Comparison of the Aegean and Mediterranean seas. Which sea is best to relax on?

First of all, choose a convenient resort. And this is understandable: the country is washed by 4 seas at once - the Mediterranean, Aegean, Black and Marmara, and each creates a special aura, has its own distinctive features and unique advantages. Which sea in Turkey to choose? Where will the child be most comfortable in a particular month? Let's get to know the resorts on the coasts of these seas a little closer and evaluate their advantages so that we can then choose the appropriate option.

Seas of Turkey: holidays all year round and for every taste!

Let's start with the fact that the world-famous Sea of ​​Marmara, unlike the other three seas, is internal, the main function of which is navigation: through the Bosporus and Dardanelles straits it connects the Black Sea with the Aegean and Mediterranean. In general, it is the Mediterranean Sea that occupies a leading position among those who go on vacation to this country. Popular family resorts in Turkey are also located on the Aegean Sea, but the water here is a little colder, and therefore the full holiday season is a little shorter than on the Mediterranean coast. As for the Black Sea, here you can have a great holiday with children, but not every adult will agree to splash around in the cool sea waves, even in early June.

The Mediterranean Sea is surrounded by three continents at once - Asia, Europe, Africa. Through the connecting Gibraltar it goes to Atlantic Ocean, and through the Suez Canal you can get to the Red Sea. The Mediterranean Sea is the saltiest of all 4 seas in Turkey and more than twice as salty as the Black Sea, which means it is very easy to learn to swim here. From May to November inclusive, the water temperature here does not drop below 21 degrees, and during the peak season (July-September) it reaches 28-29 degrees! Therefore, other resort towns in this region are overcrowded in the summer months. " Turkish Riviera" - a place of tourist pilgrimage for families with children.

The Aegean Sea is slightly cooler than its neighbor - it is still cold for children to swim here in May, but from June to September inclusive (and sometimes in October) the water temperature is comfortable - from 22 degrees and above. The northern coast is a little cooler than the southern one, but even there in July, August and September you can safely count on sea temperatures of 24 degrees. The sea ranks second in salinity after the Mediterranean. In the Aegean Sea there are such famous resorts, like Bodrum, Marmaris, Cesme.

If we talk about the Black Sea, not many tourists come here on vacation with children. From June to early September, the water temperature is comfortable for swimming for both adults and children. The Black Sea climate causes relatively slow warming of water and air, as well as their fairly rapid cooling. This probably explains the fact that family hotels on Black Sea coast Not much Turkey. However, an important advantage of rest can be considered quite low prices compared to top Turkish resorts. Turkish resorts on the Black Sea: Abana, Amasra, Samsun, Sinop, Trabzon, Yakakent, Gerze, Kurukasile, Rize, Fatsa, Hamsilos, Giresun.

Coast of Turkey: choose comfort!

The coast of each sea has its own characteristics. If you have planned, or Kemer, on the shores of the Mediterranean Sea, you should know that here the coastline stretches for just over 1.5 thousand km, and parallel located mountain ranges reliably protect resorts from winds. When choosing a children's resort in the Mediterranean, be it Belek or Belek, you only need to consider the availability of convenient access to the sea and the proximity to certain entertainments and attractions that you want to visit with your child. A mild climate for 7 months of the year will allow your baby to improve his health even just before the winter cold.

Coast Aegean Sea almost twice as long as the Mediterranean - 2.8 thousand km. Indented by bays and bays, of which there are many in this place, it is not protected by mountains. Mountain ranges are perpendicular coastline, That's why beach season- slightly shorter than in the Mediterranean. Resort area is famous for its fashionable hotels, where you can safely count on a “premium” class vacation. There is beautiful nature and a wide range of entertainment, as well as historical and cultural places, interesting to visit for older children and adults. or will become an additional plus for those who want to diversify beach holiday excursion program to historical places.

By the way, it is preferable to go to from the resorts of the Aegean Sea. Not visiting this stunning city is an unforgivable mistake. - are diverse and extremely interesting, since they lift the curtain on the brilliant time of the reign of Suleiman the Magnificent and simply introduce Europeans to the features of another culture. Sea and land trips in Istanbul will give you many exciting emotions and unforgettable impressions.

To summarize, we can say that children can swim in any sea in Turkey: it is safe, there is a huge selection of equipped sand and pebble beaches, convenient entry into the water, moderate salinity, and the absence of large waves. Sea air and sea water strengthen the body and fill every child with healthy energy.

In the summer months, the water temperature in all seas is extremely comfortable even for the smallest travelers. But young tourists can also enjoy swimming in May, September and even early November, only for this it is recommended to relax at the resorts of the most popular and most beloved by millions - the Mediterranean Sea.

