Adriatic Sea
The Adriatic Sea sits on the Apulian or Adriatic Microplate, a tectonic fragment that separated from the African Plate during the Mesozoic era. This separation began in the Middle and Late Triassic when limestone deposits started forming across the region. Between the Norian and Late Cretaceous periods, the Adriatic and Apulia Carbonate Platforms developed as thick layers of dolomites and limestones reaching depths up to 10 kilometers. Remnants of these ancient platforms now exist within the sea itself, alongside the southern Alps and Dinaric Mountains. In the Eocene and early Oligocene epochs, the plate moved northward and northeastward, contributing to the Alpine mountain-building process through tectonic uplift of the Dinarides and Alps. The motion reversed during the Late Oligocene, triggering the formation of the Apennine Mountains. An unbroken zone of seismic activity borders the entire Adriatic coastline today. A belt of thrust faults runs generally northeast to southwest along the eastern coast, while normal faults run in the same direction along the Apennines. These geological features indicate an Adriatic counterclockwise rotation. An active fault identified northwest of Dubrovnik adds to the Dalmatian islands as the Eurasian Plate slides over the Adriatic microplate. If this movement continues, the seafloor will be completely consumed and the Adriatic Sea closed off in 50 to 70 million years. The Northern Adriatic coast of the Gulf of Trieste and western Istria has gradually subsided, sinking about 2 meters in the past two thousand years. Evidence of Permian volcanism exists in the Middle Adriatic Basin around Komiža on Vis island and the volcanic islands of Jabuka and Brusnik. Earthquakes have been recorded in the region since earliest historical times. A strong earthquake measuring 7.0 on the Richter scale struck Montenegro in 1979. Historical earthquakes include the 1627 Gargano peninsula event and the 1667 Dubrovnik earthquake, both followed by powerful tsunamis. Fifteen tsunamis have occurred in the Adriatic Sea during the last 600 years.
The sea is geographically divided into three distinct basins: the Northern Adriatic, Central Adriatic, and Southern Adriatic. The northern basin extends between Venice and Trieste toward a line connecting Ancona and Zadar. It is only deep at its northwestern end and gradually deepens toward the southeast. This shallowest section rarely exceeds 100 meters in depth. The middle basin lies south of the Ancona-Zadar line and contains the deep Middle Adriatic Pit, also called the Pomo Depression or Jabuka Pit. The deep Palagruža Sill sits south of this pit, separating it from the South Adriatic Pit and the Middle Adriatic basin from the South Adriatic Basin. Further south, the seafloor rises to form the Otranto Sill at the boundary with the Ionian Sea. The southern basin resembles many aspects of the Northern Ionian Sea to which it connects. Transversely, the Adriatic Sea remains asymmetric. The Apennine peninsular coast stays relatively smooth with very few islands and only two significant protrusions into the sea: Mount Conero and Gargano promontories. In contrast, the Balkan peninsular coast proves rugged with numerous islands, especially along Croatia's shoreline. The coast's ruggedness intensifies due to the Dinaric Alps' proximity to the shore. On the opposite Italian side, the Apennine Mountains lie further away from the coastline.
Coastal water dynamics in the Adriatic are determined by asymmetric coasts and Mediterranean seawater inflow through the Straits of Otranto. The smooth Italian coast allows the Western Adriatic Current to flow smoothly. This current consists of a relatively freshwater mass on the surface and cold dense water masses at the bottom. Coastal currents on the eastern shore prove far more complex owing to the jagged shoreline, several large islands, and proximity of the Dinaric Alps to the shore. These factors create local jets that produce significant temperature variations between the sea and hinterland. Tidal movement normally remains slight, usually staying below 1 meter. The amphidromic point sits at mid-width east of Ancona. Normal tide levels can increase significantly in conducive environments leading to coastal flooding. This phenomenon is most famous in Italy, particularly Venice, as acqua alta. Such tides can exceed normal levels by more than 2 meters, with the highest recorded level reaching 196 centimeters on the 4th of November 1966. Flooding results from multiple factors including Sun-Moon alignment, meteorological elements like sirocco storm surges, and the basin's geometric shape which amplifies or reduces astronomical components. The Adriatic's long narrow rectangular shape generates oscillating water motion along the basin's minor axis. Venice faces increasing vulnerability to flooding due to coastal area soil subsidence.
