Akdenizin

Akdenizin is the Turkish name for the Mediterranean Sea and, in Turkish usage, for the surrounding region commonly referred to in English as the Mediterranean. It lies between Southern Europe to the north, North Africa to the south, and the Levant to the east, connecting three continents. The term Akdeniz is used in Turkish media, maps, and education to denote both the body of water and the cultural-geographic area around its shores.

Geography and scope: The Mediterranean covers about 2.5 million square kilometers. It is connected to the Atlantic Ocean through the Strait of Gibraltar and to the Black Sea through a chain of waterways including the Dardanelles, the Sea of Marmara, and the Bosporus. Its average depth is around 1.5 kilometers, with maximum depths exceeding 5 kilometers in parts of the eastern basin. The sea hosts a diverse coastline and numerous islands, such as Sicily, Sardinia, Crete, Cyprus, and portions of the Greek and Turkish coasts.

Ecology and economy: The Akdeniz supports diverse marine ecosystems, including sea grass beds, coral communities, and populations of cetaceans and marine turtles. It is a major route for international shipping and fishing and a prominent region for tourism, particularly along European and North African shores. Offshore hydrocarbon resources have been explored in parts of the Levant Basin, raising environmental and geopolitical considerations.

History and culture: The Mediterranean has been a cradle of ancient civilizations and a long-standing hub of trade, culture, and exchange. Today, the Akdeniz region remains central to regional cooperation, tourism, and maritime economies that span Europe, Africa, and the Middle East.