Some exotic lovers, oddly enough, prefer to swim in dirty water. There are people who purposefully search for this type of “entertainment” on the Internet. And in Kuban at the height velvet season“dirty” tourism is gaining popularity. Many vacationers preferred traditional holidays on the beach and sea baths last summer extreme swimming in lakes of mud volcanoes. By inheritance, the local Cossacks are engaged in the “dirty” business.

But still, fortunately, such originals are in a clear minority. Most of our compatriots, when planning to go to the coast, wonder which sea to go to in search of the most environmentally friendly sea bathing (meaning the popular tourist routes)? Oceanologist Nikita Kucheruk, Candidate of Biological Sciences, has compiled a “hygienic” rating of the seas, which we invite you to familiarize yourself with.

1. Seychelles and Caribbean islands

Secluded islands far from civilization - the best place for swimming. The water is perfectly clear. The sea near these islands is very warm all year round, and there is very little food for marine life. So, if any product of human activity (domestic, oil pollution) gets into these heavenly blue waters, marine flora and fauna take these emissions as a pleasant addition to breakfast and sweep them away in an instant. Strong ocean currents near the islands help restore the ecological balance; the bottom, not far from the coast, abruptly drops into the depths - this also prevents emissions from stagnating. Although, in fact, there are few emissions: there is no industry, and the routes of oil tankers are far away.

2. Portuguese coast and Dead Sea

The Atlantic coast of Portugal is slightly inferior to the secluded islands. Low-waste industry, deep bottom and, moreover, the ocean - it is much more difficult to litter it than the sea. Along Portugal, the water is cleaned by a “branch” of the Gulf Stream. But it is not always safe to make long swims in the ocean, that is, it simply depends on the topography of the coastline. If there are reefs nearby and the depth of the water near the shore changes sharply, at high tide a strong undercurrent begins and the swimmer can be carried away into the open ocean.

What about Dead Sea, then it is also very clean there, but there is no talk of any marine flora and fauna: the sea is so salty that no one lives there, no flowers, no fish, no algae. Yes, and you won’t be able to swim like a human being. True, the benefits from it, as we have already written, are immeasurable: not only the skin is treated here, but also rheumatism and depression.

3. Resorts of the Indonesian archipelago (Bali, Malaysia), Singapore, Australia

The beaches of Indonesia practically share an honorable second place with the Portuguese coast in our ranking. Tropical seas are very warm, and just like in the Seychelles, there is little food for marine life - so if some industrial waste gets into the water, the living creatures quickly eat it all up.

And at the same time, marine life is the only source of trouble. Communication with a jellyfish nicknamed the Sea Wasp with 5-6-meter transparent tentacles saturated with nerve poison will end in at least a burn.

Hated by snorkelers sea ​​urchins are found in great abundance. For example, it is better to stay away from the crazy handsome man nicknamed “diadem” - our expert oceanologist had personal contact with “diadem” and shared his impressions: “Like after a shelling.”

You also need to be careful with coral reefs: if you touch “fire” coral, at best you will get a burn (like after falling into a thicket of young nettles). On the beach you can come across a large cone-shaped shell heavenly beauty, in which a mollusk lives - the owner of a deadly proboscis with which it kills fish. The person, of course, won’t fare well either. So it’s better to observe everything bright and beautiful from afar.

4. Eastern Mediterranean

Perfect place for lovers of ecological swimming and the freshest seafood: the sea there has hardly suffered from the costs of civilization. The Cretan and Greek beaches, as well as the Mediterranean beaches of Israel and Turkey, have the cleanest and most “living” sea in the entire Mediterranean. There is no industry, there are great depths around. A problem that the sea cannot cope with even in these areas is the frequent occurrence of plastic bags that do not decompose at all: the water is clear and they are clearly visible.

5. Mediterranean coast of Egypt

It would not have gotten a pass into our top five if the Nile had not actually stopped flowing into the Mediterranean Sea. About ten years ago, a plant called “water hyacinth” fell into the river, which quickly multiplied, and the Nile began to bloom. But this life-loving plant turned out to come from humid Florida, so it evaporates a lot of liquid, and in dry Egypt, water hyacinth, the bastard, evaporates all the remaining river water in large volumes, and all the rest of the water is used to irrigate fields and practically does not reach the sea - which and it’s good, because if it did, it would be with fertilizers. Thanks to such an environmental nuisance, the sea has become cleaner, and the water hyacinth is alive and well and has even adapted to the herbicide attacks of the Egyptian authorities.