The entire volume of the Adriatic Sea exchanges through the Strait of Otranto every 3.4±0.4 years, a comparatively short period. Rivers flowing into the Adriatic discharge up to 50 cubic kilometers annually. This rate represents 0.5% of total Adriatic Sea volume or a layer of water each year. The greatest portion of discharge from any single river comes from the Po River alone, accounting for 28% of total input with an average discharge of 14 cubic kilometers per year. In terms of annual total discharge into the Mediterranean Sea, the Po ranks second, followed by the Neretva and Drin rivers ranking third and fourth respectively. Another significant freshwater contributor involves submarine groundwater discharge through submarine springs. These springs comprise 29% of total water flux entering the Adriatic. Thermal spring waters discovered offshore near Izola town contain hydrogen sulfide and reach temperatures of 27 degrees Celsius. Such conditions enable development of specific ecosystems unique to these thermal zones. Surface temperature ranges from 12 to 26 degrees Celsius in summer and drops to 4 to 10 degrees Celsius in winter except along western northern Adriatic coast where it falls to 2 degrees Celsius during winter months. Distinct seasonal variations create longitudinal gradients in Northern regions and transversal gradients in Middle and Southern areas due to continental characteristics making the sea shallower and closer to land than oceans. During particularly cold winters, sea ice may appear in shallow coastal areas especially within Venetian Lagoon but also isolated shallows as far south as Tisno below Zadar.
The southern Adriatic remains about 3 degrees warmer during winter than more northerly regions. Salinity variation over the year ranges between 38 and 39 Practical Salinity Units somewhat higher than open ocean ranges of 32 to 37 PSUs. The southern Adriatic receives saltier water from the Levantine Basin. Climate classification shows upper half of Adriatic as humid subtropical Cfa with wetter summers and colder drier winters while southern Adriatic features hot-summer Mediterranean climate Csa. Air temperature fluctuates by approximately 15 degrees during a season. Predominant winter winds include bora and sirocco called jugo along eastern coast. Bora significantly conditions wind gaps in Dinaric Alps bringing cold dry continental air reaching peak speeds in Trieste Senj and Split areas with gusts up to 160 kilometers per hour. Sirocco brings humid warm air often carrying Saharan sand causing rain dust events.
More than 7,000 animal and plant species inhabit the Adriatic Sea according to Croatian National Biodiversity Strategy Action Plan identification. Five hundred thirty-five endemic plant species exist within Central Adriatic waters including green brown and red algae varieties. Four out of five Mediterranean seagrass species appear here: Cymodocea nodosa Zostera noltii Zostera marina and Posidonia oceanica though the latter two remain comparatively rare. Rare threatened species populate eastern Adriatic coasts where waters stay relatively clearer less polluted than western sections due to counterclockwise circulation patterns bringing cleaner waters upward along eastern shores before returning increasingly polluted water down western routes. Common bottlenose dolphins frequent only eastern coastal waters while Croatian coastline provides refuge for critically endangered monk seals and sea turtles. Cetaceans other marine megafauna once thought vagrants now migrate live semi-closed seas on larger scales. Fin whales represent largest living cetacean species while sperm whales largest toothed whales also migrate but less commonly than fin whales. Cuvier's beaked whales follow these migrations. Basking sharks manta rays constitute migrant species entering the sea. Historical presences include depleted extinct North Atlantic right whales functionally extinct Atlantic gray whales speculated humpback whales.
