The Adriatic Sea

Part of the Mediterranean Sea, the Adriatic Sea is actually a body of water that separates the Italian Peninsula from the Balkan Peninsula. The Adriatic Sea also separates the Apennine Mountains from the Dinaric Alps. The Adriatic Sea is bordered by many different countries including Italy to the west, Croatia to the east, as well as Slovenia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, and Albania. There are many substantial rivers that join the Adriatic Sea including the Reno, Po, Adige, Brenta, Piave, Soc, Neretva, and Drin.

Adriatic Sea a Name for the Ages

The Adriatic Sea is a name that has been known throughout the ages. The Adriatic Sea was actually named for the colony of Adria, and originally it was only the upper most portion of the Adriatic Sea that would bear this name. The Adriatic Sea was a fitting name as the term Adria means water or sea. The Adriatic Sea is often misused to identify the Sea of Sicily or the Gulf of Corinth, though these are separate and distinct bodies of water from the Adriatic Sea.

Adriatic Sea Transportation

The Adriatic Sea has been used as a way to transport goods from one region to another. Because the Adriatic Sea is on the coastline of so many different countries the Adriatic Sea is known by many different names. For instance, the Adriatic Sea is known as the Mare Adriatico in Italy, the Jadransko more in Croatia, and the Deit Adriatik in Albania. Because the Adriatic Sea borders so many different regions the Adriatic Sea is a huge tourist attraction.

Adriatic Sea Size

The Adriatic Sea spans about 480 miles in length and is 100 miles across. The total surface area of the Adriatic Sea is about 60,000 square miles, with the northern part of the Adriatic Sea being very shallow, in fact much more shallow than the rest of the Adriatic Sea. The deepest parts of the Adriatic Sea is west of Durres, where the depth is 1,460 meters. The mean depth of the Adriatic Sea is 240 meters.

Adriatic Sea Winds

The Adriatic sea is somewhat dangerous to navigate during the winter months. The bura is what the northeast wind is called on the Adriatic Sea and they make traveling via boat quite dangerous. There is also the Adriatic Sea jugo, which is the Adriatic Sea southern wind, which will bring rain to the Adriatic Sea. In addition there is the maestral, which is the western wind, which is wanted on the Adriatic Sea in the summer as it brings clear weather to the Adriatic Sea. There is very little tide on the Adriatic Sea, which makes the Adriatic Sea a great tourist location on all coasts.

Adriatic Sea Composition

The west coast of the Adriatic Sea is usually quite low and then turns into marshy land and lagoons toward the northwest. The eastern coast of the Adriatic Sea is usually much more rocky and bold and features many islands. There are many different islands in the Adriatic Sea, most of which are quite long and narrow and will rise more than a hundred feet in the water. The coasts of the Adriatic Sea are in stark contrast to one another with the Italian Adriatic Sea coast being clearer weather wise with the Croatian Adriatic Sea coast having the clearer water. Regardless, the Adriatic Sea coast offers something for everyone.

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