The name Mediterranean is Latin for “center of the earth.”

The sea is surrounded by 22 countries, resulting in a constant fusion of different cultures over many centuries, the most appetizing of which is the food.

The mild climate is partially a result of the its location on the western coasts of Europe and Africa, where moisture comes from the Atlantic during the cooler rainy season. California has a similar mechanism for its climate.

The sea once nearly dried up, but about 5 million years ago, long-term flooding refilled the basin and carved out access to the world’s oceans via the Strait of Gibraltar.

There are actually two deep basins holding the often pristine blue water: the Occidental and Oriental, linked by the Strait of Sicily.

Large swathes of seagrasses, called Posidonia oceanica meadows, are considered the lung of the Mediterranean Sea, sustaining ocean life, food chains and preventing beach erosion by slowing down the tides.

The clearest water can be found around the Ionian Sea, between Italy and Greece, and the saltiest water is in the eastern areas due to more evaporation.

There are numerous ancient cities underwater around the Mediterranean such as the Baiae Roman city near Naples, Pavlopetri in Greece and Thonis-Heracleion in Egypt.

One of the world’s most active volcanic sites is in and around Italy, due to the African tectonic plate slipping under the European one.

Cruising in the Mediterranean is very popular, and if you’d like to go while saving some money, consider the off seasons of spring and fall. The crowds will be more manageable, though beach swimming may be off the table.