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Mediterranean Sea fauna. Dangerous marine life in the Turkish Mediterranean Sea

“The most important principle of behavior with unknown representatives of the plant, animal and underwater world is not to disturb. They have their own lives, in which they are quite capable of standing up for themselves in response to any action regarded as a threat. It’s better to enjoy your holiday in an idyll with nature!”

There are very few dangerous inhabitants in the Mediterranean Sea that can harm humans, at least much less than in tropical seas. The threat of encountering a shark is so rare that for many years in none of the zones of the Mediterranean Sea, even in its most secluded corners, has anyone who went under the water seen one (except from the mouths of fishermen and “yellow press” reporters). However, sometimes even seemingly harmless animals can pose a danger to humans.
We will not exaggerate this danger, but we will still try to acquaint you with the problems that may arise from too close contact with marine life.
Marine inhabitants are of considerable interest to vacationers. It is always very funny to watch them, but we should not forget that some underwater inhabitants can cause us very significant harm: injure, bite or inject poison.
Whether you will encounter this misfortune during your vacation or not is unknown. In any case, you need to know the enemy by sight.

Danger - Sea urchins:

Among the inhabitants Mediterranean Sea, most often problems can arise precisely with sea urchins. Here they are called ahinu (αχινού). On “cultural” beaches, these “hedgehogs” are quite difficult to meet, but once you step outside the “cultured” zone, they are right there. Meetings with sea urchins with unpleasant consequences for both sides, unfortunately, is not uncommon. Mediterranean sea with salty and warm water- simply a paradise for hedgehogs. They often form large concentrations on sloping rock surfaces, starting from the shallowest waters near the shore. A careless swimmer crawling ashore or wandering along the rocks along the water's edge risks stepping on, or even grabbing, a sea urchin. The author of this material has repeatedly had the opportunity to deal with these creatures and even step on them several times. There was also “pleasure” from this...

Prevention: In hedgehog habitats, it is best to go into the water in rubber slippers. The approximate cost of swimming shoes is 5-15 € per pair, and the author recommends choosing products with a sole thickness of at least 1 centimeter. If you think that wearing flippers on your feet will allow you to safely step on these “cute little animals,” I will disappoint you. I checked it personally - sea urchin needles easily pierce even the plastic soles of flippers. And let’s not even talk about rubber ones. So, it’s better to go around or swim past. By the way, when swimming in shallow water, you can catch “hedgehogs” not only with your foot, but also with other parts of the body.

What to do: The best cure for hedgehogs is vigilance! Before entering the sea in an unfamiliar place, take a closer look; fortunately, the water is clear and the black dots of urchins are clearly visible.

If contact with the hedgehog cannot be avoided, you will most likely have to consult a doctor. Fortunately, first aid in public hospitals is free.

If for some reason you cannot get to the hospital, then remember - the hedgehog’s spines are very sharp and at the same time fragile. They easily penetrate the body and then break off just as easily. It is quite difficult to pull out the fragments, and since there is no talk about the sterility of hedgehog thorns, the affected area can fester. Sometimes the wound heals, and the broken thorn remains in the body, from where it can come out (or maybe remain in the body forever) several years later.

soak your foot in very hot water (but don’t overdo it, you won’t get burned!), and then try to pull the needle out.
Regularly treat the wound with antiseptics and carefully monitor so that suppuration does not begin.

A local recipe is to lubricate the damaged area with olive oil (read cream or Vaseline) and gradually squeeze out the thorns. I tested it myself - IT WORKS!!!

Local pharmacies also sell special tweezers for pulling out sea urchin needles, as well as a special ointment. By the way, I recommend using it for any contact with biting or prickly sea inhabitants, and it also helps against mosquito and mosquito bites.

Danger -Jellyfish:

In third place in terms of the frequency of “natural problems” created in the Greek seas are jellyfish.
Almost never found in the Greek seas poisonous jellyfish(unless it accidentally sails from the Atlantic or the Red Sea), most of those you might come across sting no worse than nettles and the mucus they secrete is harmful only if it gets into your eyes. An encounter with a purple jellyfish is especially unpleasant - the thunderstorm of the Adriatic is called Pelagije nocticulice. When you see the purple back, it is better to go around the jellyfish.
Touching the jellyfish's tentacles causes a burn that will go away in a few days or weeks.

Prevention: Avoiding drifting nippers is almost impossible. But it is known for sure that they wash ashore after a storm. The special anti-jellyfish Israeli lotion SafeSea, which acts as a mosquito repellent or its analogue Bites Reliever, will help to avoid accidental contact.

What to do: Touching the tentacles of a jellyfish causes a burn, similar in appearance to nettles.

First, you need to remove the remnants of the tentacles from the skin; do not rinse the damaged area with water - neither salty nor fresh. Sea water will revive the withered stinging cells, and when fresh water hits them, they will burst, abundantly emitting poison. The affected area can be lubricated with vinegar, lemon, alcohol or a specially sold “pencil” with ammonium Bites Reliever. Subsequently, lubricate the affected area with a special Fusidin ointment (antibiotic). In particularly severe cases, an injection of anesthetic may be required. It is important not to rinse the damaged area with either sea or fresh water, as this will only worsen the burn.

Danger - Octopuses:

It’s only in the movies that huge octopuses attack people and sink ships. In fact, specimens larger than 3 meters long and weighing more than 30 kg are never found in the Mediterranean Sea. The real cephalopods that you may come across are small animals up to 30 cm long and weighing up to 2 kilograms. At the same time they never They do not attack people and generally carefully hide from them. In case of an unexpected meeting, such a “giant” (if he could not escape) will only release an ink cloud and wave his tentacles threateningly - beware, they say!

How dangerous is an octopus for humans?

The scariest thing about a cephalopod is its appearance. By nature, he is very timid and when a diver or scuba diver approaches, he usually hides under rocks. True, cases of an octopus attacking a person are extremely rare. This can happen to a diver when inspecting the hold or cabin of a sunken ship where a cephalopod is hiding. He has nowhere to go and, in defense, involuntarily attacks the person. Therefore, inexperienced divers in places where octopuses are found should avoid grottoes and underwater caves, which usually serve as shelter for animals. There is a danger, although small, that, having entered such a cave, the diver will be caught by an octopus if its tentacles can stay on the smooth surface of the diving suit. Finding himself in such a situation, a scuba diver should not panic - he has a knife, and this is a fairly reliable weapon in case of an octopus attack. You should not start the fight by cutting off the tentacles. To quickly free yourself from the “embrace” of an octopus, scuba diving experts recommend striking its brain, located between the eyes. As long as the nerve center is not destroyed, the suckers and tentacles of the octopus will act, no matter what wounds are inflicted on it.

A more real danger is octopus venom. The octopus's mouth is equipped with two powerful chitinous jaws, shaped like a parrot's beak. With them, the cephalopod bites its prey, holding it with its suction cups. In this case, the poison of the salivary glands from the throat and mouth enters the wound. The beak bite leaves little damage, but since saliva prevents blood from clotting, bleeding can be quite prolonged. The severity of the lesion depends on the type of octopus and, apparently, on its size. The first signs of poisoning: stabbing pain and burning at the site of the bite. Subsequently, these sensations spread to the entire limb. The tissue around the wound swells. When the poison is absorbed into the blood, breathing becomes difficult, the voice weakens, and the body temperature rises. As a rule, recovery occurs within 3-4 weeks.

