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Alboran Sea Facts

Alboran Sea Facts
The Alboran Sea is located in the Mediterranean Sea's most western region. It is found between the north of Africa and the Iberian Peninsula. The Alboran Sea is connected to the Atlantic Ocean via the Strait of Gibraltar. The maximum depth of the Alboran Sea is 4,920 feet and the average depth is 1,461 feet. Most of the islands in the Alboran Sea belong to Spain, including those close to the shore of Africa.
Interesting Alboran Sea Facts:
The surface currents of the Alboran Sea flow towards the east, which allows for the flow of water from the Atlantic Ocean to enter the Mediterranean Sea. Subsurface currents flow west taking the Mediterranean's saltier water out to the Atlantic Ocean.
Because the Alboran Sea serves as a transition zone for the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea, the species in its waters are mixed.
The largest populations of bottlenose dolphins within the Mediterranean Sea live in the Alboran Sea.
The Alboran Sea is home to the western Mediterranean Sea's largest harbor porpoise population.
The Alboran Sea provides the loggerhead sea turtle's most important European feeding ground.
There are substantial sardine and swordfish commercial fisheries in the Alboran Sea.
The Alboran Sea is bordered on its north, west, and south sides by the Gibraltar Arc, an arc of mountains including the Baetic Cordillera and Rif Mountains.
There are several sub-basins on the floor of the Alboran Sea, including the most prominent structure - the Alboran Ridge which stretches 110 miles southwest from Alboran Island - a volcanic island.


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