adriatic_sea adriatic_sea body water separating italian peninsula balkan peninsula adjacent ranges adriatic northernmost arm mediterranean_sea extending connects northwest countries coasts adriatic italy croatia albania montenegro adriatic contains islands located eastern croatian coast divided basins northern southern deepest maximum depth metres underwater ridge located border adriatic seas prevailing currents flow eastern coast western italian coast tidal movements adriatic slight larger known occur occasionally adriatic lower mediterranean adriatic collects fresh water flowing mediterranean acting basin surface water temperatures generally range summer winter significantly climate adriatic_sea sits separated era plate movement contributed formation surrounding mountain chains collision plate late peninsula formed separating rest mediterranean types sediment found adriatic bulk material transported rivers western coast western coast eastern coast highly pronounced dozens marine protected areas adriatic designed protect sea habitats biodiversity sea abundant flora fauna species identified native adriatic endemic rare threatened ones adriatic shores populated million people largest cities venice split earliest settlements adriatic shores greek 2nd century shores rome control middle ages adriatic shores sea controlled varying extent series states notably byzantine_empire monarchy ottoman_empire napoleonic wars resulted french empire gaining coastal control british effort counter french area ultimately securing eastern adriatic shore austria following italian unification started eastward expansion lasted 20th century following world war collapse austria-hungary ottoman_empire eastern coast control passed yugoslavia albania 1990s resulting new states adriatic coast italy yugoslavia agreed maritime boundaries boundary recognised yugoslavia successor states maritime boundaries croatian waters disputed italy albania agreed maritime boundary fisheries tourism significant sources income adriatic coast adriatic croatia tourism industry grown faster economically rest maritime transport significant branch area economy adriatic handle million tonnes cargo year largest adriatic annual cargo turnover port port split largest adriatic passengers served year geography adriatic_sea semi enclosed sea bordered southwest italian peninsula northwest italian regions northeast croatia montenegro albania balkan peninsula southeast adriatic_sea connects kilometre wide defines boundary adriatic seas line running mouth latitude albania island latitude santa maria latitude extends kilometres northwest southeast kilometres wide covers square kilometres volume cubic kilometres adriatic extends northwest north representing mediterranean northernmost portion sea geographically divided central middle adriatic southern adriatic adriatic_sea drainage basin encompasses square kilometres yielding land sea ratio drainage basin mean elevation metres sea level mean slope major rivers adriatic include late 19th century austria-hungary established network elevation average adriatic_sea level pier italy subsequently retained austria adopted yugoslavia retained states emerged dissolution adriatic_sea contains islands adriatic eastern coast especially croatia counted number includes islands rocks sizes including ones emerging tide croatian islands include largest covering area square kilometres tallest peak reaches metres sea level islands adjacent separated narrow canal dug time classical antiquity original single island known greeks croatian islands include permanently inhabited ones populous islands adriatic western italian coast smaller numerous opposite coast best known ones islands city venice built northern shore greek island lies adriatic_sea defined boundary places smaller greek islands ones northwest adriatic_sea adriatic_sea average depth metres maximum depth metres basin rarely exceeds depth metres basin extending venice line connecting metres deep northwestern end gradually southeast largest mediterranean shelf simultaneously basin site water formation basin south line metre deep middle adriatic pit called metre deep south separating metre deep south adriatic pit basin south sea floor rises metres form boundary similar respects connected adriatic_sea coast relatively smooth islands significant sea contrast balkan coast rugged numerous islands especially croatia coast exacerbated proximity coast contrast opposite italian coast away shoreline coastal water dynamics determined coasts mediterranean eastern coast smooth italian coast major islands allows smooth flow composed surface relatively freshwater mass cold dense water mass coastal currents opposite shore far complex shoreline large islands proximity shore produces significant temperature variations sea leads creation local jets tidal movement normally slight usually remaining centimetres point mid width east normal tide levels known increase significantly environment leading coastal flooding phenomenon famously known italy especially venice tides exceed normal levels centimetres highest tide level centimetres observed november flooding caused combination factors including alignment sun moon meteorological factors related storm basin geometric shape reduces