10 Facts About The Ligurian Sea

The Ligurian Sea is a part of the Mediterranean Sea and is situated between the Italian Riviera and Corsica Island.

Read this article to learn 10 interesting facts about the Ligurian Sea.

1. Named after the Ancient Ligures People

The sea and Liguria, in present-day northwestern Italy, are named after the Ligures, who lived in this region during pre-Roman times.

The sea is also called Mer Ligurienne in French and Mar Ligure in Italian. It lies between Liguria, Tuscany and the islands of Corsica and Elba in the north, east and south respectively.

In the west, it is surrounded by the Mediterranean Sea and is linked in the southeast with the Tyrrhenian Sea.

2. The Gulf of Genoa is located in its northern part

The Gulf of Genoa extends eastward around Italy’s northwestern coast for around 145 km from Imperia to La Spezia. It includes the smaller gulfs of Rapallo and Spezia and receives several rivers like Cneta, Magra and Taggia.

The coastal area forms a part of the Italian Riviera centred on the gulf’s principal port of Genoa. It is known for its pleasant weather, mild winters, subtropical vegetation, beautiful architecture, and many famous resorts like Sestri Levante and Savona.

The Gulf of Spezia which is said to be Italy’s biggest and best harbour has been the site of the chief Italian Naval Station since the 19th century.

3. Ports of Genoa, La Spezia, and Livorno lie on its rocky coast

The ports of the western Ligurian Sea, including Savona, Genoa, Vado Ligure and Pra form a major shipping network in Italy, handling more than 69 million tons of cargo and 4.2 million passengers each year.

Genoa Port on the Ligurian Sea coast lies 130 km east of the French border. This multipurpose facility has over 20 specialised private terminals to handle containers, general cargo, solid bulk, liquid bulk, metals, forestry products, perishable items, petroleum products etc. It is also a major cruise ship and ferry port.

Ports of Genoa — Image Credits – Wikipedia

Around 16,000 ships, 52,000,000 tons of cargo, 1,800,000TEU and 3,650,000 passengers are handled annually.

The Port of Pra, or PSA Genova Pra, is a container terminal in Italy’s Port of Genoa. It lies in the Pra Voltri Harbour region in the North Tyrrhenian Sea. Built in the 1970s, it can accommodate massive container vessels and cargo volumes, with an annual capacity of 1.6 million TEUs.

Savona-Vado lies in the Gulf of Genoa. The Savona basin has many facilities to accommodate cruise ships, dry bulk carriers, multipurpose berths, RORO vehicle berths etc. Ferries link Savona to Corsica, Spain and Morocco.

4. A major shipping route in the region

It is an important shipping lane for vessels sailing between central and northern Europe, headed to French and Spanish ports.

Vessels coming from Asia to Europe cross the Ligurian Sea after passing through the Suez Canal. Shipping varies seasonally and more cargo and cruise ships can be seen in summer.

The coast of the Ligurian Sea has many beautiful towns like San Remo, Portofino, and Cinque Terre which add to the scenic beauty of the place. Many cruise lines operate itineraries which include ports in the Ligurian Sea. Cruise tourism supports the local economy, boosting sectors like hospitality and retail.

5. A famous fishing technique in the Ligurian Sea is light drifting

Fishing is important for people living in the coastal towns of the Ligurian Sea. Light drifting is a popular fishing technique in the Ligurian Sea which uses light equipment and natural baits from a boat to catch small fish.

Other small-scale techniques utilise nets and traps, common among local fishermen to catch anchovies and sardines.

Bigger ships employ trawlers and purse seining techniques to catch large amounts of fish, with target species being swordfish, tuna and mackerel. Hake, sole and mullet are also commonly caught. Shellfish, mussels and clams are harvested for commercial purposes.

The Ligurian Sea is known for its coves, beaches and coastal landscapes. It has sandy beaches, while the east coast has many cliffs. Many rivers originate in the Apennines and can reach depths of more than 9300 feet.

6. Site of ancient Roman Shipwreck

The Ligurian Sea has many shipwrecks such as an ancient Roman shipwreck which lies near the Gulf of La Spezia.

The 15-meter-long ship dates back to the 2nd century BC and had many precious objects, such as hundreds of amphorae, evidence of a trade between Spain, France, and Rome in fish, wine, and other commodities.