What to do: If you are bitten, call a doctor, and before he arrives, try simply urinating on the bite site. Don’t laugh - this time-tested remedy turns out to be very effective, well, at least it will help you avoid more serious consequences.
Video of Russian tourists communicating with octopuses:

Dangers: Fish:

Girls, that is, fish, come in different colors - yellow, white, red. Of the fish in the seas surrounding Greece, only the stingray is the most common ( catfish) which, although not particularly poisonous, is always ready to strike with its spiked tail - a lacerated wound with stuck needles and mild poisoning are guaranteed. The difficulty is that the stingray often buries itself in the sand and is easily mistaken for an ordinary pebble. Well, scorpionfish, or sea ruffe, is not at all pleasant, a meeting with which can put you in a hospital bed for several days... But the following fish, although much less common, can bring much bigger problems.

Sea dragons (Trachinus)

Bottom-dwelling fish with an elongated body, no more than 45 cm long. They belong to the family Trachinidae and are one of the most poisonous fish temperate zone. They live mainly in bays and bays with a flat sandy or muddy bottom and usually burrow into soft soil so that only top part heads, mouth, eyes and dorsal fin spines. Their lower jaw is longer than the upper, their mouth with small conical teeth is directed obliquely upward. Eyes on the top side of the head. These fish have two dorsal fins: the first is short, with 5-7 spines, the second dorsal and anal are long, with 21-24 rays each. When the baby dragon lies half-buried in the ground, this black fin is clearly visible at a considerable distance. If the fish is irritated, the gill covers spread out, the fin rises and unfolds, which serves as a warning to the predator. The baby dragon can instantly jump out of its hiding place and, with unerring accuracy, plunge the poisoned spine of the gill cover into the intended object.
The long sharp spines of the gill covers and the first dorsal fin are covered with skin, only their tips protrude. The spines have deep grooves. Venom glands are located in these grooves and at the base of the spines. There is no channel for poison. Probably, when pricked by a thorn, the glandular cells are torn, the poison is released and introduced into the wound along the grooves, like a syringe needle. The venom of dragons is very strong. Like the venom of some snakes, it acts as a neurotoxin and hemotoxin. When pricked by a poisonous thorn, an excruciating, sharp, burning or stabbing pain occurs, which, without treatment, lasts for several hours or even the whole day. The affected limb becomes inflamed and very swollen. Other symptoms included loss of consciousness, palpitations, slow heart rate, fever, headaches, delirium, severe vomiting, convulsions, and difficulty breathing. In severe cases, death may occur. Morphine usually does not provide relief.
Due to their hidden lifestyle, aggressiveness and highly developed venomous apparatus, dragonets are very dangerous for anyone who swims near the shore, dives or wanders barefoot in shallow water, for fishermen and amateur fishermen.
Never, under any circumstances, handle a live dragon. Even a dead dragon must be handled very carefully so as not to be pricked by its thorn, which can cause dangerous wounds.

Important: do not even touch dead fish, the poison can remain effective for several more days.

By the way, according to local residents, the dragon may end up in the sand far from the shore. They get there in this way: seagulls catch them from the water, eat the tasty and safe parts, and throw the rest wherever necessary. Even dead fish, as mentioned above, remain poisonous for several more days.

What to do: If you receive a poisonous injection, you should immediately seek professional medical help. It is recommended to inject a few drops of a 5% solution of potassium permanganate into the wound with a syringe to destroy the poison. This provides immediate pain relief and prevents inflammation. If this was not done immediately and inflammation began, cooling lotions or hot poultices should be used. It may take several months for complete healing. The damaged part of the body must be immersed in as hot water as can be tolerated, and some oxidizing substance, for example, potassium permanganate, which neutralizes the poison, must be dissolved in the water. In addition, the victim is prescribed cardiac analeptics and adrenaline with cortisone.

Dangers: Stingray (sea cat)

Small stingrays(mostly sea cat, sea fox) although they do not pose a particular danger, they can still cause you trouble with their spines.

Stingrays are relatives of sharks, they also belong to cartilaginous fish: the spine, ribs, and skull are made of cartilage. The stingray has no sides - only the back and belly, top and bottom.

In the Mediterranean Sea live the sea fox ray Raja clavata - large, up to one and a half meters from the tip of the nose to the tip of the tail, it is harmless to humans - unless, of course, you try to grab it by the tail, covered with long sharp spines; and the stingray, also known as the sea cat, up to 70 cm in length. They live on the bottom, and at the bottom they also find food - shellfish, crabs; therefore, their mouth is shifted under their flat head, and their eyes and squirts - gill slits - are located on top. Stingrays swim, waving the wide planes of their body like wings, and their caudal fin disappears, leaving only its stem - the tail itself. The danger of this stingray lies precisely in his tail with a dagger-shaped spike, but it is not even the thorn itself that is dangerous, but the poison that is produced by the glands and enters human tissue when struck by the tail. If you are planning to engage in combat with a stingray, keep in mind that he masters his rapier spike perfectly, and can bend it in any direction and instantly strike. A thick neoprene suit cuts easily! Signs of poisoning include a slow heart rate, increased breathing, heart failure, a drop in blood pressure, and redness and swelling at the site of the injury, accompanied by acute pain. First aid is to wash the wound with ammonia and immediately consult a doctor.

Fortunately, sea cats are shy, afraid of noise, try to swim away from swimmers, and they are not found where children swim. And in the spring, in sandy shallow water, you can often find stingrays gliding over the flat bottom, smoothly flapping their wings. Having circled, the stingray slides to the bottom and, raising a cloud of sand with a flapping of its wings, sprinkles it on itself, becoming completely invisible.

Dangers: Fireworms

Fireworms look very picturesque: their body consists of many segments of a bright orange-red color. Each segment contains a bunch of beautiful and fluffy-looking white bristles. Many worms reach a respectable size of 30-40 cm. I remember when I saw the fluffy worm for the first time, I barely resisted the temptation to pick up the handsome one. Fortunately, I still realized in time that it was better to stay away from the fire worm. It is enough to simply move your flippers in the place where the worms accumulate, so that you can scratch for a while, as if you were stung by nettles. The worm instantly parts with its bristles, which scatter in the water, causing some discomfort to the diver.

Of all the dangerous inhabitants of the Mediterranean Sea, worms are the slowest and are unlikely to attack you; in addition, they are clearly visible on seabed, if you swim wearing a mask or special goggles. This handsome guy is found in Crete, Cyprus, and is found in Rhodes.

Dangers: Rabbitfish

For those who choose the beaches of the Mediterranean Sea for a summer holiday, I will say right away: the rabbit fish does not pose any danger. It does not burrow into sand like scorpionfish. It does not attack humans, it is in different weight categories with them, and it is found quite far from the shore.

Some deep-sea species Chimera (rabbit fish) have a poisonous gland at the base of the dorsal spine; fortunately, this fish is usually found at great depths and can only fall into your hands by accident.

Dark Sigan

Dark Sigan(lat. Siganus luridus) belongs to the genus Siganus of the monotypic family Siganidae. A variety of rabbit fish. Found in the Red Sea and Indian Ocean to the Persian Gulf at depths from 1 to 20 meters. Lives in large schools in shallow water above sand and algae. Maximum length– 30 cm, but most often the fish reach a length of no more than 20 cm. In recent years, it has also been swimming to the Mediterranean Sea. In particular, in September 2017 from fish suffered 2 bathers on the island of Crete.

The body of the fish is oval and elongated. There are 13-14 spiny and 10 soft rays, in the anal – 7 spines and 9 soft rays. In front of the dorsal fin there is a small spine pointing forward. All spines and spines on the dorsal and anal fins and They have deep grooves in which glands that secrete poison are located.

The injections of these fish are extremely painful. Pain and numbness in the extremities last from several hours to several days. Sensitive people may experience swelling, nausea, vomiting, and rapid heartbeat. No deaths have been recorded in the scientific literature. When pricked by a thorn, you must immerse your hand in hot water, as the poison quickly decomposes at high temperatures.