astronomical component adriatic long narrow rectangular shape source water motion french basin minor axis finally venice increasingly vulnerable flooding coastal area soil unusually high tides resulting flooding observed adriatic_sea recorded recent years towns estimated adriatic entire volume exchanged years short period instance approximately years necessary exchange black_sea water short period particularly important rivers flowing adriatic discharge cubic metres second rate discharge amounts total adriatic_sea volume metre layer water year greatest portion discharge single river comes average discharge cubic metres second terms annual total discharge entire mediterranean_sea ranked second followed rank fourth significant contributor freshwater adriatic submarine discharge submarine springs croatian estimated comprise total water adriatic submarine springs include thermal springs discovered offshore near town thermal rich hydrogen temperature enabled development specific ecosystems freshwater representing freshwater volume flowing mediterranean makes adriatic basin mediterranean_sea significant cyclonic circulation features intermittent permanent measures kilometres miles diameter contributes flow water adriatic process adriatic_sea produces deep water temperature adriatic surface temperature usually ranges summer winter western adriatic coast northern drops winter distinct seasonal temperature variations longitudinal gradient northern gradient attributed continental characteristics adriatic_sea shallower closer land oceans particularly cold winters sea ice appear adriatic shallow coastal areas especially isolated far south south warmer winter northerly regions adriatic variation year likewise distinct ranges southern adriatic subjected water climate according climate classification upper half adriatic classified humid subtropical climate summers colder drier winters southern adriatic classified hot summer mediterranean climate air temperature season predominant winter winds called eastern coast significantly wind gaps bringing cold dry continental air reaches peak speeds areas split gusts kilometres hour mph brings humid warm air carrying sand causing rain dust population adriatic_sea coasts islands numerous small settlements number larger cities largest venice italy split croatia albania total million people live adriatic coasts larger cities located near coast italian cities coastal management venice originally built islands coast risk threat present delta causes decrease rate loss sediment dams deliberate excavation sand industrial purposes agricultural use water removal ground water sinking venice slowed wells banned 1960s city remains threatened floods recent studies suggested city longer sinking state alert remains place prime minister inaugurated project italian experimental model evaluating performance gates project proposes laying series sea bed entrances tides predicted rise centimetres filled air block incoming water adriatic_sea engineering work completed geology geological information indicate adriatic_sea associated identified separated era separation began middle late limestone began deposited area late cretaceous adriatic platforms formed thick series sediments metres deep remnants found adriatic_sea southern alps remnants seen mountain early plate moved north north east contributing alpine african movements alps late motion reversed took place zone increased seismic activity borders adriatic_sea belt thrust faults generally oriented northeast southwest direction east coast northeast southwest normal faults indicating adriatic rotation active kilometre fault identified northwest adding islands adriatic furthermore fault causes peninsula southern tip opposite shore centimetres year movement continues completely consumed adriatic_sea closed million years coast western gradually having sunk metres past thousand years evidence area island volcanic islands earthquakes observed region earliest historical records recent strong earthquake region montenegro earthquake measuring scale historical earthquakes area include peninsula earthquakes followed strong years occurred adriatic_sea sediment types sediments found adriatic_sea comparatively shallow characterised sand times water level lower area sandy beach muddy bed typical depths metres units adriatic metres deep north adriatic islands area protected sediments filling outer islands relief middle adriatic islands area large islands characterized middle adriatic depression southern adriatic consisting coastal shelf southern adriatic depression sediments deposited adriatic_sea today generally come northwest coast carried rivers volume sediments carried eastern shore rivers sediments deposited river mouths adriatic western shores largely eastern shores predominantly rocky southernmost shore located albania consists sandy rocky coasts eastern adriatic shore croatian mediterranean coastline eastern coast characterised topography developed adriatic platform exposure largely began final deposits exposed atmospheric effects extended level metres present sea level exposed estimated formations earlier sea level drops notably crisis similarly developed platform largest eastern coast consists rocks particular type rock