Why are there no fish in the Mediterranean Sea? Fish of the Mediterranean Sea: interesting and dangerous representatives
- Ahnelt, H., : Some rare fishes from the western Mediterranean Sea. Annalen des Naturhistorischen Museums in Wien v. 92(B): 49-58.
- Almada, F., V. C. Almada, T. Gullemaud i P. Wirtz, : Phylogenetic relationships of the north-eastern Atlantic and Mediterranean blenniids. Biological Journal of the Linnean Society v. 86: 283-295.
- Ben-Tuvia, A., : Mediterranean fishes of Israel. Bulletin of the Sea Fisheries Research Station Haifa No. 8:1-40.
- Ben-Tuvia, A. and G. W. Kissil, : Fishes of the family in the Red Sea, with a key to the species in the Red Sea and the eastern Mediterranean. Ichthyological Bulletin of the J. L. B. Smith Institute of Ichthyology Núm. 52:1-16.
- De Buen, F., : Catálogo ictiológico del Mediterráneo español y de Marruecos recopilando lo publicado sobre peces de las costas mediterránea y próximas del Atlántico (Mar de España). Resultado de las campañas realizadas por acuerdos internacionales. Num. 2: 1-221.
- Ege, V. : Contributions to the knowledge of the North Atlantic and the Mediterranean species of the genus Paralepis Cuv. A systematic and biological investigation. Rep. Danish Oceanogr. Exped. 1908-1910 v. 2 A (núm. 13): 1-201.
- Giglioli, E. H., : New and very rare fish from the Mediterranean. Nature (Londres) v. 25 (num. 649): 535.
- Giglioli, E. H., : New deep-sea fish from the Mediterranean. Nature (Londres) v. 27: 198-199.
- Giglioli, E. H. and A. Issel, : Pelagos. Saggi sulla vita e sui prodotti del mare. Esplorazione talassografica del Mediterraneo. pp. 198-270. Istituto de" Sordo-muti, Gènova. Pelagos. Saggi sulla vita e sui prodotti del mare. Esplorazione talassografica del Mediterraneo.
- Giglioli, E. H., : On a supposed new genus and species of pelagic gadoid fishes from the Mediterranean. Proceedings of the General Meetings for Scientific Business of the Zoological Society of London, (pt 3): 328-332, Pl. 34.
- Golani, D. i A. Ben-Tuvia, : New records of fishes from the Mediterranean coast of Israel including Red Sea immigrants. Cybium v. 10 (num. 3): 285-291.
- Golani, D., : Distribution of Lessepsian migrant fish in the Mediterranean. Italian Journal of Zoology v. 65 (suppl.): 95-99.
- Goren, M. i B. S. Galil, : New records of deep-sea fishes from the Levant Basin and a note on the deep-sea fishes of the Mediterranean. Israel Journal of Zoology v. 43 (num. 2): 197-203.
- Heemstra, P. C. and D. Golani, : Clarification of the Indo-Pacific groupers ( Pisces: Serranidae) in the Mediterranean Sea. Israel Journal of Zoology v. 39: 381-390.
- Hureau, J.-C. i T. Monod, : Check-list of the fishes of the north-eastern Atlantic and of the Mediterranean. CLOFNAM. UNESCO,: v. 1: i-xxii + 1-683.
- Jespersen, P. i A. V. Tåning, : Mediterranean Sternoptychidae. Report on the Danish Oceanographical Expeditions - to the Mediterranean and adjacent seas. A. 12. Rep. Danish Oceanogr. Exped. - v. 2 (Biology): 1-59.
- Kaya, M. and M. Bilecenoglu, : New records of deep-sea fishes from Turkish seas and the eastern Mediterranean. Voprosy Ikhtiologii v. 40 (num. 4): 566-570.
- Klausewitz, W., : Deepsea and deep water fish of the eastern Mediterranean, collected during the METEOR-expedition. Senckenbergiana Maritima v. 20 (núm. 5/6): 251-263.
- Matallanas, J., : On Mediterranean and some north-eastern Atlantic Liparidae (Pisces: Scorpaeniformes) with the restoration of Eutelichthys. Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom v. 80: 935-939.
- Mazhar, F. M. M.,
Danger - Sun:
The main source of danger in Greek seas This…. Sun. Don't laugh, sunstroke and overheating make you sick hundreds of times more people than from any other “natural hazards”. The Greek thermonuclear sun, especially for northern residents unaccustomed to it, can cause a lot of problems. What you need to do, how to behave in the heat, and what food to eat you can read. And in addition to this material, I will note a few basic rules:
- Try not to go out into the sun at noon or the next 3-4 hours after it.
- Use sunscreen with an SPF of at least 30.
- In addition to sunscreen, don't forget a bucket hat, a T-shirt and sunglasses. Regarding the latter, try to use high-quality glasses with 100% UV protection. By the way, in any Greek optical store, you can check for free whether your glasses really protect as it was written on the label, or whether you got a fake.
- Keep children out of direct sunlight. Exposing a child to the sun without protection can lead to serious illnesses in the future. Under the age of 3 years, child exposure to the sun is not recommended.
- Drink plenty of water. The minimum required to maintain normal water balance in the body is 1.9 liters of water per day at an average air temperature of 26 degrees, 3 liters - at 32 degrees to 4 liters at 35(and in Greece this is not uncommon). I also recommend reading what you can drink and what you shouldn’t.
Danger - marine fauna
"Most main principle behavior with unknown representatives of the plant, animal and underwater world - do not disturb. They have their own lives, in which they are quite capable of standing up for themselves in response to any action regarded as a threat. It’s better to enjoy your holiday in an idyll with nature!”
