Seas are often outlined as elements of oceans; equally, the Alboran Sea is taken into account the westernmost a part of the Mediterranean Sea. Its common depth is 445 m or 1460 ft, whereas its most depth is 1500 m.
The Alboran Sea covers an space of roughly 57,000 km2 and is positioned between the Iberian Peninsula and the north of Africa. The Strait of Gibraltar, located at its western finish, hyperlinks the Mediterranean with the Atlantic Ocean.
The japanese portion of the ocean hyperlinks Cabo de Gata, a cape positioned within the south of Spain, to Cape Fegalo in Algeria. The Alboran Sea borders Spain within the north, the British Overseas Territory of Gibraltar within the west and Morocco and Algeria within the south.
The Alboran Sea is a busy transport route. Commercial ships crossing the Strait of Gibraltar typically move by means of this sea to succeed in their vacation spot. It additionally has docking areas for American and British submarines. Many naval and army bases are positioned across the Alboran Sea.
Read alongside to study extra fascinating information concerning the Alboran Sea.
1. Understanding the Geology of the Alboran Sea
The seafloor beneath the Alboran Sea, known as the interior zones and the Alboran area, together with the exterior zones or mountains just like the Atlas and the Gibraltar Arc, are fabricated from continental crust.
They additionally outline the westernmost level of the terranes that had been subducted between the Eurasian Plate and the African Plate throughout the closure of the Tethys Ocean. Frequent earthquakes at a depth of round 600 km present that the subduction remains to be persevering with and interactions between mantle and lithosphere are nonetheless shaping the realm.
Internal zones are fabricated from Paleozoic and Triassic rocks piled throughout the Tertiary interval and prolonged for the reason that early Miocene interval. The seafloor is advanced with many sub-basins, primarily three known as the West, East and South Alboran Basins, seamounts and ridges.
2. Alboran Ridge is essentially the most distinguished geological function
The Alboran Sea is an east-west-stretching marine basin flanked to the north and south by slender cabinets and slopes of African and Iberian land plenty.
What stands out essentially the most within the Alboran Sea geology is the 180 km lengthy or 110 miles Alboran Ridge, which spans southwest from Alboran Island. It ends abruptly to the north towards the Alboran Channel.
3. Gyre formation within the Alboran Sea
Due to the prevalence of sturdy winds, the currents within the Alboran Sea movement eastwards, bringing water from the Atlantic Ocean into the Mediterranean Sea by means of the Strait of Gibraltar.
A deeper subsurface seawater present flows westwards and carries salty water from the Mediterranean Sea into the Atlantic Ocean. This water trade within the Alboran Sea occurs in a vertical rotary circulation known as a gyre.
4. Contains large mountains like Gibraltar Arc and Atlas Mountains
The Gibraltar Arc is a geological space surrounding the Alboran Sea between the Iberian Peninsula and Africa. It includes the Betic Cordillera, a system of mountain ranges in Spain and the Rif Mountains in northern Morocco.
The Arc lies on the western finish of the Mediterranean Alpine Belt and was shaped within the Neogene as a result of convergence of African and Eurasian Plates.
The Arc has an inside zone on its interior aspect adjoining to the Alboran Sea. It consists of metamorphic rocks, whereas the exterior zone on the surface is fabricated from sediments deposited on the margins of Iberia and Africa.
The Atlas Mountains lie in Maghreb, North Africa. They separate the Sahara Desert from the Mediterranean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean. The highest peak of the vary is Toukbai in central Morocco, which has an elevation of 4167 m. These mountains are primarily inhabited by the Berber, a time period used to explain ethnic teams indigenous to North Africa.
The Atlas Mountains include many pure sources, similar to copper, phosphate, anthracite coal, pure gasoline, iron ore, lead ore, rock salt, and marble.
5. Home to the most important inhabitants of bottlenose dolphins
The Alboran Sea marks a transition zone between sea and ocean; therefore, it has each Atlantic and Mediterranean species. Also known as the lungs of the Mediterranean, it has a excessive variety of plankton, the biomass of which is claimed to be the best within the area. Additionally, three species of seagrass are additionally discovered right here.
The beds of seagrass Posidonia oceanica are the primary supply of oxygen, shelter, and habitat for numerous marine life within the Alboran Sea. Some key species discovered listed below are Norway lobster and crimson shrimp.
The Alboran Sea is dwelling to the most important inhabitants of bottlenose dolphins. The final inhabitants of harbour porpoises within the western Mediterranean additionally stay on this water physique. It can be a feeding floor for Europe’s loggerhead sea turtles.
