WESTERN MEDITERRANEAN — WEBSITES, MAPS & FURTHER READING

Freedom Unfolded | October 2026

Interactive Maps and Scientific Cartography

EMODnet — Interactive Map Viewer
Explore seafloor depth, submarine canyons, geological structures, maritime traffic and marine environmental data.
https://emodnet.ec.europa.eu/geoviewer/

EMODnet — Bathymetry
Detailed seafloor relief of the Ligurian Sea, Gulf of Lion, Liguro-Provençal basin and Catalan margin.
https://emodnet.ec.europa.eu/en/bathymetry

EMODnet — Human Activities and Shipping Density
Explore modern commercial shipping, passenger routes, fisheries and port activity.
https://emodnet.ec.europa.eu/en/human-activities

EMODnet — Vessel Density Mapping Methodology
https://emodnet.ec.europa.eu/en/human-activities-eu-vessel-density-map-detailed-method

EMODnet — Behind the Vessel Density Maps
Explanation of AIS data and mapped maritime traffic patterns.
https://emodnet.ec.europa.eu/en/blog-8-december-2025-behind-scenes-emodnet-human-activities-vessel-density-maps

Geology and Tectonic Evolution

ISPRA — Structural Map of Seas Surrounding Italy
Seafloor structures, tectonic boundaries, faults and submarine geological features.
https://www.isprambiente.gov.it/files2025/progetti/structural-map-of-seas-surrounding-italy.pdf

ISPRA — Scientific Explanatory Report
Includes the tectonic evolution of the Ligurian and Tyrrhenian basins and the Corsica–Sardinia region.
https://www.isprambiente.gov.it/files2025/progetti/structural-map-of-seas-surrounding-italy-text.pdf

ISPRA — Introduction to the New Structural Map
https://www.isprambiente.gov.it/en/news/the-new-structural-map-of-the-italian-seas-is-now-online

OGS — Structural Map Research Publication
https://ricerca.ogs.it/handle/20.500.14083/44543

Ocean Circulation, Winds and Deep-Water Formation

Ocean Science — Mediterranean Oceanographic Research
https://os.copernicus.org/articles/18/483/2022/

Journal of Geophysical Research: Oceans — Mediterranean Oceanographic Study
https://doi.org/10.1029/2022JC019245

Annual Review of Marine Science — Mediterranean Scientific Review
https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev-marine-021723-110155

Pelagos Sanctuary and Marine Mammals

Pelagos Sanctuary — Official Website
International marine-mammal conservation area established by France, Italy and Monaco.
https://pelagos-sanctuary.org/

Pelagos Sanctuary — International Agreement
https://pelagos-sanctuary.org/pelagos-agreement/

Tethys Research Institute — Cetacean Sanctuary Research
Scientific fieldwork, species research and Mediterranean whale conservation.
https://www.tethys.org/cetacean-sanctuary-research/csr-research/

Ancient Maritime Routes and Shipwrecks

Oxford Roman Economy Project — Mediterranean Shipwrecks Database
Ancient maritime archaeology, shipwreck chronology, cargoes and approximate discovery locations.
https://oxrep.web.ox.ac.uk/shipwrecks-database

French Ministry of Culture — Underwater Archaeology
Research, historic vessels, shipwrecks and techniques of marine archaeological investigation.
https://archeologie.culture.gouv.fr/archeo-sous-marine/en

Grand Congloué Shipwrecks — Marseille
Important early underwater archaeological excavations involving two ancient wrecks.
https://archeologie.culture.gouv.fr/archeo-sous-marine/fr/lexperience-du-grand-congloue

Grand Ribaud F — Etruscan Shipwreck Near Hyères
Underwater archaeological investigation of an ancient merchant vessel and its cargo.
https://archeologie.culture.gouv.fr/archeo-sous-marine/en/grand-ribaud-f-hyeres-var

Illes Formigues II — Roman Shipwreck, Catalonia
Museu d’Arqueologia de Catalunya. Roman maritime commerce and underwater excavation.
https://www.mac.cat/ca/Descobreix-Portada/Arqueoblog-Portada/Llistat-Arqueoblog/museu-endins/2021_03_18_vaixell-Formigues-II

ARQVA — Mediterranean Ports and Shipwrecks
https://www.cultura.gob.es/mnarqua/en/visita/que-ver/recorrido/auditorio.html

ARQVA — Ancient Mediterranean Maritime Trade
https://www.cultura.gob.es/mnarqua/en/visita/que-ver/recorrido/mare-hibericum.html

Historical and Geological Events

Communications Earth & Environment — Mediterranean Geological Research
https://www.nature.com/articles/s43247-024-01972-w

Smithsonian Global Volcanism Program — Santorini
Background comparison of eastern Mediterranean volcanic processes.
https://volcano.si.edu/volcano.cfm?vn=212040

Underwater Heritage Protection

UNESCO — Underwater Cultural Heritage
https://www.unesco.org/en/underwater-heritage

UNESCO — 2001 Convention
https://www.unesco.org/en/underwater-heritage/2001-convention

UNESCO — Threats to Underwater Heritage
https://www.unesco.org/en/underwater-heritage/threats

Map references:  The original ISPRA structural map and EMODnet interactive mapping tools provide full-resolution scientific context for the screenshots and original interpretive figures incorporated into the guide.  Reconstructed ancient routes and modern AIS-based shipping patterns represent different kinds of evidence and should not be interpreted as equivalent navigational records.