There are very few dangerous inhabitants in the Mediterranean Sea that can harm humans, at least much less than in tropical seas. The threat of encountering a shark is so rare that for many years in none of the zones Mediterranean Sea, even in its most secluded corners, none of those who went under the water saw a single one (except from the lips of fishermen and reporters “ yellow press"). However, sometimes even seemingly harmless animals can pose a danger to humans.
We will not exaggerate this danger, but we will still try to acquaint you with the problems that may arise from too close contact with marine life.
Marine inhabitants are of considerable interest to vacationers. It's always a lot of fun to watch them, but don't forget that some underwater inhabitants can cause us very significant harm: injure, bite or inject poison.
Whether you will encounter this misfortune during your vacation or not is unknown. In any case, you need to know the enemy by sight.
Danger - Sea urchins:
The second place of honor on Greek beaches is occupied by sea urchins. Here they are called ahinu (αχινού). On “cultural” beaches, these “hedgehogs” are quite difficult to meet, but once you step outside the “cultured” zone, they are right there. Meetings with sea urchins with unpleasant consequences for both sides, unfortunately, is not uncommon. The Mediterranean Sea with salty and warm water is simply a paradise for hedgehogs. They often form large concentrations on sloping rock surfaces, starting from the shallowest waters near the shore. A careless swimmer crawling ashore or wandering along the rocks along the water's edge risks stepping on, or even grabbing, a sea urchin. The author of this material has repeatedly had the opportunity to deal with these creatures and even step on them several times. There was also “pleasure” from this...
Prevention: In hedgehog habitats, it is best to go into the water in rubber slippers. The approximate cost of swimming shoes is 5-15 € per pair, and the author recommends choosing products with a sole thickness of at least 1 centimeter. If you think that wearing flippers on your feet will allow you to safely step on these “cute little animals,” I will disappoint you. I checked it personally - sea urchin needles easily pierce even the plastic soles of flippers. And let’s not even talk about rubber ones. So, it’s better to go around or swim past. By the way, when swimming in shallow water, you can catch “hedgehogs” not only with your foot, but also with other parts of the body.
What to do: The best cure for hedgehogs is vigilance! Before entering the sea in an unfamiliar place, take a closer look; fortunately, the water is clear and the black dots of urchins are clearly visible.
If contact with the hedgehog cannot be avoided, you will most likely have to consult a doctor. Fortunately, first aid in public hospitals is free.
If for some reason you cannot get to the hospital, then remember - the hedgehog’s spines are very sharp and at the same time fragile. They easily stick into the body and then break off just as easily. It is quite difficult to pull out the fragments, and since there is no talk about the sterility of hedgehog thorns, the affected area can fester. Sometimes the wound heals, and the broken thorn remains in the body, from where it can come out (or maybe remain in the body forever) several years later.
- soak your foot in very hot water (but don’t overdo it, you won’t get burned!), and then try to pull the needle out.
- Regularly treat the wound with antiseptics and carefully monitor so that suppuration does not begin.
A local recipe is to lubricate the damaged area with olive oil (read cream or Vaseline) and gradually squeeze out the thorns. I tested it myself - IT WORKS!!!
Local pharmacies also sell special tweezers for pulling out sea urchin needles, as well as a special ointment. By the way, I recommend using it for any contact with biting or prickly sea inhabitants, and it also helps against mosquito and mosquito bites.
Danger -Jellyfish:
In third place in terms of the frequency of “natural problems” created in the Greek seas are jellyfish.
There are practically no poisonous jellyfish in the Greek seas (unless they accidentally swim from the Atlantic or the Red Sea), most of those that you might come across sting no worse than nettles, and the mucus they secrete is harmful only if it gets into your eyes. It is especially unpleasant to meet with purple jellyfish- the Adriatic thunderstorm is named Pelagije nocticulice. When you see the purple back, it is better to go around the jellyfish.
Touching the jellyfish's tentacles causes a burn that will go away in a few days or weeks.
Prevention: Avoiding drifting nippers is almost impossible. But it is known for sure that they wash ashore after a storm. A special anti-jellyfish Israeli lotion SafeSea, which acts as a mosquito repellent or its analogue Bites Reliever, will help to avoid accidental contact.
What to do: Touching the tentacles of a jellyfish causes a burn, similar in appearance to nettles.
First, you need to remove the remnants of the tentacles from the skin; do not rinse the damaged area with water - neither salty nor fresh. sea water will revive dried stinging cells, and if it gets on them fresh water they will burst, releasing poison abundantly. The affected area can be lubricated with food vinegar, alcohol, or a special “pencil” with ammonium Bites Reliever. Subsequently, lubricate the affected area with a special Fusidin ointment (antibiotic). In particularly severe cases, an injection of anesthetic may be required.
Danger - Octopuses:
It’s only in the movies that huge octopuses attack people and sink ships. In fact, specimens larger than 3 meters long and weighing more than 30 kg are never found in the Mediterranean Sea. The real cephalopods that you may come across are undersized, up to 30 cm long and weighing up to 2 kilograms. At the same time they never They do not attack people and generally carefully hide from them. In case of an accidental meeting, such a “giant” (if he could not escape) will only release an ink cloud and wave his tentacles threateningly - beware, they say!
How dangerous is an octopus for humans?