6. Aegean and Red Seas

The Aegean Sea is relatively prosperous - due to the fact that the ratio of the catchment area (the entire area on land from where water is collected and flows into the sea) to the sea area is very favorable - 1:1, which means the proportion of industrial discharges is moderately modest. Swimming off the coast of Greece is not marred by any plankton, and freshly caught fish is very good.
Turkey's Aegean coast is becoming increasingly problematic, with sewage causing red tides to occur more frequently off the coast from Izmir to Istanbul. Layers of water rich in phosphorus and nitrogen rise from the depths of the ocean, because of which toxic (for both people and fish) microflora begins to rapidly multiply - the sea off the coast becomes brown-red in color. Tourists are not allowed to swim or eat seafood at this time, given the experience of local fishermen and swimmers: due to swimming in the sea during red tides, they lose a total of 10 thousand working days a year, as reported by Greenpeace.

Despite the proximity of the Suez Canal, through which oil tankers sail, the Red Sea quickly “digests” pollution, like any tropical sea, where there is a lot of “hungry” algae, fish and other inhabitants and little food. Oddly enough, an oil spill is also considered a good snack for the tropical sea ecosystem. For example, after an oil spill during the US military operation Desert Storm, the sea recovered in a matter of months (for comparison: the northern seas take five to seven years to recover from a similar shock). And the warning about brightly colored fish and jellyfish still applies: don't grab them by their fins or tentacles. Moray eels (a type of eel) that hide in rocks bite like young bulldogs.

7. Mediterranean beaches of France, Spain and Italy

The Mediterranean Sea, of course, can handle everything. Although France, Italy and Spain are the source of three quarters of industrial and agricultural pollution that enters the Mediterranean Sea. But soon the forces of self-regulation by the sea will be exhausted: Greenpeace is already sounding the alarm - each of the ten beaches in the area from Cannes to Capri does not comply with European Union standards. Not to mention the sad facts: last year, dolphins washed up on this part of the coast, and due to the ubiquitous tourists, the populations of animals living on the beaches - the Mediterranean turtle and seal - have decreased by two to three times.

And by the way, Lately local wildlife copes with alien marine plants less and less well. For example, off the coast of the French Riviera and Italy (from Toulon to the Italian town of Imperia), the sea weed Caulerpa taxifolia (native of the tropics) began to multiply at enormous speed due to sea pollution by sewage. This weed produces a toxin that kills deep-sea algae. In general, you won’t get poisoned by seafood in these areas, but still don’t eat a lot of it: they contain slightly higher levels of mercury and heavy metals.

8. Adriatic Sea, coast of Tunisia and California

In the waters of the northern Adriatic and off the beaches of Tunisia, there is more chlorophyll than normal - when the water temperature rises above 25-26 degrees, the sea may bloom. Along the coastline in these areas, water exchange is not intensive, and industrial emissions linger longer. This is precisely the effect of the “ring current” that exists in any closed sea: the current along the shelf (the flat coastal part, just where the beaches are) carries with it all possible pollution and does not allow them to mix with the deep sea layers.

The Adriatic Sea is in a difficult situation - along with the waters of the Po River, waste from the rapid Italian industry enters it: in the late 90s, the volume of discharges became ten times more than half a century ago. So you should not choose the closed bays and lagoons of Trieste and Venice for swimming (you will probably be impressed by the fact that tons of algae are caught from the Venetian lagoon every year so that they do not emit unpleasant odors).

In California, the clarity and smell of the water is much better. Why then is the famous Sunset Beach not at the top of our rating? Due to the increasing frequency of red tides, during which the famous California oyster farms have to be closed.

9. Baltic Sea

Unfortunately, swimming there is not very pleasant - it’s a bit dirty. Baltic fish is also not best quality. And it’s not even about the Russian attitude towards ecology. Our legislation is quite strict (sewage treatment plants in big cities can be compared with Europe, and often not in favor of the latter). Guilty geographical position Baltic Sea: it is surrounded by industrialized countries (Norway, Sweden, the Baltic countries), oil tankers sail along it. In addition, due to the low temperature of the water, it slowly recovers its strength after contamination.

10. Black Sea

Despite its inherent romantic aura of “the bluest in the world,” it lags behind in our ranking. And it seems hopeless: it is physically impossible to restore it. The ratio of the catchment area to the area of ​​the sea itself is the most unfavorable - 6:1, water exchange is very slow, and on top of everything else, the waters of the Danube flow here after traveling through three dozen European countries. On Bulgarian resorts- Sun Bryag and Golden Sands - the sea is already completely brownish in color, last year the visibility was only 20 centimeters.