significantly represented coast especially coast metre cliff highest cliff entire adriatic type eastern adriatic coast located coast opposite north split rocks type found albania western adriatic coast maritime sediments occurring adriatic north west coast far west dating pleistocene sea advanced valley advance began brought adriatic high point years ago delta expanding extending rate coastal zone metres year 12th century delta advanced rate metres year 17th century delta began human controlled environment excavation artificial channels started channels new rates metres year rivers flowing adriatic_sea italy forming coastlines including venice smaller eastern adriatic coasts rivers ecology adriatic_sea unique water body respect overall exports nutrients imports organic carbon nitrogen acting site exchange substances complex adriatic_sea water flowing north north adriatic adds water reflected ecology particularly composition properties ecosystems main units northern adriatic flora fauna unique nature adriatic gives rise abundance endemic flora fauna identified animal plant species adriatic_sea especially abundant endemic plant species identified species green brown red algae mediterranean species found adriatic_sea common species marina rare number rare threatened species found adriatic eastern coast relatively western adriatic coast sea currents flow adriatic direction bringing waters eastern coast returning increasingly water western coast circulation significantly contributed biodiversity countries eastern adriatic coast common frequent eastern coast waters croatian coast provides refuge critically endangered monk seal sea turtles recent studies revealed marine thought adriatic_sea migrate live semi closed sea larger scales largest live normally fin whale sperm whale largest toothed migrate common fin followed sharks rays species sea particular rich endemic fish fauna thirty species fish found countries bordering adriatic_sea particularly dependent morphology coastal submarine topography includes inhabiting subterranean habitats rivers areas freshwater springs known subspecies endemic adriatic coasts islands adriatic species subspecies fish representing approximately mediterranean taxa species endemic adriatic known species threatened extinction largely small fraction fish found adriatic attributed recent processes migration escape protected areas biodiversity adriatic relatively high marine protected areas established countries coasts italy basin southern protected area established covers hectares acres coast hectares acres sea area encompasses kilometres coastline near protected area created extending nautical miles sea kilometres coastline zones protected area cover square kilometres sea surface reserve protected islands protected area located near covers sea surface hectares acres adjacent covering hectares acres coast sharing kilometre coastline marine protected area furthermore internationally important wetland reserves italy located adriatic coast seven marine protected areas croatia canal peninsula coast near respectively basin near croatian southern national park encompasses acre archipelago hectares acres surrounding sea national park kilometre river national park established covers approximately square kilometres including islands marine environment encompasses quarters total area island shores combined length equals kilometres nature park established park covers kilometres coastline square kilometres land square kilometres sea located border croatia north peninsula marine protected area covers square kilometres nature park established includes islands square kilometres land square kilometres sea surface national park established covering square kilometre marine protection area addition wetland reserve croatia river delta marine coastal protected nature areas landscape park lakes natural monuments established covers hectares acres includes nature reserves area designated site site international importance species acre established comprises nature reserves includes kilometres long cliff northernmost mediterranean salt field system northernmost point growth mediterranean plant species established covers hectares acres natural monument covers hectares acres natural monument covers hectares acres lakes natural monument coastal lake lake covers hectares acres albania established marine protection area national marine park peninsula adriatic seas meet park covers total hectares acres additional marine protection areas planned albania cape addition albania home wetland reserves montenegro plan establish marine protection areas pollution adriatic_sea ecosystem threatened excessive input nutrients drainage agricultural land flowing cities includes coast rivers draining sea especially venice cited example coastal waters shipping transportation farming manufacturing disposal contribute sea risk presented ballast water discharge ships especially cargo handled adriatic ports virtually liquid tanker cargo handled ports coming coming risk ballast water ballast water loading adriatic remains minimal proposed export oil objected specifically issue oil major concern terms potential environmental impact damage tourism fisheries estimated major oil spill happened million people lose