The scariest thing about a cephalopod is its appearance. By nature, he is very timid and when a diver or scuba diver approaches, he usually hides under rocks. True, cases of an octopus attacking a person are extremely rare. This can happen to a diver when inspecting the hold or cabin of a sunken ship where a cephalopod is hiding. He has nowhere to go and, in defense, involuntarily attacks the person. Therefore, inexperienced divers in places where octopuses are found should avoid grottoes and underwater caves, which usually serve as shelter for animals. There is a danger, although small, that, having penetrated such a cave, the diver will be caught by an octopus if its tentacles can stay on the smooth surface of the diving suit. Finding himself in such a situation, a scuba diver should not panic - he has a knife, and this is a fairly reliable weapon in case of an octopus attack. You should not start the fight by cutting off the tentacles. To quickly free yourself from the “embrace” of an octopus, scuba diving experts recommend striking its brain, located between the eyes. As long as the nerve center is not destroyed, the suckers and tentacles of the octopus will act, no matter what wounds are inflicted on it.
A more real danger is octopus venom. The octopus's mouth is equipped with two powerful chitinous jaws, shaped like a parrot's beak. With them, the cephalopod bites its prey, holding it with its suction cups. In this case, the poison of the salivary glands from the throat and mouth enters the wound. The beak bite leaves little damage, but since saliva prevents blood from clotting, bleeding can be quite prolonged. The severity of the lesion depends on the type of octopus and, apparently, on its size. The first signs of poisoning: stabbing pain and burning at the site of the bite. Subsequently, these sensations spread to the entire limb. The tissue around the wound swells. When the poison is absorbed into the blood, breathing becomes difficult, the voice weakens, and the body temperature rises. As a rule, recovery occurs within 3-4 weeks.
What to do: If you are bitten, call a doctor, and before he arrives, try simply urinating on the bite site. Don’t laugh - this time-tested remedy turns out to be very effective, well, at least it will help you avoid more severe consequences.
Video of Russian tourists communicating with octopuses:
Dangers: Fish:
Girls, that is, fish, come in different colors - yellow, white, red. Of the fish in the seas surrounding Greece, the most common is the stingray (sea cat), which, although not particularly poisonous, is always ready to strike with its spiked tail - a laceration with stuck needles and mild poisoning are guaranteed. The difficulty is that the stingray often buries itself in the sand and is easily mistaken for an ordinary pebble. Well, Scorpena, or sea ruffe, is not at all pleasant, a meeting with which can put you in a hospital bed for several days... But the following fish, although much less common, can bring much bigger problems.
Sea dragons (Trachinus)
- bottom fish with an elongated body, no more than 45 cm long. They belong to the Trachinidae family and are one of the most poisonous fish in the temperate zone. They live mainly in bays and bays with a flat sandy or muddy bottom and usually burrow into soft soil so that only the top of the head, mouth, eyes and dorsal fin spines are visible. Their lower jaw is longer than the upper, their mouth with small conical teeth is directed obliquely upward. Eyes on the top side of the head. These fish have two dorsal fins: the first is short, with 5-7 spines, the second dorsal and anal are long, with 21-24 rays each. When the baby dragon lies half-buried in the ground, this black fin is clearly visible at a considerable distance. If the fish is irritated, the gill covers spread out, the fin rises and unfolds, which serves as a warning to the predator. The little dragon can instantly jump out of its hiding place and, with unerring accuracy, plunge the poisoned spine of the gill cover into the intended object.
The long sharp spines of the gill covers and the first dorsal fin are covered with skin; only their tips protrude. The spines have deep grooves. Venom glands are located in these grooves and at the base of the spines. There is no channel for poison. Probably, when pricked by a thorn, the glandular cells are torn, the poison is released and introduced into the wound along the grooves, like a syringe needle. The venom of dragons is very strong. Like the venom of some snakes, it acts as a neurotoxin and hemotoxin. When pricked by a poisonous thorn, an excruciating, sharp, burning or stabbing pain occurs, which, without treatment, lasts for several hours or even the whole day. The affected limb becomes inflamed and very swollen. Other symptoms included loss of consciousness, palpitations, slow heart rate, fever, headaches, delirium, severe vomiting, convulsions, difficulty breathing. In severe cases, death may occur. Morphine usually does not provide relief.
Due to their hidden lifestyle, aggressiveness and highly developed venomous apparatus, dragonets are very dangerous for anyone who swims near the shore, dives or wanders barefoot in shallow water, for fishermen and amateur fishermen.
Never, under any circumstances, handle a live dragon. Even a dead dragon must be handled very carefully so as not to be pricked by its thorn, which can cause dangerous wounds.
By the way, according to local residents, the baby dragon may end up in the sand far from the shore. They get there in this way: seagulls catch them from the water, eat the tasty and safe parts, and throw the rest wherever necessary. Even dead fish, as mentioned above, remain poisonous for several more days.
What to do: If you receive a poisonous injection, you should immediately seek professional medical help. It is recommended to inject a few drops of a 5% solution of potassium permanganate into the wound with a syringe to destroy the poison. This provides immediate pain relief and prevents inflammation. If this was not done immediately and inflammation began, cooling lotions or hot poultices should be used. It may take several months for complete healing. The damaged part of the body must be immersed in very hot water as much as you can tolerate, and dissolve some oxidizing substance in water, for example, potassium permanganate, which neutralizes the poison. In addition, the victim is prescribed cardiac analeptics and adrenaline with cortisone.
Danger - environmental pollution:
And finally, environmental pollution. Although Greek beaches are considered among the cleanest in the world, this does not apply to all beaches. Many beaches - especially within the Athens metropolis, as well as near cities and towns - can pose a danger due to the presence of debris in the sand, broken glass and all kinds of sharp and cutting objects. If you or your loved ones are unlucky enough to cut your leg or other part of your body on the beach with glass, first make sure that there is no glass or other foreign object in the wound.
