Adriatic

The Adriatic Sea is a body of water that separates the Italian Peninsula from the Balkan Peninsula in Southern Europe. It is part of the Mediterranean Sea and stretches roughly 800 kilometers from the Gulf of Venice in the north to the Strait of Otranto in the south, with a maximum width of about 200 kilometers. The northern boundary is defined by the northern Adriatic and the Po River delta region, while the eastern coast runs along Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, and Albania, and the western coast lies with Italy. The sea connects to the Ionian Sea through the Strait of Otranto.

The name Adriatic derives from the ancient city of Adria, located near the Po delta, and the term has been in use since antiquity. The Adriatic is known for its long, indented coastline and numerous islands, especially along the Croatian Dalmatian coast. Major island groups include Cres, Krk, Rab, Pag, Brač, Hvar, Korčula, and Mljet. The Bosnian and Herzegovinian coast at Neum provides a rare (though short) access to the sea for that country.

Geology and physical characteristics define the Adriatic as a relatively shallow sea with a deep central channel. It sits in part on the Adriatic Plate and is bordered by the Dinaric Alps to the east and the Apennine Mountains to the west, shaping its shelf geometry and sedimentation patterns. Depths vary, with deeper sections in the southern central Adriatic.

Ecology and economy are closely linked to the sea. The Adriatic hosts diverse marine life and seagrass meadows, notably Posidonia oceanica, and supports fishing and tourism. Coastal cities such as Venice, Trieste, Bari, Ancona, Split, Zadar, and Dubrovnik reflect its historical and ongoing role in trade, culture, and transportation.