Eastern Mediterranean facts for kids

Aerial view of the Eastern Mediterranean

The Eastern Mediterranean is a part of the Mediterranean Sea and the countries around its eastern side. Think of it as the eastern half or third of this famous sea. It often includes the countries that touch the Levantine Sea, which is a section of the Mediterranean.

This area usually covers all the coastal lands and communities that are greatly affected by the sea's climate. It includes the southern part of Turkey, the island of Cyprus, and the Greek Dodecanese islands. It also includes countries like Egypt, Israel, Jordan, Palestine, Syria, and Lebanon.

Sometimes, the definition of the Eastern Mediterranean can be even wider. It might include the Libyan Sea (which means Libya is included), the Aegean Sea (including parts of Turkey and Greece), and the Ionian Sea (which brings in southern Albania). It can even stretch west to the very southern coasts of Italy. Even though Jordan doesn't touch the sea, its climate and economy are very much connected to this region.

What is the Eastern Mediterranean?

People often think about the Eastern Mediterranean in a couple of ways:

• It can mean the Levant region, which includes countries like Syria, Lebanon, Israel, Palestine, and Jordan. It also includes countries in the Balkans and the islands of Greece.
• Another way to see it is as the region of Syria along with the island of Cyprus. This view also includes Egypt, the Greek Dodecanese islands, and parts of Turkey.

Countries in the Eastern Mediterranean

The main countries and territories that are part of the Eastern Mediterranean are:

• Cyprus
• Turkey (especially the region of Anatolia and its smaller Hatay Province)
• The Greek Dodecanese islands
• Lebanon
• Syria
• Palestine
• Israel
• Jordan
• Egypt

The WHO Regional Office for the Eastern Mediterranean (WHO stands for World Health Organization) has its own definition. It includes the Eastern Mediterranean countries, plus other nearby regions like West Asia, North Africa, the Horn of Africa, and Central Asia. This shows how different organizations can define regions in their own ways.

Important Places and Ideas

• The Fertile Crescent is a crescent-shaped area in the Middle East, known for being one of the first places where farming and early civilizations began. It's a big part of the Eastern Mediterranean's history.
• The Levantine Sea is the easternmost part of the Mediterranean Sea. Many of the countries mentioned above are located along its shores.
• The Near East and Ancient Near East are terms often used to describe this region in history, especially when talking about ancient civilizations like those in Mesopotamia and Egypt.

Images for kids

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  Nicolas Sanson. Map of Eastern Mediterranean, 1651.