimming in the Aegean Sea, it is recommended to rinse with fresh water to avoid skin and eye diseases.

The water temperature in winter is cool, ranging from 10 to 15 C, in summer

from 22 to 25 C, but each year the figures can differ significantly.

The tides are mostly small, from 30 to 70 cm. Storms are relatively rare.

The Aegean Sea produces seafood such as sponges, octopus and a variety of sea fish.

Libyan Sea

It is obvious why it is called Libyan - because part of it washes the shores of Libya. Features of the Libyan Sea:

The sea is not rich in beaches, most of the shores washed by it are deserted, and the shores themselves are indented by many secluded bays. There are no roads or railways connected to them, therefore, tourists have to get to such areas on their own - either on foot or by boat.

Since a large number of mountains flow into the Libyan Sea, the water temperature here is cool.

Cretan Sea

The northern coast of the sea is the most popular among tourists, because it has the most beautiful sandy beaches and nature. Features of the Cretan Sea:

Many beaches of this sea can boast of positive reviews from vacationers, because they are environmentally friendly.

The Cretan Sea is much warmer than the Libyan Sea.

The best sandy beaches and guest houses are located in the village of Bali.

Cyprus Sea

Cyprus is perhaps one of the most visited islands among tourists. Features of the Cyprus Sea:

This sea is the warmest and saltiest part of the Mediterranean Sea. Perhaps this is one of the main reasons why heat-loving foreigners prefer the Cyprus Sea.

Only one major river flows into it - the Nile.

Due to the increased salinity, the sea, unfortunately, cannot boast of a rich fauna, so it can be considered practically “uninhabited”.

One hypothesis says that the remains of Atlantis are hidden in the depths of the Cyprus Sea. This fact is still being studied.

Adriatic Sea

This sea is popularly called “loving”, because it washes the shores of several European countries at the same time. What is special about the Adriatic Sea?

The name of the sea comes from the ancient port of Adria.

The tides reach one and a half meters in height; this sea is characterized by regular storms.

The fauna and flora of the sea is diverse. It is home to about 750 species of algae, many sea fish, sea foxes, sharks, dolphins, and even monk seals.

Ionian Sea

In addition to Greece, the sea washes the Italian and Albanian shores. The Ionian Sea is the deepest of all parts of the Mediterranean. The shores are predominantly sandy, less often silty sand and shell rock. Features of the Ionian Sea:

The water temperature ranges from 14-17 C in winter, and 20-25 C in summer.

The tides are mostly small, almost imperceptible - only 0.2-0.4 m in height. So the sea can rightly be considered calm and safe.

Probably the name “Ionian” comes from the tribe of Ionians who previously lived on its shores. Although there is a mythological theory about the beautiful Io, who swam across this sea, being turned by Zeus into a white cow. One can only guess on whose side the truth is.

Tyrrhenian Sea

The Tyrrhenian Sea is not very popular among tourists. This is a wonderful reason to go to its shores and explore its terrain on your own. Who knows, maybe you will be the discoverer of a secret that was hidden behind seven locks? Today the Tyrrhenian Sea is famous for the following features:

In ancient times, people called this sea the Ausonia Sea.

There are many island resorts in the Tyrrhenian Sea. As you can see, you have all the conditions for a detailed acquaintance with this laconic area.

Alboran

Alboran is the westernmost sea in the Mediterranean. Features of the Alboran Sea:

Today, the sea is the main route for illegally migrating Africans.

On the northern coast, fishing is the only means of survival.

The average water temperature reaches 17 C in winter and 27 C in summer. But the figures may differ significantly from year to year.

Ligurian Sea

Many of us learned the tongue twister “Liguria” as children and wondered what this wonderful place is and where it is located? Liguria is a tiny Italian region, and the Ligurian Sea lies between Liguria and Corsica. Features of the Ligurian Sea:

The name of the sea comes from the Ligurian tribe who previously lived on its coast. Accordingly, the very name Liguria must have been borrowed from there.

The shores are mostly rocky, with sandy beaches less common.

Balearic Sea

It is the outskirts of the Mediterranean, located off the eastern shores of the Iberian Peninsula. Features of the Balearic Sea:

The water temperature fluctuates between 12 C in winter and 25 C in summer.

Shipping and fishing are especially developed here.

The most famous resorts are located on the coast of the Iberian Peninsula.