This reaches its greatest extension around the Mediterranean Sea. Outside this region it is limited to west coast lands between latitudes 32° and 38°, such as Central California, Central Chile, the south-west of South Africa, and South-West Australia. During winter the Mediterranean lands lie in the path of the on-shore, rain-bringing Westerlies; in summer they are in' the track of trades, which blow off shore, or parallel to the coast. The countries around the Mediterranean sea such as Spain Portugal, Italy, Greece, southern parts of France, Western coasts of Turkey, Syria, Israel, Lebanon are included in this natural region. Western parts of other continents usually between 30° and 40° also are under this region. The countries on the western margins of other continents are such as central Chile, Cape Province, California, Southern Australia and Victoria etc.
Mediterranean regions are located between humid and arid regions. The equator margins of the regions of this type are on the border of deserts and the humid lands are normally towards the pole. Precipitation occurs during the winter and summers have aridity during the summers. During the summer season these regions come under the influence of the air of subtropical high and trade winds, but during winter these shift towards the equator and consequently these regions come under the influence of cyclonic westerlies which bring rains and thus winters become rainy, winters are mild with average temperatures between 40°F and 50°F. Normally frost free months range from nine to twelve months, but the possibility of frost occurs when nights are cool and sky is clear and calm. Summer average monthly temperature generally range between 70°F to over 80°F. Relative humidity is low and the heat is dry. Noon temperature generally reach 100°F, but may come down rapidly in the evening.
In this region precipitation is moderate. The yearly total of precipitation averages from 10 to 30 inches. The yearly distribution of rain is uneven because most of the rainfall occurs during the winter and the summers are almost dry and rainless. Occasionally it may rain in the form of drizzling. Snow is rare on the low lands, but during winter mountain may have snow cover. Mediterranean precipitation is undependable. The amount and time of arrival of the precipitation is also uncertain. The only plus point is that it rains during winter. Had there been rains during the summer the high evaporation rate would have taken much of the moisture and the region would have been completely transformed as arid zone. Deserts margins of this type of natural region are drier and normally have shorter rainy season towards the poles.
Vegetational similarity in the Mediterranean regions is common but the species differ from continent to continent. The most common specie is that of evergreen shrubs and brush thickets popularly known as chaparral in California and Maquis in the Mediterranean Basin. Forests are composed mainly of broad leaf evergreen, but conifers are found on the higher and wetter mountain slopes. Many slopes of the Mediterranean basin are now-a-days totally barren because of over grazing and timber cutting. Reforesting process has been neglected throughout, grasses are common in California. Landscapes in these regions are green, but during summer the parched blades are dry and brown.
Locals hypothesize that the legacy of Italian blood and culture in Cologne, colonized by the Romans more than 1500 years ago, makes the people more jovial and lighthearted. Cologne is the largest city on the Rhine.
Kolsch is not only the dialect spoken here but, also the name of their own top-fermented beer. There are more than 4,000 pubs, restaurant's and brewery taverns in Cologne.
Unlike many of the world's large cities, Cologne, with a population of over a million, gets better every day, there are more things to do and see, more new and innovative buildings... more
Travel is an opportunity to learn, whether geography, languages, history or other subjects.
Cologne is situated on the beautiful Rhine River.