If you are going to swim in the Black Sea, it is better to go cold (up to 20-21 degrees): as soon as the water becomes warmer, the microflora (a possible carrier of infections) multiplies with triple enthusiasm.

Swimming in a dirty sea can cause not only skin irritation, but also infectious diseases of the ear and nasopharynx, and in rare cases, dysentery and even cholera. But most experts agree that the European Union and Greenpeace set fantastically high environmental standards for the purity of sea water. In theory, this severity is justified, but we have never heard of a person swimming in the sea and immediately developing red spots or contracting cholera. So if you find out that the sea off the coast where you are going to relax is not completely clean, you simply should not sit in the water for 10 hours a day. But with fresh fish, be really careful. All marine life accumulates toxic substances in higher concentrations than water.

Of course, in order to disrupt the ecological balance of the world's oceans and all its seas, you have to try hard, but humanity seems to be trying hard: now the pleasure of swimming in clean and clear sea water and eating clean seafood is a rare luxury. But for now it's allowed.

Greece: a story about the features of tourism and recreation. Helpful information about Greece for the traveler.

• Last minute tours to Greece

Beaches of the Cretan Sea, Heraklion

Greece is located in the southern part Balkan Peninsula and on numerous islands of the Mediterranean Sea. Geographically, parts of the Mediterranean include the Alboran, Balearic, Ligurian, Tyrrhenian, Adriatic, Ionian, Aegean, Cretan, Libyan and Cypriot seas. However, today most of them are considered integral parts of the water area and are not indicated on maps - it is generally accepted that the shores of Greece are washed by the Ionian Sea from the west, the Mediterranean from the south, and the Aegean Sea from the east.

In fact, Greece is washed by the largest number of seas compared to other European countries. It is the seas that are considered one of the main sources of income - both from fishing, collecting corals, transport communication, and as one of the most attractive features of the country for tourists.

There is another source of income that enterprising Greeks extract from the sea - according to maritime regulations, ships from other countries of the world have the right to pass through the sea part of Greece (and this includes about 2 thousand islands in addition to the mainland!) for an additional fee depending on the type of ship, its sizes and other characteristics.

Ionian Sea

In the water area Ionian Sea There are such islands as Corfu, Lefkada, Kefalonia, Zakynthos, Ithaca, etc. The average sea water temperature in winter is +14 °C, in summer - +26 °C. Tourist season starts in June, ends in October.

The name of the Ionian Sea comes from the ancient Greek tribe of Ionians who inhabited the surrounding islands, or from the name of Zeus’s beloved Io, who, according to ancient Greek mythology, was turned into a white cow for her relationship with the Thunderer and swam across the sea to escape the wrath of Hera.

Mediterranean Sea

The Mediterranean Sea is famous for its beauty and tranquility. The beaches here are predominantly sandy and pebble, with developed infrastructure and ample opportunities for aquatic species sports. The water temperature in June is about +22°C, in August +26°C, in October +23°C.

The name Mare Mediterranea (Latin for “Sea in the middle of the Earth”) was put into use back in antiquity, when civilizations were formed mainly in the basin of this sea.

It is to the Mediterranean Sea that Greece owes its tourist attractiveness: due to the fact that communication with the Atlantic is carried out only by the rather narrow Straits of Suez and Gibraltar, the Mediterranean is considered one of the warmest and saltiest seas on the planet with weakly pronounced tides. It is perfect for a relaxing beach holiday and diving.

The sand spit connecting Rhodes with the small island of Prasonisi is called “The Kiss of Two Seas”, since on one side there is the Mediterranean Sea, the waters of which are deep blue, and on the other - the turquoise Aegean.

Aegean Sea

The Aegean Sea off the coast of Halkidiki is famous for its exceptional purity of water and magnificent beaches. As many as 42 beaches on the peninsula are marked “ Blue flag"and are rightfully considered one of the best in all of Europe. The average water temperature in June is +23 °C, in August about +25 °C, in October +23 °C.

The beaches on the coast of Halkidiki are mostly sandy or sandy with small pebbles. They are famous for their fairly developed infrastructure and are equipped with everything necessary for active rest: surfing, diving and yachting. Most popular resorts Ionian Sea in Greece - Metamorfosi, Nikiti, Neas Marmaras and Vourvourou Bay.

Aegean Sea

The Aegean coast is a mecca for divers from all over the world. It will be interesting to dive here both for beginners who want to admire the beauty of the seabed at shallow depths, and for professionals who are more interested in sunken ships different eras, caves and archaeological finds. In addition, there are always waves here, which provides excellent conditions for above-water activities, primarily surfing and windsurfing. It is in the Aegean Sea near the island of Rhodes that the World Cup stages in these sports are held.