Dangers: Poisonous shellfish

The only one supposedly poisonous inhabitant among the shells and snails of the Mediterranean - cone - snail, is not actually poisonous. Its brothers are poisonous - and there are only 500 species of them, which not found in the Mediterranean Sea.

A little about medical care and rescue services in Greece.

Emergency phone number 112 or 199.
Remember, in Greece there is no special rescue service; its functions are performed by local firefighters. Most of them know how to provide first aid, but don't count on it too much. In any case, call 199 (112) and try to report (in English or Greek) that trouble has happened to you. If something happens, they will call an ambulance themselves.

Just in case, keep a small first aid kit with you in case of injuries, burns, etc. It is better to bring it back whole and unopened than in case of emergency
to be powerless in the face of an unexpected problem.

Police	100
Ambulance EKAB (ΕΚΑΒ)	166
Fire service - rescue service	199
Coast security	108
Road assistance	10400
Reference	11888
Air Police	210 9642000
Police - information	1033
Drug Abuse Service	109
Forest guard	191
Lifeline (type of helpline) - SOS	175
Information about hospitals, clinics, doctors, and pharmacies	1434
Tourist police	171
SOS Doctors (Athens)	1016
Road assistance
Road assistance ΕΛΠΑ	10400
Road assistance Εxpress Service	1507
Interamerican Road Assistance	1168

Perhaps this phrasebook will help you find mutual language with a doctor:

Theme "At the doctor's"
Στο γιατρό

I'm not feeling well	estAnume Ashima	Αισθάνομαι άσχημα
I'm sick	Ime Arostos(Arosta)	Είμαι άρρωστος (άρρωστη)
I need to go to the doctor	prEPi on pAO stoytO	Πρέπει να πάω στο γιατρό
Please give me the doctor's phone number or address	ParakalO, d'Oste mu totylEfono I yidEftynsi tu yatra	Παρακαλώ, δώστε μου το τηλέφωνο ή τη διεύθυνση του γιατρού
Please call a doctor (ambulance)	fonAkste, parakalO, tonyatrO (toastEnoforo)	Φωνάξτε, παρακαλώ, τον γιατρό (το ασθενοφόρο)
Invite a doctor home	zitYste naErty oyatrOs one hundred sleeps	Ζητήστε να έρθει ο γιατρός
Where can I find a doctor who speaks Ukrainian (Russian)?	pu na vro toyatro pu milai ukranika (rosika)	Πού να βρω το γιατρό που μιλάει ουκρανικά (ρωσικά);
Which doctor should I see?	Se pyo yatrO prEPi na pAO	Σε πιο γιατρό πρέπει να πάω;
Can I go to the doctor?	Boron on Bo standO	Μπορώ να μπω στο γιατρό;
Please wait a little	perimEnete ligAki, paracalO	Περιμένετε λιγάκι,παρακαλώ
Go to the office	perAste mEsa	Περάστε μέσα
What are you complaining about?	apo you ipoferete	Από τι υποφέρετε;
Tell me exactly where your pain is concentrated?	you sas poAi	Τι σας πονάει;
I don't feel well, I'm freezing	estAnome Ashima, estAnome rIgos	Αισθάνομαι άσχημα, αισθάνομαι ρίγος
What is your temperature?	you are a pirate O Ekhete	Τι πυρετό έχετε;
I have high temperature	Echo PirateO	Έχω πυρετό
I feel dizzy	HallIzome	Ζαλίζομαι
My ____ hurts...	me poAi...	Με πονάει .
head throat heart stomach	t okefali mu olemOs ikardya toastAkhi	το κεφάλι μου ο λαιμός η καρδιά το στομάχι
I have a (severe) cough	Echo (dynato) in Ikha	"Έχω (δυνατό) βήχα
I got food poisoning	Epata dyilityrIasi	Έπαθα δηλητηρίαση
I'm sick	mu Erhete emetOs	Μου έρχεται εμετός
Have you been sick for a long time?	apo kero iste arostos	Από καιρό είστε άρρωστος;
When did you feel unwell?	pote estantiykate Ashima	Πότε αισθανθήκατε άσχημα;
This night, Last night a week ago	sImera tynIkhta htES tovrAdy prin myavd'omAd'a	Σήμερα Τη νύχτα Χτες το βράδυ Πριν μια βδομάδα
Have you been sick with anything recently?	prosfata Ikhate kapya arostya	Πρόσφατα είχατε κάποια αρρώστια;

Mediterranean Sea- the cradle of humanity! Powerful and great civilizations arose on the Mediterranean coasts, on the ruins of which the modern world developed and flourishes.

Its area can easily absorb Western Europe, its color can surprise you with its beauty and richness, the sound of the waves can calm you down, and fishing can be a pleasure...

What is this amazing part of the World Ocean like? Where it is located, what countries it washes, what depths and shores it has, what peaceful and dangerous animals and plants it hides in the abyss of its waters, what secrets it keeps - all this and a little more you will learn from this article.

1. Where is the Mediterranean Sea located?

The Mediterranean Sea is located between Asia, Africa and Europe, surrounded by continents, and only through the Strait of Gibraltar is it connected to the North Atlantic, the Bosporus Strait to the Black Sea, and with the help of Suez Canal- borders the Red Sea.

2. Which countries does it wash?

The Mediterranean Sea is named so due to its location - among the continents (lands). The waters of this sea wash the coasts of more than 22 countries from west to east, including: Spain, France, Monaco, Italy, Malta, Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia, Montenegro, Albania, Greece, Turkey, Cyprus, Turkey, Syria, Lebanon, Israel, Egypt, Libya, Tunisia, Algeria and Morocco.

The coastal area of the sea is represented by many islands, varying in area and population, the largest of which are considered:

O. Corsica;
O. Balearic;
O. Sardinia;
O. Sicily;
O. Cyprus;
O. Crete.

The Mediterranean coastline has many independent water areas - seas: Ligurian, Adriatic, Tyrrhenian, Black, Ionian, Azov, Balearic, Aegean, Cretan, Levantine, Libyan and Alboran seas.

3. History and secrets of the Mediterranean Sea

The modern Mediterranean Sea is a remnant of the ancient Tesis basin, which once occupied the territory of Europe, North Africa, Southern and Western Asia. Over many millions of years, the strait connecting to the ocean was repeatedly closed and opened. Subsequently, the sea dried up and could no longer fill to its former size. The modern relief was formed due to changes in the Earth's climate.

The Mediterranean territory was one of the first to be inhabited by humans, and it was here that writing was first born, many great states were formed, and world religions were born.

In 1833, an Englishman, a geologist by profession, Charles Lyell, began to study this ancient sea.

Educational film on English language about the Mediterranean Sea

4. Natural characteristics of the Mediterranean Sea

The Mediterranean Sea has an area of 2965.5 thousand square meters. km. The average depth of the sea is 1,500 m. The greatest is 5,092 m and is located in the depression of the Ionian Sea (the western part of the Peloponnese peninsula). The total length of the sea is 3,800 m.

Salinity level of some seas:

Black Sea - 18%;
Adriatic Sea - 36%;
Aegean Sea - 37%;
Ligurian Sea - 38%;
Mediterranean Sea - 39%.

4.1 Climate

The word “climate” is translated from ancient Greek as “slope” and refers to the inclination of the sun’s rays in relation to earth's surface. Climate is a long-term, established weather pattern, as opposed to weather conditions, which are changeable.

Climatic conditions are determined by the location of the sea - subtropical zone defines this climate as an independent type “Mediterranean”.

For countries washed by the waters of this sea, winter is characterized by a decrease in atmospheric pressure, which leads to precipitation and storms. During this period, a cyclone hangs over the sea, accompanied by cloudiness, and winds intensify in different directions. The height of the waves can exceed 8 m. In summer there is an anticyclone, the pressure rises and during this period clear, sunny, not rainy weather prevails.

