Preserving the Health of the Aegean Sea at the Port of Thessaloniki, Greece

This area was the birthplace of Western Civilization as Aristotle and Plato argued with their peers along these waters.

Where does it live?:

The Aegean Sea is a small part of the Mediterranean Sea and encompasses the series of islands chains, called archipelagos, between Greece and Turkey. The Aegean connects the Black Sea located around the Crimea to the Mediterranean making it an important trading route as Russia's warm water ports are located there.

How does it use its environment to survive?:

The people of Greece and Turkey rely on the Aegean Sea to cool off during the intense heat of the summer. Most people leave the cities during the summer as they can reach dangerously high temperatures and go to the beaches or islands for rest. People living on the islands also have a unique way of staying cool. The famous blue roofs are used to reduce the amount of heat radiating on islander's houses because there is no natural running water such as lakes or rivers that provide relief from the temperature.

What can harm this creature or plant? Are we worried about it?:

The Aegean Sea is vulnerable to pollution because it is an important trading route that has hundreds of freighter ships sailing through it constantly. The large traffic of ships makes it unhealthy for inhabitants to swim in the water near seaports, as a result the water around the boardwalk of Thessaloniki is unsafe for people. Recently, the Port of Thessaloniki became the first port in Greece to join the Green Award Network by offering discounts on port charges for ships that have environmental standards higher than the legal minimum.

Location:
Thessaloniki Greece

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