Tuna caught locally in upper Adriatic for thousands years formed very large schools mainly little tunny moving as far north Gulf Trieste. Increasing fishing prevented migration of large fish schools northward with last major tuna catch made 1954 by fishermen Santa Croce Contovello Barcola. Northern Adriatic particularly rich endemic fish fauna around thirty species found one or two countries bordering Adriatic Sea. These depend upon karst morphology coastal submarine topography including subterranean habitats karst rivers freshwater springs areas. Forty-five known subspecies endemic to Adriatic coasts islands exist alongside at least 410 species subspecies representing approximately 70% Mediterranean taxa seven species entirely unique to Adriatic. Sixty-four known species face extinction threats largely due overfishing. Only small fraction attributed recent processes Lessepsian migration escape mariculture.
Several marine protected areas established along Adriatic coasts protect biodiversity. Italy hosts Miramare Gulf Trieste established 1986 covering 2 square kilometers coast and 3 square kilometers sea. Torre del Cerrano created 2009 extending into sea 1 square kilometer coastline. Tremiti Islands reserve protected since 1989 part Gargano National Park. Torre Guaceto near Brindisi Carovigno covers 1 square kilometer sea surface adjacent Torre Guaceto State Reserve sharing 1 kilometer coastline. Ten internationally important Ramsar wetland reserves exist Italian Adriatic coast. Croatia maintains seven marine protected areas: Brijuni Lim Canal off Istria peninsula Pula Rovinj; Kornati Telašćica Middle Adriatic Zadar; Lastovo Bay Mali Ston southern Dalmatia Mljet. Brijuni national park encompasses archipelago surrounding 5 square kilometers became national park 1999. Lim Canal ria Pazinčica river. Kornati national park established 1980 covering approximately 400 square kilometers including 89 islands islets. Marine environment encompasses three-quarters total area island shores combined length equals 1,000 kilometers. Telašćica nature park established Dugi Otok 1988 covers 10 square kilometers coastline 5 square kilometers land 10 square kilometers sea. Bay Mali Ston located border Bosnia-Herzegovina north Pelješac peninsula marine protected area covers 2 square kilometers. Lastovo nature park established 2006 includes 44 islands islets 10 square kilometers land 30 square kilometers sea surface. Mljet national park established 1960 covering marine protection area. Neretva river delta Ramsar wetland reserve exists Croatian side. Slovenia hosts Sečovlje Salina Landscape Park Strunjan Landscape Park Škocjan Inlet Nature Reserve Debeli Rtič Cape Madona Lakes Fiesa natural monuments. Sečovlje Salina established 1990 covers 1 square kilometer four nature reserves designated Ramsar site 1993 international importance waterbird species. Strunjan Landscape Park established 2004 comprises two nature reserves long cliff northernmost Mediterranean salt field only Slovenian lagoon system northernmost point growth some Mediterranean plant species. Škocjan Inlet Nature Reserve established 1998 covers 1 square kilometer. Debeli Rtič natural monument covers 1 square kilometer Cape Madona natural monument covers 1 square kilometer Lakes Fiesa natural monument coastal lake only brackish lake Slovenia covers 1 square kilometer. Albania established first marine protection area Karaburun-Sazan National Marine Park 2010 at Karaburun Peninsula Adriatic Ionian meeting total coverage 5 square kilometers. Two additional areas planned: Cape Rodon Porto Palermo. Karavasta Lagoon Butrint Ramsar wetland reserves exist Albanian territory. Bosnia-Herzegovina Montenegro lack plan establish any marine protection areas.
Settlements along Adriatic dating between 6100 and 5900 BC appear Albania Dalmatia eastern coast related Cardium pottery culture. Illyrians inhabited eastern coast during classical antiquity while western coast populated Ancient Italian peoples mainly Etruscans before Roman Republic rise. Greek colonization dates back 7th 6th centuries BC founding ancient cities Epidamnos Apollonia. Greeks expanded north establishing Ancona Black Corcyra Epidaurus Issa trade extending Po River delta emporium trading station founded Adria.
