Libyan Sea
Portion of the Mediterranean Sea north of the African coast of ancient Libya
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Libyan Sea (Latin: Libycum Mare; Arabic: البحر الليبي; Greek: Λιβυκό πέλαγος) is the portion of the Mediterranean Sea north of the African coast of ancient Libya, i.e. Cyrenaica, and Marmarica (the coast of what is now eastern Libya and western Egypt, between Tobruk and Alexandria).[1] The region of the Libyan Sea located south of Crete is also known as the South Cretan Sea (Νότιο Κρητικό Πέλαγος).[2][3]
| Libyan Sea | |
|---|---|
| |
  Libyan Sea Location within Mediterranean | |
 Interactive map of Libyan Sea | |
| Location | Mediterranean Sea |
| Coordinates | 34°00′N 24°24′E |
| Type | Sea |
| Basin countries | Libya |
Surface area | 350,000 square kilometres (140,000 sq mi) |
Average depth | 1,500 metres (4,900 ft) |
| Max. depth | 5,109 metres (16,762 ft) |
Shore length1 | 1,770 kilometres (1,100 mi) |
| Islands | Gavdos, Gavdopoula, Koufonisi, and Chrysi |
Sections/sub-basins | Gulf of Sidra, South Cretan Sea |
| Settlements | Tobruk, Libya and Alexandria, Egypt |
| 1 Shore length is not a well-defined measure. | |
Name
In antiquity, the Greek geographical name "Libya" (Greek: Λιβύη, Libyē) encompassed much of North Africa west of the Nile River and described the lands and peoples of North Africa, including groups such as the Libu and Meshwesh, as recorded by Greek and Roman sources.[4] The name "Libyan Sea" (Latin: Mare Libycum) was used by ancient geographers to describe the part of the Mediterranean Sea south of Crete, between Cyrene and Alexandria. This usage continues today.[5]
Geography
The surface area of the Mediterranean is about 350,000 square kilometres (140,000 sq mi).[6]
The southern coastline of Crete, which borders the Libyan Sea, includes the Asterousia Mountains and Mesara Plain; this area is the locus of considerable ancient Bronze Age settlement including the sites of Kommos, Hagia Triada and Phaistos.[7]
Not counting Crete, other islands in the Libyan Sea are Gavdos, Gavdopoula, Koufonisi, and Chrysi.
To the east is the Levantine Sea, to the north the Ionian Sea, and to the west the Strait of Sicily.