The Mediterranean Sea – resources and its biodiversity

The Mediterranean Sea impresses with its beauty and amazing views and is visited by tourists every year for its crystal clear and warm water. It is located between continents such as Asia and Europe. The Aegean Sea has a surface area of just over 214,000 square kilometres and is connected to the Marman Sea and the Black Sea. Its maximum depth is approximately 3,544 metres. In the Aegean Sea, we can distinguish many islands characterised by an amazing environment and natural resources. The Mediterranean Sea, especially its eastern part, is becoming a real energy basin. This is due to the vast resources of gas found at the bottom of these areas and oil.
-Petroleum- Petroleum has a wide range of uses. It is cleaner and more efficient than coal and easier to transport than gas. Like coal, it is called black gold. It produces half of the world’s energy. As an energy resource, oil is used in transport, industry and other sectors of the economy.
This is how crude oil is used in many products. From which it is directly produced:
– asphalt,
– diesel oils
– oils and lubricants
– paraffin
– various types of petrol

Crude oil is used to make motor oils and lubricants because they enable machinery to function. It is also used to make a whole range of products such as cosmetics, medicines, dyes, explosives, fertilisers, synthetic fibres, inks, insecticides, plastics and synthetic rubbers.
-Natural gas- is a type of gas that occurs naturally. Its large quantities of plant matter are found underground and remain there under great pressure. Crude oil and natural gas are usually found in the same place.
This gas can be extracted in a similar way to oil and consists of methane and gas. In this way, it is a gas that can be burned to produce energy, which people can use in various situations.
What is natural gas used for?
-transport
-energy production
-explosion of residential boilers
Natural gas was initially used as an energy source for lighting cities. Then, with the advent of electricity, this use disappeared.
Despite its small size, the Mediterranean Sea contains a rich biodiversity. There are many species of animals and plants. So we can say that the Mediterranean Sea has influenced our flora and fauna.
The species we most often encounter are:
-Scabbardfish-A kind of mammal from the sperm whale family. Body length of females 1040-1250 m and males 1520-1920 m. Body weight of females to 24000 kg, males to 70,000 kg. The genus includes one modern living species found in all the world’s oceans
-Dolphins- A genus of mammal derived from the order Cetacea. Characterised by an elongated snout and the presence of a melon. They communicate by means of the sounds they make.
-Mediterranean dandelions- A species of pinniped mammal in the seal family It is an endangered species. It is estimated that no more than 500 individuals live in the wild.
-Porpoises – A species of mammal in the porpoise family. Related to dolphins. They live alone or in small groups. Body length 1.5-2 m. Weight about 45-65 kg.
-Whales – Common name for some larger mammals of the order Cetacea. Whales are the largest animals inhabiting the globe. It is 33 metres long and weighs up to 190 tonnes.
You can also find some species of invertebrates such as tentacles, crustaceans and molluscs, and algae, which are very important because they contain most of the flora and are food for the sea animals that sustain the fauna