Roman economic military influence grew creation major naval base Brundisium now Brindisi by 246 BC barring Carthaginian ships Adriatic Punic Wars. Conflict arose Illyrian kingdoms covering Balkans controlling eastern shore resulting Illyrian Wars 229 to 168 BC. Initial Roman intervention 229 BC motivated desire suppress Illyrian piracy marked first time Roman navy crossed sea launch military campaign. Eastern shore became province Roman Republic following wars though resistance continued sporadically Rome did not completely consolidate control until Augustus general Tiberius put down Great Illyrian Revolt bitter struggle waged 6 to 9 AD. Repression split Roman province Illyricum into Dalmatia Pannonia. Most eastern shore part Dalmatia except southernmost portion Macedonia province peninsula Istria northern part eastern shore. Istria contained important Roman colony Pula incorporated Italy province.
Brundisium western shore Apollonia Dyrrachium originally called Epidamnos now Durrës Albania eastern shore became important ports during Roman period. Brundisium linked Via Appia road city Rome. Dyrrachium Apollonia both on Via Egnatia road Romans extended eastward across Balkans Byzantium later Constantinople Istanbul about 130 BC. Sea passage across Adriatic between Brundisium Dyrrachium Apollonia link primary route travelers trade troop movements Rome East. Route played major role some military operations marking end Roman Republic start imperial period. Sulla used it First Mithridatic War. Caesar Civil War three-month delay Balkan campaign Pompey caused winter storms Adriatic naval blockade held Mark Antony reaching him Brundisium reinforcements. Reinforcements finally arrived Caesar made unsuccessful attempt capture Dyrrachium before campaign moved inland. Marc Antony Octavian later Augustus crossed Adriatic Dyrrachium armies campaign against two Caesar assassins Brutus Cassius culminated Battle Philippi. Brundisium Dyrrachium remained important ports well after Roman period earthquake 3rd century AD changed river path causing Apollonia harbor silt up city decline. Another Italian coast city increased importance Roman era Ravenna. During reign Augustus became major naval base part program re-organize Roman navy better protect commerce Mediterranean. 4th century AD emperors Western Roman Empire moved official residence north Rome Mediolanum now Milan order better control military frontier Germanic tribes. 402 AD repeated Germanic invasions Italy capital shifted Ravenna because nearby marshes made defensible Adriatic provided easy escape path sea. When Western Empire fell 476 AD Ravenna became capital Ostrogothic Kingdom Italy.
Early Middle Ages after Roman Empire decline Adriatic coasts ruled Ostrogoths Lombards Byzantine Empire. Ostrogothic Kingdom ruled Italy following fall Western Roman Empire 476 AD. Reign Justinian Byzantine Empire sent army general Belisarius regain control Italy resulting Gothic War 535, 554. Byzantines established Exarchate Ravenna by 553 AD viceroy Exarch ruled almost entire Italian peninsula from that city. 568 AD Lombards invaded northern Italy over course next century so importance Exarchate declined territory under Lombard control expanded Byzantine outpost Venice increasingly independent. 752 AD Lombards overthrew Exarchate ending influence Byzantine Empire western shore Adriatic few centuries.
Last part period saw rise Carolingian Empire Frankish Kingdom Italy controlling Adriatic Sea western coast while Byzantine Dalmatia east coast gradually shrunk Dalmatian city-states following Avar Croatian invasions starting 7th century. Republic Venice one maritime republics founded period went significant maritime power receiving Byzantine tax exemption 1082. End period brought Holy Roman Empire control Kingdom Italy lasting Peace Westphalia 1648 establishment independent Kingdom Croatia Byzantine Empire return southern Apennine peninsula. Papal States carved area around Rome central Italy 8th century.
High Middle Ages Adriatic basin saw further territorial changes Norman conquest southern Italy ending Byzantine presence Apennine peninsula 11th 12th centuries territory became Kingdom Naples 1282 control substantial part eastern Adriatic coast Kingdom Hungary after personal union established Croatia Hungary 1102. Period Republic Venice began expand territory influence. 1202 Fourth Crusade diverted conquer Zadar behest Venetians first instance Crusader force attacking Catholic city proceeding sack Constantinople. 13th century Venice established leading maritime nation. Much 12th 13th centuries Venice Republic Genoa engaged warfare culminating War Chioggia ousting Genoese Adriatic. Still 1381 Treaty Turin ended war required Venice renounce claims Dalmatia losing territory Hungary 1358. Same year Republic Ragusa established Dubrovnik city-state freed Venetian suzerainty. Venice regained Dalmatia 1409 held nearly four hundred years republic apex trading military power first half 15th century. 15th 16th centuries brought Byzantine Empire destruction 1453 Ottoman Empire expansion reaching Adriatic shores present-day Albania Montenegro immediate hinterland Dalmatian coast defeating Hungarian Croatian armies Krbava 1493 Mohács 1526. Defeats spelled end independent Hungarian kingdom Croatian Hungarian nobility chose Ferdinand I House Habsburg new ruler bringing Habsburg monarchy shore Adriatic Sea remaining nearly four hundred years.
