The Mediterranean

1. The Mediterranean By: James Buckley

2. In The Beginning • Definition: “The centre of the world.” • Was formed in the process of Continental Drift, when Africa crashed into Eurasia. • At about 2000 B.C., Egyptians were trading by sea. • Phoenicians, opened up the Mediterranean, finding merchant colonies along its entire coastline.

3. Today • Some of the world’s busiest shipping routes are contained in the Mediterranean.  • It is estimated that approximately 220,000 vessels of more than 100 tonnes cross the Mediterranean each year – about one third of the world’s total merchant shipping. • The most popular tourist destination in the world.

4. Development • Tourism is one of the most important sources of income for many Mediterranean countries. • Rapid development and the building of infrastructure have been encouraged by governments in Mediterranean countries. • The growth of the tourism industry also support small communities in coastal areas and islands by providing alternative sources of income far from urban centres.

5. Environment • It plays an important part in the wider oceans system. • Its warm, highly saline waters provide spawning grounds for many species and carry a unique signature of nutrients and plankton. • Produces over half our oxygen. • Transfers nutrients and energy currents around the world. • Creates and distributes weather systems .

6. Climate • Characterized by no freezing temperatures in winter and dry summers. • Europe's hottest climate. • Occurs on the Western part of the continent. • Refers to zones in a range of latitudes between 30 and 45 degrees.

7. Trades • Mediterranean Sea covers an approximate area of 970,000 square miles. • Ships with Mediterranean goods—oils, wines, pottery—made their way to Brittany and Britain • Mariners who sailed the Mediterranean had to learn how to mark latitude. • They Could also estimate the latitude by using a polar star • Approximately 370 million tonnes of oil are transported annually. • Around 250 to 300 oil tankers cross the Sea every day.

8. Problems • The Mediterranean Sea’s resources are under pressure from a variety of threats. • Amongst them are overfishing, drift netting, aquaculture, alien species, pollution, drilling for oil and gas, dredging, commercial shipping, climate change, tourism and population increases. • A major problem is caused by industry. Which pump thousands of tonnes of toxic waste directly into the sea.

9. Effects On The Wildlife • Mediterranean Sea is a very deep sea, from 3000 to 4000 metres deep • Allows several types of whales and other animals to thrive there, such as swordfish, dolphins and tuna, which are sometimes encountered by modern yachts during their cruises • Plants have adapted by storing water through thick bark or waxy coverings, and by growing thorns to prevent animals from eating them. • The bluefin tuna population is now at a fraction of its natural (unexploited) levels, and the pressure on the stock has intensified in recent years.

10. Solutions • What is needed is a network of fully protected, large-scale marine reserves to cover the range of Mediterranean marine ecosystems – the equivalent to national parks on land. • Apply pressure on high officials. • Mediterranean countries must work together. • Educate others to help protect this ecosystem.

11. Mediterranean Bibliography • http://www.bookrags.com/tandf/mediterranean-trade-tf/: Trades • http://erickson.uniserve.com/med_history_trade_intro.htm: Trades and Wildlife • http://www.greenpeace.org/international/campaigns/oceans/marine-reserves/the-mediterranean/mediterranean-solutions:Problems and Solutions • http://www.meteorologyclimate.com/Mediterranean-climate.htm: Climate • http://www.greenpeace.org/mediterranean/mediterranean-marine-reserves/threats/pollution-and-tourism: Pollution • http://www.blueplanetbiomes.org/med_chaparral.htm: Wildlife

12. The End!