croatia additional risk presented oil basin oil occurred addition accidents occurring adriatic far significant environmental consequences italy considering construction offshore onshore terminal pipeline immediate vicinity italian border government municipalities municipal council non governmental organisations voiced concern environmental hazards effect transport effect tourism source pollution adriatic solid waste drifting waste occasionally relatively large quantities material especially waste plastic transported northwest air pollution associated large industrial centres valley large industrial cities coast italy yugoslavia established joint commission protect adriatic_sea pollution organization later changed croatia montenegro replacing yugoslavia future pollution hazards addressed pollution assessed nations basin regional projects support determined urgent response origins adriatic linked settlement probably derives meaning water sea classical antiquity sea known mare mare simplified frequently mare upper sea terms synonymous mare generally corresponds adriatic_sea extent spanning boundary consistently defined roman authors early greek sources place boundary adriatic seas places ranging adjacent southern tip eastern shores sicily western shores crete mare hand normally encompassed modern adriatic_sea sea peninsula southern coast far period mare applied waters coast names sea languages surrounding countries include croatian italian mare greek croatian sea referred simply history settlements adriatic dating appear albania eastern coast related culture classical antiquity inhabited eastern adriatic coast western coast inhabited peoples mainly rise greek adriatic dates 7th 6th centuries founded greeks soon expanded north establishing cities including black trade established far north delta trading station founded roman era roman economic military influence region began grow creation major naval base established bar ships adriatic wars led conflict lived collection semi kingdoms covered balkans controlled eastern shore sea resulting wars initial roman intervention motivated desire suppress piracy adriatic marked time roman navy crossed sea launch military campaign wars ended eastern shore province resistance roman rule continued sporadically rome completely consolidate control region general bitter struggle waged following repression revolt roman province split eastern shore adriatic southernmost portion province macedonia peninsula northern eastern shore contained important roman colony incorporated province italy roman period western shore originally called albania eastern shore important ports linked road city rome road romans extended eastward balkans byzantium later constantinople istanbul sea passage adriatic link primary route travelers trade troop movements rome east route played major role military operations marked end start imperial period war civil war month delay balkan campaign caused winter storms adriatic naval blockade held reaching reinforcements reinforcements finally arrived unsuccessful attempt capture campaign moved inland later crossed adriatic armies campaign assassins culminated remained important ports roman period earthquake 3rd century changed path river causing harbor city decline city italian coast adriatic increased importance roman era reign major naval base program organize roman navy better protect commerce mediterranean 4th century emperors moved official residence north rome milan order better able control military frontier tribes period repeated invasions italy capital shifted nearby marshes adriatic provided easy escape path sea western empire fell capital middle ages early middle ages decline adriatic coasts ruled byzantine_empire ruled italy following fall reign byzantine empire sent army general regain control italy resulting gothic war byzantines established ruled entire italian peninsula city invaded northern italy course century importance declined territory control expanded byzantine outpost venice increasingly independent ending influence byzantine_empire western shore adriatic centuries period saw rise kingdom italy controlled adriatic_sea western coast east coast gradually following croatian invasions starting 7th century founded period went significant maritime power receiving byzantine tax exemption end period brought control peace establishment independent kingdom croatia byzantine_empire return southern peninsula addition carved area rome central italy 8th century adriatic_sea basin saw territorial changes including norman conquest southern italy ending byzantine presence peninsula 11th 12th centuries territory control substantial eastern adriatic coast personal union established croatia hungary period began expand territory influence fourth crusade diverted conquer behest instance force attacking catholic city proceeding sack constantinople 13th century venice established leading maritime nation 12th 13th centuries venice engaged warfare culminating war adriatic treaty ended war required venice renounce claims losing territory hungary year established city state freed venetian venice regained held nearly years republic apex trading military power half 15th century 15th 16th centuries brought byzantine_empire destruction