Aegean Sea

The Aegean Sea is a large body of water that lies between southeastern Europe and western Asia. It is part of the Mediterranean Sea. To the west is mainland Greece, and to the east is Anatolia, which is part of modern Turkey. The sea connects to the Black Sea through narrow waterways. These waterways are called straits, which are narrow passages of water.

The Aegean Sea contains many islands. Some of the largest island groups are the Cyclades, the Dodecanese, and the North Aegean Islands. An island is land completely surrounded by water. These islands vary in size. Some are large with towns and farms, while others are small and uninhabited. The coastline of the Aegean Sea is very long and has many bays and natural harbors.

In ancient times, the Aegean Sea was central to early civilizations. The Minoan civilization developed on the island of Crete around 2000 BCE. Later, the Mycenaean civilization grew on the Greek mainland. These societies used ships to travel across the sea. They traded goods such as pottery, olive oil, and metal tools. The sea allowed contact between different regions.

The name "Aegean" comes from Greek tradition. One ancient story links the name to King Aegeus of Athens. Athens was an important city-state near the Aegean Sea. A city-state is a city that acts as an independent country. Many Greek city-states, including Athens and Sparta, depended on the sea for travel and communication.

The Aegean Sea also has important natural features. The water is generally clear and blue. The sea floor is uneven, with deep basins and underwater ridges. Earthquakes sometimes occur in this region because it lies near the boundary of large pieces of Earth’s crust, called tectonic plates.

Today, the Aegean Sea is shared mainly by Greece and Turkey. It is used for fishing, shipping, and travel between islands and mainland ports. Large ships pass through the sea to reach other parts of the Mediterranean. The Aegean Sea remains an important geographic area because of its location and long history.