One of the seas that are part of the Mediterranean Sea is the Tyrrhenian Sea. This sea is located along the western coast of Italy and is considered to be part of the Mediterranean Sea. It has an area of approximately 106.000 square miles. It is a sea that lies between the boundary of the figure tectonic plates and Eurasia and Africa.
In this article we are going to explain the characteristics and importance of the Tyrrhenian Sea.
Dimensions of the Tyrrhenian Sea
Since it is part of a sea with a larger size, limiting the surface of this sea is not so easy. It borders Italy to the east with the regions that are Campania, Calabria, Tuscany, Basilicata and Lazio. It is also bordered to the west by the Corsica Islands, which was a French territory. The Ligurian Sea meets the Tyrrhenian Sea along the northwest corner. It is the southwestern edge that meets the Mediterranean Sea.
The extreme location indicates that it has both several inputs and several outputs. One of these outlets is the one that empties into the Ligurian Sea. The other two lead to the Mediterranean Sea and the other to the Ionian Sea.
Historical and current importance
This sea has played a fundamental role in culture and society throughout history. Especially in terms of international trade the Tyrrhenian Sea has been quite relevant. This is due to the strategic location in which it is located. Thanks to this position, commercial ships could connect from various eastern continents. Although for a long time this sea experienced a great trade and flow of sailors and merchant ships, the amount of trade that took place in these waters was reduced because the waters were controlled by pirates.
During Napoleon's period it played a great role as it was used to launch warships.
At present the importance continues with a role of commerce and transport marking a useful route for it. Every day the Tyrrhenian Sea receives a large number of trading vessels. It has also become a popular tourist destination as it is home to several islands within its boundaries with some cities along the coasts. Some of the most popular attractions in the Tyrrhenian Sea are located in include Sicily, the Aeolian Islands, the city of Palermo and the city of Naples. The tourist centers of this city receive thousands of visits every year. To this is also added the commerce and tourism industry.
The Tyrrhenian Sea is also of great importance for fishing activity. Fishing, along with other activities, are the contributors to a large part of the surrounding economy.
Underwater geography of the Tyrrhenian Sea
The underwater geography of this sea is divided into two basins. On the one hand we have the Marsili plain and on the other the Vavilov plain. These two basins are located on either side of a large bridge called the Issel. This sea has a maximum depth of about 12418 feet. Being located on the boundary of two tectonic plates, this soil is largely affected by volcanic activity. Because several mountains and volcanoes are under water than this sea and were active this place acquires a greater tourist attraction.
This whole area is also home to several islands, including the Aeolian archipelago, Ustica and the Tuscan archipelago. The first islands are located in the north of Sicily. The largest island in the Tuscan area is Elba.
Biodiversity and threatened species
Numerous species of plants and animals coexist in this sea. These species are what makes the fishing industry thrive. For example, there are large populations of seabass, bluefin tuna, swordfish and grouper. The entire northern area of the sea is protected as a habitat for species of Mediterranean marine mammals. There is a marine reserve that extends to the Ligurian Sea. This reserve is in charge of protecting various species, including long-finned pilot whales, sperm whales, bottlenose dolphins and fin whales.
As we have mentioned before, the Tyrrhenian Sea is of great importance in trade routes within the territory. By serving as a route, several port cities have been established along the entire border. Some of the cities where the most important ports are located are Salerno, Palermo, Bastia and Naples.
Among the threats that we can find typical of marine ecosystems we have overfishing. It is one of the most important environmental threats in almost all marine ecosystems in the world. This sea was not going to be less. As the fishing industry grows due to increased consumer demand, fishermen inevitably increase the rate of catching large quantities of fish each year. This overfishing is unsustainable in the long term given that the ecosystem's resilience has been reduced. As a result of this overfishing, populations have steadily declined.
In turn, the overfishing invention of the populations of these individuals they impact the food chain and reduce the food available to larger predators. Another of the main threats to life in the waters and coasts of this sea comes from Mount Marsili. This mountains is an underwater volcano that is located in the depths of this sea. Scientists have revealed some pretty interesting findings that show us that the volcano's walls could collapse causing a tsunami. If a natural phenomenon of this magnitude were to occur in these coastal areas, it could wreak havoc on the entire population.
Between intentional overfishing and bycatch There are many dolphins that die, whales and tortures that are classified as in danger of extinction.
I hope that with this information you can learn more about the Tyrrhenian Sea.