The Portofino Marine Park also has many wrecks, deep reefs and underwater features that attract tech diving enthusiasts.

Another shipwreck from the Napoleonic Wars was found off the coast of Liguria. It was sunk during a battle between France and England in 1795, in which Horatio Nelson won his first victory as the captain of the ship HM Agamemnon. The wreck lies 1.5 miles from the beaches at Finale Ligure.

7. Site of many historic lighthouses

San Venerio Lighthouse guides ships in the Ligurian Sea. It is located on Tino Island, Liguria and was built in 1839, named after Venerius the Hermit, the patron saint of lighthouse keepers.

It is a neoclassical building whose construction was allowed by King Charles Albert of Savoy. It was powered by vegetable oil and then coal was used.

In 1884, another tower came up, taller than the previous one at a height of 30 m. The lighthouse was electrified and became completely automated in 1985. At night, the light from it can be seen near Lerici on the opposite side of the Gulf of La Spezia.

The Meloria South End Lighthouse is another famous lighthouse in the Ligurian Sea, 3 nm west of the southern entrance of the Livorno Port.

As the Meloria Tower was not active, in May 1867, a 20 m tall metal lighthouse was constructed. Another structure was built in the 1950s with a lantern and balcony. The lighthouse has a solar power unit and the lantern emits 6 quick flashes and a long white flash in 10 seconds which can be seen up to 10 nm.

8. Home to many notable cetaceans

The Ligurian Sea is known for its rich biodiversity. It is home to massive devil rays, loggerhead turtles, 8 species of dolphins and whales, and the fin whale, the second-largest mammal on Earth.

Striped dolphins, Cuvier’s beaked whales, sperm whales, Risso’s dolphins, and bottlenose dolphins are commonly found in the Ligurian Sea waters. France and Italy have established a “Specially Protected Area of Mediterranean Importance” to protect these majestic creatures.

Also, there is an International Whale Sanctuary, also called the “International Ligurian Sea Cetacean Sanctuary which covers 84,000 square kilometres.

Fish, including bluefin tuna and Mediterranean swordfish, reside here and so do octopus and cuttlefish.

The sea also has a few coral formations and seagrass which forms underwater meadows, offering vital habitats and nurseries for several marine species.

The Ligurian Sea is an important region for many migratory species and has a central place in the Mediterranean ecosystem. It also supports ecotourism, diving and research.

9. Battle of the Ligurian Sea fought during WWII

The Battle of the Ligurian Sea was fought on 18 March 1945, during WWII, in the Gulf of Genoa in the Mediterranean Sea. It saw naval action between the German Navy and the British fleet.

The Kriegsmarine flotilla comprising 2 torpedo boats and a destroyer was undertaking a mine laying operation at night when it was stopped by 2 Royal Navy destroyers, HMS Lookout and Meteor. The British ships targeted and sank the two German vessels, inflicting damage to the third.

The victory of the British fleet ended the possibility of German offensive operations in the region and it was the last substantial WWII battle fought in the Mediterranean Sea.

TA 32 suffered damage but escaped and the British found 244 survivors in rafts and boats after the other two ships, TA 24 and TA 29 had sunk. The survivors were taken as prisoners.

10. Has a Mediterranean climate

The Ligurian Sea is surrounded by the Apennine mountains and the Maritime Alps to the east and north, which influence local weather since mountains block cold winds from the north.

The Ligurian Sea has warm, dry summers and mild, wet winters. Summer lasts from June to August with average temperatures ranging from 25°C to 30°C, though coastal regions may be cooler. Rainfall is less during summer and the weather is sunny and dry, ideal for going to the beach.

Autumn lasts from September to November with temperatures between 20°C to 25°C. October and November witness heavy rainfall.

December to February is the winter season with temperatures between 5°C to 15°C. This season has considerable rain and snowfall in surrounding mountainous regions.

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Zahra is an alumna of Miranda House, University of Delhi. She is an avid writer, possessing immaculate research and editing skills. Author of several academic papers, she has also worked as a freelance writer, producing many technical, creative and marketing pieces. A true aesthete at heart, she loves books a little more than anything else.

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