Alboran Sea

The Alboran Sea is a part of the Mediterranean Sea.

It sits between Spain and North Africa. A small path of water connects it to the Atlantic Ocean.

Many animals live in these waters. You can find dolphins and sea turtles here. Many fish like sardines swim in the sea, too.

There are also some small islands in the sea.

Some of these islands belong to Spain.

It is a very special place for sea life.

The Alboran Sea is part of the Mediterranean Sea.

It sits between the Iberian Peninsula and North Africa. Spain is to the north. Morocco and Algeria are to the south. At the west end, the Strait of Gibraltar connects it to the Atlantic Ocean.

The sea has many different shapes on its floor. There are ridges and deep basins. One big part is the Alboran Ridge. It starts at the volcanic Alborán Island.

Water moves in a special way here. Surface water flows east from the Atlantic. Deeper water flows west back to the ocean. This creates a circular path called a gyre.

Many animals live in these waters. It is a home for bottlenose dolphins. It is also a place for sea turtles to eat. You can find fish like sardines and swordfish here. Some people use large nets to fish. This can be a problem for the animals. To help, some areas now ban certain types of fishing. This protects the cold-water coral reefs.

The Alboran Sea is a very special part of the Mediterranean Sea.

It sits at the far western edge of that large sea. You can find it between the Iberian Peninsula and North Africa. Spain sits to the north of these waters. Morocco and Algeria are located to the south. At the western end, the Strait of Gibraltar connects this sea to the Atlantic Ocean.

Water moves in a constant, circular dance in this region. This movement is called a gyre. Surface currents flow toward the east because of the winds. These currents bring fresh water from the Atlantic Ocean into the Mediterranean. At the same time, deeper water flows toward the west. This deep water is saltier than the surface water. It carries Mediterranean water back out into the Atlantic Ocean.

The floor of the sea is very bumpy and complex. There are several deep areas called sub-basins. These include the West, East, and South Alboran Basins. A large structure called the Alboran Ridge stretches across the sea. It starts at the volcanic Alborán Island and goes southwest. The ground underneath is made of continental crust. This area was formed as the African and Eurasian plates moved together. This movement still causes earthquakes at a depth of about 30 kilometers.

Many different living things call this sea their home. It is a transition zone between the Atlantic and the Mediterranean. You can find a mix of species from both areas here. The sea holds the largest population of bottlenose dolphins. It is also the last home for harbour porpoises in the western Mediterranean. Many loggerhead sea turtles come here to feed. People also fish for sardines and swordfish in these waters.

Protecting the sea is a very important job for many countries. In 2003, the World Wildlife Fund shared concerns about drift net fishing. This type of fishing can be hard on dolphins and turtles. To help, leaders made a new agreement in 2023. The European Union, Morocco, and Algeria agreed to ban certain types of fishing. They did this around the Cabliers Bank. This protects the only known cold-water coral reef in the Mediterranean.

The Alboran Sea is the westernmost part of the Mediterranean Sea.

It occupies a unique space between the Iberian Peninsula and North Africa. To the north, the sea is bordered by Spain. To the south, it sits near Morocco and Algeria. At its westernmost edge, the Strait of Gibraltar connects the Mediterranean to the Atlantic Ocean.

This connection makes the Alboran Sea a vital gateway for water moving between two massive bodies of water.

The oceanography of this region is defined by a complex movement of water. Surface currents are driven by prevailing winds to flow toward the east. These currents carry Atlantic Ocean water into the Mediterranean Sea. However, deeper subsurface currents move in the opposite direction. They flow westward, carrying saltier Mediterranean water through the Gibraltar sill and into the Atlantic. This constant exchange creates a vertical rotary circulation known as a gyre. This gyre is a fundamental part of how the region manages its salt and temperature levels.

Geologically, the seafloor is highly complex and varied. The area contains several sub-basins, which are deep depressions in the ocean floor. These include the West, East, and South Alboran Basins. The seabed also features various ridges and seamounts. The most prominent feature is the Alboran Ridge. This structure stretches southwest from the volcanic Alborán Island. The seafloor is made mostly of continental crust. This crust was formed by the subduction of terranes between the African and Eurasian Plates. Subduction occurs when one tectonic plate moves under another. This process happened as the Tethys Ocean closed.

This geological activity is still happening today. Earthquakes occur frequently at a depth of about 30 kilometers. These tremors indicate ongoing interactions between the lithosphere and the mantle. The lithosphere is the rigid outer layer of the Earth. The mantle is the layer beneath it. The internal zones of the Alboran domain consist of rocks from the Late Paleozoic to the Triassic periods. These rocks were piled up during the Tertiary period. Since the Early Miocene, this area has undergone extension. The region is also surrounded by the Gibraltar Arc. This arc includes the Baetic Cordillera in Spain and the Rif Mountains in Morocco.

Ecologically, the Alboran Sea serves as a critical transition zone. It sits between the Atlantic and Mediterranean ecological zones. Because of this, it contains a mix of species from both environments. The sea provides habitat for the largest population of bottlenose dolphins in the area. It is also the last home for harbour porpoises in the western Mediterranean. For loggerhead sea turtles, this sea is the most important feeding ground in Europe. The surrounding Baetic-Rifan complex is a biodiversity hotspot. The Atlantic Ocean provides a moderating influence on the climate here. This has allowed relict species to survive for millions of years. A relict species is one that survives from an earlier time.

Human activity and conservation efforts are also significant in this sea. The Alboran Sea supports important commercial fisheries. People catch species such as sardines and swordfish. However, certain fishing methods have caused environmental concerns. In 2003, the World Wildlife Fund noted that drift net fishing could endanger dolphins and turtles. To address these issues, international cooperation has increased. In 2023, the European Union, Morocco, and Algeria reached an agreement. They banned bottom fishing practices around the Cabliers Bank. This specific action protects the only known cold-water coral reef in the Mediterranean.

Finally, several small islands are scattered throughout the Alboran Sea. These include the Isla de Alborán, which gives the sea its name. Other islands include the Islas Chafarinas, Peñón de Alhucemas, and Peñón de Vélez de la Gomera. Most of these islands, even those near the African coast, belong to Spain. These islands and the surrounding waters remain a vital part of the Mediterranean's natural and political landscape.