ottoman_empire expansion reached adriatic shores present day albania montenegro immediate coast defeating hungarian croatian armies defeats spelled end independent hungarian kingdom croatian hungarian nobility chose ferdinand house new ruler bringing monarchy shore adriatic_sea remain nearly years ottomans fought series wars 17th century fought adriatic area ottoman raids adriatic coasts effectively ceased massive setback october early modern period lost claim italian lands formally ending outlet adriatic_sea lost 17th century final territorial changes caused sixth ottoman venetian war venice slightly enlarged possessions abolished french conquest venetian territory handed austria briefly ruled austria territory turned france peace territory integral new new kingdom included province removing adriatic coast joined set separate provinces created treaty represented end venetian rule eastern adriatic coast end republic adriatic_sea minor theatre napoleonic wars adriatic campaign involved british_royal_navy adriatic control combined navies france italy campaign royal_navy occupied established base port george campaign reached climax ended british austrian troops seizing coastal cities eastern adriatic coast french days congress vienna awarded spanning austria congress vienna created encompassed city venice surrounding coast substantial controlled austria peninsula south formed kingdoms naples sicily modern period process italian unification culminated second italian war independence resulting territories western adriatic coast south establishment place expanded annexed navy defeated adriatic near following austro hungarian compromise croatian hungarian settlement control eastern adriatic coast austrian austria-hungary spanned austrian exception croatian mainland territory outside austrian special status given modern day separate rest territory turn dual monarchy adriatic coastline controlled ottoman_empire reduced recognition independence controlled coast south ottoman_empire lost territories adriatic following balkan war consequent treaty london established independent albania world war adriatic campaign largely limited blockade attempts allies effort british french italian moves italy joined allies april treaty london promised italy austrian northern port eastern adriatic islands albania treaty provided basis following divisions italy yugoslavia national assembly voted unite giving access adriatic short lived state established serbs formed parts austria-hungary comprising monarchy adriatic coastline later year serbs formed subsequently renamed yugoslavia proponents new union croatian parliament saw safeguard italian stipulated treaty london treaty largely disregarded britain france conflicting promises serbia perceived lack italian contribution war effort outside italy treaty transfer austrian italy awarded yugoslavia following war private force italian soldiers seized set seen order force recognition italian claims city sixteen months regency existence treaty italian yugoslav borders things transferring islands italy securing island yugoslavia establishing new state abolished treaty rome awarded modern italy yugoslavia late 20th century world war adriatic saw limited naval action starting italian invasion albania joint axis invasion yugoslavia led annexation large nearly eastern adriatic islands italy establishment puppet states croatia controlled remainder yugoslav adriatic coast armistice italy allied armed forces war end italy republic allies signed treaty peace italy treaty reversed wartime guaranteed independence albania created city state gave communist yugoslavia islands cities area north placed italian control rest came yugoslav control arrangement permanent treaty cold war adriatic_sea southernmost flank iron curtain italy joined nato warsaw pact established bases albania fall communism yugoslavia broke apart croatia declared independence followed montenegro remained federation serbia officially called serbia montenegro ensuing croatian war independence included limited naval engagements blockade croatia coast leading channels later withdrawal yugoslav vessels montenegro declared independent effectively land locking serbia period saw adriatic_sea theatre nato operations including blockade yugoslavia intervention bombing yugoslavia boundaries italy yugoslavia defined adriatic continental shelf additional agreement signed boundary following treaty boundary agreed extends nautical miles consists points connected straight lines circular arc segments additional boundary agreed consists points extending end point line successor states yugoslavia accepted agreements adriatic southernmost areas border determined order avoid location continental shelf border remains breakup yugoslavia albania italy yugoslavia initially proclaimed nautical mile territorial waters subsequently reduced international standard nautical miles sides adopted systems 1970s albania italy determined sea border according principle following membership adriatic internal sea adriatic_sea enclosed semi enclosed sea adriatic established promote trans regional trans national cooperation adriatic_sea area serve adriatic framework help resolve issues regional importance consists members regions italy municipality