The temperature in the southern part of the sea in January ranges from 14 to 16 degrees, in the northern part - from 7 to 10 degrees. In summer (August) the average air temperature is 22 - 24 degrees in the northern part and up to 30 degrees in the southern regions.

Air humidity in summer is 50 - 65%, and in winter from 65 to 80%. Cloudiness in summer is from 0 to 3 points, in winter – 6 points.

Hot cities: Larnaca, Limassol, Tel Aviv and Antalya. In these regions the water temperature is summer months reaches 27 degrees. Next come the cities with water temperatures of no more than 25 degrees: Valencia, Malta and Heraklion. The coasts of Barcelona, Athens and Malaga are considered even less hot (up to 22 degrees of water).

4.2 Bottom topography

The bottom relief of the Mediterranean Sea is represented by rapids, basins, ridges, depressions, bays and volcanic cones. The sea basin is divided into Western and Eastern parts. Thus, the bottom of the western basin is more flat, and the bottom of the eastern basin has depressions and ridges stretching from Cyprus to the Apennine Peninsula.

Here, under the water column, there are cones of active and extinct volcanoes and tectonic depressions. Yes, most deep place in the sea - the Hellenic Trench, 5121 m deep. The bottom of the sea is rich in deposits of rock salt, potassium and sulfur. Natural gas and oil are produced here.

The largest bays of the Mediterranean Sea:

Valencian;
Lyonsky;
Genoese;
Taranto;
Sidra or Greater Sirte;
Gabes or Little Sirte.

Interestingly, at the bottom of the sea there are many remains of ships, the exact number of which, up to today, not installed.

4.3 Water

The amount of water evaporation in the Mediterranean Sea exceeds the amount of precipitation, since the sea is surrounded by countries with arid climates. Water shortage replenished by North Atlantic waters entering through the Strait of Gibraltar. During the process of evaporation, the salinity and density of water increases, which settles at depth, which makes this water area warmer. Depending on the season, the density of water changes. Interestingly, the Mediterranean Sea is one of the warmest and saltiest seas.

Water circulation occurs due to wind currents. The current speed in open sea areas reaches up to 1 km/h, in the straits – from 2 to 4 km/h. Water transparency is from 50 to 60 m. The water has a rich blue color.

4.4 Ebbs and flows

Does the sea have ebbs and flows (periodic fluctuations in water levels up and down as a result of changes in the position of the sun and moon relative to the Earth)? Yes, they are not large, on average from 1 to 2 cm in both directions. This is due to the fact that the sea is cut off from the Atlantic by the narrow Strait of Gibraltar and, accordingly, the gravitational force of the moon does not act on it.

You can read more about the ebb and flow of tides on the Wikipedia pages

Also, the ebb and flow of tides are influenced by depth, salinity of water, Atmosphere pressure, coastal terrain. The highest tides are observed in the bay called “Gabes”, which is located in the northern part of Africa and this is due to its huge shape (100 km in length and width).

Peak tide is when the sun and moon are either on the same side of the Earth (new moon) or on opposite sides (full moon) and the gravitational forces of these objects are combined, which affects the appearance of tides.

You can find the forecast of Mediterranean wave heights and tides on the Mediterranean coast of Israel on the website of Oceanographic and Limnological Research https://isramar.ocean.org.il/isramar2009/TideHadera/default.aspx

5. Mediterranean Life

The fauna of the Mediterranean Sea is represented by animals and flora, which is related to the geological history of the sea and living conditions.

5.1 Plant life

Despite the scarce phytoplankton found in the upper layers of the sea, the vegetation here is diverse: more than 800 species of green, brown, red algae and plants. Notable is the world's largest sea grass, Posidonia oceanica, which has proliferated in colonies (more than 700 km). This is one of the oldest plants, more than 100 thousand years old.

5.2 Fauna

The fauna of the Mediterranean Sea is diverse, but the number of resident species is not large, which is due to the poor development of plankton in Mediterranean waters.

Plankton– various organisms freely floating in water (bacteria, algae, invertebrate larvae, small mollusks, etc.). You can find out more about this type of life on the Wikipedia pages.

The fauna is represented by more than 800 species of various mollusks: squid, cuttlefish, octopus, crabs, shrimp and others.

5.3 Fishes of the Mediterranean Sea

The winter period is the most widespread for the accumulation of different species of fish, since in other months (spring-summer) they spawn and feed, so they stay more dispersed.

Among the inhabitants there are more than 700 species of various fish, more than 290 of which live in the coastal waters of Israel:

In the Mediterranean Sea lives and blue shark. There are more than 40 species of Mediterranean sharks. There are also stingrays, moray eels, reaching 0.5 m in length, dolphins, seals, porpoises and killer whales. Meet and sea turtles, which are represented by 3 types.

A detailed list of fish living in the Mediterranean Sea can be found on the pages of Wikipedia

There are 4 species of flying fish off the Israeli coast:

exocoetus obtusirostris;
exocoetus volitans;
hirundichthys rondeletii;
parexocoetus mento.

5.4 Dangerous inhabitants of the Mediterranean Sea

Sharks- not only terrifying inhabitants of the sea, but also irreplaceable cleaners of the sea spaces from various types of sick, weak inhabitants. Their population is declining. For example, the hammerhead shark was last observed only in 1955.

stingray– has poisonous spines located in the tail part of the body.

Electric Stingray– capable of giving any attacker an electric shock.

6. Coastal features

North coast has a complex topography: the shores are high, rocky and steep with large bays.

South coast– smooth. Mountains stretch from the western part, and in the east they disappear and the coast becomes smooth and sandy (almost deserted).

The total length of the Mediterranean coast is 46 thousand km. Interestingly, this area of water would easily be enough to swallow Western Europe!

6.1 Israel's sea coast

The coast of Israel is washed by the western waters of the Mediterranean Sea. The Mediterranean territory extends from Israel's northern border to the Gaza Strip. Also on the coast there is a plain called “Coastal”, stretching for 187 km from Lebanon to the Gaza Strip. The plain is divided into cultural and geographical areas and has many sandy beaches.

The Mediterranean coast consists not only of plains and beaches, but also rocky shores and reefs.

6.2 Port cities of Israel

adaptation to the Mediterranean climate - leisurely summer walks along the sunny coast;
apply protective creams against sun rays;
beware of marine life;
Don't forget about high waves, rocky bottom and very dangerous rip currents.

You can read more about the phenomenon of rip currents on Wikipedia.

A short video on what to do if you get caught in a rip current in the Mediterranean Sea

The ancient Mediterranean Sea had many names:

"Akdeniz" or "White Sea" (Turks);
"Our Sea" or "Inland" (ancient Romans);
"Sea of Sunset" (Babylonians).
“Great Sea” (Hebrew ‏הַיָּם הַגָּדוֹל‏‎, Ha-Yam Ha-Gadol).

This sea includes in its expanses many small seas and various islands, which in ancient times were independent states.

The Mediterranean Sea is famous for the habitat of such an animal as the “sponge”, which later received the name “toilet sponge”, since the dried skeletons of this inhabitant were used as washcloths.

In 2016, Spanish archaeologists discovered a ship from the Roman Empire that sank more than 1.5 thousand years ago at a depth of 70 m.

In the Strait of Messina, you can see a mirage.

What will happen if this Great Basin is drained? You will find the answer to this question if you watch this entertaining film (published by I. Garkalikov)

9. Useful links

— the book of general misconceptions contains many interesting facts about the Mediterranean Sea.

- an interesting article characterizing the Mediterranean Sea.

— an informative article about the currents and tides of the Mediterranean Sea, temperature, flora and fauna.