According to estimates, round 300 fish species are discovered within the Alboran Sea, lots of that are commercially priceless, similar to hake, ocean sunfish, swordfish, sardines, barracudas, and mullets.
The World Wildlife Fund expressed concern about drift web fishing within the sea, which threatens turtles, dolphins and different marine life. In 2023, the EU, Algeria and Morrocco determined to ban backside fishing practices close to Cabliers Bank to guard the one cold-water coral reef rising within the Mediterranean.
Around 20 species of sharks are discovered right here, together with porbeagles, faculty sharks, dogfish, and whales like sperm whales, pilot whales, fin whales, Cuveir’s beaked whales, striped and customary dolphins, Risso’s dolphins, and so on. The northern a part of the ocean has many coastal and marine protected areas. Aquaculture and fishing are a number of the essential financial actions within the Alboran Sea.
6. Numerous islands within the lie within the Alboran Sea
Many islands lie within the Alboran Sea, similar to Islas Chafarinas, Penon de Velez de la Gomera, and so on. BirdLife International has designated them Important Bird Areas as a result of they perform as vital breeding grounds for a lot of species of birds, notably seabirds like Scopoli’s shearwaters and Audouin’s gulls. The islands aren’t very huge, so they’re inhabited by army personnel.
The Alboran Island belongs to Spain. It lies within the Alboran Sea, about 56 km north of Morocco’s coast and 85 km from the Spanish mainland. Major infrastructure right here is an automatic lighthouse constructed within the nineteenth century, a cemetery, and a harbour.
Chafarinas Islands can be a Spanish territory in North Africa off the coast of Morocco. The Alhucemas Islands are one other island group within the Alboran Sea.
Peñón de Vélez de la Gomera is a tidal island which is linked to the shore of Morocco by way of a sandy isthmus. It additionally connects to an isle known as La Isleta within the east by means of a rocky isthmus. It was named Rock of Badis and linked to the Badis city.
Conclusion
The Alboran Sea is claimed to be the westernmost a part of the Mediterranean Sea. It is a busy transport route, and lots of business vessels move by means of this water physique to succeed in their locations. The Alboran Sea can be a biodiversity hotspot, dwelling to twenty shark species and round 300 fish species that thrive in its waters. The sea has many small islands and islets, most of that are Spanish territories and are occupied by army personnel.
You may also prefer to read-
- 10 Interesting Bali Sea Facts
- 10 Interesting Gulf of Tomini Facts You Must Know
- 10 Flores Sea Facts You Should Know
- 4 Major Ports of Albania
- 11 Busiest Shipping Lanes In The World
About Author
Zahra is an alumna of Miranda House, University of Delhi. She is an avid author, possessing immaculate analysis and enhancing abilities. Author of a number of tutorial papers, she has additionally labored as a contract author, producing many technical, inventive and advertising and marketing items. A real aesthete at coronary heart, she loves books somewhat greater than anything.
Read More Articles By This Author >
Disclaimer :
The data contained on this web site is for basic data functions solely. While we endeavour to maintain the data updated and proper, we make no representations or warranties of any form, specific or implied, concerning the completeness, accuracy, reliability, suitability or availability with respect to the web site or the data, merchandise, providers, or associated graphics contained on the web site for any goal. Any reliance you place on such data is due to this fact strictly at your individual danger.
In no occasion will we be answerable for any loss or harm together with with out limitation, oblique or consequential loss or harm, or any loss or harm in any way arising from lack of information or income arising out of, or in reference to, using this web site.
Do you’ve data to share with us ? Suggest a correction
Disclaimer :
The data contained on this web site is for basic data functions solely. While we endeavour to maintain the data updated and proper, we make no representations or warranties of any form, specific or implied, concerning the completeness, accuracy, reliability, suitability or availability with respect to the web site or the data, merchandise, providers, or associated graphics contained on the web site for any goal. Any reliance you place on such data is due to this fact strictly at your individual danger.
Related Articles
The National Maritime Centre: Providing Quality with Utility
Subsea Drilling: The What, Why and How
The Institute of Chartered Shipbrokers (ICS) Exams and What they Mean to an Average Shippy
Daily Maritime News, Straight To Your Inbox
Sign Up To Get Daily Newsletters
Join over 60k+ individuals who learn our day by day newsletters
By subscribing, you conform to our Privacy Policy and should obtain occasional deal communications; you possibly can unsubscribe anytime.