counties croatia municipalities montenegro counties albania greek disputes yugoslav land borders decided commissions implementing decisions exact course agreed successor states makes maritime boundaries definition difficult maritime borders defined time yugoslavia addition maritime boundary albania montenegro defined 1990s croatia started negotiations define maritime borders failed agree resulting dispute countries declared economic zones partially overlap croatia application member state initially suspended pending resolution border disputes disputes eventually settled agreement accept decision international arbitration commission set enabling croatia progress membership aside membership difficulty settling dispute caused major practical problems maritime boundary croatia formally settled issues dispute peninsula border area croatia montenegro maritime boundary disputed peninsula dispute exacerbated peninsula occupation later serbian turn replaced united_nations observer mission lasted croatia took area agreement allowed presence bay croatian waters dispute far contentious montenegro independence economy fishing adriatic_sea fishery production distributed countries basin nominal live weight basis total landings adriatic fisheries reached tonnes long tons recognised problem species fish live adriatic_sea including species threatened excessive commercial fishing problem exacerbated pollution global warming species include common red blue shark red norway european turtles common killed fishing nets depleted fish stock croatia ecological fisheries protection zone contributed accusations exchanged italian croatian fishermen introduced application member states suspended depleted stocks fish addressed new proposed fisheries policy scheduled effect croatia restore stocks sustainable levels largest volume fish harvesting italy total production volume stood tonnes long tons italian fisheries production volume generated northern central adriatic italian fisheries including operating outside adriatic employed primary sector including comprises total fisheries production total fisheries output gross value billion croatia production live weight reached tonnes long tons total croatian fisheries production volume tonnes long tons catch tonnes long tons marine croatian fisheries employed approximately marine capture catch croatian waters consisted fish fish crustaceans largely largely cephalopods croatian marine production consisted combined bass combined fisheries production amounted tonnes long tons including production reached tonnes long tons time fisheries produced total tonnes long tons production volume originating representing highest ratio adriatic finally fisheries production stood tonnes long tons tonnes coming fisheries production reached volume tonnes long tons tonnes long tons tourism countries bordering adriatic_sea significant tourist destinations largest number tourist overnight stays numerous tourist accommodation facilities recorded italy especially region venice followed region adriatic croatian counties croatian tourist facilities augmented nautical ports nautical tourists attracted types marine protected areas countries adriatic coast albania blue flag beach certification programme beaches meeting strict quality standards including environmental protection water quality safety services criteria january awarded italian adriatic beaches croatian beaches beaches beaches adriatic tourism significant source income countries especially croatia montenegro tourism income generated adriatic coast represents bulk income direct contribution travel tourism croatia stood total industry contribution estimated national montenegro direct contribution tourism national total contribution economy tourism recently exhibited greater growth regions adriatic transport nineteen adriatic_sea ports different countries handle million tonnes cargo year largest cargo ports port largest adriatic cargo port italy port venice port port largest port largest croatian cargo port port largest passenger ports adriatic port split largest croatian passenger port ports largest italian passenger adriatic largest montenegro port bar northern adriatic venice founded position favourably transport systems oil gas natural gas produced projects including joint venture companies operates platforms croatian waters draws gas wells started operating located italian waters adriatic gas fields discovered 1970s development commenced produced million day gas offshore platforms located region estimated concessions adriatic_sea hold cubic metres natural gas adding reach cubic metres estimates lower supplied oil discovered depth approximately metres discovery assessed viable location depth quality gas oil reserves 2000s investigation works aimed discovering gas oil reserves basins intensified decade end oil natural gas reserves discovered southeast oil discoveries surveys indicate reserves billion barrels oil place cubic metres gas place discovery followed surveys croatian coast january commenced oil marking resumption oil exploration eastern adriatic coast surveys commenced late 1980s island cancelled yugoslavia breakup war croatia montenegro expected look oil coast january exploration wells sunk croatian coast basin
Adriatic Sea