If not, then the wound needs to be treated: rinse with water, hydrogen peroxide (alcohol or alcohol-containing liquid), lubricate with iodine (in Greece it is called “Betadine”) and bandage.
If it bothers you greatly, go to the hospital. Maybe the doctors decide that a stitch is required.
Danger - Snakes:
There are far fewer dangers on land. There is only one in the country poisonous species snakes (viper, "fidi" in Greek), whose bites are easily countered by antivenin. Local scorpions ("scorpii") are nocturnal inhabitants and are rarely seen by tourists, but they love to sit on dry stone walls of houses and rocks, where daytime warmth persists for a long time. When walking on rough terrain with an abundance of bushes, you should wear boots with socks and long trousers and under no circumstances put your hands into cracks and holes.
Danger - Insects:
In some mountain forest areas there are a lot of ticks, so here measures to protect against them, however, like any other blood-sucking insects, will not be superfluous. IN lately There is evidence that local ticks are infected with Lyme disease, but due to the small number of tourists in the interior of the country, there are still no reliable statistics on this matter.
Local mosquitoes ("kunupia", "kunupya") are not carriers of malaria, and traditional repellents are quite sufficient to protect against them - in most cases, window screens are not even required. However, when traveling through Aetolia, Acarnania, Thesprotia, the western regions of Elis and Attica, you should choose places to stay with screens on the windows and even doors. The more dangerous Asian mosquito (Aedes albopictus), which spreads several viruses at once, lives in some mountainous areas in the north and west of the country. Therefore, here, in addition to thicker clothing and nets on the windows, it is necessary to provide for the presence of repellents. Sand fleas, active at night on many beaches, can also spread leishmaniasis and other dangerous infections, but due to the small number of sandy beaches themselves, this danger is not very relevant (however, repellents are quite effective against them).
Bees and especially wasps, which are quite active from August to October, usually cause much more trouble. They curl around tables and glasses with liquid, get into your eyes, get hidden under motorcycle helmets, and are generally very annoying. There are no generally accepted means of protection against these insects, but the Greeks themselves quite effectively use the smoke of burning coffee beans or simply dried coffee grounds. To relieve pain from bites, it is better to use aspivenin, sold at any local pharmacy.
Danger - Flora:
There are practically no poisonous plants in the country, except for wild figs, the “milk” of which can cause moderate skin damage (can be countered with lemon juice followed by rubbing olive oil). But there are quite a lot of sources of allergens, starting with mountain pine(April-May) and ending with numerous cereals (April-June). Local pharmacies sell a wide range of antihistamines, but it's best to carry a certain supply (especially if you don't know the local names of the medications).
My leg cramped Pinch your arm or leg as hard as you can, pressing very sharply and firmly into the cramp with your thumb. Try straightening your cramped leg with your hands. Inhale and exhale deeply several times to improve blood circulation.
How to avoid. Don't swim for long cold water. When you get hot under the sun, do not dive straight into the water: sharp drop temperatures provoke seizures.
Choked Most often, children swallow water involuntarily. Bend the baby over your knee so that the head is lower than the buttocks, tap on the back so that he clears his throat. If the child has lost a lot of strength, place him on his side.
How to avoid. Make sure the child stays on the surface of the water.
Sunstroke If a person suddenly feels unwell, headache, lethargy, it became difficult to breathe - he overheated in the sun. The victim must be taken to the shade, covered with a wet towel or a cool compress on his head, and create a flow of air (fan him with a hat or newspaper). Then call " ambulance».
How to avoid. Relax in the shade of a tree or a beach umbrella, wear a hat, and drink still water. More often sunstroke affects babies under one year old, people with cardiovascular and endocrine diseases, hypertensive patients and those who are overweight.
Poisoning The first signs are weakness and nausea, headache, diarrhea. You need to rinse your stomach by drinking 2-3 liters at once in quick sips. boiled water. Then you need to induce vomiting. And so three or four times. If possible, consult your doctor. Calcium gluconate will strengthen the gastric mucosa and reduce the allergic reaction (usually the drug is taken 3 times a day).
How to avoid. Pay attention to the expiration date of the product and the appearance of the establishment where you buy food.
Cut yourself on glass This is the most common injury among amateurs sea holiday. Rinse the cut with clean water; if you have vodka or cologne on hand, you can treat the wound with them. Then apply a clean bandage. To do this, it is better to have a bandage or at least a clean scarf with you.
How to avoid. Choose the “right” beach. If there is garbage and broken bottles on the shore, then the same thing will happen in the water. In unsafe places, do not walk barefoot and swim in special rubber slippers.
Banana ride This marine activity often becomes a source of injury. Sometimes "bananas" turn over, some "drivers" do this on purpose - without warning. On the beach, as a rule, people ride catamarans, jet skis, boats, etc. at the same time - collisions happen. Victims of water activities with fractures and wounds are often brought to resort hospitals.
How to avoid. Do not neglect your life jacket; fasten it carefully. If you are afraid of depth, then this entertainment is not for you.
Child safety rules
1. Never leave a child alone in the water.
2. Locate your resting place in the shade.
3. Buy your baby bright clothes, a Panama hat. In case of danger, you will quickly find your child.
4. Do not leave your child in a wet swimsuit to avoid catching a cold.
5. It is better to have inflatable rings with different inflatable sections - if one deflates, the others will keep the child afloat.
A little about medical care and rescue services in Greece.
Emergency phone number 112 or 199.
