Mediterranean Basin
A crossroads of continents — climate, landforms, and human settlement.
The Mediterranean Basin wraps the Mediterranean Sea — a nearly enclosed sea between Europe, Africa, and western Asia. Mild, wet winters and hot, dry summers define both the climate and famous scrubland vegetation.
The highlighted area shows the broader basin context: Iberia, Italy, the Balkans, North Africa, and the Levant. This crossroads shaped trade, agriculture, and urban history for millennia.
- Physical geography — mountains, coasts, and active tectonics (Alps, Apennines).
- Water stress — seasonal rivers, irrigation, and tourism demand.
- Biodiversity hotspot — many endemic species on islands and coasts.
See also: Climate zones, Biomes & ecosystems, Europe.