Occupying most of our planet, they are extremely rich in diverse inhabitants. And if we talk about marine fauna, then special attention deserves the fish of the Mediterranean Sea.

It is this reservoir that is visited annually by millions of tourists from different corners planets. And the fish world plays its role for each of them. During their vacation, some people like to go fishing and cook a delicious dinner from their catch, some like spearfishing, and others just want to admire the beauty of marine life without getting hurt when meeting their dangerous representatives.

Dangerous inhabitants of the Mediterranean

A holiday at sea is an extremely long-awaited moment in life for many. Therefore, it is extremely important that it be remembered only on the good side and not overshadowed by unpleasant events.

When compared with representatives of tropical seas, fish from the Mediterranean Sea are less dangerous. In addition, the number of inhabitants that can pose a threat to humans is much smaller. For example, it is extremely rare to encounter a shark in these waters. But there are others that can cause harm to vacationers in the form of wounds, bites, blows electrical discharge, injection of poison, etc.

Such dangerous inhabitants of the sea include dragons, jellyfish, and stingrays.

Sea dragon or spider fish

The sea dragon is often called the spider fish. It is one of the most poisonous marine inhabitants of the temperate zone. This is a fish of the Mediterranean Sea, black in color, body length does not exceed forty-five centimeters. It lives on the muddy or sandy bottom of bays and bays. The sea dragon's food consists of small fish, worms and crustaceans. At the sight of an ill-wisher, this fish first gives a warning in the form of an unfolded fin, and, if necessary, jumps out from its hiding place and pierces the enemy with a poisoned thorn. Due to its secretive lifestyle, aggressiveness and high toxicity, the dragonet is especially dangerous for swimmers near the shore, walking barefoot in shallow water, as well as for fishermen. This dangerous fish The Mediterranean Sea has very strong poison, similar to a snake. People affected by sea dragons experience inflammation and swelling of the affected areas, loss of consciousness, vomiting, convulsions, and heart rhythm disturbances. Some cases are fatal. When providing first aid to the victim, to destroy the poison, it is necessary to inject a solution of potassium permanganate into the wound.

Fishing

Many tourists who come to enjoy a Mediterranean holiday in countries such as France, Spain, Italy, Greece, Croatia, Turkey, Israel, Egypt are certainly interested in such a topic as fishing. To do this, they carefully study the question of which fish in the Mediterranean Sea are most suitable for this activity. And the choice here is extremely rich. These include sardines, anchovies, horse mackerel, mackerel, and various types of mullet.

The largest member of the mullet family is the mullet, whose length reaches 90 cm and weighs more than 6 kg. It is caught with a fishing rod, but more often with a net or with a harpoon. Therefore, fishing for mullet is like a unique art.

It is also found in the Mediterranean Sea, such as the small-scaled sphyrene, the length of which reaches one meter. It has some similarities with pike, preferring to hunt from ambush, while pursuing schooling fish.

There are also Atlantic bonito, swordfish, bluefin tuna, moray eel and fangri, among other fish of the Mediterranean Sea. Turkey, Egypt, Israel and other Mediterranean countries are perfect for fishing lovers for an eventful and exciting pastime.

King fish of the Mediterranean Sea

Dorado is the most famous among the variety of fish of the Mediterranean Sea. A photo of its representatives will be wonderful evidence of a complete seaside holiday. After all, it is this king fish that is extremely popular among gourmets vacationing on the Mediterranean coast. Fish restaurants use a lot of recipes for its preparation. And in each of them, the dorada is the queen of the dish.

This delicious fish lives in the depths of the sea, feeding on small fish, crustaceans and mollusks. There are two types of dorada - royal and gray. And because of the golden crescent on the forehead, many consider this fish to be special. The weight of an adult sea bream reaches 1 kg, and the body length is about 40 cm.

"Aliens" among the fish of the Mediterranean Sea

As a result of enormous work, it was created in 1869. Has this economically beneficial human creation affected the life of fish in the Mediterranean Sea? Photos and videos taken by scientists clearly give a positive answer to this question.

After the connection of the Mediterranean Sea with the Red Sea, the number of inhabitants in the two seas increased significantly. On the one hand, this is not bad. Thus, new species of fish appeared in the Mediterranean Sea, including fugu and ball fish. But from an evolutionary point of view, many scientists have concerns. Indeed, when different species of fish are mixed, the struggle for survival between them increases, as a result of which some species may disappear altogether.

Every year, accidents involving tourists on vacation occur around the world. Improper behavior on the water, abuse of alcoholic beverages, and ignorance of basic safety standards lead to disastrous consequences.

Popular with Russian tourists is and exotic holiday, where you can get acquainted with the diverse animal world warm seas. For example, in Egypt, an excursion offered scuba diving in the open sea, where vacationers could take pictures of beautiful fish and touch them with their hands. However, no one warned that almost half of them are poisonous and pose a danger to humans, including death.

Due to the deteriorating environmental situation around the world, large predators in search of prey, they migrate to places unusual for their habitat and swim close to the shore. For example, in 2011, a record number of shark attacks on people were recorded around the world. In Primorye, where sharks had never previously swum to the shore or shown aggression, several such cases have occurred. Also in 2015, sharks attacked tourists in the most popular resorts in Egypt. Therefore, before going on a sea holiday, it is important to know simple safety rules when swimming in the sea.

Basic safety rules at sea

Before going on a sea holiday, study the inhabitants that pose a danger to humans.
While in the water, do not touch sea creatures with your hands.
Do not swim in the sea at night or at dawn, or alone.
Avoid swimming in conditions of poor visibility and muddy water.
Look carefully at your step when entering the sea.
Wear special shoes near coral reefs.
It is not recommended to swim during strong winds or after a storm, as many jellyfish wash ashore.
Choose soft-colored swimsuits and swim trunks to avoid attracting the attention of sharks and other dangerous fish.
Do not swim further than 10 meters from the shore.
Pay attention to the signs and flags on the beach. The color of the flag can signal danger.

Let us examine in more detail the main marine inhabitants that pose a danger to humans.

Jellyfish

Jellyfish have special stinging cells with poison on their bodies that can cause severe burns. As a rule, they are in a fringe that hangs under the dome. Many jellyfish that live in Russian seas are absolutely harmless, and touching them will practically not cause a burn.

Very often you can see children playing with jellyfish and throwing them at each other. However, among large quantities harmless jellyfish, you may come across a dangerous jellyfish that accidentally swims in after a strong wind or storm. Therefore, it is worth preparing your family members in advance for the fact that you cannot pick up jellyfish.

Jellyfish habitat: warm waters of the Mediterranean, Aegean, Black, Caspian, Azov, Red Seas, Indian Ocean, Amur Bay (Vladivostok).

Especially dangerous jellyfish:

Tunisia (Mediterranean Sea) - black jellyfish, Canary Islands- Portuguese man-of-war

Coast of the Black, Caspian and Azov Seas - jellyfish cornermouth

Precautionary measures:

plan in advance and choose safe seasons (for example, during the rainy season in Asian countries, the number of jellyfish near the coast increases, August and September are jellyfish season in Tunisia),
do not swim in the sea immediately after a storm, do not touch jellyfish with your hands.

In case of defeat:

Do not wash the wound (burn site) with sea or fresh water - this can lead to an even greater spread of the poison.
It is necessary to lubricate the skin with vinegar solution or alcohol, remove remnants of the jellyfish from the skin, treat the wound with wound-healing ointment, and also take antihistamines.

Sea urchins

Sea urchins can be found in the warm sea on the sandy bottom, on rocks, steep cliffs in the sea or on coral reefs. They often form large accumulations on sloping rocky surfaces near the shore, can be found on metal stairs when descending into the water, and grow on piers and bridges. Unlike other sea inhabitants, the urchin's spines do not contain poison. However, its injection is very painful and can take quite a long time. There is also a high risk of wound suppuration or healing with remaining needles inside.

