I have been to Greece three times. But in order to understand geography, it is not necessary to visit everywhere. Enough textbooks, internet and perseverance. And in addition to this set, I also have a geographical education. So - wind on your mustache. The question is easy, but interesting.

What seas wash Greece

Located on a peninsula, in addition, the country has a lot of islands. So you can imagine how much sea water splashes around. In fact, Greece is washed by seven seas. But nobody cares. The seven seas are the object of controversy among geographers, historians and other meticulous personalities. It is enough for a simple person to know the three Greek seas:

• Aegean Sea.
• Ionian Sea.
• Mediterranean Sea.

In fact, one could generally speak only of the Mediterranean Sea. The Aegean and Ionian Seas are included in the Mediterranean basin, the boundaries between them are rather fuzzy. With the Mediterranean itself, everything is clear, but the Aegean and Ionian can be considered closer.

Aegean Sea

The Greeks have a legend about the Minotaur. This is such a monster with the head of a cow, he lived on the island Crete. Once a hero named Tessey, to destroy the minotaur and save all people from tyranny. Judging by his behavior, he was the ancestor of modern Americans. But trouble happened to Tessey. Upon returning home, he mixed up the sails - instead of white, he put black on his ship. Well, with whom it doesn’t happen - he was tired after all, he performed feats. But bad luck - the black flag in Greece means mourning. Tessey's father saw a black flag from the shore, decided that everything was bad - the minotaur had eaten his son. With grief the Greek pope jumped off a cliff. Here he was, and now he is gone. This dad's name was Aegeus. Here The sea was named after him.

ionian sea

The name of this sea comes from the ancient people - Ionians. But some believe that the Ionian Sea associated with the name of Zeus' mistress - Io. This is the girl that Zeus turned into a cow to hide from his wife, Hera. The history there is muddy and how it is connected with the sea is not at all clear. But one thing is clear - the ancient Greeks obviously had a fad about cows.

Greece - One mention of the name of this country, a picture immediately appears before your eyes: endless beaches, sea and waves, blue clear skies and, of course, the Acropolis. Not one thousand tourists come to Greece every year to enjoy this country, get new impressions and learn a lot of new and interesting things.

Before a trip to Greece, almost every traveler tries to learn as much as possible about the country. But at the same time, few people think about what kind of seas are in Greece. Today we will try to answer this question, perhaps this information will come as a surprise to those who have not yet been to Greece.

Location of Greece

Greece is located in the south of the Balkan Peninsula, spreading its possessions on many islands in the Mediterranean Sea. Greece is washed by a huge number of seas from different parts of the country: the Ionian, the Mediterranean and the Aegean.

By the way, from the fact that Greece is washed from all sides, the Greeks found benefit in this. When ships from other countries pass through the maritime part of Greece, and in Greece, in addition to the mainland, there are more than 15 thousand islands, they are required to pay a certain fee for this, which depends on the type and size of the ship.

Ionian waters

The Ionian Sea is washed by such islands as Crete, Zakynthos, Kefalonia and others. Crete is by far the most popular tourist destination. In summer, the water in this sea usually stays at around 25-27 degrees. Usually the peak here is July, August and September.

According to historical sources, the name comes from the name of captivity in Ancient Greece, they were called Ionians. They got this name from Greek mythology, the beloved of God Zeus was called Io. Io succumbed to temptation and had a connection with the Thunderer, because of this, she turned into a white cow and swam across the sea in order to avoid the threats of Hera.

mediterranean water

Definitely the Mediterranean coast in Greece - one of the most beautiful and peaceful places in this country. It is here that all the beaches are equipped with everything necessary, the bottom is sandy, and if occasionally there is pebble, then everything necessary for a comfortable entry into the water has been done by skillful human hands. Both couples with children and newlyweds, as well as lovers of various sports prefer to relax here. Usually by June the water warms up to 22 degrees, and in August it becomes 26 degrees.

This sea got its name from the Latin word, which meant "Water in the middle of the Earth." It is considered very warm, but at the same time very salty. Also, there are rarely waves, ebbs and flows. It will be comfortable to rest here even for those who are not very good swimmers. An interesting fact is that the beach strip that connects the island of Rhodes with the small island of Prasonisi is called the "Kiss of the Seas", because on the one hand it is washed by the water of the Mediterranean Sea, it has a rich blue color, and on the other hand the Aegean with a warm turquoise hue.

