medelhav (neut.)

(geology, oceanography) mediterranean sea; a sea mostly enclosed by land

The Mediterranean Sea; almost completely enclosed by land: on the north by Europe, on the south by Africa, and on the east by Asia. It covers an approximate area of 2.5 million km² (965,000 sq mi), but its connection to the Atlantic (the Strait of Gibraltar) is only 14 km (9 mi) wide. In oceanography, it is sometimes called the Eurafrican Mediterranean Sea or the European Mediterranean Sea to distinguish it from mediterranean seas elsewhere.

oceanography

The Mediterranean Sea.

The Mediterranean Sea is larger than the North Sea.

The Mediterranean is approximately 2,500,000 square kilometers (970,000 square miles) while the North Sea is approximately 750,000 square kilometers (290,000 square miles).