Ligurian Sea

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The Ligurian Sea.
The Ligurian Sea.

The Ligurian Sea is an arm of the Mediterranean Sea, between the Italian Riviera (Liguria and Tuscany) and the islands of Corsica and Elba.

The sea borders the countries Italy, France, and Monaco, and the Tyrrhenian and Mediterranean Seas. Genoa is the most prominent city in the area. The northwest coast is noted for its scenic beauty and favourable climate.

The Gulf of Genoa is its northernmost part. The sea receives the Arno River from the east and many other rivers that originate in the Apennines. The ports of Genoa, La Spezia, and Livorno are on its rocky coast. The sea's northwest coast is noted for its favorable climate and scenic beauty. It reaches a maximum depth of more than 9,300 feet (2,850 m) northwest of Corsica.

It is called "Mar Ligure" in Italian and "Mer Ligurienne" in French.

[edit] Conservation

In order to provide protection for the numerous cetacean (whales and dolphins, porpoise is not found in this part of the Mediterranean Sea) species in the Ligurian Sea the bordering countries established the sea as a SPAMI in 1999. The International Ligurian Sea Cetacean Sanctuary now covers 84,000 km² covering territorial waters as well as high sea.

Coordinates: 43°29′54″N, 9°02′30″E