The Ionian Sea (Greek: , Greek pronunciation: [ionio pelaos], Italian: Mar Ionio,

Italian pronunciation: [mar jnjo], Albanian: Deti Jon), is an elongated embayment of the
Mediterranean Sea, south of the Adriatic Sea. It is bounded by southern Italy including Calabria,
Sicily, and the Salento peninsula to the west, southern Albania to the north, and west coast of
Greece.
All major islands in the sea belong to Greece. They are collectively referred to as the Ionian
Islands, the major ones being Corfu, Zakynthos, Kephalonia, Ithaca, and Lefkada. There are ferry
routes between Patras and Igoumenitsa, Greece, and Brindisi and Ancona, Italy, that cross the
east and north of the Ionian Sea, and from Piraeus westward. Calypso Deep, the deepest point in
the Mediterranean at 5,267 m (17,280 ft), is located in the Ionian Sea, at 3634N 218E.[1][2]
The sea is one of the most seismically active areas in the world.
The name Ionian comes from Greek language (). Its etymology is unknown.[3]
Ancient Greek writers, especially Aeschylus, linked it to the myth of Io. In Ancient Greek the
adjective Ionios () was used as an epithet for the sea because Io swam across it.[4] There
were also narratives about other eponymic legendary figures; according to one version, Ionius
was a son of Adrias (eponymic for the Adriatic Sea); according to another, Ionius was a son of
Dyrrhachus, eponymic for the ancient Illyrian city of Dyrrhachium (modern Durrs in Albania).
When Dyrrhachus was attacked by his own brothers, Heracles, who was passing through the
area, came to his aid, but in the fight the hero killed his ally's son by mistake. The corpse was
cast into the sea, which thereafter was called the Ionian Sea. Alternatively, it may derive from
Albanian simply meaning "our sea" "deti Jon".
Geography[edit]
Extent[edit]
The International Hydrographic Organization defines the limits of the Ionian Sea as follows:[5]
On the North. A line running from the mouth of the Butrinto River (3944'N) in Albania, to Cape
Karagol in Corfu (3945'N), along the North Coast of Corfu to Cape Kephali (3945'N) and from
thence to Cape Santa Maria di Leuca in Italy.
On the East. From the mouth of the Butrinto River in Albania down the coast of the mainland to
Cape Matapan.
On the South. A line from Cape Matapan to Cape Passero, the Southern point of Sicily.
On the West. The East coast of Sicily and the Southeast coast of Italy to Cape Santa Maria di
Leuca.
Places[edit]
Ionian Sea in Catanzaro Lido
From south to north in the west, then north to south in the east:
Syracuse, port, W
Catania, port, W
Messina, port, W
Taranto, port N
Himara, small port, NE
Saranda, port and a beach, NE
Kerkyra, port, E
Igoumenitsa, port, E
Parga, small port, E
Preveza, port, E

Astakos, port, E
Argostoli, small port, E
Patra, port, E
Kyparissia, port, E
Pylos, port, E
Methoni, small port and a beach
Ionian Islands
Gulfs and straits[edit]
Strait of Messina, W
Gulf of Catania, W
Gulf of Taranto, NW
Gulf of Squillace, NW
Ambracian Gulf, E
Gulf of Patras, connecting the Gulf of Corinth, ESE
Gulf of Kyparissia, SE
Messenian Gulf, SE
Laconian Gulf, ESE