Alboran Sea: Deep Diving Into The Importance Of Saving Our Seas

This article will explain many details about the Alboran Sea, the facts related to it and how we should take steps to conserve the sea.

The Alboran Sea is situated within the western Mediterranean Sea. It is home to short-beaked dolphins, which are common dolphins found in the Southwestern Mediterranean.

The Alboran Sea lies between the Iberian Peninsula and the north of Africa. It has southern Spain to the north and Algeria to the south. The average depth of the sea is 1459.97 ft (445 m) and its maximum depth is 4921.26 ft (1500 m). The Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea are also located to the west end of the Alboran Sea. The sea supports the largest population of bottlenose dolphins, and it is also a feeding ground for loggerhead sea turtles in Europe.

For more content like this, you can also check out our articles about the differences between an ocean and a sea and the biggest sea creature ever.

How do you pronounce the Alboran Sea?

The Alboran Sea is pronounced as al-bahran. It is located between the continents of Africa, Morocco, and Spain. Its coastline stretches over 765 mi (1231.15 km) in multiple countries and the area covered is 355 m (571.3 km) in Morocco, 355 mi (571.32 km) in Spain, and over 74 mi (119.09 km) in Algeria.

This sea is also an area of geopolitical, scientific, and strategic importance. The water joins the Mediterranean and Atlantic Oceans via the Strait of Gibraltar. This happens on the west side, whereas the eastern part connects Spain's Cabo de Gata with Algeria's Cap Fegalo.

The Alboran Sea is a very famous sea with several species of fish, dolphins, whales, and sharks living in it. These include Risso's dolphins, striped dolphins, cuvier's beaked whales, fin whales, sperm whales, killer whales, pilot whales, and common dolphins. The Alboran Sea supports many dolphins, including the bottlenose dolphins. It is also known as the docking point for submarines belonging to NATO and American and British submarines. It also consists of some oceanographic characteristics, such as the fact that it supports the growth of seagrass species, which include the Posidonia Oceania, as it is the main source of oxygen for sea animals and plants.

Location of The Alboran Sea

The Alboran Sea is located in the western part of the Mediterranean Sea and also lies near the Atlantic Ocean. Therefore, the Alboran sea features a mixture of different types of species, consisting of those found in both regions. Another name for the Alboran Sea is the 'lungs of the Mediterranean sea'. It has this name because it contains several species of planktons living in it. The state of Gibraltar also lies on the west side of the Alboran Sea and is the second route that connects the Mediterranean Sea with the Atlantic Ocean.

The Alboran Sea lies between North Africa and the Iberian Peninsula. Some buildings are constructed there, including the automated lighthouses that were built during the 19th century. At the same time, a harbor was also constructed there. The island is situated a few meters above sea level at around 49.22 ft (15 m), and it covers a 766,390.4 sq ft (71,200 sq.m) area. It even covers some areas of the northeastern Alboran Sea. The Mediterranean Sea is a protective guard for many species as it runs through the Rif Mountains and around the Mediterranean basin.

Fish in the Alboran Sea

The Alboran Sea is filled with commercial species of fish and fisheries, and it is also home to fish like sardines and swordfish. These two are the main species found on the seafloor of the northern part. They reside near the continental margin for most of the time. The World Wildlife Fund raised concerns about the movement of sea animals like fish, turtles, and different categories of dolphins (mainly bottlenose dolphins) in 2003.

The Alboran Sea connects two huge water bodies that are the Mediterranean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean. It is home to a variety of sea animals, especially in the Mediterranean region. The Alboran Sea looks like a transition zone that connects a sea and an ocean. It also connects North Africa and the Iberian Peninsula, but there is a major boundary made by the Mediterranean Sea and the Northeast Atlantic between the eastern and western sides of the Mediterranean Sea. The Alboran Sea is home to a great number of bottlenose dolphins and other fish species. There are many naval bases established on the sea at Cartagena, which is located in Spain. The margin of northern Morocco and the Strait of Gibraltar Arc are both huge sources of marine points which are near the terrigenous sediment that is seen entering the basin.

Depth of the Alboran Sea

The average depth of Alboran is 1459.57 ft (445 m), and the maximum depth of the Alboran Sea is 4921.26 ft (1500 m). It is situated a few meters above sea level and also consists of the Atlas Mountains, Strait of Gibraltar Ar,c some large mountains, and also some small islands. These all fall in the external zone of the sea.

Alboran seawater flows in an eastern direction and also merges with water from the Atlantic Ocean directly to the Mediterranean Sea. The water at the surface area of the Mediterranean Sea flows via the Strait of Gibraltar and mostly flows in a western direction. It also carries salt water from the Mediterranean and pours it into the Atlantic Ocean. The small islands, which are located in the external zone, also cover some areas. Thes small islands include the Isla de Alboran, Peñon de Alhucemas, Islas Chafarinas, and Peñon de Vélez de la Gomera.

A Geological History of the Alboran Sea Region

The Alboran Sea also had an interesting geological history. There is an internal zone located on the seafloor beneath the Alboran sea. It also mixes with mountains and small islands, like the Atlas Mountains and Strait of Gibraltar Arc that are in its external zones. These zones are mostly made of continental crust. There are also markings on the western part of the terminus, which are divided between the Eurasian and African plates, and this happens at the closing of Tethys Ocean.

If an earthquake is felt at a depth of 370 mi (595.46 km), then this indicates that subduction is still going on. This shows the mixture of the lithosphere and the mantle crust, and this also shows the formation of the region. This field is known as marine geology. The internal zones of the eastern Alboran Sea are made up of Late Paleozoic to Triassic rocks. They are not extended from the early Miocene. The seafloor consists of three sub-basins that are in the east, west, and south Alboran Basin. The Alboran Ridge, which is very prominent in structure and also lies in the Alboran Sea, is 110 mi (177 km) long and also stretches from the southwest to the volcanic Alboran Island.

Conserving The Seas

Islands found under or over the sea are known as external and internal zones. In the Alboran Sea, these include the Isla de Alboran, the Strait of Gibraltar Arc, and many more. These places all need conserving.

Many people feel that the exploitation of resources in these areas should be stopped, and the marine plants and animals should be preserved by us. Marine loss is seen because of the loss of habitat of marine species, degradation in their lifestyles, and changes in the functions of ecosystems. It is best to stop polluting rivers and oceans, which is very common and known about by each of us. We should also take care of them.

Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly facts for everyone to enjoy! If you liked our article about the Alboran sea, then why not take a look at these Arabian sea facts or these facts on the fastest sea animal?