Ottomans Venetians fought series wars until 17th century not fought Adriatic area. Ottoman raids Adriatic coasts effectively ceased massive setback Battle Lepanto October 1571. 17th century final territorial changes caused Morean Sixth Ottoman-Venetian War when 1699 Venice slightly enlarged possessions Dalmatia. 1797 Republic Venice abolished French conquest. Venetian territory handed Austria briefly ruled Archduchy Austria. Territory turned France Peace Pressburg 1805 Po valley integral part new Napoleonic Kingdom Italy. New kingdom included province Romagna removing Papal State Adriatic coast Trieste Istria Dalmatia joined set separate provinces French Empire Illyrian Provinces created 1809 Treaty Schönbrunn representing end Venetian rule eastern Adriatic coast end Republic Ragusa. Adriatic Sea minor theatre Napoleonic Wars Adriatic campaign 1807, 1814 involved Royal Navy contesting Adriatic control combined navies France Italy Kingdom Naples. Campaign reached climax 1811 Battle Lissa ended British Austrian forces seizing coastal cities eastern Adriatic coast French. Days before Battle Waterloo Congress Vienna awarded Illyrian Provinces spanning Gulf Trieste Bay Kotor Austria. Congress Vienna also created Kingdom Lombardy-Venetia encompassed city Venice surrounding coast substantial hinterland controlled Austria.
Italian unification process culminated Second Italian War Independence resulting Kingdom Sardinia annexing all territories western Adriatic south Venetia 1861 establishment Kingdom Italy place. Kingdom Italy expanded 1866 annexed Venetia navy defeated Adriatic near Vis. Following Austro-Hungarian Compromise 1867 Croatian-Hungarian Settlement 1868 control much eastern Adriatic coast redefined. Cisleithanian Austrian part Austria-Hungary spanned Austrian Littoral Bay Kotor exception Croatian Littoral mainland. Territory outside Austrian Littoral special status given Fiume modern-day Rijeka separate part Kingdom Hungary. Rest territory made part Kingdom Croatia-Slavonia Transleithanian part dual monarchy. Adriatic coastline controlled Ottoman Empire reduced Congress Berlin 1878 recognition independence Principality Montenegro controlling coast south Bay Kotor Bojana River. Ottoman Empire lost all territories along Adriatic following First Balkan War consequent 1913 Treaty London establishing independent Albania.
World War I Adriatic Campaign largely limited blockade attempts Allies Central Powers thwart British French Italian moves. Italy joined Allies April 1915 Treaty London promising Italian Littoral northern Dalmatia port Vlorë most eastern Adriatic islands Albania protectorate. Treaty provided basis following divisions Italy Yugoslavia. 1918 Montenegrin national assembly voted unite Kingdom Serbia giving latter access Adriatic. Another short-lived unrecognised state established 1918 State Slovenes Croats Serbs formed parts Austria-Hungary comprising former monarchy's Adriatic coastline. Later year Kingdom Serbia State Slovenes Croats Serbs formed Kingdom Serbs Croats Slovenes subsequently renamed Yugoslavia. Proponents new union Croatian parliament saw move safeguard against Italian expansionism stipulated Treaty London. Treaty largely disregarded Britain France conflicting promises made Serbia perceived lack Italian contribution war effort outside Italy itself. 1919 Treaty Saint-Germain-en-Laye transferred Austrian Littoral Istria Italy awarded Dalmatia Yugoslavia.