Remember, in Greece there is no special rescue service; its functions are performed by local firefighters. Often they do not know or cannot provide first aid, since in recent years almost everyone has been recruited into this service. In any case, call 199 (112) and try to report (in English or Greek) that trouble has happened to you. If something happens, they will call an ambulance themselves.
Ambulance EKAB (ΕΚΑΒ) |
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Fire service - rescue service |
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Coast Guard |
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Road assistance |
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Air Police |
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Police - information |
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Drug Abuse Service |
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Forest guard |
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Lifeline (type of helpline) - SOS |
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Information about hospitals, clinics, doctors, and pharmacies |
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Tourist police |
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SOS Doctors (Athens) |
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Road assistance |
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Road assistance ΕΛΠΑ |
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Road assistance Εxpress Service |
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Road assistance Hellas Service |
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Interamerican Road Assistance |
Perhaps this phrasebook will help you find common language with the doctor:
Theme "At the doctor"
Στο γιατρό
I'm not feeling well | estAnume Ashima | Αισθάνομαι άσχημα |
I'm sick | Ime Arostos(Arosta) | Είμαι άρρωστος (άρρωστη) |
I need to go to the doctor | prEPi on PAO StoitrO | Πρέπει να πάω στο γιατρό |
Please give me the doctor's phone number or address | ParakalO, d'Oste mutotylEfono I yidEftynsi tu yatra | Παρακαλώ, δώστε μου το τηλέφωνο ή τη διεύθυνση του γιατρού |
Please call a doctor (ambulance) | fonAkste, parakalO, tonyatrO (toastEnoforo) | Φωνάξτε, παρακαλώ, τον γιατρό (το ασθενοφόρο) |
Invite a doctor home | zitYste naErty oyatrOs one hundred sleeps | Ζητήστε να έρθει ο γιατρός |
Where can I find a doctor who speaks Ukrainian? | pu na vro toyatro pu milai ukranikA | Πού να βρω το γιατρό που μιλάει ουκρανικά; |
Which doctor should I see? | Se pyo yatrO prEPi na pAO | Σε πιο γιατρό πρέπει να πάω; |
Can I go to the doctor? | Boron on Bo standO | Μπορώ να μπω στο γιατρό; |
Please wait a little | perimEnete ligAki, paracalO | Περιμένετε λιγάκι,παρακαλώ |
Go to the office | perAste mEsa | Περάστε μέσα |
What are you complaining about? | apo you ipoferete | Από τι υποφέρετε; |
What hurts you? | you sas poAi | Τι σας πονάει; |
I don't feel well, I'm freezing | estAnome Ashima, estAnome rIgos | Αισθάνομαι άσχημα, αισθάνομαι ρίγος |
What is your temperature? | you are a pirate O Ekhete | Τι πυρετό έχετε; |
I have a high temperature | Echo PirateO | Έχω πυρετό |
I feel dizzy | HallIzome | Ζαλίζομαι |
My ____ hurts... | me poAi... | Με πονάει . |
head throat heart stomach | t okefali mu olemOs ikardya toastAkhi | το κεφάλι μου ο λαιμός η καρδιά το στομάχι |
I have a (severe) cough | Echo (dynato) in Ikha | "Έχω (δυνατό) βήχα |
I got poisoned | Epata dyilityrIasi | Έπαθα δηλητηρίαση |
I'm feeling sick | mu Erhete emetOs | Μου έρχεται εμετός |
Have you been sick for a long time? | apo kero iste arostos | Από καιρό είστε άρρωστος; |
When did you feel unwell? | pote estantiykate Ashima | Πότε αισθανθήκατε άσχημα; |
Tonight, Last night a week ago |
sImera tynIkhta htES tovrAdy prin myavd'omAd'a | Σήμερα Τη νύχτα Χτες το βράδυ Πριν μια βδομάδα |
Have you turned white recently? | prosfata Ikhate kapya arostya | Πρόσφατα είχατε κάποια αρρώστια; |
- Telephones: first aid, emergency services, road assistance
- Embassies and consulates of the countries of the former USSR in Greece
Mediterranean Sea- the cradle of humanity! Powerful and great civilizations arose on the Mediterranean coasts, on the ruins of which the modern world developed and flourishes.
Its area can easily absorb Western Europe, its color can surprise you with its beauty and richness, the sound of the waves can calm you down, and fishing can be a pleasure...
What is this amazing part of the World Ocean like? Where it is located, what countries it washes, what depths and shores it has, what peaceful and dangerous animals and plants it hides in the abyss of its waters, what secrets it keeps - all this and a little more you will learn from this article.
1. Where is the Mediterranean Sea located?
The Mediterranean Sea is located between Asia, Africa and Europe, surrounded by continents, and only through the Strait of Gibraltar is it connected to the North Atlantic, the Bosporus Strait to the Black Sea, and through the Suez Canal is it bordered by the Red Sea.
2. Which countries does it wash?
The Mediterranean Sea is named so due to its location - among the continents (lands). The waters of this sea wash the coasts of more than 22 countries from west to east, including: Spain, France, Monaco, Italy, Malta, Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia, Montenegro, Albania, Greece, Turkey, Cyprus, Turkey, Syria, Lebanon, Israel, Egypt, Libya, Tunisia, Algeria and Morocco.
The coastal area of the sea is represented by many islands, varying in area and population, the largest of which are considered:
- O. Corsica;
- O. Balearic;
- O. Sardinia;
- O. Sicily;
- O. Cyprus;
- O. Crete.
