Libyan Sea

Libyan Sea
  • البحر الليبي (Arabic)
  • Λιβυκό πέλαγος (Greek)
Paximadia island and the Libyan Sea near the beach of Preveli, Crete
Libyan Sea
LocationMediterranean Sea
Coordinates34°00′N 24°24′E / 34.000°N 24.400°E / 34.000; 24.400
TypeSea
Basin countriesLibya
Surface area350,000 square kilometres (140,000 sq mi)
Average depth1,500 metres (4,900 ft)
Max. depth5,109 metres (16,762 ft)
Shore length11,770 kilometres (1,100 mi)
IslandsGavdos, Gavdopoula, Koufonisi, and Chrysi
Sections/sub-basinsGulf of Sidra, South Cretan Sea
SettlementsTobruk, Libya and Alexandria, Egypt
Location
Interactive map of Libyan Sea
1 Shore length is not a well-defined measure.

The Libyan Sea (Latin: Libycum Mare; Arabic: البحر الليبي; Greek: Λιβυκό πέλαγος) is the portion of the Mediterranean Sea north of the African coast of ancient Libya, i.e. Cyrenaica, and Marmarica (the coast of what is now eastern Libya and western Egypt, between Tobruk and Alexandria). The region of the Libyan Sea located south of Crete is also known as the South Cretan Sea (Νότιο Κρητικό Πέλαγος).