Aegean Sea

Definitely, the Aegean Sea in Greece is considered simply the cleanest. Basically, tourists who want to swim in its waters choose the island of Halkidiki. It is here that more than 40 beaches which are considered to be among the best in the world. Usually in June the water temperature reaches 23 degrees, and by mid-August as much as 26 degrees. All the beaches of Halkidiki are very comfortable for relaxing, mostly all sandy or, in extreme cases, with very small pebbles. The beaches have a very developed infrastructure, where you can find all the necessary equipment for those who are not indifferent to water sports, such as surfing or diving. Therefore, when setting off to conquer the expanses of the Aegean Sea, think about what to take with you.

It is the shores of the Aegean waters that attract thousands of divers. Here you can plunge into the endless expanses of the sea with scuba gear, and get acquainted with the beautiful underwater world. It can also be noted that the Aegean Sea is also suitable for those who are still new to diving, even at shallow depths they can admire bizarre corals and exotic fish.

For those who are pros in diving, interested in caves and wrecks, there is also a lot of interesting things. On the shores, young people who surf often rest. There are always waves here, which means it will be great to ride on the board. By the way, for a long time, surfing competitions, even at the world level, are held here.

Historically, the Aegean Sea is the cradle of such ancient civilizations as Byzantium and Rome, as well as Ancient Greece and Turkey, in the past the Ottoman Empire and many others. The name of this sea comes from ancient Greek and means "waves on the water" or on behalf of the king of Athens, Aegeus. There is even a legend that this king threw himself off a cliff into the sea because his only son was killed by the Minotaur. It is not known whether this is true or fiction, but the sea is named after him.

Each sea in Greece is beautiful in its own way, the beach holiday season here lasts from May to September, warm water and endless sandy beaches will delight tourists. No wonder the resorts of Greece have long been considered the most comfortable around the world. No matter which resort you choose, you will in any case get an unforgettable vacation.

Tourists traveling to Greece often choose not a particular resort, but the sea on which they will relax. And here tourists are provided with an excellent choice, since Greece is washed by just an incredible number of seas.

On most maps, you can see only three seas - Aegean, Ionian, Mediterranean. You may also not find other data in various guides and travel brochures. And only once on the beach, you will be surprised to find that you are welcomed on the Cretan Sea, Libyan or Balearic. The following seas belong to the Mediterranean basin:

• Aegean,
• Adriatic,
• Ionian
• Cretan,
• Libyan
• tyrrhenian,
• Ligurian,
• Alboran,
• Balearic.

Also from the north, Greece is washed by the Thracian Sea, the southwestern part of the Aegean Sea is the Myrtoan Sea. The Cretan Sea is located near the island of Crete, and the Libyan Sea separates Greece from Africa.

While on vacation in Greece, you can learn a lot more about the history of each of them and the modern division of the seas that wash the ancient cities of this country.

ionian sea

The Ionian Sea washes a small mainland of Greece and several islands: Ithaca, Corfu, Lefkada, Zakynthos, Kefalonia. In winter, the sea cools down very much, the average temperature in January-February is 14 degrees. In this regard, the holiday season on the Ionian Sea begins quite late - only in June. True, its ending is not too early.

You can swim in the sea and sunbathe on the beaches of Corfu and Kefalonia until mid-October.

The average sea temperature during the beach season is 25-26 degrees.

The coast of the Ionian Sea is quite diverse. In almost all resorts, the beaches are gently sloping, sandy. But there are also pebble beaches, rocky areas. Thanks to this, many diving enthusiasts come to Greece. Other entertainments are available on the Ionian Sea: catamarans, yachting, canoeing, jet skis.

Aegean Sea in Greece

On the Aegean Sea are the best resorts in Greece. Tourists of different ages and with different social status love to relax here. The resort period on the coast is relatively long, it begins in May and ends at the end of October. Although the sea temperature in November is still quite high, it is 20 degrees. Therefore, there are many who want to go on vacation to Greece at this time of the year. In winter, the water of the Aegean Sea is cold and completely unsuitable for swimming, the average in January-February is 15-17 degrees. In summer, the sea warms up to 24-25 degrees.

The beaches of the Aegean Sea are popular among young people. Most of the islands of Greece have ideal conditions for a fun-filled outdoor activity. On the beaches there are entertainment centers, bars, discos, here you can do any kind of water sports.

But the most popular resorts of the Aegean Sea are among divers, surfers and windsurfers.

Near the island of Rhodes, boarding competitions are held annually, including sailing. And near other islands there are many interesting places for diving: caves, sunken ships, the remains of ancient cities.

Mediterranean Sea

For holidays in Greece, many tourists choose the Mediterranean Sea, as it is ideal for a quiet family holiday, including those with children. This sea is the warmest, the ebbs and flows off the coast are practically not felt.

The beaches of the Mediterranean Sea are sandy, gently sloping, with a well-developed infrastructure.