The Mediterranean coastline has many independent water areas - seas: Ligurian, Adriatic, Tyrrhenian, Black, Ionian, Azov, Balearic, Aegean, Cretan, Levantine, Libyan and Alboran seas.
3. History and secrets of the Mediterranean Sea
The modern Mediterranean Sea is a remnant of the ancient Tesis basin, which once occupied the territory of Europe, North Africa, southern and western Asia. Over many millions of years, the strait connecting to the ocean was repeatedly closed and opened. Subsequently, the sea dried up and could no longer fill to its former size. The modern relief was formed due to changes in the Earth's climate.
The Mediterranean territory was one of the first to be inhabited by humans, and it was here that writing was first born, many great states were formed, and world religions were born.
In 1833, an Englishman, a geologist by profession, Charles Lyell, began to study this ancient sea.
Educational film in English about the Mediterranean Sea
4. Natural characteristics of the Mediterranean Sea
The Mediterranean Sea has an area of 2965.5 thousand square meters. km. The average depth of the sea is 1500 m. The greatest is 5,092 m and is located in the depression of the Ionian Sea ( western part Peloponnese peninsula). Total length sea – 3,800 m.
Salinity level of some seas:
- Black Sea - 18%;
- Adriatic Sea - 36%;
- Aegean Sea - 37%;
- Ligurian Sea - 38%;
- Mediterranean Sea - 39%.
4.1 Climate
The word “climate” is translated from ancient Greek as “slope” and refers to the inclination of the sun’s rays in relation to earth's surface. Climate is a long-term, established weather pattern, as opposed to weather conditions, which are changeable.
Climatic conditions are determined by the location of the sea - the subtropical zone determines such a climate in independent type"Mediterranean".
For countries washed by the waters of this sea, winter is characterized by a decrease in atmospheric pressure, which leads to precipitation and storms. During this period, a cyclone hangs over the sea, accompanied by cloudiness, and winds intensify in different directions. The height of the waves can exceed 8 m. In summer there is an anticyclone, the pressure rises and during this period clear, sunny, not rainy weather prevails.
The temperature in the southern part of the sea in January ranges from 14 to 16 degrees, in the northern part - from 7 to 10 degrees. Summer (August) average temperature air temperature is 22 - 24 degrees in the northern part and up to 30 degrees in the southern regions.
Air humidity in summer is 50 - 65%, and in winter from 65 to 80%. Cloudiness in summer is from 0 to 3 points, in winter – 6 points.
Hot cities: Larnaca, Limassol, Tel Aviv and Antalya. In these regions, the water temperature in the summer months reaches 27 degrees. Next come the cities with water temperatures of no more than 25 degrees: Valencia, Malta and Heraklion. The coasts of Barcelona, Athens and Malaga are considered even less hot (up to 22 degrees of water).
4.2 Bottom topography
The bottom relief of the Mediterranean Sea is represented by rapids, basins, ridges, depressions, bays and volcanic cones. The sea basin is divided into Western and Eastern parts. Thus, the bottom of the western basin is more flat, and the bottom of the eastern basin has depressions and ridges stretching from Cyprus to the Apennine Peninsula.
Here, under the water column, there are cones of active and extinct volcanoes and tectonic depressions. Yes, most deep place in the sea - the Hellenic Trench, 5121 m deep. The seabed is rich in deposits rock salt, potassium and sulfur. They mine here natural gas and oil.
The largest bays of the Mediterranean Sea:
- Valencian;
- Lyonsky;
- Genoese;
- Taranto;
- Sidra or Greater Sirte;
- Gabes or Little Sirte.
Interestingly, at the bottom of the sea there are many remains of ships, the exact number of which, to this day, has not been established.
4.3 Water
The amount of evaporation of water in the Mediterranean Sea exceeds the amount atmospheric precipitation, since the sea is surrounded by countries with arid climates. The water deficit is replenished by North Atlantic waters entering through the Strait of Gibraltar. During the process of evaporation, the salinity and density of water increases, which settles at depth, which makes this water area warmer. Depending on the season, the density of water changes. Interestingly, the Mediterranean Sea is one of the warmest and saltiest seas.
Water circulation occurs due to wind currents. The current speed in open sea areas reaches up to 1 km/h, in the straits – from 2 to 4 km/h. Water transparency is from 50 to 60 m. The water has a rich blue color.
4.4 Ebbs and flows
Are there ebbs and flows in the sea ( periodic oscillations water levels up and down as a result of changes in the position of the sun and moon relative to the Earth)? Yes, they are not large, on average from 1 to 2 cm in both directions. This is due to the fact that the sea is cut off from the Atlantic by the narrow Strait of Gibraltar and, accordingly, the gravitational force of the moon does not act on it.
You can read more about the ebb and flow of tides on the Wikipedia pages
Also, the tides are influenced by depth, water salinity, atmospheric pressure, and coastal topography. The highest tides are observed in the bay called “Gabes”, which is located in the northern part of Africa and this is due to its huge shape (100 km in length and width).
Peak tide is when the sun and moon are either on the same side of the Earth (new moon) or on opposite sides (full moon) and the gravitational forces of these objects are combined, which affects the appearance of tides.
You can find the forecast of Mediterranean wave heights and tides on the Mediterranean coast of Israel on the website of Oceanographic and Limnological Research https://isramar.ocean.org.il/isramar2009/TideHadera/default.aspx
5. Mediterranean life
The fauna of the Mediterranean Sea is represented by flora and fauna, which is associated with the geological history of the sea and living conditions.