War private force demobilized Italian soldiers seized Rijeka set up Italian Regency Carnaro seen harbinger Fascism force recognition Italian claims city. After sixteen months Regency existence 1920 Treaty Rapallo redefined Italian-Yugoslav borders among things transferring Zadar islands Cres Lastovo Palagruža Italy securing island Krk Yugoslavia establishing Free State Fiume. New state abolished 1924 Treaty Rome awarding Fiume modern Rijeka Italy Sušak Yugoslavia. World War II Adriatic saw limited naval action starting Italian invasion Albania joint Axis invasion Yugoslavia. Latter led annexation large part Dalmatia nearly all eastern Adriatic islands Italy establishment two puppet states Independent State Croatia Kingdom Montenegro controlling remainder former Yugoslav Adriatic coast. 1947 Armistice Italy Allied armed forces war end Italy republic Allies signed Treaty Peace Italy treaty reversed wartime annexations guaranteed independence Albania created Free Territory Trieste FTT city-state gave communist Yugoslavia most Slovenian Littoral Istria islands Cres Lastovo Palagruža cities Zadar Rijeka. FTT partitioned 1954 Trieste area North placed under Italian control rest came under Yugoslav control arrangement made permanent 1975 Treaty Osimo.
Cold War Adriatic Sea became southernmost flank Iron Curtain Italy joined NATO Warsaw Pact established bases Albania. Fall communism Yugoslavia broke apart Slovenia Croatia declared independence 1991 Bosnia-Herzegovina followed 1992 Montenegro remained federation Serbia officially called Serbia Montenegro. Ensuin Croatian War Independence included limited naval engagements blockade Croatia's coast Yugoslav Navy leading Battle Dalmatian channels later withdrawal Yugoslav vessels. Montenegro declared itself independent 2006 effectively land-locking Serbia. Period also saw Adriatic Sea theatre several NATO operations including blockade Yugoslavia intervention Bosnia Herzegovina 1999 bombing Yugoslavia. Boundaries Italy Yugoslavia defined Adriatic continental shelf delimitation 1968 additional agreement signed 1975 Gulf Trieste boundary following Treaty Osimo. Boundary agreed 1968 extends 1,000 kilometers consists 43 points connected straight lines circular arc segments. Additional boundary agreed 1975 consists 5 points extending from end point 1968 line. All successor states former Yugoslavia accepted agreements. Adriatic southernmost areas border not determined avoid prejudicing location tripoint Albanian continental shelf border remains undefined. Before breakup Yugoslavia Albania Italy Yugoslavia initially proclaimed territorial waters subsequently reduced international-standard all sides adopted baseline systems mostly 1970s. Albania Italy determined sea border 1992 equidistance principle. Following Croatian EU membership Adriatic became internal sea EU. United Nations Convention Law Sea defines Adriatic Sea enclosed semi-enclosed sea.
Adriatic Sea fishery production distributed among countries basin. 2000 nominal live weight basis total landings all Adriatic fisheries reached 1 million tonnes. Overfishing recognised problem 450 species fish live Adriatic Sea including 120 species threatened excessive commercial fishing problem exacerbated pollution global warming. Overexploited species include common dentex red scorpionfish monkfish John Dory blue shark spiny dogfish mullet red mullet Norway lobster European hake sardines. Turtles common bottlenose dolphins killed fishing nets. Depleted fish stock Croatia Ecological Fisheries Protection Zone ZERP contributed accusations overfishing exchanged Italian Croatian fishermen. ZERP introduced 2003 application EU member states suspended 2004. Depleted stocks addressed new proposed EU fisheries policy scheduled take effect 2013 when Croatia acceded EU restore stocks sustainable levels 2015.
