Mediterranean basin
The lands and waters drained by rivers flowing into the Mediterranean Sea, spanning parts of Europe, Africa, and Asia.
Drainage basin: An area of land where precipitation and streams drain toward a common outlet. The Mediterranean basin is defined by this watershed principle.
River basin: The land drained by a river and its tributaries. The Mediterranean basin consists of many river basins that empty into the sea.
Mediterranean forests, woodlands, and scrub: A biome of drought-adapted forests, woodlands, and shrublands around the Mediterranean. This vegetation reflects the basin’s climate and land-use history.
Mediterranean diet: A dietary pattern associated with traditional foods and eating practices around the Mediterranean. Agricultural landscapes and food traditions developed across the basin’s connected regions.
Mediterranean Sea: The sea connected to the Atlantic Ocean between Europe, Africa, and Asia. Its shores receive the rivers that define the basin.
River delta: A landform where a river deposits sediment as it enters a standing body of water. Deltas form where major basin rivers meet the Mediterranean.
Mediterranean Sea basin hydrology: The study of water flows, storage, and exchange across the Mediterranean Sea’s drainage region. It examines how rainfall, rivers, and evaporation shape the basin’s water resources.
Mediterranean agriculture: Farming systems adapted to the climates and terrain of Mediterranean regions. Cultivation of crops such as olives and grapes has reshaped basin landscapes.
Watershed: A boundary separating neighboring drainage areas. Watershed divides mark the basin’s inland limits.
Evaporation: The change of liquid water into vapor at a surface. Strong evaporation from the sea affects the basin’s water balance.