5.1 Plant life
Despite the scarce phytoplankton found in the upper layers of the sea, the vegetation here is diverse: more than 800 species of green, brown, red algae and plants. Notable is the world's largest sea grass, Posidonia oceanica, which has proliferated in colonies (more than 700 km). This is one of ancient plants, whose age is more than 100 thousand years.
5.2 Fauna
The fauna of the Mediterranean Sea is diverse, but the number of resident species is not large, which is due to the poor development of plankton in Mediterranean waters.
Plankton– various organisms freely floating in water (bacteria, algae, invertebrate larvae, small mollusks, etc.). You can find out more about this type of life on the Wikipedia pages.
The fauna is represented by more than 800 species of various mollusks: squid, cuttlefish, octopus, crabs, shrimp and others.
5.3 Fishes of the Mediterranean Sea
Winter period is the most massive for accumulation different types fish, since in other months (spring-summer) they spawn and feed, so they stay more dispersed.
Among the inhabitants there are more than 700 species of various fish, more than 290 of which live in coastal waters Israel:
The blue shark also lives in the Mediterranean Sea. There are more than 40 species of Mediterranean sharks. There are also stingrays, moray eels, reaching 0.5 m in length, dolphins, seals, porpoises and killer whales. There are also sea turtles, which are represented by 3 species.
A detailed list of fish living in the Mediterranean Sea can be found on the pages of Wikipedia
There are 4 species of flying fish off the Israeli coast:
- exocoetus obtusirostris;
- exocoetus volitans;
- hirundichthys rondeletii;
- parexocoetus mento.
5.4 Dangerous inhabitants of the Mediterranean Sea
Sharks- not only terrifying inhabitants of the sea, but also irreplaceable cleaners of the sea spaces from various types of sick, weak inhabitants. Their population is declining. For example, the hammerhead shark was last observed only in 1955.
stingray– has poisonous thorns located in the caudal part of the body.
Electric ramp– capable of giving any attacker an electric shock.
6. Coastal features
North coast has a complex topography: the shores are high, rocky and steep with large bays.
South Coast– smooth. Mountains stretch from the western part, and in the east they disappear and the coast becomes smooth and sandy (almost deserted).
The total length of the Mediterranean coast is 46 thousand km. It's interesting that this water area It would be enough to easily absorb Western Europe!
6.1 Israel's sea coast
The coast of Israel is washed by the western waters of the Mediterranean Sea. The Mediterranean territory extends from Israel's northern border to the Gaza Strip. Also on the coast there is a plain called “Coastal”, stretching for 187 km from Lebanon to the Gaza Strip. The plain is divided into cultural and geographical areas and has many sandy beaches.
The Mediterranean coast consists not only of plains and beaches, but also rocky shores and reefs.
6.2 Port cities of Israel
- adaptation to Mediterranean climate– unhurried summer walks along the sunny coast;
- apply protective creams against sun rays;
- beware sea creatures;
- Don't forget about high waves, rocky bottom and very dangerous rip currents.
You can read more about the phenomenon of rip currents on Wikipedia.
A short video on what to do if you get caught in a rip current in the Mediterranean Sea
The ancient Mediterranean Sea had many names:
- "Akdeniz" or "White Sea" (Turks);
- "Our Sea" or "Inland" (ancient Romans);
- "Sea of Sunset" (Babylonians).
- “Great Sea” (Hebrew הַיָּם הַגָּדוֹל, Ha-Yam Ha-Gadol).
This sea includes in its expanses many small seas and various islands, which in ancient times were independent states.
The Mediterranean Sea is famous for the habitat of such an animal as the “sponge”, which later received the name “toilet sponge”, since the dried skeletons of this inhabitant were used as washcloths.
In 2016, Spanish archaeologists discovered a ship from the Roman Empire that sank more than 1.5 thousand years ago at a depth of 70 m.
In the Strait of Messina, you can see a mirage.
What will happen if this Great Basin is drained? You will find the answer to this question if you watch this entertaining film (published by I. Garkalikov)
9. Useful links
— the book of general misconceptions contains many interesting facts about the Mediterranean Sea.
— interesting article, which characterizes the Mediterranean Sea.
— an informative article about the currents and tides of the Mediterranean Sea, temperature, flora and fauna.
LIST OF FISHES OF THE MEDITERRANEAN SEA
The popular names of fish that are found off the coast of the Mediterranean Sea are so numerous that it is simply impossible to remember them all. The famous wrasse (or greenfinch) on the Provençal coast has, for example, fifteen or twenty different names. The green wrasse is simply called a greenfinch, in contrast to the blue one.
The only thing we can be sure of is that both fish belong to the Labrididae family. If you have a reference book on ichthyology at hand, it will help you identify a particular fish by shape and color, and not by its local name.
Lavraki is called here "grouper" (meru) in the same way as in English Grouper. The dusky perch is virtually indistinguishable from the cernier, which is a rock perch. And so on, ad infinitum.
Habits, just like the shape and number of teeth and the arrangement and structure of fins, are what are taken into account, but even ichthyologists often get into trouble when classifying fish. Indeed, until you begin to cope with specialized literature to identify fish, you will not realize how little is known about the differences between fish and their actual habits in marine environment(not in an aquarium).
This is still an open field for making various amendments and making new discoveries. The Frenchman Pierre de Latil recently published a large amount of information in his book, which is best book about the fish of the Mediterranean Sea, their classification, habits and how they should be hunted. This is an invaluable book for the hunter and naturalist.
Latil talked with all the famous hunters, without exception, whom he asked about their observations of the underwater kingdom. Latil's rich experience as a naturalist allowed him to give us the first truly comprehensive overview of the fishes of the Mediterranean Sea, although he also makes mistakes that are noticeable even to non-specialists.
