The Structure of the Ionian Sea, Sicily, and Calabria-Lucania

Abstract

The Ionian Sea forms the westernmost part of the eastern Mediterranean basin. The eastern limit of the sea lies along the western margin of the East Mediterranean Ridge, which ends at about the longitude of Syrte. To the northeast it washes the shores of Greece, but geologically the Hellenic Trough (or Matapan Trench) forms part of the Hellenic Arc, and thus does not belong to the Ionian Sea. To the north the Ionian Sea is linked to the Adriatic by the relatively narrow and shallow (65 km wide, less than 100 m deep) straits of Otranto. The narrow Messina Straits (3.5 km) provide a link with the Tyrrhenian Sea and form the northwestern shore of the Ionian Sea. The Ionian Sea is in open communication to west with a region sometimes regarded as its extension and sometimes distinguished as the Pelagian Basin. The latter connects with the western Mediterranean through the Silican Channel, which, though 140 km wide, seldom attains a depth in excess of 300m. To the south the Ionian Sea against the Libyan shore.