The Tyrrhenian Sea is part of the Mediterranean Sea off of the western coast of Italy.
It is bounded by Corsica and Sardinia (west) Liguria (north), Tuscany, Lazio, Campania, and Calabria (east), and Sicily (south).
It has a maximum sea depth of 3785 metres.
The Tyrrhenian Sea is situated near the African-European Fault which means that mountain chains and active volcanoes (mount Marsilii) are in its depths. Winds are Mistral (an atmospheric phenomenon that occurs mostly in the winter and spring) from the Rhône valley, Libeccio from the south-west, Scirocco and Ostro from the south.
There are five exits from the Tyrrhenian Sea:
The Strait of Messina between Sicily and Messina on the toe of Italy, 3km wide.
The Corsica Channel between Italy and Corsica, about 80km wide.
The Strait of Bonifacio between Corsica and Sardinia, 11km wide.
The Sardinian Channel between Sardinia and Tunisia, about 200km wide.
The Strait of Sicily between Tunisia and Sicily, about 160km wide.
In Greek mythology, it is believed that the cliffs above the Tyrrhenian Sea housed the four winds kept by Aeolus.
The name for this part of the Mediterranean Sea derives from the Greek name for the Etruscans, who were said to be emigrants from Lydia and led by the prince Tyrrhenus. The Etruscans settled along the coast of modern Tuscany and referred to the water as the "Sea of the Etruscans".
Other Mediterranean Seas:
Adriatic Sea | Aegean Sea | Alboran Sea | Balearic Sea | Ionian Sea | Ligurian Sea | Sea Of Marmara | Tyrrhenian Sea | Gulf Of Sidra