True, it should be borne in mind that there is complete confusion in the local names of fish in the Mediterranean Sea. If you catch a fish and want to identify it, it is very important to remember its length, the shape of its mouth, gills, teeth, fins (most importantly), pay attention to whether it has continuous or intermittent dorsal fins(and if the latter, then how many of them), do not forget about the side fins, lower fins, as well as everything else that may seem important to you. If you have even the slightest interest in fish, there will come a time when you will regret that you did not make any timely notes about the fish that caused you doubt.
All fish listed below are bony fish. This list is far from complete, but it will give you an idea of the most commonly found fish off the Mediterranean coast*.
* I ticked off those fish that I happened to meet on the Black Sea. I am quite sure that most of the others are also found in the Black Sea in large quantities. Some (mackerel, for example) in the Black Sea are found in large quantities, but are rarely found in the Mediterranean. So far I have not seen octopuses or eels in the Black Sea, but I have seen a large one electric stingray with beautiful white plumage on the tail. Not far from the Kholodnaya River, I saw literally thousands of small red mullet lying on the bottom in even rows, like soldiers. (Author's note.)
Occupiers most of Our planet is extremely rich in diverse inhabitants. And if we talk about marine fauna, then special attention deserves the fish of the Mediterranean Sea.
It is this reservoir that is visited annually by millions of tourists from different corners planets. And the fish world plays its role for each of them. Some people like to go fishing during their vacation and cook a delicious dinner from their catch, while others like spearfishing, while others just want to admire the beauty of marine life without getting hurt when meeting their dangerous representatives.
Dangerous inhabitants of the Mediterranean
A holiday at sea is an extremely long-awaited moment in life for many. Therefore, it is extremely important that it be remembered only on the good side and not overshadowed by unpleasant events.
Compared with representatives tropical seas, then the fish of the Mediterranean Sea is less dangerous. In addition, the number of inhabitants that can pose a threat to humans is much smaller. For example, it is extremely rare to encounter a shark in these waters. But there are others that can cause harm to vacationers in the form of wounds, bites, electric shocks, injection of poison, etc.
To such dangerous residents The seas also include dragonets, jellyfish, and stingrays.
Sea dragon or spider fish
The sea dragon is often called the spider fish. It is one of the most poisonous marine inhabitants of the temperate zone. This is a fish of the Mediterranean Sea, black in color, body length does not exceed forty-five centimeters. It lives on the muddy or sandy bottom of bays and bays. The sea dragon's food consists of small fish, worms and crustaceans. At the sight of an ill-wisher, this fish first gives a warning in the form of an unfolded fin, and, if necessary, jumps out from its hiding place and pierces the enemy with a poisoned thorn. Due to its secretive lifestyle, aggressiveness and high toxicity, the dragonet is especially dangerous for swimmers near the shore, walking barefoot in shallow water, as well as for fishermen. This dangerous fish The Mediterranean Sea has very strong poison, similar to a snake. In people affected by sea dragons, inflammation and swelling of the affected areas, loss of consciousness, vomiting, convulsions, and heart rhythm disturbances are observed. Some cases are fatal. When providing first aid to the victim, to destroy the poison, it is necessary to inject a solution of potassium permanganate into the wound.
Fishing
Many tourists who come to enjoy a Mediterranean holiday in countries such as France, Spain, Italy, Greece, Croatia, Turkey, Israel, Egypt are certainly interested in such a topic as fishing. To do this, they carefully study the question of which fish in the Mediterranean Sea are most suitable for this activity. And the choice here is extremely rich. These include sardines, anchovies, horse mackerel, mackerel, and various types of mullet.
The largest member of the mullet family is the mullet, whose length reaches 90 cm and weighs more than 6 kg. It is caught with a fishing rod, but more often with a net or with a harpoon. Therefore, fishing for mullet is like a unique art.
It is also found in the Mediterranean Sea, such as the small-scaled sphyrene, the length of which reaches one meter. It has some similarities with pike, preferring to hunt from ambush, while pursuing schooling fish.
There are also Atlantic bonito, swordfish, bluefin tuna, moray eel and fangri, among other fish of the Mediterranean Sea. Türkiye, Egypt, Israel and other Mediterranean countries are perfect for fishing lovers for an eventful and exciting pastime.
King fish of the Mediterranean Sea
Dorado is the most famous among the variety of fish of the Mediterranean Sea. A photo of its representatives will be wonderful evidence of a complete seaside holiday. After all, it is this king fish that is extremely popular among gourmets vacationing on the Mediterranean coast. Fish restaurants use a lot of recipes for its preparation. And in each of them, the dorada is the queen of the dish.
This one lives delicious fish in the depths of the sea, feeding small fish, crustaceans and molluscs. There are two types of dorada - royal and gray. And because of the golden crescent on the forehead, many consider this fish to be special. The weight of an adult sea bream reaches 1 kg, and the body length is about 40 cm.
"Aliens" among the fish of the Mediterranean Sea
As a result of enormous work, it was created in 1869. Has this economically beneficial human creation affected the life of fish in the Mediterranean Sea? Photos and videos taken by scientists clearly give a positive answer to this question.
After the connection of the Mediterranean Sea with the Red Sea, the number of inhabitants in the two seas increased significantly. On the one hand, this is not bad. Thus, new species of fish appeared in the Mediterranean Sea, including fugu and ball fish. But from an evolutionary point of view, many scientists have concerns. After all, when mixing various types The struggle for survival between fish increases, as a result of which some species may disappear altogether.