In fact, it is the Aegean Sea that can be called the cradle of such ancient civilizations as Byzantium, Ancient Greece And Ancient Rome, Ottoman Empire, Latin Empire, Bulgarian Empire. According to various sources, its name comes from the ancient Greek “waves on the water”, after the city of Aigeus on the island of Euboea or after the name of the Athenian king Aegeus, who, according to ancient Greek mythology, threw himself from a cliff into the sea, deciding that his son Theseus had been killed by the Minotaur on Crete.

Affordable prices, but at the same time excellent service, almost complete absence of a language barrier and unlimited shopping, cleanest beaches and, without exaggeration, the most delicious sweets in the world are all Türkiye! A country where you don’t yet need a visa for a holiday, unless, of course, you plan to stay here longer than three months. So it’s decided: in summer - tours to Turkey! All that remains is to decide where you will be more comfortable: on Aegean coast or Mediterranean.

Sunny Mediterranean coast?

Just imagine, on the Turkish Mediterranean coast there is sunshine 300 days a year bright sun! And the holiday season never seems to end. Swimming here begins at the end of April and ends only in November. In summer, the water in the sea warms up to 28 0 C. That is why the Mediterranean, like a magnet, attracts families with children.

Along the entire coastline, which reaches 1,500 kilometers in Turkey, the Taurus Mountains rise. They reliably protect the coast from the cold wind of Central Antalya, and form a subtropical climate. Even winter in this part of Turkey is surprisingly warm. And for lovers of hot summers, the Mediterranean is a real paradise on earth!

You can diversify your beach holiday at local resorts with walking walks, because the nature of this part of Turkey is very picturesque. The most extreme route that the guides offer is a hike along the Lycian Trail. Its length is 500 kilometers. But the brave souls who decided on such a feat claim: it was best trip in their lives.

Mediterranean resorts

• Antalya. This city is good because it can offer hotels for every taste and budget. But the coast of Antalya is almost all rocky. Therefore, tourists descend to the sea on special pontoons.
• Kemer - a city adjacent to many picturesque villages, where hotel accommodation is much cheaper than in the coastal zone. Kemer is located near the Lycian Way, so those who have planned a hiking trip as part of their entertainment program stop here.
• Belek located on a sandy plain, and is surrounded by coniferous and eucalyptus forests. Concentrated here greatest number five-star hotels and a very developed tourist infrastructure. Belesk is also famous for its amazingly flat and truly endless golf courses.
• Side is located on a peninsula and is famous for its long sandy beaches. This city is the best place to get acquainted with Turkish history, because it is here that there is a huge number of monuments of ancient culture.
• Alanya - the southernmost Turkish resort, located at the foot of the Taurus Mountains. The beach season here is the longest on the Mediterranean coast of Turkey, starting in early spring and ending only in November. Alanya is surrounded by picturesque and fragrant orange and lemon gardens. Most hotels are located on the coastline. Holidays in Alanya are ideal for budget-conscious tourists; hotel prices here are quite affordable.

Or maybe the unexplored Aegean coast?

The western part of Turkey has long been chosen by tourists from Western European countries. And it’s no coincidence! Here, even at the height of summer, there is no that exhausting heat and stuffiness from which vacationers in the Mediterranean languish. average temperature summer months is 24 - 26 0 C. Unless at the very peak of summer, in July, the thermometer can rise to 30 - 35 0 C.

The holiday season on the Aegean coast is somewhat shorter and lasts 4 months: from mid-June to mid-September. The water temperature at this time does not drop below 23 0 C. West Coast Turkey is very picturesque. There are a huge number of bays, coves and tiny islands. The coast is decorated with coniferous forests and green mountain ranges that descend directly to the sea.

Resorts of the Aegean coast

• Dalaman - quiet and beautiful place, which is ideal for family vacation. The city itself is located in a bay and is famous for its sandy and pebble beaches. Dalaman also attracts lovers extreme recreation- rafting, which takes place on the river of the same name.
• Kusadasi. Most northern resort coast, which is so different from the rest of Turkey that vacationers have a strong belief that they are in Greece. It is suitable for people who cannot stand the summer heat and are looking for peace and solitude on vacation. Tourist infrastructure It is well developed here, but prices are much lower.
• Fethiye. The warmest resort Aegean coast, thanks to which the beach season here is longer. Fethiye is famous for Oludeniz Bay. Its waters are not inferior to the Israeli Dead Sea in their healing properties.
• Bodrum. Great place for young people. Many nightclubs, bars and discos will not let tourists get bored. And the constant wind and high waves attract surfers and windsurfers to Bodrum.