Sea urchin habitat: warm waters of the Mediterranean, Aegean, Red Seas, Amur Bay (Vladivostok), Indian Ocean.

Particularly dangerous:

Sea urchin tiara , upon contact with which paralysis may occur.

Precautionary measures:

be careful when entering water where there are accumulations of stones,
Do not swim in muddy water or in the dark.

In case of defeat:

If a sea urchin needle gets into your leg, you should contact a medical facility as soon as possible.
If there is no such thing nearby, then you can try to remove the needle yourself, after first holding the affected area in hot water and treating it with alcohol.
In Greece, sea urchin spines are removed as follows: the wound is lubricated with olive oil and the spines are squeezed out.

Octopuses

The word “octopus” or “octopus” has been a metaphor for something dangerous and frightening for almost 200 years. IN fiction Cases of attacks by huge three-meter octopuses on people were once described. In fact, there are only a few actually confirmed such cases.

The huge octopuses described in the novels of Victor Hugo live at great depths and do not attack people themselves, but rather hide from them. Divers have been known to encounter such octopuses in the holds of sunken ships or in underwater caves. Therefore, if you decide to scuba dive, avoid such places.

Small octopuses that live in the Red or Mediterranean Sea, as well as in the Indian Ocean, pose a danger only if you pick up the sea animal. The octopus has jaws similar to the beak of a parrot, which, when bitten, release poison that can cause paralysis and suffocation.

Octopus habitat: Mediterranean, Aegean, Red Sea, Amur Bay (Vladivostok), Indian Ocean.

Particularly dangerous:

Blue-ringed octopus - lives in Japan and Australia and causes severe paralysis of the entire body.

Precautionary measures:

do not handle octopuses,
do not swim into underwater caves and grottoes.
If you are scuba diving, be sure to have a sharp knife with you so that if an octopus attacks, you can cut its dexterous tentacles.

In case of defeat: Since an octopus bite can cause paralysis and suffocation, you need to urgently call for help and call an ambulance. Experienced fishermen recommend urinating on the bite site, this way the poison can be neutralized.

Sharks

Until recently Russian seas were considered practically safe in terms of the likelihood of a shark attacking people. However, in 2011, white sharks began to attack divers near Vladivostok, 10 meters from the shore. In 2016, as well as in May 2017, sharks dangerous to humans were also spotted in these areas.

Shark habitat: Black, Azov and Caspian Sea due to desalinated water and pollution, they are considered the safest. Mediterranean Sea(resorts of Greece, Turkey, Italy, Croatia, Cyprus, France) - over the past 100 years, 21 cases of fatal attacks have been recorded. The most likely inhabitants are the tiger shark, mako shark, hammerhead shark and gray reef shark.

Red Sea (Egypt, Israel): There are about 30 species of sharks, some of which come close to the shore. Attacks by especially dangerous white and tiger sharks are possible.

Indian Ocean: Most attacks were recorded near the coast of Australia and Africa, South Africa (Kosi Bay). The gray, tiger and great white sharks that are dangerous to humans live here.

Atlantic Ocean and Pacific Ocean: beaches near California, Florida and Hawaii are considered the most dangerous with the highest number of sharks.

Particularly dangerous:

Big White shark (man-eating shark) is one of the largest and most dangerous predators, reaching five meters in length. It lives in all seas and oceans, including Primorye and Sakhalin.

Mako shark (blue-gray shark) - the fastest and most aggressive shark in the world. Lives in almost all seas, including the eastern region of our country in summer period(except for Black, Azov and Caspian). Numerous cases of attacks by this shark on people standing on the shore or on the pier have been recorded.

Blue shark (blue shark) – There are a few known cases of attacks on people. Inhabits all seas and oceans, including Kamchatka.

Tiger shark – one of the most dangerous species of sharks for humans. In 2011, 169 cases of this shark attacking people were recorded, 29 of which were fatal. Lives in tropical and subtropical waters (Red Sea, India, Australia, North and South America).

Precautionary measures: The main reason sharks attack people is poor eyesight shark, she mistakes a floundering man for a fish. Vacationers often provoke the shark themselves and swim closer to it. They even came up with such dangerous entertainment for tourists as swimming with sharks. Those who choose this method of “relaxation” forget that sharks are predators, and they can react to bright swimsuits, jewelry, as well as fresh wounds or cuts on the body, since they sense blood over long distances.

Do not swim alone, especially near schools of fish, fur seals, dolphins. Sharks love loners and most often attack solo divers. For safety reasons, modern repellents and repellents have been created as a means of protection against sharks.

In case of meeting and defeat:

If you are swimming and see a shark in the water, do not tease it, but catch a wave and try to go ashore.
Sharks will even attack a person in a boat (for example, a mako shark), so if you are in a boat and a shark swims towards you with the intention of attacking, you need to hit it on the nose with an oar and immediately swim to shore. This will scare away the shark and buy time.
Try to overcome panic and fear: the shark feels fear, this can provoke an attack.
When meeting a shark, you need to swim away slowly, without rushing and without floundering in the water, but you should not pretend to be dead, since this method does not work with sharks.
Just because a shark is just swimming by doesn't mean it wants to attack.
A possible shark attack is indicated by the shark heading straight towards you or circling around you.
As a rule, the shark attacks in one sharp movement, it is at this moment that you can strike back at it in the nose, eyes and gills.
The blows must be struck quickly and many times, everything in your hands will be useful. For example, a camera, a mask, fins, a stick, a stone.
If there is one nearby big Stone, then you can snuggle up to him. This will reduce the angle of attack of the shark.
If a shark attacked and swam away, then you need to call for help as quickly as possible and get ashore - the predator may return.

Sea fish

The most dangerous and poisonous sea fish live in the Indian Ocean and the Red Sea, where tourists are invited to scuba dive and observe the beautiful underwater world. However, it is worth remembering that no matter how beautiful the fish are, you cannot touch them.

The most dangerous and poisonous fish of the seas and oceans

Spiny Arotron (relative of the deadly Fugue fish) - releases powerful poison — tetrodotoxin can cause death. Lives in the Red Sea, Indian Ocean.

Lionfish (Lionfish) — in the fins of this beautiful fish there are needles that emit poison that causes severe pain and paralysis, can cause death. Found in the Red Sea and Indian Ocean.

Scorpionfish, sea ruff – sea ruffe injections cause very severe pain. It lives in the waters of the Mediterranean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean.

Stingray Stingray – The stingray spine, which can be stepped on, contains poison. The prick of a thorn is extremely painful and dangerous, and can even cause death. It lives in the Mediterranean Sea, as well as in the Black and Azov Seas.

Danger - Sun:

The main source of danger in the Greek seas is... Sun. Don’t laugh, hundreds of times more people get sick from sunstroke and overheating than from any other disease.” natural hazards" The Greek thermonuclear sun, especially for northern residents unaccustomed to it, can cause a lot of problems. What you need to do, how to behave in the heat, and what food to eat you can read. And in addition to this material, I will note a few basic rules:

Try not to go out into the sun at noon or the next 3-4 hours after it.
Use sunscreen with an SPF of at least 30.
In addition to sunscreen, don't forget a Panama hat, T-shirt and sunglasses. Regarding the latter, try to use high-quality glasses with 100% UV protection. By the way, in any Greek optical store, you can check for free whether your glasses really protect as it was written on the label, or whether you got a fake.
Keep children away from direct sun rays. Exposing a child to the sun without protection can lead to serious illnesses in future. Under the age of 3 years, child exposure to the sun is not recommended.
Drink plenty of water. The minimum required to maintain normal water balance in the body is 1.9 liters of water per day at average temperature air 26 degrees, 3 liters - at 32 degrees to 4 liters at 35(and in Greece this is not uncommon). I also recommend reading what you can drink and what you shouldn’t.

