Alboran Sea

The westernmost part of the Mediterranean Sea lies between the Iberian Peninsula and North Africa, linking the Mediterranean to the Atlantic through the Strait of Gibraltar.

Strait of Gibraltar: A narrow passage between Spain and Morocco connecting the Atlantic Ocean with the Mediterranean Sea. This passage carries the Alboran Sea’s two-layer exchange with the Atlantic.
Alboran Island: A small volcanic island in the Alboran Sea, administered by Spain. The island gives its name to the sea and supports seabirds and endemic plants.
Alboran Basin: A deep marine basin beneath the Alboran Sea, formed during the tectonic evolution of the western Mediterranean. Its structure underlies the sea and records the region’s complex tectonic history.
Western Mediterranean fishing: Commercial and small-scale fishing across the western Mediterranean Sea. Fishing in the Alboran Sea draws on its productive waters and migratory species.
Atlantic–Mediterranean exchange: The opposing flow of Atlantic and Mediterranean waters through the Strait of Gibraltar. The exchange supplies surface water and exports denser Mediterranean water through the Alboran basin.
Alboran Sea marine reserve: A Spanish marine protected area surrounding Alboran Island and nearby seabed. Protection here targets the sea’s unusual volcanic habitats and marine biodiversity.
Gibraltar Arc: A curved mountain-and-subduction system around the western Mediterranean, spanning southern Iberia and northern Morocco. Its tectonic evolution helped shape the Alboran basin and nearby strait.
Marine protected area: A geographically defined marine zone managed to conserve ecosystems and biodiversity. Protected areas are a principal tool for conserving sensitive Alboran habitats.
Alboran Sea gyres: Large rotating ocean currents in the Alboran Sea, including the western and eastern anticyclonic gyres. These persistent gyres organize circulation across the sea’s western and eastern basins.
Cabo de Gata-Níjar Natural Park: A protected coastal area in southeastern Spain with volcanic landscapes and marine habitats. Its coast borders the Alboran basin and includes habitats shaped by Mediterranean–Atlantic conditions.

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Mediterranean SeaBroader topic: This sub-basin receives Atlantic water just beyond the Strait of Gibraltar.