The holiday season on the shores of this sea is the longest, as the first tourists on the coast are ready to meet in March. In the first month of spring, the water warms up to 22 degrees, in July-August its temperature can reach 26-27 degrees. You can swim in the Mediterranean Sea until October, by which time the sea cools down to only 20-21 degrees.

On the Mediterranean coast, beach holidays remain popular, although lovers of water entertainment can offer an excellent program here:

• Diving,
• Windsurfing,
• jet skis,
• yacht trips,
• Fishing.

Most of the beaches of the Mediterranean Sea are sandy, but there are also pebbly, as well as mixed types. To relax on the Mediterranean coast, you can choose a bungalow in a quiet cozy bay, a small house on the islands or stay in a hotel on one of the noisiest and most cheerful beaches in Greece.

Allows her to be considered the most sea power of the Old World. Its shores on the Balkan Peninsula and two thousand islands are washed by the Mediterranean Sea. It is divided into several parts and in order to understand which sea washes Greece, you should look at the map.

An impressive list

The Mediterranean Sea has in its waters a whole list of small seas, some of which are named according to their geographical location:

• The Aegean washes, among others, a group of islands of the same name.
• Crete is the sea off the island.
• Libyan comes to the shores.
• In the Ionian drifts the Ionian archipelago.

Which seas in Greece are no longer shown on maps? The list is also impressive: Ligurian and Cretan, Balearic and Cretan, Alboran and Tyrrhenian. Today it is customary to consider them only parts of the Mediterranean, and therefore these names remained in the distant historical past of Greece.

First violins

For the tourism business, the most important role is played by the seas of Greece, washing the resort areas. For example, the Ionian Sea is the cradle of the islands of Corfu and Ithaca, where the first bathers open the season at the end of May. The water temperature in summer is kept here at around +25 degrees, making water procedures pleasant and refreshing.
The shores of the resort are washed by the Aegean Sea, whose magical beaches are the dream of many fans of bronze tan. These places have the largest number of awards for cleanliness and environmental friendliness, and a developed infrastructure and unlimited opportunities for yachting and diving attract a huge number of active travelers to the Aegean Sea in Greece. The temperature of sea water during the high season here is kept at around +24 degrees.
The Mediterranean Sea is the resorts of the islands of Crete and where the pleasant soft sand of the beaches alternates with small pebbles, allowing you to choose any genre and degree of comfort for relaxation. The water temperature in these places ranges from +22 degrees at the beginning of the season to +26 on peak days. The tides in the Mediterranean Sea are indistinct, and therefore you can spend the whole day on the beach without changing your location.

• Diving in the Aegean Sea allows you to admire not only the natural beauties of the underwater world, but also the ships that sank at different times.
• The Mediterranean Sea is one of the warmest and saltiest in the world.
• It is the Ionian Sea that is distinguished by the greatest depth in the Mediterranean.

Instruction

The mainland of Greece makes up three-quarters of the country's territory. Due to the vast sea coast and many islands, the country is considered ideal for a beach holiday. The Mediterranean climate, clear waters and unique culture make this country incredibly popular with tourists. As a rule, people are interested in Greece by the sea, for the most part, in terms of their influence on the features of recreation.

The eastern coast of the country is washed by the Aegean Sea. It is on it that the capital of the state, the city of Athens, stands. Another major resort on the shores of the Aegean Sea is Halkidiki. Large islands such as Santorini, Kos, Rhodes and Mykonos are also located in the same sea.

The Ionian Sea is distinguished by purple and blue hues. Aegean tends to turquoise in beach areas, and where it becomes deeper, it changes color to a deep dark blue. In general, the entire Mediterranean Sea and its basin are very clean. This is due to the fact that there is practically no industry on these shores, at least in the way of those currents that wash Greece. The sea areas of this country are considered the cleanest in all of Europe.

Knowing the features of the seas can be very useful if you are planning a vacation. The Aegean Sea differs from the rest in that it is colder and more restless than the rest of the seas of Greece. At the same time, it is also the cleanest, and the water in it is very clear. For these qualities, the Aegean Sea is especially loved by divers.

To feel how different the different seas are, you can go to the island of Rhodes. Not far from it there is a place called "the kiss of the two seas." The waters of the Mediterranean and Aegean seas are connected here. Seeing this, you immediately understand how different waters can be, so close to each other.

This marine diversity is partly due to the fact that in the past the territory of the Mediterranean Sea was the Tethys Ocean. Many years ago, the tectonic plates moved, but the Mediterranean Sea still has some "oceanic" properties. The Greek seas are the seas of the ancient ocean, which no longer exists today.