Danger - marine fauna

Danger - Sea urchins:

The second place of honor on Greek beaches is occupied by sea urchins. Here they are called ahinu (αχινού). On “cultural” beaches, these “hedgehogs” are quite difficult to meet, but once you step outside the “cultured” zone, they are right there. Meetings with sea urchins with unpleasant consequences for both sides, unfortunately, is not uncommon. The Mediterranean Sea with salty and warm water is simply a paradise for hedgehogs. They often form large concentrations on sloping rock surfaces, starting from the shallowest waters near the shore. A careless swimmer crawling ashore or wandering along the rocks along the water's edge risks stepping on, or even grabbing, a sea urchin. The author of this material has repeatedly had the opportunity to deal with these creatures and even step on them several times. There was also “pleasure” from this...

If contact with the hedgehog cannot be avoided, you will most likely have to consult a doctor. Fortunately, first aid in public hospitals is free.

soak your foot in very hot water (but don’t overdo it, you won’t get burned!), and then try to pull the needle out.
Regularly treat the wound with antiseptics and carefully monitor so that suppuration does not begin.

A local recipe is to lubricate the damaged area with olive oil (read cream or Vaseline) and gradually squeeze out the thorns. I tested it myself - IT WORKS!!!

Danger -Jellyfish:

In third place in terms of the frequency of “natural problems” created in the Greek seas are jellyfish.
There are practically no poisonous jellyfish in the Greek seas (unless they accidentally swim from the Atlantic or the Red Sea), most of those that you might come across sting no worse than nettles, and the mucus they secrete is harmful only if it gets into your eyes. An encounter with a purple jellyfish is especially unpleasant - the thunderstorm of the Adriatic is called Pelagije nocticulice. When you see the purple back, it is better to go around the jellyfish.
Touching the jellyfish's tentacles causes a burn that will go away in a few days or weeks.

What to do: Touching the tentacles of a jellyfish causes a burn, similar in appearance to nettles.

First, you need to remove the remnants of the tentacles from the skin; do not rinse the damaged area with water - neither salty nor fresh. Sea water will revive the withered stinging cells, and when fresh water hits them, they will burst, abundantly emitting poison. The affected area can be lubricated with food grade vinegar, alcohol, or a special “pencil” containing Bites Reliever ammonium. Subsequently, lubricate the affected area with a special Fusidin ointment (antibiotic). In particularly severe cases, an injection of anesthetic may be required.

Danger - Octopuses:

It’s only in the movies that huge octopuses attack people and sink ships. In fact, specimens larger than 3 meters long and weighing more than 30 kg are never found in the Mediterranean Sea. The real cephalopods that you may come across are undersized, up to 30 cm long and weighing up to 2 kilograms. At the same time they never They do not attack people and generally carefully hide from them. In case of an unexpected meeting, such a “giant” (if he could not escape) will only release an ink cloud and wave his tentacles threateningly - beware, they say!

How dangerous is an octopus for humans?

Video of Russian tourists communicating with octopuses:

Dangers: Fish:

Girls, that is, fish, come in different colors - yellow, white, red. Of the fish in the seas surrounding Greece, the most common is the stingray (sea cat), which, although not particularly poisonous, is always ready to strike with its spiked tail - a laceration with stuck needles and mild poisoning are guaranteed. The difficulty is that the stingray often buries itself in the sand and is easily mistaken for an ordinary pebble. Well, the scorpionfish, or sea ruffe, is not at all pleasant, meeting which can put you in a hospital bed for several days. But the following fish, although much less common, can bring much bigger problems.

Sea dragons (Trachinus)

- bottom fish with an elongated body, no more than 45 cm in length. They belong to the Trachinidae family and are one of the most poisonous fish in the temperate zone. They live mainly in bays and bays with a flat sandy or muddy bottom and usually burrow into soft soil so that only the top of the head, mouth, eyes and dorsal fin spines are visible. Their lower jaw is longer than the upper, their mouth with small conical teeth is directed obliquely upward. Eyes on the top side of the head. These fish have two dorsal fins: the first is short, with 5-7 spines, the second dorsal and anal are long, with 21-24 rays each. When the baby dragon lies half-buried in the ground, this black fin is clearly visible at a considerable distance. If the fish is irritated, the gill covers spread out, the fin rises and unfolds, which serves as a warning to the predator. The little dragon can instantly jump out of its hiding place and, with unerring accuracy, plunge the poisoned spine of the gill cover into the intended object.
The long sharp spines of the gill covers and the first dorsal fin are covered with skin, only their tips protrude. The spines have deep grooves. Venom glands are located in these grooves and at the base of the spines. There is no channel for poison. Probably, when pricked by a thorn, the glandular cells are torn, the poison is released and introduced into the wound along the grooves, like a syringe needle. The venom of dragons is very strong. Like the venom of some snakes, it acts as a neurotoxin and hemotoxin. When pricked by a poisonous thorn, an excruciating, sharp, burning or stabbing pain occurs, which, without treatment, lasts for several hours or even the whole day. The affected limb becomes inflamed and very swollen. Other symptoms included loss of consciousness, palpitations, slow heart rate, fever, headaches, delirium, severe vomiting, convulsions, and difficulty breathing. In severe cases, death may occur. Morphine usually does not provide relief.
Due to their hidden lifestyle, aggressiveness and highly developed venomous apparatus, dragonets are very dangerous for anyone who swims near the shore, dives or wanders barefoot in shallow water, for fishermen and amateur fishermen.
Never, under any circumstances, handle a live dragon. Even a dead dragon must be handled very carefully so as not to be pricked by its thorn, which can cause dangerous wounds.

Danger - environmental pollution:

And finally – pollution environment. Although Greek beaches are considered among the cleanest in the world, this does not apply to all beaches. Many beaches - especially within the Athens metropolis, as well as near cities and towns - can pose a danger due to the presence of garbage, broken glass and all kinds of sharp and cutting objects in the sand. If you or your loved ones are unlucky enough to cut your leg or other part of your body on the beach with glass, first make sure that there is no glass or other foreign object in the wound.
If not, then the wound needs to be treated: rinse with water, hydrogen peroxide (alcohol or alcohol-containing liquid), lubricate with iodine (in Greece it is called “Betadine”) and bandage.
If it bothers you greatly, go to the hospital. Maybe the doctors decide that a stitch is required.

Danger - Snakes:

There are far fewer dangers on land. There is only one in the country poisonous species snakes (viper, "fidi" in Greek), whose bites are easily countered by antivenin. Local scorpions ("scorpii") are nocturnal inhabitants and are rarely seen by tourists, but they love to sit on dry stone walls of houses and rocks, where daytime warmth persists for a long time. When walking on rough terrain with an abundance of bushes, you should wear boots with socks and long trousers and under no circumstances put your hands into cracks and holes.

Danger - Insects:

In some mountain forest areas there are a lot of ticks, so here measures to protect against them, however, like any other blood-sucking insects, will not be superfluous. Recently, there has been evidence of local ticks being infected with Lyme disease, but due to the small number of tourists in the interior of the country, there are still no reliable statistics on this matter.

Local mosquitoes ("kunupia", "kunupya") are not carriers of malaria, and traditional repellents are quite sufficient to protect against them - in most cases, window screens are not even required. However, when traveling through Aetolia, Acarnania, Thesprotia, the western regions of Elis and Attica, you should choose places to stay with screens on the windows and even doors. The more dangerous Asian mosquito (Aedes albopictus), which spreads several viruses at once, lives in some mountainous areas in the north and west of the country. Therefore, here, in addition to thicker clothing and nets on the windows, it is necessary to provide for the presence of repellents. Sand fleas, active at night on many beaches, can also spread leishmaniasis and other dangerous infections, but due to the small number of sandy beaches themselves, this danger is not very relevant (however, repellents are quite effective against them).