Largest volume fish harvesting occurred Italy where total production volume 2007 stood 180,000 tonnes. 2003 28.8% Italian fisheries production volume generated Northern central Adriatic 24.5% Apulia Southern Adriatic Ionian Sea. Italian fisheries including operating outside Adriatic employed 60,700 primary sector aquaculture comprising 40% total fisheries production. Total fisheries output gross value 2002 $1.9 billion. 2007 Croatia production live weight reached 100,000 tonnes. 2006 total Croatian fisheries production volume catch marine aquaculture. Croatian fisheries employed approximately 20,000. 2006 marine capture catch Croatian waters consisted sardines 44.8% anchovies 31.3% tunas 2.7% other pelagic fish 4.8% hake 2.4% mullet 2.1% other demersal fish 8.3% crustaceans largely lobster Nephrops norvegicus 0.8% shellfish largely oysters mussels 0.3% cuttlefish 0.6% squids 0.2% octopuses cephalopods 1.6%. Croatian marine aquaculture production consisted tuna 47.2% oysters mussels 28.2% combined bass bream 24.6% combined. 2007 Albanian fisheries production amounted 50,000 tonnes including aquaculture production reaching 10,000 tonnes 2006. Slovenian fisheries produced total 10,000 tonnes 55% production volume originating aquaculture highest ratio Adriatic. Montenegrin fisheries production stood 10,000 tonnes 2006 11 tonnes coming aquaculture. Bosnia-Herzegovina reached volume 5,000 tonnes Slovenia.
Countries bordering Adriatic Sea significant tourist destinations. Largest number tourist overnight stays numerous tourist accommodation facilities recorded Italy especially Veneto region around Venice. Veneto followed Emilia-Romagna region Adriatic Croatian counties. Croatian tourist facilities augmented 21,000 nautical ports moorings nautical tourists attracted various types marine protected areas. All countries along Adriatic coast except Albania Bosnia-Herzegovina take part Blue Flag beach certification programme Foundation Environmental Education beaches marinas meeting strict quality standards environmental protection water quality safety services criteria. January 2012 Blue Flag awarded 103 Italian Adriatic beaches 29 marinas 116 Croatian beaches 19 marinas 7 Slovenian beaches 2 marinas 16 Montenegrin beaches. Adriatic tourism significant source income countries especially Croatia Montenegro where tourism income generated along Adriatic coast represents bulk such income. Direct contribution travel tourism Croatia GDP stood 5.1% 2011 total industry contribution estimated 12.8% national GDP. For Montenegro direct contribution tourism national GDP 8.1% total contribution economy 17.2% Montenegrin GDP. Tourism Adriatic Croatia recently exhibited greater growth other regions around Adriatic.
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Common questions
What is the Adriatic Sea and where is it located?
The Adriatic Sea sits on the Apulian or Adriatic Microplate between the Italian and Balkan Peninsulas. It extends from the Gulf of Trieste in the north to the Strait of Otranto connecting with the Ionian Sea in the south.
When did the Adriatic Sea begin forming geologically?
Limestone deposits started forming across the region during the Middle and Late Triassic periods when the Adriatic Microplate separated from the African Plate. The plate moved northward and northeastward during the Eocene and early Oligocene epochs contributing to mountain-building processes.
How deep is the Adriatic Sea at its deepest point?
The Northern Adriatic rarely exceeds 100 meters in depth while the Central Adriatic contains the Middle Adriatic Pit also called the Pomo Depression or Jabuka Pit. The Southern Adriatic Basin connects to the South Adriatic Pit through the Palagruža Sill.
Which countries border the Adriatic Sea today?
Italy borders the western coast while Croatia Slovenia Montenegro Albania Bosnia-Herzegovina and Serbia surround the eastern and southern shores. Italy hosts the largest number of tourist overnight stays along the Adriatic coastline.
What historical events shaped control over the Adriatic Sea?
Roman naval bases like Brundisium and Dyrrachium became primary routes for trade and troop movements starting around 246 BC. Republic Venice gained maritime power receiving Byzantine tax exemption in 1082 before losing Dalmatia following the Treaty Turin in 1381.
When did the last major tuna catch occur in the upper Adriatic?
The last major tuna catch was made in 1954 by fishermen from Santa Croce Contovello Barcola after increasing fishing prevented migration of large fish schools northward. Overfishing has since become a recognized problem affecting 450 species living in the Adriatic Sea.