Bees and especially wasps, which are quite active from August to October, usually cause much more trouble. They curl around tables and glasses with liquid, get into your eyes, get hidden under motorcycle helmets, and are generally very annoying. There are no generally accepted means of protection against these insects, but the Greeks themselves quite effectively use the smoke of burning coffee beans or simply dried coffee grounds. To relieve pain from bites, it is better to use aspivenin, sold at any local pharmacy.

Danger - Flora:

There are practically no poisonous plants in the country, except for wild figs, the “milk” of which can cause moderate skin damage (can be countered with lemon juice followed by rubbing olive oil). But there are quite a few sources of allergens, starting from mountain pine (April-May) and ending with numerous cereals (from April to June). Local pharmacies sell a wide range of antihistamines, but it's best to carry a certain supply (especially if you don't know the local names of the medications).

My leg cramped Pinch your arm or leg as hard as you can, applying very sharp and firm pressure to the cramp site. thumb. Try straightening your cramped leg with your hands. Inhale and exhale deeply several times to improve blood circulation.

How to avoid. Don't swim for long cold water. When you get hot under the sun, do not dive straight into the water: a sharp temperature change provokes convulsions.

Choked Most often, children swallow water involuntarily. Bend the baby over your knee so that the head is lower than the buttocks, tap on the back so that he clears his throat. If the child has lost a lot of strength, place him on his side.

How to avoid. Make sure the child stays on the surface of the water.

Sunstroke If a person suddenly feels unwell, headache, lethargy, it became difficult to breathe - he overheated in the sun. The victim must be taken to the shade, covered with a wet towel or a cool compress placed on his head, and create a flow of air (fan him with a hat or newspaper). Then call an ambulance.

How to avoid. Relax in the shade of a tree or a beach umbrella, wear a hat, and drink still water. Most often, sunstroke affects children under one year old, people with cardiovascular and endocrine diseases, hypertensive patients and those who are overweight.

Poisoning The first signs are weakness and nausea, headache, diarrhea. You need to rinse your stomach by immediately drinking 2-3 liters of boiled water in quick sips. Then you need to induce vomiting. And so three or four times. If possible, consult your doctor. Calcium gluconate will strengthen the gastric mucosa and reduce allergic reaction(usually the drug is taken 3 times a day).

How to avoid. Pay attention to the expiration date of the product and the appearance of the establishment where you buy food.

Cut yourself on glass This is the most common injury among sea lovers. Rinse the cut with clean water; if you have vodka or cologne on hand, you can treat the wound with them. Then apply a clean bandage. To do this, it is better to have a bandage or at least a clean scarf with you.

How to avoid. Choose the “right” beach. If there is garbage and broken bottles on the shore, then the same thing will happen in the water. In unsafe places, do not walk barefoot and swim in special rubber slippers.

Banana ride This marine activity often becomes a source of injury. Sometimes "bananas" turn over, some "drivers" do this on purpose - without warning. On the beach, as a rule, people ride catamarans, jet skis, boats, etc. at the same time - collisions happen. Victims of water activities with fractures and wounds are often brought to resort hospitals.

How to avoid. Do not neglect your life jacket; fasten it carefully. If you are afraid of depth, then this entertainment is not for you.

Child safety rules
1. Never leave a child alone in the water.

2. Locate your resting place in the shade.

3. Buy your baby bright clothes, a Panama hat. In case of danger, you will quickly find your child.

4. Do not leave your child in a wet swimsuit to avoid catching a cold.

5. It is better to have inflatable rings with different inflatable sections - if one deflates, the others will keep the child afloat.

A little about medical care and rescue services in Greece.

Emergency phone number 112 or 199.
Remember, in Greece there is no special rescue service; its functions are performed by local firefighters. Often they do not know or do not know how to provide first aid, since last years Almost everyone was recruited into this service. In any case, call 199 (112) and try to report (in English or Greek) that trouble has happened to you. If something happens, they will call an ambulance themselves.


Ambulance EKAB (ΕΚΑΒ)
Fire service - rescue service
Coast security
Road assistance

Air Police
Police - information
Drug Abuse Service
Forest guard
Lifeline (type of helpline) - SOS
Information about hospitals, clinics, doctors, and pharmacies
Tourist police
SOS Doctors (Athens)
Road assistance

Road assistance ΕΛΠΑ
Road assistance Εxpress Service
Road assistance Hellas Service
Interamerican Road Assistance

Perhaps this phrasebook will help you find a common language with your doctor:

Theme "At the doctor's"
Στο γιατρό

I'm not feeling well	estAnume Ashima	Αισθάνομαι άσχημα
I'm sick	Ime Arostos(Arosta)	Είμαι άρρωστος (άρρωστη)
I need to go to the doctor	prEPi on pAO stoytO	Πρέπει να πάω στο γιατρό
Please give me the doctor's phone number or address	ParakalO, d'Oste mutotylEfono I yidEftynsi tu yatra	Παρακαλώ, δώστε μου το τηλέφωνο ή τη διεύθυνση του γιατρού
Please call a doctor (ambulance)	fonAkste, parakalO, tonyatrO (toastEnoforo)	Φωνάξτε, παρακαλώ, τον γιατρό (το ασθενοφόρο)
Invite a doctor home	zitYste naErty oyatrOs one hundred sleeps	Ζητήστε να έρθει ο γιατρός
Where can I find a doctor who speaks Ukrainian?	pu na vro toyatro pu milai ukranikA	Πού να βρω το γιατρό που μιλάει ουκρανικά;
Which doctor should I see?	Se pyo yatrO prEPi na pAO	Σε πιο γιατρό πρέπει να πάω;
Can I go to the doctor?	Boron on Bo standO	Μπορώ να μπω στο γιατρό;
Please wait a little	perimEnete ligAki, paracalO	Περιμένετε λιγάκι,παρακαλώ
Go to the office	perAste mEsa	Περάστε μέσα
What are you complaining about?	apo you ipoferete	Από τι υποφέρετε;
Tell me exactly where your pain is concentrated?	you sas poAi	Τι σας πονάει;
I don't feel well, I'm freezing	estAnome Ashima, estAnome rIgos	Αισθάνομαι άσχημα, αισθάνομαι ρίγος
What is your temperature?	you are a pirate O Ekhete	Τι πυρετό έχετε;
I have high temperature	Echo PirateO	Έχω πυρετό
I feel dizzy	HallIzome	Ζαλίζομαι
My ____ hurts...	me poAi...	Με πονάει .
head throat heart stomach	t okefali mu olemOs ikardya toastAkhi	το κεφάλι μου ο λαιμός η καρδιά το στομάχι
I have a (severe) cough	Echo (dynato) in Ikha	"Έχω (δυνατό) βήχα
I got food poisoning	Epata dyilityrIasi	Έπαθα δηλητηρίαση
I'm sick	mu Erhete emetOs	Μου έρχεται εμετός
Have you been sick for a long time?	apo kero iste arostos	Από καιρό είστε άρρωστος;
When did you feel unwell?	pote estantiykate Ashima	Πότε αισθανθήκατε άσχημα;
This night, Last night a week ago	sImera tynIkhta htES tovrAdy prin myavd'omAd'a	Σήμερα Τη νύχτα Χτες το βράδυ Πριν μια βδομάδα
Have you turned white recently?	prosfata Ikhate kapya arostya	Πρόσφατα είχατε κάποια αρρώστια;

Telephones: first aid, emergency services, road assistance
Embassies and consulates of countries former USSR in Greece

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